Spring lambs are a bonus
A much- admired parkside character home is only eight years old, writes Louise Richardson
Living in a large freehold home, bordering picturesque Cornwall Park brings many rewards, but the one that Peter and Nicola Jeffares love the most is being able to lie in bed and watching spring lambs outside their window. The couple’s house was built from scratch eight years ago but they are frequently congratulated on having done a fine renovation.
“The fact that people think the house has stood here for years means we’ve succeeded in creating something that’s in keeping with the other properties on the street,” Nicola says.
Luckily they had a great team: an architect who understood their brief, a perfectionist builder, an interior designer with great taste and a landscaper who made the garden, which enjoys all day sun, meld seamlessly with the parkland beyond.
“Levelling the section was a bigger job than originally anticipated,” says Peter.
“They found three distinct lava flows from different eras so there was a lot of rock to break.”
The resulting house is far beyond average size, yet is laid out to feel intimate and welcoming.
An expansive hallway with an elegant curved wall and sweeping staircase lies inside the grand entrance.
To the left is access to a triple garage that’s packed with storage space, then Nicola’s pride and joy — an enormous laundry with its own courtyard.
To the right is the kitchen which has been welldesigned for convenience and ease of use.
It, too, has a place for everything and even a cupboard in which to hide used newspapers.
With two sinks, Miele appliances and extensive bench space, it easily withstands the Christmas dinner test, with many cooks working together.
A formal lounge — Nicola’s — with gas fireplace is adjacent to Peter’s “man cave”, a media room with inbuilt shelving, a bar, fridge and dishwasher, plus a pull- down screen for TV and movies.
There is a wine cellar with its own refrigerator unit and on this floor is the main bathroom.
On the first floor are two bedroom suites with private lounge space. The master has a walkthrough wardrobe ( with pull- down attic stairs for reaching storage space) and bathroom with double vanity.
The views to the park here are expansive — and attractive, no matter what the weather.
To the left is a family room, which was used frequently when the couple’s two daughters were at home. “It has soundproof wall linings,” says Nicola. “So we couldn’t even hear them.”
Also up here are two further bedrooms and an office. There’s a walk- in linen closet with laundry shute and the decor throughout is neutral and restful, fitting in well with the rural surroundings.
Outside, sub- tropical plantings frame the swimming pool, the spa and the gym and pool room. The garden is well established and doing nicely.
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There are spots to sit and enjoy the sun and others under shade. Peter and Nicola’s new city apartment is something completely different but that’s what they are looking forward to.
“It’s a similar size, but with balconies instead of a garden,” says Nicola.
They’ll miss the solidly built Greenlane dwelling with its easy access to the airport.
On their recent return from an overseas trip, the pair arrived home exactly an hour after landing at Auckland airport.
Access to the city is straightforward, too, with options including bus, train and motorway — and the supermarket and specialty food stores are nearby. But, like many couples in their age group, Peter and Nicola simply fancy a change of scenery.