Bayleys agent Linda Simmons says that 6 Russell Street is one of Devonport’s ultimate family homes and needs to be experienced in person to truly appreciate the scale, design ingenuity and sheer luxury it embodies.
“It’s beyond compare. The attention to detail is mind blowing and the whole property is above and beyond anything I’ve ever seen before,” she says.
It’s the home of Rajan, Jemma and their three children, and it was how the villa was going to work for their family that initially attracted them to it, as well as the way the frontage belies the drama that unfolds.
“That’s something we remember to this day. When we walked through the front part of the house we were already wowed, then you have this incredible two-level extension,” shares Rajan.
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“It’s such a surprise and the house seems to go on forever, yet it doesn’t appear that way from the front. We were blown away and could see the house had so much potential, particularly for us.
“We’re from the UK and when our family visit, they visit for several months, so we could see there was a real possibility for creating some space for them to have peace and privacy while still being in the same home.”
Spanning over 500sqm, the floor plan incorporates six bedrooms in a series of separate wings, multiple living areas, a media room/playroom, generous purpose-built office and wine cellar, as well as magnificent, landscaped gardens, a putting green and resort-style swimming pool complex complete with pool bar outside.
While the home was already renovated when they moved in, the couple took it to another level with a transformation undertaken in conjunction with renowned designer and studio founder Paul Izzard from Izzard design, the mastermind behind many of New Zealand’s most prestigious bars, restaurants and boutiques.
Bold, innovative and extraordinary, the finished result is a functional work of art that’s been designed to surprise and delight at every turn and won builders Nouveau Construction a 2022 Master Builders Gold Award.
The 547sqm villa sits on a 1012sqm section and has six bedrooms, five bathrooms and garaging for three vehicles. Photo / Supplied
The sleek, streamlined kitchen at the home’s heart took a lot of design – with three separate walk-in pantries and an enormous Calacatta Betogli marble island. Photo / Supplied
“We wanted to blend the heritage features with significant modernisation and with Paul’s background in hospitality, he really pushes the boundaries. We were looking for someone to take us down that path and allow us to take some risks. We trusted him and trusted the process,” he says.
The striking juxtaposition of old and new sees classic character features retained and brought to life with large glass and steel internal doors, dark timber, marble, ECC lighting, custom-built furniture, unexpected pops of colour and even gold plating.
Technology also plays a large part, with the home automation system controlling indoor and outdoor lighting, music, TV, blinds and security. Every square millimetre has been considered and serves a purpose and as the family lived through both stages of the renovation, they were able to be extremely hands-on with the journey.
“We have given everything a lot of thought. We asked ourselves, ‘how are we going to use this and how are the kids going to use this, even as they get older’. We made changes ahead of time to grow with our family. There’s a lot of us in this house and lots of personal touches,” adds Jemma.
“My dad is a carpenter and designed and made the wall panelling himself. He came over for a holiday but didn’t get a holiday as he spent the entire time working.”
The sleek, streamlined kitchen at the home’s heart took a lot of design – it boasts three separate walk-in pantries, an enormous Calacatta Betogli marble island and Bora in bench extractor fan.
“If we have people over or a big family gathering, we can all eat together, then adults can hang in the kitchen or go to the lounge and the kids generally migrate to the playroom to play or watch movies,” she says.
The homeowners engaged renowned designer Paul Izzard, from Izzard design, to transform the villa. Photo / Supplied
The pool bar is a popular addition to the sunny, north-facing pool complex. Photo / Supplied
Rajan cites the lounge as his favourite spot to relax after work, while Jemma loves to retire to their spectacular master bedroom, which incorporates separate his and her customised dressing rooms and a luxury spa-like bathroom.
“It’s like staying in an exclusive hotel, especially with the gold plated detailing. Paul’s vision was gold with the navy and dark timber and it soon became apparent that Paul was only happy with gold-plating to perfect the look,” says Jemma.
The pool bar is a popular addition to the sunny, north-facing pool complex and has a built-in dishwasher, fridge/freezer and cabinetry designed to easily install a beer keg.
“It’s a bit of fun. When we’ve got kids there it’s a great place to make toasties and serve drinks from the bar. Then it also transforms into a more adult zone where we can do cocktails and wine by the pool. It’s a resort in itself really,” says Jemma.
The family has also loved the strong sense of community on Russell Street, which is full of young families thanks to the local primary school located down the road.
“Russell Street has had an annual Christmas party for over 30 years – our neighbour was the organiser of that and handed the task over to Jemma a few years ago,” says Rajan.
“My dad actually made the Russell Street Santa sleigh,” adds Jemma. “It’s a really lovely occasion and we often have a tug of war with Glen Road, who are one street over.”
6 Russell Street in Devonport, North Shore, Auckland, is on the market for sale by tender, closing June 4.
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