Downsizing made easy
This solid Parnell townhouse is ideal for empty nesters, says Penny Lewis
Downsizing from a large family home isn’t always easy, but it helps when you move to a townhouse with abundant storage and a triple- car garage. Pru and Alan Robertson were typical empty- nesters when they sold their Kohimarama property and moved to Parnell three- and- a- half years ago.
With a son living in Sydney and a daughter living elsewhere in Auckland, the couple’s previous home was just too large for the two of them. When they started their search for an easy- care base, they had strict criteria. Their new place had to have enough space to keep some of their bits and pieces and it also had to be special enough to entice Alan, who Pru says isn’t really a fan of moving.
They found what they needed in an elegant concrete townhouse, only a couple of minutes’ walk from Parnell Rd. As Alan says, the garage has “enough room for all the toys and tools”, plus it also has a large storage room and wine cellar.
Not that the Robertsons need to use their cars much. They enjoy walking around the Orakei Basin and in the Domain. It’s only a 10- minute walk to Newmarket and they’re big fans of the Link bus and Uber if they want to head out a little further away.
“Even the airport is only a $ 40 taxi ride from here,” Pru says.
Pru and Alan know all the restaurants in Parnell and, because they’re located so centrally, they’ll often head back home with friends after dinner for a nightcap.
Entertaining at home is easy, too, thanks to a well- designed living area with a stylish decor, gas fireplace and smart floor tiles. The open- plan space opens at each end — the living room has a slider that creates an easy flow to a private courtyard with a creeping vine and star- jasmine covered block wall.
Pru has created an abundant hanging garden on another wall. A keypad entry gate from the footpath means the courtyard, which is big enough for an outdoor dining table, is secure and private.
The other end of the living space is a loggia, which is used by the couple every day. Louvred shutters protect it from summer heat and Auckland’s inclement weather. There’s even a standalone oven with a gas hob out here, to supplement the induction hob inside.
A previous owner extended the kitchen cabinetry, which mimics furniture and extends seamlessly into the dining area, providing much valued storage.
The townhouse has a powder room, family bathroom and a master en suite. There are three good- sized bedrooms, including a spacious master bedroom with views out over Hobson Bay to the boatsheds on Ngapipi Rd, an outlook also enjoyed from the loggia.
“The views here are fantastic,” says Pru. “On the other side, we see the Sky Tower and then we can also look down the street and see the water.”
Also upstairs is a multi- purpose space, once again with plenty of storage and great views. The Robertsons use it as an office and gym, but future owners may wish to use it for a work- from- home setup or as a teen hangout.
“- Some of the neighbours have theirs set up as a casual lounge or as a fourth bedroom,” Pru says.
Pru says it’s a great community of neighbours. They have a Christmas party every year and the body corporate is fantastic. There are 10 townhouses, six on St Stephens Ave and four set down below them.
After embracing city- fringe living and using their hop cards on the bus a great deal, Pru and Alan are now ready for the next step, a move out of Auckland to enjoy an even more relaxed pace of life.
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