HIDDEN GEM IN FULL VIEW
Parting will be sweet sorrow for this house owner, writes Donna Fleming
It’s taken seven years for Sandra Gilliam to finally pluck up the courage to put her Westmere house on the market.
“It’s a hard house to leave, whether you are going to work for the day, off on holiday for a couple of weeks, or going permanently, like I am now,” says Sandra, who has lived in the house for 15 years. “I keep delaying, but I need to get on with it.”
You can see why it is going to be a wrench for her to leave, even before you get in the front door. The resort-like house is in a stunning location in a quiet, no-exit section near the very end of Garnet Rd and across the road from the Waitemata Harbour.
“A lot of people have no idea this part of the road is here,” says Sandra. “I had tradesmen coming in to do work for me who have worked in Auckland for 40 years and had no idea.”
The location means sweeping views from many rooms “The view is just incredible — we’re so lucky to get to look at this every day,” Sandra says.
The house is as spectacular as the outlook. Originally a 1920s bungalow, it was stripped back to the floorboards in the 1990s by the former owners.
They added another level on top and pushed out the back of the house to create extra living space. They used top quality materials throughout and made sure it gets plenty of light.
Sandra has further enhanced it over the years, from re-doing the wooden floors with a matt polyurethane finish to putting in some striking light fittings.
She took out a wall and column in the kitchen, making the downstairs living area even more open plan. There are living spaces at the front and back of the house, with the kitchen and dining area in the middle.
It’s a very sociable house, says Sandra. In summer she and daughter Annabel and their guests tend to congregate on the rear terrace alongside the heated swimming pool. An electric awning provides shade when the sun is at its fiercest.
At the front of the house, the covered patio is the perfect spot to sip a morning coffee while gazing out over the water.
The kitchen is definitely the hub of the home, with an island topped by a striking marble benchtop that contains a second fridge. The main fridge is integrated into the timber cabinetry.
There’s also a rubbish chute to a wheelie bin in a cupboard accessed from the drive.
There are two bedrooms downstairs, including one with French doors out to a private courtyard, and two bathrooms, one of which can be accessed from the pool. There’s also a separate laundry.
A curved staircase leads to the upper level. Another living area up here has glass doors that open to a wrap-around deck with glass balustrade.
A study and the huge master bedroom also have access to the deck, while this level also has another bedroom and a recently updated bathroom. There’s a triple garage at the rear of the property, along with another garage/ boat shed. Sanda and Annabel no longer need so much space, so it’s time to let someone else enjoy the property.
Agent Heather Lanting says not only does Sandra’s home score top marks for luxury and views, but also the Westmere location is hard to beat. “You are only a short stroll away from your own boutique enclave of cafes, a great wine shop and one of the best butchers in town. Jump in the car or the bus and you’re only a few minutes away from Herne Bay, Ponsonby and the city. We love it.”