Greenhithe Ultimate Kiwi lifestyle
Owner’s careful consideration means this new build has prime position, privacy and offers ease of living, writes Donna McIntyre
When Jeff and Evelyn Gordon decided to subdivide their 2880sq m property, they originally planned to stay in their existing home but sell 900sq m of land.
“We bought our family up here,” Jeff says. “Our section was used for riding bikes, go-karting and climbing trees and breaking arms.
“I had been mowing it for 24 years and decided I could get some benefit out of it.”
Thinking their options through, they decided instead to build on the 900sq m of subdivided land at 14 Wainoni Heights, Greenhithe, on Auckland’s North Shore, so they had control over the home’s design.
“We wanted to limit the impact on our property, not spoil the views, or impact the neighbours,” says Jeff.
They engaged Maddren Homes on a fixed price contract as the Kumeu firm provided a 10-year Master Build Guarantee. The home was designed by Alistair Watt.
The 297sq m home is built of brick and weatherboard with a long run Colorsteel roof.
“It is an everyman’s house really,” says Jeff, who says he built the house as somewhere he would want to live himself.
“It is two storeys but you don’t really need to go downstairs as upstairs has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, laundry, living, kitchen and scullery. The formal lounge opens to the glass balustraded deck, as do the family room and kitchen.”
The lower level has the, fourth bedroom/office and a bathroom.
“And I wanted a three-car garage and parking outside for either a caravan or a boat.
“Part of the Maddren contract was five hours with their interior designer who specifies colours and materials. Our home’s decor is black-and-white based, with oak coloured flooring. And we used their kitchen supplier, Fluid Interiors.
The Fisher & Paykel applianced kitchen showcases this palette with man-made grey stone bench top, oak-look melamine doors, white drawers and glass splashback with a copper finish. Bathrooms have tiled walls and heated floors.
Large windows, built-in shelving and the gas fireplace with Italian style marble lime finish surround add to the modern look with a casual elegance.
“Being north-facing, it gets all-day sun and is super warm. It has a gas fire and heat pumps but you don’t need them in winter because of the double glazing,” says Jeff.
“We also put in special glass that reduces the UV. That means it’s not too blistering hot in summer but in winter it still lets the heat in. And it limits the UV damage to carpets.”
For the landscaping, Jeff went for a Kiwi bush style. “When we subdivided, we did the boundary of the section basically on the land’s contour as it drops 5m from one corner to the other. My brotherin-law, his partner and I did the landscaping.
“The gabion walls look stunning against the timber decking, the grass and silver ferns which we moved from the centre of the section to the edge. “We have planted 500 plants from shrubs to trees. We have moved 80 tonnes of river stone, topsoil and black bark around the section to try and make it look like it’s been here for ever.”
Jeff and Evelyn have decided they will stay in their single level home of 24 years on the section behind the new build. The new home goes to auction on July 7.
“Originally we were going to rent it and use it as an income source. But we decided, looking at the economy and where we were at, that wasn’t what we wanted to do,” says Jeff.
“We will stay for another 24 years here probably. Greenhithe is a lovely community. We’ve got a hall, a pub, restaurant, dairy, physiotherapist and a dentist. The Collins Caf & Bar probably has the best cheese scones in Auckland.
“Down the road there is Wainoni Park with horse riding and walking tracks. There’s water access and the ferry to the city. You can kayak, paddle, fish and launch a boat.
“You can drive to the airport in 35 minutes, to Takapuna in 15, or town in 20.”
Harcourts Greenhithe agent Philippa Edgar says the home is finished to an impeccable standard.
“The owner has given careful consideration to every aspect from the position on the site, privacy from the neighbours and ease of living for the whole family.
“It’s in a fantastic Greenhithe location with allday sun, elevated vista and accompanied by birdsong.
“It offers the best of Greenhithe living.”