SCHOOL ZONES:
Victoria Avenue School, Remuera Intermediate, Auckland Grammar, Epsom Girls' Grammar.
CONTACT:
Heather Walton, Ray White, ph 520 7663 or 021 432 167.
FEATURES:
Modernised five-bedroom, three-level villa with ample storage space, great harbour views, loads of living space and a due-north aspect.
It's a trick finding a big house on a relatively small section where you can also have plenty of garden space and privacy from your neighbours.
More than big at 410sq m, this three-storey house is four-fifths the size of the section that it occupies, but you certainly don't geta sense of feeling cramped.
The house, which started life as a single-storey villa around 1910, sits close to the road in Arney Cres. Most of its land - other than the footprint of the house itself - is a large, flat, north-facing garden, with feature rock walls, that opens off the back of the house.
John Doherty and his wife, Noreen Tracey, bought their home four years ago after moving to New Zealand from their native Ireland in 2002.
John says they had been working in different cities - Dublin and Belfast - and moved to New Zealand in search of a better lifestyle and because they had family connections here.
After living in three other Auckland properties, the couple were keen to move to sought-after Arney Cres to be closer to King's School for their son, Conor, who is now six, as well as to the Remuera and Newmarket shops and to Noreen's work.
Previous owners had done substantial structural renovations to the original weatherboard house, adding a basement then a top level to it 12 years ago.
John and Noreen have made several cosmetic improvements to the property including carpeting rooms and putting marine-grade carpet in the double-internal access garage, which opens directly into the kitchen.
They have also repainted the exterior of the house and all of the rooms on the mid-level, where the main living spaces have generous 3.2m studs and original kauri floors.
"We toned everything down and have gone for more subtle shades that work well with its age."
They have also "de-cluttered" the garden, removing some large trees which had started to obscure the magnificent views of Auckland harbour. An HRV system has been installed on the ground level, where all four double bedrooms and bathrooms also have underfloor insulation.
The main living takes place on the mid-level, where the front door leads to a large foyer. There are two studies - one opening off the foyer, the other used as a playroom for Conor.
The foyer flows into a large kitchen and family dining space, which opens on to a northeast facing patio and barbecue area, with steps that lead down to the garden.
A double-sided, glass-fronted gas fireplace acts as a room divider between the dining room and sunny family room.
A formal lounge and dining space is also on this level, where all of the living rooms are large, airy and self-contained, yet connect effortlessly with each other.
The entire top level of the house is dedicated to a spacious master bedroom with its own north-facing deck, an en suite complete with spa bath that is befitting of a five-star hotel and a big his and hers walk-in wardrobe.
One of the four bedrooms on the ground level also has an en suite and walk-in wardrobe.
John and Noreen are looking ahead to Conor having friends around as he gets older and are keen to move to a house that has a swimming pool and a main living area on the garden level.
