Mount Eden resident Alyssa says she and husband Luuk didn’t quite realise how much hard work lay ahead, in 2023, when they bought what was essentially a rare but unpolished jewel: a 1910s villa divided into three units.
It’s located in a popular street close to Eden Park, the shops and cafes of Kingsland and Dominion Road and the train station – and all just a few minutes’ drive to and from the CBD.
“As we hit the tools our lovely neighbours never complained about the following three years of noise and upheaval and would even bring us scones and generally look out for us – especially when our baby boy arrived last year,” she says.
“So, we knew this was a very special community.”
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Although they had a great team of top tradespeople to deal with the major aspects of the rebuild, which included re-roofing, re-plumbing, re-wiring and re-painting Alyssa and Luuk did what she describes as “the grunt work” themselves to help keep within budget.
This included the daunting task of digging out and breaking up volcanic rock, which was used to terrace parts of what’s now a fully landscaped section.
“But it was well worth it,” says Alyssa who has loved hearing about the overwhelmingly positive feedback at open homes. “You put all this effort in, and you don’t know if people will like it, but it seems they do!”
The 224sqm residence sits on 688sqm of land and has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, multiple living areas, a swimming pool and parking for cars. Photo / Supplied
The vendors bought the property in 2023 - an unpolished 1910s gem that had been divided into three units. Photo / Supplied
Beautifully re-imagined for modern life, the villa now has the first two of its four bedrooms, plus a bathroom, separate laundry and generous storage space situated on the ground level, with stairs leading to the second floor.
Here’s where the best views kick in – seen to their best advantage from extensive decking outside of the huge living, dining and kitchen – which has a hard-working scullery adjacent.
As well as a large separate family room, there’s also an elegant main bathroom on this level, along with the luxury master suite and the fourth bedroom, which opens to a traditional porch – itself lovingly restored, along with every single other aspect of the property.
Alyssa says that she and Luuk were passionate about keeping the spirit and history of their special home alive and were extremely excited to find original ornate ceilings under 1970s plywood ones in some of the rooms.
The huge living, dining and kitchen flows out to extensive decking. Photo / Supplied
The décor is bright and neutral throughout, creating a beautiful canvas for new owners to imbue with their own personality. Photo / Supplied
They’ve kept the décor bright and neutral throughout, using plenty of light-enhancing white – creating a beautiful canvas for new owners to imbue with their own personality.
With the advantage of a full section Alyssa and Luuk have been able to put in a pool, with a pool house beside it. There’s also a garage, which is somewhat of a rarity in this part of town.
Andrew Milne is marketing the property and says that the amount of work the couple put in is phenomenal and it’s all ready for new owners to move in.
“It has fantastic indoor/outdoor flow, and you can just imagine kids splashing in the pool, while you enjoy a chilled rose on the deck!”
- 20 Onslow Road in Mount Eden, Auckland, is for sale, price on application
