When you’re in the market for a new home, compromise often comes with the territory.
You want to be close to the city, so you sacrifice a sense of solitude and serenity. You want an easy-care lock-up and leave home, so you forego space and style.
At 1/26a Ventnor Road, Remuera in Auckland, compromises don’t exist. The immaculately presented, sleek and stylish home oozes sophistication and class. Located right in the heart of one of the most sought-after suburbs in Auckland, it’s handy to the city but offers unicorn-esque privacy that makes it feel like it’s miles away from the CBD.
Step outside and the owner finds herself in the midst of a lush green oasis normally found on the pages of a designer gardening magazine. The property basically cares for itself, giving the owner flexibility to travel on a whim without worrying about what’s going on at home.
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Originally built in 2002 by architects Shanahan and Houston, 1/26a Ventnor Road has been completely renovated.
“When I bought the home back in 2013, everything was pale pink,” she says. “Pale pink carpet, pale pink walls, a pale pink basin, pale pink triangular bath ... the home really needed updating and modernising.”
The owner took much of her renovation and landscaping inspiration from the home’s north-facing aspect.
“Downstairs is mostly glass so I wanted to maximise the sun,” she says. “Now, I can open up the whole front of the house and the outside just flows in.”
There’s no denying that the house is lovely – French oak flooring downstairs, sleek white kitchen with oodles of storage, three roomy bedrooms, two beautiful bathrooms, big walls that showcase the owner’s art collection – but the star of the show is the landscaping.
“When you sit in the living room and look outside, all you see is green. That’s what I wanted with the landscaping. I really admire Australian landscape designer Paul Bangay’s work so I basically handed his book to my landscaper and said, ‘I want this’. And he absolutely delivered.”
The result is a private oasis that no one can look into. High fences coupled with a box hedge and gardenia underplanting create a stunning green outlook that you wouldn’t expect to find in the middle of suburbia. The tiled courtyard makes for easy, breezy entertaining and, for the owner, compulsory BBQ dining during summer.
The property has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a double garage.
Ray White agent Steve Koerber says the property, which is being auctioned on June 2, is ideal for people who are downsizing but who still want to live in a house, not an apartment.
“It’s large enough to be comfortable, small enough to not need much maintenance, and central enough to get everywhere,” Koerber says. “It’s their own little house with everything they want, without any body corp fees.”
As for the owner, it’s time to move onto new horizons.
“When I bought this blank canvas, it was amazing to do what I wanted to the place. I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved here, but now it’s time for my next adventure.”
The property goes to auction on June 2.
