Downsize in style
This penthouse has space, light-filled ambience and a relaxing green outlook, writes Sandra Goodwin
The last owners of this single-level penthouse apartment two blocks from Kohimarama beach faced a common challenge before buying here — wanting to downsize from a multi-level family home but not wanting to feel cramped. But this spacious 232sq m apartment with lots of glass swept away any concerns about feeling hemmed in. It has big rooms, a high stud, a deck, a balcony, a sizeable storage room and three dedicated car parks.
Brother and sister Mike and Sandy are telling the story as their father Gary passed away last year, some years after their late mother. Like many couples in their senior years they’d found themselves living in a bigger family home and wanting to downsize.
They wanted to live in the Eastern Bays and seeing this apartment’s special combination of qualities settled the fact that Kohimarama would be the bay of choice.
The luxurious apartment has lots of space, a lovely light-filled ambience and a relaxing green outlook on to manicured gardens maintained by the body corporate.
It’s a short, easy walk on the flat to the eateries on Tamaki Drive. Gary had enjoyed boating when he was younger so enjoyed walking down to the waterfront to sit and watch the boats go by.
Sandy says: “My parents were so excited to have bought this place — my mother was particularly determined it would be their next home.”
Mike says: “They had looked at an apartment right on Tamaki Drive but they thought it felt a bit like a fishbowl, with everyone walking past looking in and was too busy.”
The three-bedroom apartment is one of 14 in a secure, convivial enclave of upmarket homes spread across four buildings off a sought-after side street.
“My parents travelled frequently so appreciated that it was easy to lock up and leave here,” says Mike.
The secure gated driveway accesses a basement car park in which you’ll find two spots allocated for this residence and its own good-sized secure storage room. The home also gets an additional dedicated open-air guest parking spot onsite.
Mike and Sandy’s parents’ apartment was built in 2006 and they bought here in 2009.
Their single-level penthouse apartment sits above only one other in a building made of rendered concrete block. The lift goes from the garage level and the ground floor pedestrian entrance, opening into the penthouse’s own generous foyer.
The high angled ceiling and an abundance of glass delivers a lightfilled ambience to the open-plan living-dining-kitchen. This opens to a balcony and has vented airconditioning and a gas fire.
Gary enjoyed sitting in front of the fire in this room, listening to classical music.
This expanse and the neighbouring informal lounge have sliding doors to a larger deck with plumbed natural gas for the barbecue. Opening up both lounges to the deck creates one big space for larger scale entertaining, which was ideal for Gary’s 80th, held here.
The master suite with floor to ceiling windows along an entire length of wall has vented airconditioning, a walk-in-wardrobe and a decently sized ensuite.
The two other bedrooms are good sizes too, with a bathroom that includes a bath, an office, a guest toilet and a separate laundry.