GROOVY KIND OF LOVE
This Grey Lynn townhouse is a celebration of quirky retro style, writes
There’s one word Sally Frewin tends to hear over and over when people visit her Grey Lynn home.
“Everyone says, ‘This is cool’ when they walk in,” says Sally, who said the same thing herself when she first saw the house 14 years ago. “I love that reaction.”
With its concrete floors, plywood kitchen, splashes of colour and quirky angled walls, cool is a most appropriate word to describe the house. It was built behind a traditional brick home in Great North Rd in the mid 1990s, and the first surprising thing about it is how quiet it is.
“Being one house back from the road means you don’t hear the traffic,” says Sally. “We are in the thick of Grey Lynn, yet it is so peaceful.”
The exterior is clad in eye-catching zincalume and timber, while interior has a funky, retro vibe. One feature that immediately stands out is the generous use of large windows, making it a particularly light and bright home. A large picture window in the lounge frames a view of the spa pool and tropical landscaping. Another big window in the dining room is next to built-in seating that provides the perfect spot to sit and read while the sun pours in the window.
Both the living and dining rooms have bifold doors that open out to a deck and a patio. Sally says one of the best things she did was turning the lawn into a huge deck that is essentially a large outdoor room. Private, sunny and north-facing, with enough space to play cricket, it includes lush plants and an outdoor fire, over which “cowboy dinners” (sausages on a stick) are often cooked. The deck steps down to a patio adjoining the dining room and kitchen which has space for a built-in seating and plenty of space for a barbecue.
“We live out here in summer,” says Sally, adding that the house is ideal for entertaining in all weathers but comes into its own when the doors can all be thrown open and guests can chose between hanging outside or loitering around the kitchen island.
The plywood kitchen is over 20 years old, but has stood the test time. It has plenty of storage and is complemented by stainless steel benchtops.
What used to be the adjoining garage is now a family room that includes the laundry and a storage area.
“It’s really useful to have another living area for the kids,” says mum-of-two Sally.
Also useful is the area under the stairs, which is hidden away behind folding doors. It is currently used as an office or study area, but was previously an arts and crafts area for the children.
Upstairs are three bedrooms, all with big windows and good storage. The master bedroom has a large walk-in wardrobe, while another bedroom also has an oversized cupboard. The bathroom has a separate shower and bath, and is painted a vibrant green. “I love bright colours but if it isn’t your taste you can easily paint over it.”
The location has been one of the bonuses of living in the house. It’s just two minutes to the Grey Lynn shops and cafes – “Pocket Bar & Kitchen is so close you could practically zipline home from there,” says Sally – as well as the supermarket.
Western Springs is a little bit further away down the road, and the perfect place to go walking. The home is also handy for motorway access and a short drive into Ponsonby and the city.
Sally, who is selling to downsize and spend more time at her bach, says she hopes the house goes to a family who enjoy that fact that it’s a little bit different.
Agent Marc Collins says the house is “a bit of a wildcard. It’s an alternative to the villas and bungalows you get in Grey Lynn. It’s a great first home or a step up from an apartment.”
It would also suit someone downsizing from a large home and section who is looking for a low maintenance option. “It’s in a great location, you’re close to the West Lynn shops as well as Grey Lynn, and it is not far to the train stop at Kingsland,” says Marc, adding that the people who’ve viewed it so far have had the same reaction as Sally’s visitors over the years. “They all say it’s cool.”