The owners of this character-rich renovated 1920s home knew they liked the cut of its jib, but that had little to do with its sporting heritage.
America’s Cup coach and sailing medallist Rod Davis raised his family here and it was later owned by one of former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry’s sons.
One of its current owners, Robbie, who is a builder, says: “We wanted a big family home in Grammar zone for our boys to go to Auckland Grammar. This house has definitely got a lot of character and soul to it and I could see the quality of build was great.”
It sits on a potentially subdividable 1104sqm section, perched on the high side of Omahu Road, with a spacious flat backyard for children to run around on.
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“We turned up to look at it in winter and being totally north facing it felt beautifully warm. There’s great indoor-outdoor flow from its rear open-plan area, where our family have spent most of their time, out to a patio and the backyard.
“It’s a really convenient location close to Remuera Village and motorway access, a short drive from Newmarket. We’ve got two older boys and one a bit younger and this is just around the corner from Remuera Primary School and an easy cycle to Auckland Grammar.
“It’s convenient to walk our labrador up Mt Hobson, where so many people walk their dogs it feels like a doggy daycare. It’s a really friendly street – when we moved in about seven years ago they put on a street party for us to welcome us into the road.”
The grey weatherboard home emanates fantastic street appeal with its heritage-style front fence and its detailing picked out in white. A wind vane of a yacht, referencing the Davis family, sits atop its single garage which neighbours a carport, accompanying plentiful driveway parking.
Character features are plentiful with native timber flooring, leadlight windows, beamed ceilings and a handsome timber-panelled sitting room with original built-in cabinetry. Photo / Supplied
There’s a swing in a mature beech tree, plenty of lawn for sports, room to add a pool, and an attractive sleepout with a bedroom and bathroom. Photo / Supplied
“Apparently in the past someone bought the clay shingle tiles off another house to add to the ones here.”
The home has been renovated for modern family living, but character features still abound, including native timber flooring, leadlight windows and beamed ceilings.
A lounge neighbours a handsome timber-panelled sitting room with original built-in cabinetry which is extended by a study. There’s gas central heating and three fireplaces add ambience. Three bedrooms near the front door include the large front one with generous floor-to-ceiling wardrobing, alongside the family bathroom which these owners renovated.
The Davis family added the open-plan rear kitchen-dining-family room, floored in terracotta tiles Robbie understands they brought back from Mexico. Now sporting a sleek renovated kitchen, this room opens out to the wide, partly covered patio inviting alfresco entertaining.
The house sits on a potentially subdividable 1104sqm section, with a spacious flat backyard. Photo / Supplied
The home has been renovated for modern family living with gas central heating, three fireplaces, a sleek renovated kitchen and partly covered patio for alfresco entertaining. Photo / Supplied
Upstairs a bedroom with a renovated ensuite and generous wardrobing sits across the upstairs hall from the fifth bedroom. The sixth bedroom and third bathroom are in an attractive sleepout bound to be popular with guests or teens, in the pancake flat, fenced backyard.
Here there’s a swing in a mature beech tree, plentiful lawn for sport or play and room to add a pool should future owners desire. Grounds have been re-landscaped with an emphasis on smart hedges and low-maintenance plants.
Now the older two sons have reached adulthood it’s the right time to downsize.
Bayleys agent Steve Koerber says: “This is one of those quintessential good looking Remuera family homes on a fully fenced big section with amazing indoor outdoor flow to a sunny yard. This location, between Kings & Dio, is super sought after for good reason.”
- 23 Omahu Road in Remuera, Auckland, goes to auction on November 26
