SCHOOL ZONES:
Bayfield School, Ponsonby Intermediate, Auckland Girls' Grammar, Western Springs College.
CONTACT:
Deborah Purdy or Michael Roberts, Bayleys, ph 309 6020, 021 687 758 (Deborah), 021 655 960 (Michael).
FEATURES:
Refurbished and redesigned 1950s home with bifold doors opening out to a wide deck, lush gardens and a solar-heated pool. Potential to extend outwards, upwards or remove and start again.
Simple and solid may not be high on the wish list for most people when house-hunting, but those attributes sold Simone Forde and Chris Mackay on 40 Marine Pde.
In 2001, the couple were living in an apartment after selling their Freemans Bay villa when they saw the 1950s homeon a Monday and bought it two days later, despite not intending to take on a renovation.
But the home's location - in a quiet, desirable street - and its solid construction (plaster over brick veneer on a timber frame with matai floors) won out.
Simone says the home was in near-original condition when they bought it, although previous owners had put in a pool and decking on the northern side.
Rather than move in straight away, Simone and Chris brought in builders Tomik to begin a renovation that would create an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area from what had been three rooms. "We just wanted it to be really simple, because these houses are so simple but well-built," says Simone.
The renovation, which was finished in 2002, created not only a large living area, but also opened it up to the north-facing deck and swimming pool, courtesy of two sets of bifolds. Dark-stained floors anchor a neutral colour scheme. The kitchen is fuss-free, with white cabinetry, a glass splashback and stone-topped and stainless-steel benches.
A wall of white-doored cupboards extends from the kitchen into the lounge - Simone says the original idea was to create a discreet space for the large-screen TV that Chris was determined to acquire for "a home in which rugby is god". The cupboards are also used for storage.
A gas fire warms the lounge, which has a picture window looking west that allows afternoon sun to flood in.
Simone says that during the renovation, a second bathroom was added off the hallway, so that there is now a "main bathroom" with a bath and beside that "our bathroom" with a shower.
Two of the bedrooms, including the master, have French doors that open to the deck. The third bedroom, on the opposite side of the house, looks out to the back garden.
Outside, the deck and solar-heated pool provide the perfect spot for entertaining. "With the barbecue there, we eat outside in summer a lot and because the house is so open people can easily move in and out," says Simone.
There are peeks of the harbour from the house that Simone says would become wide water views if new owners wanted to build up.
Native plants such as puka, flax and renga renga complement the mature rata and pohutukawa on the property, attract birdlife and provide privacy from the street. The open, relaxed feel of the home is reinforced by the fact that there is no fence on the street frontage.
Says Simone: "That's one of the nice things; that this property is really well-known by everybody because it is so open to the street."
