Up to date but still an original

4 Fern Avenue, Epsom. Photo / Ted Baghurst

4 FERN AVE, EPSOM

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SIZE: Land 1113sqm, house 436sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Similar homes have sold in excess of $3 million. Auction August 21 (unless sold prior).

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1-1.30pm.

ON THE WEB: barfoot.co.nz

SCHOOL ZONES: Royal Oak School, Auckland Normal Intermediate, Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls’ Grammar.

CONTACT: Diana Buczkowski and Peter West, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 021 408 303 (Diana) or 021 939 222 (Peter).

FEATURES: Beautifully renovated 1926 Arts and Crafts house on quiet cul-de-sac edging Cornwall Park. Swimming pool, covered terraces and outdoor fireplace off luxury kitchen, formal living room plus further reception rooms.

You get the impression that Keith Wester is one of those guys who may somewhat understate his skills. He says he's dabbled a bit in building, then adds the house renovation count is up to around 22 or so. However, he's clearly got a good eye and a bit of affection for the properties he and wife Sylvia develop.

"We stumbled upon this place, really. We just live up the road," he explains. "It looked so smart and appealing from the outside. We came up and had a look and fell in love."

The 1926 two-storeyed house - one of a cluster on the tiny enclave of Fern Ave, off Golf Rd - was designed in the Arts and Crafts-meets-English-country style popular at that time in Auckland's monied suburbs. As they were working on the house, Keith and Sylvia heard stories from families who had lived here or knew it.

The Westers knew they had a treasure on their hands, so were careful that renovations to the property maintained its appealing proportions and style. Working with architectural designer John Leigh, Keith and Sylvia bumped out a wing on the north side of the old house to accommodate a large family room/kitchen on the ground floor and a large master suite upstairs. They also added a triple garage off the driveway and slipped in a swimming pool. But these are not just big modern boxes: the new wing is set back from the core of the old house, sharing the same massing and proportions of the roof and bifold windows, and the garage is tucked off to one side below the house so the gracious entry stairs and front porch can be admired. Even the 7.5m by 3.5m pool is retained by pebbled dash stucco to match original landscaping walls. The only modern touch - unseen from the facade - is the sliding wall of glass from the new family room to the covered terrace and fireplace.

The former sloping backyard has been terraced and levelled for a playground, with a gate to the olive grove of Cornwall Park.

Inside the gracious front door (luckily, along with most of the windows and doors, still original) is the piece de resistance: a sweep of staircase leading up to the curved first-floor landing. The couple were able to restore many of the original light fittings, although they did have to source replica door and window furniture. The formal front room has a windowseat and second bay, with views through the grand old trees over the valley and all the way to the Waitakere Ranges. The fireplace, like the rest of the heating, wiring and plumbing is comfortably 21st century; the beams and French doors to the new kitchen are original.

The huge informal living is anchored around the kitchen island, where interior designer Alison Ward specified a refreshing mix of dark wenge wood, white lacquer and marble-look composite bench. A butler's pantry with second sink is tucked behind the kitchen, with more storage and utility rooms behind that. These spaces had housed the original kitchen, so Keith And Sylvia were careful to retain the vintage built-in servery-sideboard in the formal dining room, now smartly painted. A third reception room was used as a study/library, and would be a perfect media room.

Upstairs a former pokey sunroom has been opened into a wonderful, sunny sitting room on the landing, giving more of those views. The four original bedrooms are sizeable doubles (one large enough for an en suite for guests), but they are dwarfed by the master suite. With bifold windows on three sides, sun, views and a luxurious walk-in and bathroom, this is a room you could live in. The family bathroom entices with its sculptural free-standing bath. Throughout both floors, the Westers have retained features, added masses of storage and catered to the views.

"Houses from this period are still timeless," says Keith."They just don't do that now, the details and the proportions of everything. This one is special."