Buying a house sight unseen is a risky business, but for lawyer Jon Lewin and his partner, Natalie Beath, a winemaker currently occupied as a full-time mum, the gamble paid off.
Natalie hadn’t seen the house in St Heliers when Jon agreed to buy it, but she was thrilled with his choice when they concluded the deal eight years ago.
At the time, the house, built around 2000, was tenanted and fairly plain, but Jon could see its attributes and Natalie says that when she got there, she could, too.
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“On my first visit I realised that it was quiet, private, and super-safe,” says Natalie.
Those were important criteria, because for the past few years the house has also been home to Elliot (3) and Phoebe (1), plus a pair of sibling cats, Charlie and Lola.
While the couple haven’t had to do structural work, in terms of refurbishing the house, they’ve put in a new kitchen, designed by Liz Kerby at Lizzie K & Co.
Natalie is delighted with it. “I’m a keen cook, so my kitchen is important to me,” she says.
“When you use a professional designer it’s surprising what clever tricks they have for making the most of your space, and while this isn’t a big kitchen it works incredibly well.
With marble benchtops and elegant grey tiles, the result is classic and timeless — and fits in well with the rest of the house.
Also on the main living level is a dining area, a large living room with gas fireplace, and a second living space, which doubles as a fourth bedroom when friends and family come to stay.
“It can be closed off from the rest of the floor, with access to a bathroom, so we’ve always kept a sofa bed in there for guests,” says Jon.
On the top floor are three double bedrooms, one each for Elliot and Phoebe, and a luxurious master suite with en suite, walk-in wardrobe, and views across neighbourhood rooftops towards the city and Sky Tower.
The decor throughout the home is pleasant and neutral and with three full bathrooms, it’s well set up for a family.
The outdoor spaces are safe and private and summer entertaining is a breeze.
Elliot attends the nearby Montessori kindergarten and the house is in zone for Kohimarama Primary, while the Catholic school, St Ignatius, is just around the corner.
Nathalie says that it’s a rare day when she and the children don’t visit nearby beaches or Madills Farm, a prominent sports and recreation park just down the road. She’s a keen runner and likes to get out along the waterfront.
But they are moving to Hawkes Bay, where Jon will do much of his legal work from home. He says his employers were supportive when he raised the possibility of doing so.
“They were absolutely fine with it, so we’ve bought some land and we’re building just outside Havelock,” he says.
Says Natalie: “We want our children to have a relaxed sort of life and, yes, I’ll probably be planting some grapes down there.”
Jon says they’ll miss their neighbours and the area’s community spirit.
But he and Natalie and the children are excited about the impending move, timed so that Elliot will start school in his new home town.
67C LONG DRIVE, ST HELIERS, AUCKLAND
4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 car parks
SIZE (more or less): Land 352sq m, house 232sq m.
INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12-12.45pm.
AUCTION: 6pm, 25 Sept, 10 Polygon Road, St Heliers.
SCHOOLS: Kohimarama School, Glendowie College.
CONTACT: Ken Choong 021 780 524 or Peter Burgham 021 288 8992, Ray White.
