The urban dream

By VICKI HOLDER

Auckland restaurateur Don Fletcher became a believer when he found the perfect property in Freemans Bay.

On his way to see the house in the real estate agent's car, he was sceptical. You can't live the urban dream with restaurants, cafes, a proper fish and chip shop and dazzling city and harbour views, as well as have a big garden where the children can play, he thought. Such properties don't exist.

However, when he flung back the double doors in the entry hall to this gracious, old villa, stepped into the living room and took in the magnificent vistas, he was thrilled to admit he was wrong.

Don struck up a friendship with the previous owner, who was responsible for the home's major structural renovation. His predecessor proudly pointed out that he'd done well to site the house just right. It had originally been built on the ridge, at the turn of the century, by a wealthy merchant to gain the city views.

The same man built the Queens Hall next door as a private theatre for his daughters, and the house beside that as a dressing room. But the home was moved further back on the property to make way for an expanse of lawn and terraced gardens, which do justice to the panoramic view beyond. And as the previous owner never completed the work on the garden, Don and his wife, Dorrie, were given the chance to add a major contribution.

Don commissioned designer Geoffrey Marshall to landscape the grounds. He planted subtropicals in a vibrant scheme. From the end of the lawn, pathways steer towards a broad strip of green, where Don's daughter, Antonia, plays on her trampoline.

Don has become a fussy gardener, maintaining his weed-free, carpet-like lawns to a pristine, golf-green standard.

He also built the steps that link the cabana, which is half way down the garden, to the top and bottom part of the property. Formerly the old laundry, the cabana was moved to its new position during the renovation. With a toilet and shower, as well as a porch, it would make an excellent changing room for a swimming pool, which could easily be sited beside the trampoline.

Other changes during the renovation include combining several rooms in the main house to form a huge, open-plan living area incorporating the kitchen, dining and sitting areas. These now make the most of the views through tall, french doors that open to the deck. A window seat wraps around the corner between the dining and sitting areas. Deep eaves create porches, which allow the family to sit outside, even when it's raining.

Set behind a sweeping, curved timber bench and breakfast bar, the cobalt blue kitchen looks across the whole room. Standing behind the bench, you can see Sky Tower and the city skyline perfectly framed in the opening to the deck.

As you'd expect of a kitchen owned by a restaurateur, the appliances, which include a 900mm Smeg oven and six-burner hob, allow for easy entertaining. Mostly, he says, people gather casually around the bench, and, in winter, move to the adjacent sitting nook or the TV room.

Antonia's bedroom and the study open through french doors to the entry porch, which welcomes visitors to the front door. The master bedroom incorporates a small, modern en suite with a frameless, glass, tiled shower.

The third bedroom is next to a vast family bathroom, which has a shower and a traditional clawfoot bath. At the end of the room, the laundry hides behind kauri doors.

A rarity in these parts, this large, character home treats city lovers to the kind of space usually reserved for the country.

Vital statistics:

ADDRESS: 5 Paget Street, Freemans Bay.

FEATURES: Renovated classic villa with big, open-plan living; huge landscaped garden; city and harbour views; new kitchen; fireplaces in sitting area and TV room; four bedrooms, master with
en suite; large family bathroom; big entry hall; kauri floors and tall stud with baton-and-board ceilings; gas heating; garden cabana with toilet and shower; security gate.

SIZE: Land area 1435sq m.

AUCTION: At 2pm on 12 June, at Bayleys' auction rooms, Maritime Square, 4 Viaduct Harbour Ave,
Auckland.

AGENT: Tim Collins-Smith, Bayleys Real Estate. Ph 309 6020 bus; 021 909 149 mob.