With its exquisite renovation, fabulous indoor-outdoor flow and landscaped grounds, this Remuera property has been a true haven for its current owners.
They purchased the Arts and Crafts-style cedar residence around 11 years ago while living in London and moved into it a year later.
“It’s been the most magnificent family home for us. We’ve done a huge amount of work on it, while still keeping the original structure of the house,” one of them says.
They started with the outside – creating more usable and practical spaces for their kids to play on and enjoy safely. This included flattening out the site to create the expansive level lawns, building the deck that wraps around the pool and installing the spa and outdoor barbecue.
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“Then in 2019 we did a rebuild of the interiors, keeping the same style but modernising it completely. We also extended the front, which expanded the living area and kitchen down below and up above it brought the master bedroom forward so we could put in a walk-in wardrobe, and it enabled us to extend that bathroom as well.”
Entry level comprises the formal lounge and dining areas, which flow into the expansive, open-plan kitchen and family room. All three bedrooms and two bathrooms are allocated upstairs.
He says the kitchen is the piece de resistance.
“We were really focused on creating an amazing kitchen – we love food and we love entertaining. It’s got a Wolf oven and has that whole back area, which is like a scullery as it’s hidden from view.
“I never liked the idea of feeling like you’re locked away in a scullery, so you’re still looking out to the pool in there and the windows open so you can serve drinks or food straight out from it. We’ve had chefs here that have really enjoyed that area, it’s got a full oven in there as well as around the front.”
In 2019 the current owners did a rebuild of the interiors, keeping the same style but modernising it completely. Photo / Supplied
“It’s been the most magnificent family home for us,” one of the homeowners says. Photo / Supplied
The set-up has worked incredibly well for family life and entertaining.
“We love the indoor-outdoor flow of the kitchen and living out on to the deck. We’ve got a big awning out there, a big table and barbecue. Being able to be in the kitchen or living area and see kids playing in the pool has been amazing.”
The grounds have been set up with fun and sports in mind.
“We put the netball hoop in because my girls are keen netballers, and the big, long grass is great for cricket. More recently we put in the putting green in – it used to be a pétanque court but we found that we didn’t use it. I use the putting green all the time and you can chip on to it as well.”
The separate double garage has an EV charger and space for a table tennis table, as well as an incredibly handy self-contained apartment above it.
The separate double garage has an incredibly handy self-contained apartment above it. Photo / Supplied
Entry level comprises the formal lounge and dining areas, which flow into the expansive, open-plan kitchen and family room. Photo / Supplied
“It’s got a kitchenette with dishwasher and a proper bedroom with living area. I use it as my office when I’m working from home and it’s really nice for guests to be able to have their own space and not feel like they’re living on top of the family. My teenage daughter was eyeing it up too.”
The neighbourhood itself has been a great place to live, with the community spirit really coming alive during Covid. “The neighbours set up a Combes Road chat, so if anyone needed help we were all available. It’s a really nice neighbourhood.”
They are moving on as they have found a new place that works ever so slightly better for their teenage kids. “It’s really hard to leave, I’ll really miss the kitchen and flow.”
Gary Wallace, from Bayleys, is selling the property with Vicki and Andrew, and says this is a truly fabulous family home. “You walk in and it has such a lovely feel about it – it ticks a lot of boxes and you’ve got total privacy.”
- 18 Combes Road in Remuera, Auckland, is for sale by auction, on February 25
