‘Weekend bolthole’ in the city
Refit has added class to sought-after apartment, writes Donna McIntyre
Brett and Amanda Cooper bought this corner Quay West apartment six years ago. Their main residence was on Waiheke, but a place in the city meant not having to keep one eye on the time to catch the last ferry home. And with 360-degree views over the ocean from their home on Waiheke, having an exceptional view in the city didn’t need to be a deal breaker.
Not that they don’t have views here — from three sides of their apartment they look out to central city streets.
“We get good morning sun and good evening sun. The apartments are all centrally heated. That makes a difference to how comfortable you are,” says Brett.
“The thing about Quay West was (property group) Mirvak wanted to show New Zealanders how it was done and that is why it is a great building.
“When we bought this apartment, it was in the [Quay West] hotel letting pool, but it was easy to access the apartment with a highly discounted rate for owners.
“Then the Auckland accommodation market started to tighten and we were literally not able to book our own apartment any more.
“The prices were going up and the availability was almost down to zero. We decided to give the hotel operations notice and gut the apartment, renovate and modernise it.”
The apartment has its entry area, laundry on the right, east balcony on the left looking out at the rooftop garden. Moving into the hall, a storage cupboard is on the right, a bathroom and bedroom on the left.
To the right is the kitchen opening through to the living/dining, and then the master bedroom and its en suite with claw foot bath. Living and master bedroom both open to the west deck.
“We gutted all the bathrooms to the bare concrete and steel and we waterproofed everything,” says Brett. “We tore up the carpets, redid the kitchen cabinetry, put new tiles in the kitchen and bathroom.”
Showers are new, walls were painted and window treatments and timber shutters added.
Bathrooms have underfloor heating. Eyecatching light fittings include a statement chandelier over the dining table.
Brett says they have been told it is the nicest fitouts people have seen in Quay West.
Residents have use of the building’s pool, gym, spa, rooftop garden and cafe.
Brett and Amanda have bought another apartment, as their son will attend school in Auckland.
“While we love using this apartment, it is just a weekend bolthole; we are not allowed pets and we have a dog we always had to leave on Waiheke.
“We need to have a larger place to stay longterm and more particularly a place that is pet-friendly.”