This should pique your interest

36 Burnley Terrace, Mt Eden. Photo / Ted Baghurst

36 BURNLEY TCE, MT EDEN

4

2

0*

SIZE: Land 564sq m, house 215sq m

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected above $1.45 million

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2-2.30pm, Wed 6-6.30pm. Auction June 25

ON THE WEB: barfoot.co.nz/523095

SCHOOL ZONES: Auckland Girls’ Grammar, Mt Albert Grammar

CONTACT: Ketiesha Elliott, ph 021 739 686

FEATURES: * off-street parking.

Not much fazes Mike Allsop. This is a man who has climbed Mt Everest and become the first Kiwi to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. He also set a world record by running the highest altitude marathon ever, on Everest.

Mike says the secret to taking on seemingly insurmountable challenges is to break them into small chunks and just get through one part at a time. "That way whatever you are trying achieve becomes much more manageable and you don't feel so overwhelmed."

This philosophy is one that airline pilot Mike uses in all aspects of his life -- from climbing mountains and running marathons to writing a recently published book about his adventures, High Altitude. It's also the way he has tackled home renovations in the past.

Before Mike and his wife, Wendy, bought this home in Mt Eden eight years ago, they had given three other houses stunning makeovers and were prepared to take on another big project, no matter how daunting.

But, as it happened, they didn't have to, because they fell in love with a villa that had already been lovingly renovated to a very high standard by previous owners. "We weren't actually looking to buy, we just drove past and saw the open home signs, and when we came in we loved it," says Mike. "It was just as well it didn't need any work because at the time I was preparing to climb Everest."

Wendy was also eight months pregnant with the couple's third child, and making over a home with a newborn and two preschoolers would not have been fun, she says. "We loved the way all the lovely old villa features had been preserved. We didn't want to change anything."

In the years they've lived in the house, the couple has made a few minor "adjustments", including giving the house a new coat of paint and putting in new carpet. One of the best things they did was put in ducted central heating.

"The house is lovely and warm and the kids never get sick," says Mike, who has taken Ethan (11), Maya (9) and Dylan (8) to the Himalayas when each has turned 7.

One of the main drawcards of the house was that it's an ideal family home. "It's a lot bigger than you expect," says Wendy. "When you see it from the road it is hard to believe there are three levels."

The main level on the ground floor has all the charm of a typical Kiwi villa from the turn of the last century. There's a traditional veranda, bay window and a wide central hallway that bisects the house.

Mike's and Wendy's master bedroom has a walk-through wardrobe and a large en suite, and is a lovely, sunny sanctuary.

Across the hall, Ethan's room has French doors out to the veranda, while Maya's room at the end of the hall has a large walk-in cupboard. Dylan's bedroom is up a flight of stairs at the rear of the house and has a view over the garden.

In the family bathroom there's a bath and separate shower, along with lots of storage space. Also off the hall is the lounge, an elegant, slightly more formal room with a period fireplace and built-in shelving.

The rear of the house is where the family spend most of their time. The spacious kitchen, dining and living area was added to the house by previous owners, and opens out through French doors to a large deck that looks out over the garden.

"It has been a wonderful home to live in and bring up children," says Wendy.