Few of us will ever forget the magical day that we laid eyes on our first home, and broadcaster Kerre McIvor and her husband Tom are no exception.
The couple are selling their property by auction on March 21, through Barfoot & Thompson agents Jo Pickering and Jonathan White.
“Yes, it was love at first sight, and yes, it’s also true that we really couldn’t afford it!” says Kerre.
Two decades ago, the pair were so smitten with this central Grey Lynn villa that they immediately began an austerity campaign: skipping cafe coffees and avoiding dinners out.
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It was love at first sight for Kerre McIvor and her husband Tom when they spied their Grey Lynn cottage, 22 years ago. Photo / supplied
Kerre says that she and Tom were terribly proud of themselves for managing to buy their special place, but not long after they moved in she was a bit taken aback when a magazine writer described their home as “Kerre’s charming, shabby cottage”.
“That didn’t seem quite fair, because to Tom and me our home was an absolute palace - even in its fairly basic state!” she says.
Eventually there was enough money in the kitty to start renovating and top of Kerre’s list was a swimming pool.
“When I get home from work – especially on a hot day, I find that launching myself straight into the water is a fantastic way of winding down!”
Kerre's top spot in the house is the tropically-landscaped pool, a great place to unwind after her busy radio show. Photo / supplied
She and Tom were in Tahiti during the start of their renovations and she remembers the builder calling and asking if they wanted central heating installed.
“I was sweating in the sunshine at that moment so I said 'no thanks',” she recalls.
Needless to say, when the couple arrived back to a bitter winter in Auckland, that decision was reversed.
She says that the tradespeople they used were an amazing crew, mostly sourced by word of mouth.
The pool area includes a cabana for entertaining. Photo / supplied
“They loved the house as much as we did and they put so much love and care into their work, it was just amazing!”
Keeping within the original footprint, Kerre and Tom now have three bedrooms and an office plus a formal lounge and a kitchen dining and family room.
“It’s very much a family house,” says Kerre.
She describes the neighbourhood as very friendly with only a couple of sour spots over the years.
“One was a lady who came to the door with a petition to close down the Western Springs motor racing, but she got short shrift.”
Local tradespeople worked on the renovation of the cottage, which opens kitchen and living areas to the outdoors. Photo / supplied
Another was a young mum who wanted the famous trees in Francis Street removed because their roots were coming up through the footpath and her child had tripped over.
“I wasn’t having any of that either,” says Kerre. “I believe that here, and in Franklin Road, each of the trees was planted for a young man who died in World War One.
“I’ve never researched that any further, because I just want it to be true.”
She says she’ll miss her luxurious bath, where she likes to wind down with a spot of classical music.
“And Tom will miss his monsoon showerhead.”
While the pair have been in residence, they’ve seen many changes in the neighbourhood and they approve of most of it.
“We were sorry when the organic butcher closed down, but it’s been great having all the new shops and cafes.”
She says that a village atmosphere still remains in West Lynn.
“I always said that if I need full make-up to go for a run, or have to put on a bra to go to the dairy, it’s time to look elsewhere.”
While neither of those nightmare scenarios have actually come to pass, Kerre really is looking at pastures newish, in the form of her Hokianga property that was covered in ginger and pampas grass but is gradually being replanted with natives.
She says that she’s really not sentimental about leaving the Grey Lynn pad.
“We’re moving on and that’s just the way things go, but I’ll never forget the fun times we’ve had here. When I hear ‘Midnight Special’ I will always remember my daughter Kate and her friends, frolicking in the pool, and singing out of tune!”
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