Reach for the stars
11A AUCKLAND RD ST HELIERS
Houses by top architects Sumich Chaplin rarely come to market as they are generally designed and built for a particular buyer, so this is a chance to buy something extra special. Brian Mahony and his wife Jill bought a section in popular Auckland Rd, not far from the harbour’s edge, a few years ago.
They demolished an old house on the back of the site and, using Sumich Chaplin, built their own in its place.
“Then we decided to develop the front with the idea of using it for our extended family,” says Brian.
He soon realised that a dwelling in this prized spot deserved nothing but the best materials, so he told his architects, builders, landscapers and interior designers to reach for the stars.
Reached via a tree-lined path through front gates, the house has two bedrooms on the ground floor, one with en suite and the other with a full bathroom and walk-in wardrobe.
The garage has an internal access and the separate laundry is large and well equipped.
Two courtyards on this level provide perfectly private spaces to enjoy the sun.
On the top floor, the luxury kitchen is in an open plan area with dining and family spaces. Keen cooks will find plenty to love with a marble benchtop, copious cupboard space and quality appliances.
There’s a third bedroom up here, complete with en suite and a covered porch at the front of the house, which enjoys sea views.
The decor throughout is cool and relaxing and there are many thoughtful details that really stand out, including the clever sliding door which hides the television. Flooring is French oak and there are bronze bannisters on the stairs.
Architect Matt Chaplin says the biggest challenge from his point of view was making the most of the land available, in terms of creating space and taking advantage of the sloping site to stagger levels and ensure that the views were maximised without compromising privacy.
“A key design decision was to have elevated living spaces looking out over trees and to the water,” he says.
“What I also like is the fact that we’ve put textured limestone around the entry and it fits in well with the established landscaping.”
Matt says he had a good team which worked in an holistic way to produce a quality home.
Brian and Jill were thrilled with the outcome. However, their situation has changed and the home at the front is no longer required by family members.
“Having decided to sell, we’ve been really thrilled to see the interest that the property has generated,” says Brian.
“It’s a great house and somebody is going to move in and love it here.
“We can promise that the new owner will have excellent neighbours — not just us at the back, but the people on each side too.
“It was important to us to make them feel a part of everything that was happening here and we’ve all got together regularly for catch-ups.”
In terms of the locality it goes without saying that the cafes, boutiques and restaurants of St Heliers are definitely a drawcard and the area is served by good schools. The CBD is a short drive away, along the waterfront.