A very good sport
This inviting family villa has been renovated to a high standard, discovers Penny Lewis
Emma and Andrew Marr’s Remuera home has an impressive sporting pedigree. Casting their eyes over their Ascot Ave property’s ownership history, they noted it has been owned previously by former Warriors hooker, Nathan Friend. Going further back, former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick’s name was on the title. When asked if the current household is continuing in the fine rugby union and league tradition, the Marrs laugh.
“No, unless you count me buying a Warriors season pass one year,” Emma says.
Emma and Andrew had been living in an historic home in Mt Wellington, but wanted to move to Remuera for its school zones for their daughters, Madeleine, now 13 and Lucia, 11. They found this charming villa on the corner of Ascot Ave and Cotter Ave, which had already been completely renovated in 2009.
“The fact that it was all done really appealed, and it was done really well,” Andrew says. The only change they’ve made in the four years since they’ve been there is to add carpet to the guest bedroom.
The location has been ideal, too. The girls have attended Remuera Primary and Remuera Intermediate School, which is just around the corner. “The playing fields are only 200m away, so there’s been no excuse for being late for school,” Andrew says.
Cotter Ave has also been a thoroughfare for the Marrs to walk up to Remuera village, where they like to head to Browns cafe for coffee. There are gates from their fully fenced garden on to both
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29 ASCOT AVE, REMUERA SIZE: PRICE INDICATION: AUCTION DATE: INSPECT:
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SCHOOLS: CONTACT: ON THE WEB: * OSP for 2 cars Ascot Ave and Cotter Ave. The location has made it easy to access motorway links and for the Marrs to get to work — Andrew in Mt Albert and Emma in the central city.
The villa boasts a return veranda, which flows out to a north- facing deck and level lawns. Inside the front door to the left there’s a guest bedroom, as well as a spacious office that’s been used by the girls as a playroom in the past. It would also make an excellent media room.
Across the dark- stained timber hallway are Madeleine and Lucia’s bedrooms, which both have copious wardrobe space. The large family bathroom has underfloor heating, a large, separate shower and a resurfaced clawfoot bath.
The master bedroom has a view out across the neighbourhood over to One Tree Hill. There’s also a dressing room and an en suite with an impressive three shower heads, one of which is a waterfall fitting.
The open- plan kitchen and dining area is “an amazing suntrap” Emma says. With a compositestone waterfall- edge benchtop and glossy black panels, the kitchen is sleek and contemporary, yet it still works well with the villa style.
Bifold doors lead outside to the deck and there’s a separate door on to the veranda.
The main living area is down some steps at the end of the hall. It has a window- seat and bifold doors that open up to a further deck and lawn. There’s still an original villa fireplace as a nod to the past. “This has been an ideal space when we’re entertaining. It’s got great flow,” says Emma. We’ve easily had 40 people here.”
Throughout the house, the atmosphere is light and bright, thanks to the extensive double glazing and skylights in the roof. The Marrs have enjoyed their “private and secure” home, but are selling as they no longer need to be in double- grammar zone. Madeleine is at Dio and Lucia will be heading to the school next year.
“It’s been a great house,” Emma says. “It’s the perfect combination of a villa exterior with a completely renovated interior.”