With palm-fringed bures by the pool and a laid-back tropical vibe, you could easily imagine you’re in Fiji – but this resort-style home oasis is in the heart of Chatswood.
It’s a paradise that proud homeowners David and Donna Harwood of 3 Holyoake Place have created.
As well as a dream set-up for home chefs and passionate bakers, like Donna, with two complete kitchens divided by a purpose-built wall to showcase cookbooks and store serving platters. With ample bench space, three dishwashers and four ovens, plus a steam oven – including an industrial Smeg – perfect for serious recipe testing.
Donna jokes she “should have been a chef. I honestly could be in the kitchen from 9am to 5pm. I love cooking. It’s my zone.”
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The home was built in 1974 complete with the original pool, though over the years it’s been transformed from its original “1000sq feet box on top of a 1000sq feet box” into an architectural marvel.
David purchased the property in 2001 and improvements made over the years include adding the double garage, digging out the driveway to create a flat area which can accommodate five parked cars. Over the past five years, David and Donna have given the home and property an entire makeover. The pool area has been repainted, as has the whole house inside and out, plus the entire entertainment/pool area has been retiled.
A purpose-built designer bar added adjacent to the movie room and library nook moved upstairs. The kitchen has been completely renovated and second kitchen added. Special features include an indoor waterfall and Italian-style wrought iron wall baskets with silk flower art in the glass roof atrium dining area.
New carpets have been laid throughout and the massive walk-in wardrobe in the master bedroom installed with spinning Lazy Lee shoe storage that holds up to 200 shoes and a vanity with Hollywood lights.
The kitchen has been completely renovated and a second kitchen was added divided by a purpose-built wall to showcase cookbooks and store serving platters. Photo / Supplied
Harcourts agent Amy Wang describes the property as like “living in a Fiji resort without leaving home”. Photo / Supplied
The massive walk-in wardrobe in the master bedroom has spinning Lazy Lee shoe storage that holds up to 200 shoes and a vanity with Hollywood lights. Photo / Supplied
Each of the four bedrooms was also updated and is big enough to accommodate a king-size bed. Both bathrooms are also spacious with double basins and feature Italian-made fittings.
Top floor bedrooms, which include the master bedroom, open on to a grass turf balcony overlooking the pool and palm trees. The downstairs kitchen/entertainment area opens out on to the barbecue and pool area, creating indoor/outdoor flow, and making it a peaceful haven as much as it’s a party house.
“It’s perfect for a family with three kids. There are so many zones to spread out to and enjoy a bit of personal space when you need it,” says David, who’s raised a family here.
What they’ve both loved most about living here “is the peacefulness”.
Special features of the house include Italian-style wrought iron wall baskets with silk flower art in the glass roof atrium dining area. Photo / Supplied
The purpose-built designer bar flows out to the deck, swimming pool and spa. Photo / Supplied
“It’s like being in a resort,” says Donna. “We could just shut the gates and not go anywhere. We’ve got the pool, spa, BBQ and the bar. What else do we need? In summer the sun doesn’t go off the pool until about 8pm. You just don’t need to go anywhere. Everyone who visits wants to move in.”
The property is also fully fenced and pet-friendly, close to the Birkenhead Village shops and just 12 minutes from the CBD.
Property agent Amy Wang sums it up when she says it’s like “living in a Fiji resort without leaving home” with the “most amazing indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces, fancy kitchens that are even better than a dream” and a “Hollywood celebrity-style dressing room in the master bedroom”.
3 Holyoake Place in Chatswood, North Shore, Auckland, is for sale, deadline closing December 4.
- Sponsored by Harcourts
