THE ‘WOW’ FACTOR
This architecturally designed Remuera townhouse offers peace and respite, finds LOUISE RICHARDSON
Chad Greer’s mother used to live in Mainston Rd many years ago, so when he and Charlotte Teitjen bought their Marshall Cook-designed townhouse in the quiet Remuera street, they knew they’d be welcomed warmly.
“When my mother was here, they used to have street parties and sure enough, at Christmas everyone’s invited to a neighbour’s place for drinks.”
Although the house, which was built in the 1980s, had good bones, it had aged considerably so the young couple had a significant job ahead of them in bringing it back to life.
The exterior, and especially the windows, with their wooden frames needed lots of work.
Inside they painted and recarpeted, completely madeover the kitchen and the downstairs powder room.
Their aim was to enhance the home’s light airy atmosphereespecially on this level, with its soaring ceilings and tall, northfacing tower of windows.
Upstairs via the grand central staircase, four bedrooms has been charmingly refreshed and a second living/media/ office area up here is an added bonus.
Chad and Charlotte are thrilled with the outcome overall and say that while the home’s floor area isn’t superlarge, the open-plan layout makes it seem much bigger than it is.
“We knew it would be good because the basic design held so much appeal and we just love how visitors react to it. Every single one says ‘wow!’.”
The house has extensive decking for summer entertaining and al fresco dining with friends, and it’s surrounded by well-established trees, which are always humming with birdlife. Marshall Cook had very consciously taken the natural attributes of the section into account when carefully creating his design.
“It’s incredibly quiet and private, yet there are so many amenities right on the doorstep,” says Chad.
He says that a friend of Marshall Cook’s visited a recent open home and suggested that the architect himself may be planning to come along for a look.
Chad says that he hopes Marshall is pleased with what’s been done to restore the home’s unique character.
Steve Koerber of Ray White, Remuera agrees that it really has the ‘wow’ factor.
“We’re getting huge numbers at open homes; empty nesters who want space they they can lock-up-and-leave, with no lawns to mow — and plenty of families too.”
He says that the house is a winner in terms of school zones, which include Remuera Primary and Remuera Intermediate — plus it has easy motorway access and is close to the vibrant Upland Rd shopping and dining scene.
“We simply can’t get enough properties of this calibre around here at the moment.” Sale: Auction June 28
Contact: Steve Koerber, Ray White, 021 864 166