When Megan and David first stepped inside their classic 1920s residence at an open home 12 years ago, they overheard an elderly man telling his grandchildren that he had grown up there and enjoyed every minute.
“And we could immediately see why,” says Megan.
She and David still had four children at home and with three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs along with a master suite on the ground floor, there was good separation for parents and teens and plenty of room for relaxation and entertaining.
Megan believes that the most engaging aspect is the tranquil indoor-outdoor flow while David loves the character features and, specifically, fine details like the high beamed ceilings, leadlight windows and the staircase detail.
Start your property search
He says the double concrete walls are naturally great insulators that are low maintenance and keep you cool in summer and warm in winter.
During their 12-year tenure the couple have completely modernised other aspects of the property too, creating light, bright interiors and adding solar panels and a battery backup system for power.
There are also solar tubes for hot water and pool heating to make an energy-efficient home. The latest addition to the home is ducted heating and air-conditioning.
“That whole energy project was the best thing we ever did,” says David. “Our power bills are incredibly low – even in winter.”
“And we also put in the new kitchen, which has a combined scullery and laundry adjacent, with loads of storage,” adds Megan.
The property has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a single garage, with plenty of off-street parking. Photo / Supplied
There are solar tubes for hot water and pool heating to make an energy-efficient home. Photo / Supplied
She’s noticed that when friends and family first see the house, they are immediately drawn in by its quiet elegance.
The couple’s front garden is typically English in style – as a nod to David’s birthplace, and the neat box hedges require relatively little care and maintenance.
“Just an hour or so of trimming time each month,” Megan says.
The couple are frequent visitors to Bali, where they hope to spend even more time in the years ahead, so it’s fitting that their backyard has a tropical resort vibe, with palms and other colourful plants surrounding the pool and the air is always alive with native birdsong.
“Plus, this is such a wonderfully friendly street with the very best neighbours you could ever imagine. We’ve recently had our annual street party and looking back, I think most of the local kids learned to swim and dive at our place,” Megan says.
The new kitchen has a combined scullery and laundry adjacent, with loads of storage. Photo / Supplied
During their 12-year tenure, the owners modernised the property, creating light and bright interiors with solar panels and a battery backup system for power. Photo / Supplied
With their own children all grown up and living elsewhere, Megan and David are enjoying having no specific plans for the future – apart from those anticipated Bali trips. “This has been a great home, and now it’s another family’s turn to enjoy it,” they say.
Rachel Berry notes that demand for quality dwellings like Megan and David’s has remained high in popular Mount Albert – especially around the mountain itself.
“It’s beautifully presented, close to good schools, just a short stroll from the village and it’s part of a very welcoming community where properties are tightly held,” she says.
18 Douglas Avenue in Mount Albert, Auckland, has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a single garage, with off-street parking. The property is on the market for sale and heading to auction on February 25.
- Sponsored by Ray White
