Shore thing for sailors
This quiet waterfront property is perfect for those who like being able to watch the sea or enjoy being out on it, writes Sandra Goodwin
Sea- lover Tony Whiting first cast an appreciative gaze over this Westmere waterfront property 44 years ago and could immediately envisage living here, wrapped up in its harbour views. Tony — whose big sister is well- known boating personality Penny Whiting — and his wife Margaret Wilson managed to buy it 17 years ago.
Tony says: “There’s a very strong boating thread through this property. I knew the family who first owned it, and used to pull their 40- foot launch up out the back here each winter.
“You don’t have to be a boatie to live here – but it sure helps.
“I can get up in the morning and look out at our boat on its mooring. And I can sit at our dining room table and look out at the boats racing around Kauri Point.”
The home looks north across Coxs Bay and the harbour to the North Shore’s Kauri Point and Birkenhead, with more harbour views to the west.
Semi- retired engineer Tony appreciated from the start how solidly the 1948 stucco- over- brick home had been built.
Six years ago he and semi- retired language teacher Margaret commissioned Richard McLeay to design a major upgrade of the home, extending it upwards and to the rear while extensively upgrading the interior, including insulating. Richard’s design continues the line of the original roofline through the new rear of the home, which is clad in cedar.
It created Tony and Margaret’s favourite spot; a peaceful family room luxuriating under a vaulted ceiling of white- washed pine. Big sliders open up the corner of this room and the neighbouring kitchen- dining to pergolas and outdoors, celebrating the home’s private setting.
Californian- born Margaret ( who is overseas so niece Erin Sandor and her 7- year- old daughter Chloe feature in these photos) chose the bagged brick wall finish accenting the family room.
Tony says: “Visitors come through the house, stand here and look out through the greenery at the water and just say, ‘ Wow’.
He explains they don’t need electricity for their hot water heating as they installed solar heating on the roof and a heat- recovery system from the under- floor heating that warms the family room’s polished concrete floor.
A few off- street parking spots neighbour lawn out the front of the house, from where they regularly take kayaks down to launch through Westmere Park, which is one property away.
The sandblasted glass front door with sail- boat was swapped with a neighbour for a bottle of wine.
Original matai floors gleam in the hallway, off which you’ll find two good- sized bedrooms, the family bathroom and front lounge. Like the front bedroom the lounge boasts sea views, also equipped with a wood- burning fire and sliding doors enabling it to double as a fourth bedroom.
At the end of the hallway, the kitchen with American maple cabinetry and stainless benches opens out to a deck. This level also has the laundry and Tony’s workshop, tools at the ready to craft projects such as the raised vege beds accompany garden beds and lawns in the rear grounds.
Upstairs the master suite offers sea views in two directions, an en suite, walk- through wardrobe and access to abundant under- roof storage.
Tony and Margaret have loved living at the tip of this no- exit street in a friendly neighbourhood that has an annual locals’ regatta. They are moving to West Auckland for family reasons.
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32 WESTMERE PARK AVE, WESTMERE SIZE: PRICE GUIDE: INSPECT:
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AUCTION: SCHOOLS: CONTACT: ON THE WEB: * 3 off- street parks
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