"It has this northwesterly aspect and more garden than the others. And it's got lovely light because of being on the end and having windows all down the side."
The opportunity to create a compact but delightful garden designed by gardening guru Tony Murrell was the clincher for Katrina, who'd formerly lived on 2ha and whose mum is a keen gardener.
The three-bedroom home looked vastly different back then, its interior incorporating an avocado-toned kitchen ripe for a six-month complete renovation. Katrina exercised her creative side coming up with ideas and says Colin was a brilliant project manager, making things happen.
The owners along this top row of townhouses agreed it was time to re-paint exteriors, following the tasteful colour palette already adopted by villas along the front of the complex.
Another bonus of having the end terrace house is its three parking spots, one of which they've devoted to a planter box. It also boasts a leafy green view over neighbouring gardened land.
Before-and-after photos show the striking interior transformation.
"I wanted to make it an oasis of calm," says Katrina. "I wanted it to be very modern and clean, making it light and opening up the space."
Entry is into the upper level kitchen-dining-living space, which opens to two balconies. It has a superb view of Auckland Museum, particularly fetching when lit up at night.
Vivo Kitchens' creation features high-gloss white cabinetry, predominantly Miele appliances and surprisingly capacious storage concealed in drawers. Katrina says its composite stone bench incorporates a subtle touch of glitter "because I'm a bit of a show pony".
Image 1 of 7: Complete overhaul has created townhouse with something extra special inside and out
This level's SpazioCasa timber-effect ceramic floor tiles were surplus from tiling a multi-millionaire's Kerikeri residence. A mirror at the end of the kitchen reflects the museum.
Murrell suggested the star jasmine under-planted with gardenia to top a balcony, cleverly screening neighbours while underlining the view of the museum. It's lovely looking down from either of the upper balconies at the French-style courtyard garden Tony designed, integrating Katrina's love of white.
The night-lit area includes two lily-pad topped vessels with gold fish and a sheltered outdoor setting they sit at all summer long accompanied by their papillon dog Mr Wong. Accompanying the blossoming crab apples, hydrangea and michelia are a fetching garden shed where they keep their overflow freezer and pantry plus storage built-in under the outdoor stairs.
They re-carpeted downstairs and had SpazioCasa design an immaculate bathroom. Its shower doors can be folded well inwards when desired to open space around the stand-alone bath.
The master bedroom with two double wardrobes opens to a balcony and gets lovely afternoon sun. Katrina's son Maxwell is in the larger of the other two bedrooms. When daughter Poppy stays she's in the single bedroom, which could be a study sold with a custom-made bed with storage underneath.
