David and Amy have worked on their fair share of property do-overs. Originally from the UK, the couple has completed major renovation and restoration projects in London and Glasgow, and now they can add Remuera to the list.
When the pair stumbled across 15 Mahoe Avenue in Remuera, Auckland City, they discovered a neglected, run-down property that almost crossed the divide into ‘wilderness’.
Some prospective buyers would have balked at the renovation job ahead of them, but not David and Amy.
“We’d worked on stone and brick homes before, but never weatherboard,” muses David.
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“We were excited to work with a new material which would bring with it new challenges. Beneath the grime and behind the overgrown garden, we could see a beautiful 1920s home that had a huge amount of potential.”
Over two intensive years, the couple massaged the property into a beautiful, much-loved family home.
15 Mahoe Avenue in Remuera is now for sale by auction on May 3. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property has a 2021 RV of $3.175 million and, according to OneRoof data, last changed hands at the end of 2017 for $2.3m.
The star of the show, inside at least, is the kitchen which is set in the centre of the house and infuses the original character of the space with modern appliances and elegant design. Photo / Supplied
Rich polished native timber floors, lead-light windows and beamed ceilings retain the original character throughout the home. Beautiful window seats provide effortless connection between indoors and out, rain or shine. A built-in library downstairs creates an ideal home office space that doubles as an escape from the rest of the house.
“There are lots of beautiful spaces that we’ve treated as unique characters in the overall story of the home,” says David. “Throughout the home are several zones or spaces that can be enjoyed independently from each other, yet everything still connects and talks to each other.”
The star of the show, inside at least, is the kitchen. Set in the centre of the house, the kitchen infuses the original character of the space with modern appliances and elegant design.
“We could have opened up the kitchen, but we felt that would have been disruptive to the living spaces around it,” says David. “Instead, we installed glazing in the walls which creates visibility through and connectivity to the space from all directions. The result is a beautiful, functional space that’s uniquely connected to the rest of the house.”
The garden is another stand-out feature of the property, having been transformed from steep and unkempt to manicured and considered.
The garden is another stand-out feature of the property, having been transformed from steep and unkempt to manicured and considered. Photo / Supplied
The homeowners, originally from the UK, had worked with stone and brick home renovations before in London and Glasgow, but weatherboard in Remuera was their first. Photo / Supplied
“Much like the house, we’ve created several ‘rooms’ within the garden,” says David. “We come from Northern Europe where you can spend six weeks a year outside – if you’re lucky. Creating a garden that we could enjoy all-year round was important to us. The garden is our second house, really.”
UP Real Estate agent Sally Dawson, who is marketing 15 Mahoe Avenue with Zaf Yildiz, says coupled with the appeal of the home is its location.
“Mahoe Avenue is in a sought-after pocket of Remuera, known for its beautiful tree-lined street and character homes,” she says. “It’s moments to the vibrant Remuera Village and just a short drive to the CBD, ideal for families who want the best of both worlds whilst still enjoying a peaceful suburban lifestyle.”
It’s bittersweet for David and Amy to leave, not only the home they’ve poured so much love and energy into, but also Auckland.
“We’ve been in Auckland and this home for six years and have absolutely loved our time here,” says David. “We’re onto our next adventure overseas, and we hope someone else can enjoy this home as much as we have.”
