MONUMENT TO LUXURY
A beautifully-renovated heritage home that took a full year to get the required consents was well worth the effort, the owners tell LOUISE RICHARDSON.
63 Mount St John Avenue
The owners of this stunning renovation in one of Epsom’s top streets had no idea what hoops they would have to jump through in order to transform their beautiful heritage home – which was built in the early 1900s – but they have absolutely no regrets and say that all the effort was well worthwhile.
“We own a construction company so naturally we wanted to make sure that everything was built to the highest standards,” he explains.
“We did an initial renovation when we bought the house and repainted the interior and decks
but after living here a few years and loving it, we decided to do a complete rebuild, designed by Gel Architects, and it took a full year to get the consents required.
“All of our proposals had to be submitted, and at one point we were required to sketch three different styles of dormer windows on other houses in the street so they could choose which style was most appropriate for ours.
“Ironically, consent came through just as Auckland’s September 2021 lockdown began, but we made a start as soon as we could and absolutely everything was rebuilt from the piles up.”
The finished product is a monument to luxury, with
absolute elegance in every aspect.
A modern contemporary kitchen features high-end appliances with a crisp, clean, black and white colour scheme and a central island for family and friends to congregate around while the dining space opens to the deck outside.
Wraparound decking also envelopes the family room and a separate lounge is cool and contemporary, with light, bright de´ cor and a high ceiling.
There are also three bedrooms on this level, all of which are large and airy, and one is surrounded by a porch.
In addition, there’s a main bathroom and separate laundry.
Upstairs the owners’ master suite features a walk-in closet, a huge bathroom and, of course, the bedroom itself, which enjoys pleasant views.
He says that as lovers of comfort, he and his wife had sophisticated heating and cooling systems installed, along with a state-of-the-art security system, plus an outdoor gas fireplace.
And there’s far more to this exciting property than initially meets the eye, in the form of a cottage, which incorporates the double garage. Appointed to the same exceptional standards as the main house, the twobedroom cottage, which opens to the pool and spa, has a modern kitchen and bathroom, with two bedrooms upstairs.
“It’s been useful in so many ways,” says the owner.
“We lived in it during the rebuild, and it’s also great when our parents come to stay as it gives them total independence.”
A huge amount of care has been lavished on the large, private, garden, which is ideal for outdoor gatherings or for simple rest and recreation.
Listing agent Richard Thode, of Ray White, says that homes in Mount St John Avenue are incredibly tightly held and rarely come to market.
“It’s a perfect location for EGGS, AGS, St Cuthberts, Kings Prep School and the train station as well as enjoying nearby motorway access.” Sale: Auction, February 15 Contact: Richard Thode, Ray White, 021 336 002;
Rae Zhang, 021 629 912