HOLIDAY TIME
Location and schools were drawcards, but it was the beach house feel that won them over, writes Vicki Holder
Open the gate to the home of Graeme and Lisa Lord in Narrowneck Beach on Auckland’s North Shore and it’s like stepping into instant holiday mode. In summer, when they’re at home, doors to the renovated, double-storey 1910 villa are usually left wide open, inviting the northern sun across wraparound decks into their large airy living area.
Light bounces across white walls and white louvred windows. A beautiful, bleached American maple island bench is the pale colour of driftwood and glossy timber floorboards painted a cool light grey evoke a relaxed coastal vibe that’s accented in tones of duck egg blue in furnishings.
“It has a beach house feel,” says Graeme, “like you’re on holiday all year round.”
When Lisa found the property, just up from the beach, the family was looking to downsize from a much bigger property in the neighbourhood.
Although this has the requisite four bedrooms, two living areas and two bathrooms, the garden is compact, mainly in decks requiring little maintenance.
The original idea was to get a bach as well as a home. But after several months of being here, they realised, they already had a beach house.
“You don’t need a bach when you live here, between two beaches.”
They can see the ocean from the little deck, their favourite spot for a G&T off the two bedrooms upstairs. And at night they can hear the sea. Graeme often hauls his kayak down to the water’s edge.
“I love driving home,” says Lisa. “You come to the top of the road and you can see the sea.”
While the location and proximity to schools for their three children drew them here, they fell in love with the home. It had already been opened up and updated to a high level with a chic white kitchen incorporating a sturdy, double Belling oven about six years ago. All they did was paint inside and out and add heat pumps upstairs and down.
“We don’t use them much in winter. Though they do come in handy in summer for cooling down. It gets so hot here,” says Graeme.
They also converted the garage for a versatile extra living space. Although there is a second lounge or TV room inside. “It’s nice for our teens to escape from us. Our son used it as a bedroom before he left home,” explains Graeme.
Whoever completed the renovation clearly had a lot of style. Clever touches like the vibrant patterned wallpapers that enliven the stair risers add colourful personality.
Graeme and Lisa claimed the big downstairs bedroom with the comfy window seat as theirs while the girls love being on their own upstairs in two beautiful sundrenched rooms that share the second bathroom. One of the rooms opens to huge storage under the eaves.
“It’s been a great place to bring up a family who enjoy the outdoor lifestyle,” says Graeme. Although it’s incredibly quiet, it’s so convenient to many activities with Vauxhall Primary just around the corner, a walkway to the golf course across the road and parks aplenty nearby.
It’s also handy to shops in Devonport and Cheltenham. Buses run along the road and it’s a 20-minute walk to the ferry to town. Graeme and Lisa often catch the ferry to go to dinner at Devonport or fish and chips in Cheltenham.
They have enjoyed the home and the area immensely. But with their son having left home, they feel they’re ready to downsize again. They won’t be going far. The family is looking for another home nearby.