Amanda Pope’s townhouse is in one of Auckland’s best spots, just a hop and a skip to the Domain and a short stroll to both Parnell and Newmarket.
But once you’re inside, it’s easy to imagine you’re in the heart of Paris, thanks to the sophisticated French styling of the interiors.
The original owner of the townhouse in the highly sought after Parks on Domain complex was French, and paid homage to her homeland with special touches like the classic walnut flooring and wrought iron railings.
A chef who gave cooking lessons from home, she made sure the kitchen was a tour de force. It features a huge central island with beveled glass panels, marble bench-tops and splashback, and top-of-the-range Miele and Gaggenau appliances.
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The kitchen is a dream to use, says Amanda, and like the rest of the house, is very practical while being aesthetically stunning.
Amanda is an interior designer and artist with a very discerning eye, and immediately appreciated the styling of 5D Maunsell Rd when she first saw it three and a half years ago.
“I just loved the feel of it,” she says. “It is so calming and relaxing and had just been so well done.”
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In fact, there’s very little she’s needed to do in the time she’s lived there to enhance it further, other than adding some new light fittings and decorating with furnishings that complement the elegance of the home.
Designed by architect Brent Hulena and constructed in the early 2000s, the townhouse exudes class from the moment you walk through the front gate, past the charming garden and into the entrance lobby. This is a grand double-height space that feels like the lobby of a luxury hotel, thanks to the striking ECC chandelier, generous space and wide wooden staircase that creates a sense of arriving somewhere special.
At the top of those stairs is a large room that Amanda currently uses as a media room but has previously been a bedroom for her son and could also be a home office. Like all of the living and bedrooms in the house, it has floor-to-ceiling French doors out to a balcony.
There is also a bathroom on this level with French provincial-style handmade tiles.
On the next floor up is the open-plan living area with the kitchen at its heart. A gas fire adds ambience and warmth in the winter, while in the summer months, French doors at each end of the space can be left open to allow cooling breezes through. From the front balcony off the living space there is a view of the Auckland Museum in one direction, and Mt Hobson in the other.
The top level comprises the large master bedroom with a walk-through wardrobe to a bathroom which can also be accessed from the second bedroom. Amanda uses this bedroom as office, and loves being able to look out at the museum as she works.
There’s also a fourth level to the home, in the basement accessed by stairs tucked discreetly away off the lobby. Down here is the spacious double garage, laundry and a huge storage cupboard. In fact there is lots of storage on every level of the home, points out Amanda.
Parks on Domain has a large immaculately kept communal garden for residents, where they hold a Christmas party every year. There’s plenty of space to kick a ball or throw a stick for a dog, which Amanda’s terrier Buddy appreciates.
Having the Domain on the doorstep is also a huge bonus for both Buddy and Amanda. As well as being walking distance to Newmarket or Parnell, it’s a very short drive or bus ride into the city, and for families, ACG Parnell School is a minute’s walk.
“It’s a great location, and also an ideal lock-up-and-leave property, it’s so low maintenance and secure,” says Amanda. “It’s also a lovely community to live in – everyone looks out for each other. It’s been a fantastic place to live.”
Agent Nicholas Dallyn of Boulgaris Realty says there has been “massive interest” in the property. “It’s the perfect location, and it’s an exquisite home. It’s gated so it is very safe, and it’s beautifully maintained. It really is very special.”
