SCHOOL ZONES:
Sunnybrae Normal School, Northcote Intermediate, Northcote College.
CONTACT:
Nicole Schaaf or Peter Jones, Harcourts, 021 554 811 (Nicole) or 021 233 0055 (Peter).
AUCTION:
August 12 (unless sold prior).
Life can be busy publishing a monthly golf and leisure magazine so Geoff and Elizabeth Witton cherish the peace and privacy enveloping their spacious family home.
Elizabeth says: "People who come here often say, 'Wow, you wouldn't even know you were in the city'."
Their two-storey 1970s concrete masonry homeis quietly set in the little enclave of Cobblestone Lane which was described as an "environmental development" when created in the early 70s. This cobbled no-exit lane off Sylvia Rd retained as much of a long-standing pocket of bush as was possible with houses carefully built among mature trees.
The Wittons use the one-bedroom self-contained flat attached to their home as their office, from where they produce the magazine. The couple have owned New Zealand Golf, Leisure and Lifestyle for 12 years.
Elizabeth says: "When I'm sitting in the office looking out at our big puriri tree there can be up to five wood pigeons in it. They come and sit on the ledge of the deck. We also get lots of tui, rosellas, wax eyes and fantails."
She says the home was built in the days when international companies would typically relocate an executive here to manage a New Zealand business for a stint and the flat was for a caretaker.
The couple, who both enjoy playing golf, weren't looking to move house 15 years ago. They lived nearby with their three young children -- Louise, Timothy and Peter (now 24, 21 and 19) -- so thought they'd check out an open home.
Elizabeth says: "Geoff sat down in the lounge here and just fell in love with the spaciousness and peace and quiet.
"With three young kids we loved the fact it had a second living area we could use as their rumpus room. Growing up they loved the heated swimming pool and being able to go through our back gate to play on the grounds of Sunnybrae Normal School."
Cobblestone Lane initially splits into two to accommodate a mature stand of kauri trees and the Witton's home is up a driveway here.
Image 1 of 6: Shhh, you'd never know you're in the city. Work-from-home, extra income and family options galore are also on offer here
Their grand puriri tree is near off-street parking fronting their internal-access double garage. A covered, arched promenade leading to the double front doors bears testimony to the architecture's 70s Spanish style origins. The rendered concrete masonry construction has timber shingle accents and a tile roof.
The couple have redecorated the home, including transforming the roomy kitchen next to the dining area. It now includes a walk-in pantry, central butcher's block and double-width oven with eight-burner hob.
The large main lounge with soaring raked ceiling, gas fireplace, inbuilt Bose sound system and wine fridge opens to the pool area.
Elizabeth says: "We have done a lot of entertaining here over the years and it's been a brilliant house for that."
A little ante room providing storage introduces the second living room also flowing out to the pool. Off this there's a full-sized bathroom and sauna room easily accessed by swimmers who've been enjoying the heated pool and spa pool. Outdoors has plumbed gas for barbecues.
Downstairs also houses a separate laundry and an office, used as Elizabeth's craft room.
Upstairs the master suite with en suite and walk-in wardrobe has a shuttered window which can be opened to look out over the main lounge. It is accompanied by three other bedrooms and a bathroom.
The legal flat above the garage, used as their magazine's headquarters, has a lounge, separate bedroom and deck plus a bathroom and kitchen.
