Everyone thought Mel and Mike O’Sullivan were crazy moving in 1999 from their home in Herne Bay to a state house in Westmere. “It was the park,” says Mel.
What could be more perfect for growing boys than to open the gate at the bottom of the garden to the expansive playground that is Cox’s Bay Reserve and wander across to the water’s edge.
A space that is all fun, no care, that the Auckland Council is tasked with mowing.
Mel and Mike soon removed the existing house and built a new block and masonry home from scratch, where they brought up their boys.
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“But when the children moved away, about four and a half years ago, we decided to tart it up, to revamp upstairs and reclad the whole place in timber,” says Mel.
“At the same time, we employed Trish Bartleet Landscape Design to redo the garden.
“The big lawn used to be a cricket pitch for the boys. We wanted to soften the lines of the strong, square house to counterbalance the rigid structure. “Hence the curves and wavy steel walls. It’s soft and luxurious with lots of natives to make it as easy-care as possible.”
They finished just before Christmas 2015.
But the home on the edge of the park is now too large and a change of lifestyle is on the cards.
“It’s a huge home with lovely high-studs that give a feeling of space,” she says.
The generous open living area expands north on to an expansive deck with outdoor gas fireplace.
The shelled pathway of her beautiful green garden is exuberant with shapes and textures.
Says Mel: “At night, we used to light the outdoor fire and sit beneath the pergola.
“We would pick veges and herbs from the edible garden but there are no lawns to mow at all.”
Everything is like new, she says. And it’s beautifully designed.
Although the kitchen has a scullery for additional storage, a laundry adds extra space.
“I would do the same in the next house,” says Mel. The large office and one of the children’s bedrooms are downstairs along a hallway to a second large living room, fondly referred to as the ‘Sunday room’.
“We used this a lot in winter; put the fire on and in the afternoon, sun pours inside.
“It’s all very practical with underfloor heating under the wooden floors.”
Upstairs, a parent retreat is vast, opening to large decks on two aspects. Cross drafts cool the area in summer and there is air conditioning as well.
Mel says it is handy to the CBD, but also to Grey Lynn, Ponsonby and West Lynn shops.
“It’s also a home that’s versatile as the family dynamics change. We have great neighbours too. Most of them are young families. It’s one of those places where kids raise money by cleaning cars and holding lemonade stalls.”
But life on the coast is calling.
“Last year I started expanding my amazing house at Waihi Beach, my happy place. So, I’ve decided to move there.”
So while it’s time to move on, there are happy memories aplenty and tons more for the next family.
51 REGINA ST, WESTMERE, AUCKLAND
https://www.oneroof.co.nz/1185752
4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 car parks
SIZE (more or less): Land 656sq m, House 301sq m.
INSPECT: Sun, noon to 12.45pm.
AUCTION: 12 Sept, 1pm, on-site.
SCHOOLS: Westmere Primary School, Ponsonby Intermediate, Western Springs College.
CONTACT: Martin Dobson 021 376 952 and Caroline Daniel 021 922 223, Kellands.
