A large section, a great position at the end of a cul de sac, a house with plenty of sun, and a view of Rangitoto from the front door were serious drawcards when Lisa and her husband were looking for a new home.
But the deciding factor in buying 29 Westbourne Road in Remuera was its little basement. It didn’t remain little for long because they had been looking for a house which would accommodate Lisa’s mother in a separate area, so an excavator was employed, and ‘little’ became much bigger.
It was the first stage in their total renovation of the big, 1940s weatherboard and tile house.
That weatherboard and tile house is now on the market with a set sale date closing August 16. Listed by Jo Johnstone and Josh Nixon of UP Real Estate, 29 Westbourne Road in Remuera, Auckland, last changed hands in 2014 for $3.1 million, according to OneRoof data.
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The excavated basement area is now a lovely space with a living area, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and laundry created for Lisa’s mother and the renovation didn’t stop here. The couple retained what had been a rough, sloping area, did lots of landscaping and planting, and created a private oasis with a covered terrace opening to a flat lawn.
The decking area overlooking the garden and lawn has an outdoor fireplace ideal for alfresco entertaining. Photo / Supplied
The main house had its floor levels altered, every wall rebuilt, new wiring, plumbing, paint and carpets, and a new kitchen, laundry and bathrooms. The professional decor, specification and interior design have created a serene and contemporary home.
The two separate living areas upstairs, both with fireplaces, provide both casual and formal spaces and open out via wide sliding doors to spacious elevated decking overlooking the lawn and garden.
An outdoor fireplace makes this ideal for alfresco entertaining. A neutral interior colour palette utilises subtle variations between the open plan kitchen-living area and the two sitting rooms, with the kitchen providing a vibrant focal point with its deep brown, wood-grain joinery.
“The interior designer had a slight industrial bent and we decided the kitchen, which was very bright and sunny, could provide a little drama,” Lisa says.
From the living space upstairs, there are views over Remuera valley all the way to Rangitoto. Photo / Supplied
The basement area was excavated to accommodate a living area, another kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and laundry. Photo / Supplied
With a 1482sqm section, there was plenty of scope to add significantly to the landscaping, and Lisa opted for a combination of formal and casual areas which would change with the seasons.
At the front door are two double topiaries, and the gardens flanking the entranceway combine box edging encasing tractor seat plants. Star Jasmine has been planted to soften the fences and provide fragrance, and rain lilies are sprinkled throughout the gardens. They provide a cheerful greeting growing between the wide steps at the front door.
Located in the double Grammar zone, 29 Westbourne Road is walking distance to Kings Prep and in zone for both Remuera Primary and Intermediate.
“And being in a cul de sac is great for families. We had two young kids when we came here so it was ideal. The residents have get-togethers at each other’s homes at Christmas and it really is a nice community,” Lisa says.
