COVER PROPERTY

Elevation gains an extra perspective when a two-storey home is located on a sloping street.

You realise that when looking out from the sunny upstairs deck at 48 Trelawney Crescent in New Plymouth. This area is part of a valley setting adjacent to the nearby and larger Huatoki Valley and the upperstorey design adds to the rise of the street to provide a pleasing outlook across the established neighbourhood.

This perspective also emphasises how green most New Plymouth neighbourhoods are, with mature trees softening the view and masking many of the homes out there. That outlook and its sense of privacy was part of the appeal for Glenis when she bought this property in 2016.

Space was the other major attraction. The 260 square metres in the twostorey house was plenty to accommodate family planning a return to New Plymouth and the 718sqm of flat, easycare land allowed room to build an independent unit for her at the back.

Those plans have changed with family now staying put in other regions, and her decision to sell will allow new owners to enjoy this setting and space.

There’s plenty to like about life here, as a sunny mid-week visit reveals.

The 1970s-built home is a quitecontemporary presentation of concrete-block basement, with a darkstained, vertical cedar-clad upper storey and a deck running its full length. It’s a design that could still be built new today, Glenis feels.

The drive in and the section is virtually flat, with established trees that screen life inside; in particular, a large cherry tree adds pleasing shade across the frontage in summer. In winter the leaves drop to let extra light into the home.

The front door is at basement level, beneath the deck that provides overhead shelter. The door opens into a large foyer area, open atrium-style to the living areas above.

It’s light and airy with the tall window beside the door and the extra height of that atrium design.

The generous double garage is accessed left as expected, but Glenis points out the extra flexible family and living space down here. To the right is the home’s fourth bedroom – or a convenient office if new owners wanted to work from home. The room has a door to the driveway so clients would not have to walk through the family areas.

Through the double garage, a large rumpus or games room adds real family appeal with its separation from the main living areas upstairs. ‘‘It could be a media room these days,’’ Glenis suggests.

Existing plumbing provision also means it could become self-contained accommodation, she says.

At the top of the wide stairs from the foyer are the light-filled dining and lounge space, split by the open stairwell, with the kitchen through a door at the back.

Glenis has enhanced this space, painting the former dark-stained timber tongue-and-groove wall linings white to lighten it up.

The exposed beams across the white ceilings are still dark-stained and they emphasise the extra height of the ceilings and make it feel airy.

The original pendant light fittings were happily retained during the decor refreshment. ‘‘I quite like the light fittings; they are of the era of this home but they have become popular again. Everything goes in cycles, doesn’t it?’’

Tall windows along the living areas let in plenty of light and a sliding door from the lounge opens to the deck that bathes in morning sun. Glenis enjoys having breakfast out here, taking in the view and the early warmth. In winter, a gas fire keeps the home cosy.

The kitchen is another generous space that Glenis has left original, letting new owners exercise their needs and tastes in any renovation. It’s perfectly useable as is, though, and new owners can easily just settle into this home without making any immediate changes.

A door from the kitchen opens to a western deck that gets the midday and afternoon sun; a pleasing alternative to the deck off the living areas. ‘‘One side or the other is usually in sun or shade, depending what you want.’’

This western deck also has a great view back to the mountain. ‘‘I’ve been getting fantastic sunsets lately with the mountain there and all pale pink behind it.’’

Three double bedrooms are located towards the back of the house, with the master and one guest bedroom both opening through sliding doors to that long deck. The upstairs level is completed by the family bathroom, separate toilet, and separate familyfriendly shower room.

The bath and toilet are both pale blue – a popular choice of the day.

From the back bedroom windows, Glenis points out the council reserve land over the back boundary that adds a rural outlook. It’s often used for grazing and last summer horses were a regular sight.

This address is handy to Westown shops, she says, where you find everything from a Post Office and bank to cafes and bakery choices. Schools are handy, as are hospital and medical centre services.

Professionals Real Estate consultant Delwyn McCurdy is marketing the property, which she says will appeal to buyers ‘‘looking for something a little less ordinary and a home that offers a unique point of difference’’.