“Every morning in summer we get up, put our togs on then wrap our towels around our waists and go straight down to the beach – we’re literally in the water in three minutes,” says artist Virginia Leonard who lives in this character-filled, two-storey weatherboard villa with partner Ollie King and son Orlando – daughter Coco having left home.
They moved into 5 Turnbull Road, in Devonport, North Shore, Auckland, just five months before the first Covid-19 nationwide lockdown which began in March 2020.
“We walked and walked during those months and got to know the neighbourhood really well – and the weather was so lovely, it was actually a very happy time,” says Leonard.
Now, almost four years later, the family home is on the market for sale by negotiation. 5 Turnbull Road has a 2021 RV of $2.975 million and, according to OneRoof records, last changed hands in 2019 for $1.825m.
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Leonard believes the house was significantly renovated by a previous owner – she guesses – around 15 years ago.
“They did a fantastic job, and it still looks perfect,” she says, adding that the mostly white walls are a perfect back-drop for the diverse variety of artworks she and King enjoy collecting.
The layout of the home has proved perfect for family living. A large open-plan kitchen, dining and living room opens to extensive wraparound decking and a covered outdoor room, which they use all-year-round.
The homeowners have enjoyed developing the garden which has a subtropical flavour yet still includes traditional favourites such as hydrangeas. Photo / Supplied
“We were planning to install outdoor blinds, but it’s so utterly private we simply didn’t need to.”
Also on the ground floor is a formal lounge, two bedrooms and a separate garage/studio which has many potential uses.
Because they loved the house so much, she says the only major changes they’ve made were to the two bathrooms. One is downstairs while the second serves the two sunny bedrooms upstairs – both of which open out to a private balcony that’s perfect for taking in the ocean views with a morning coffee or evening wine.
“Even at night we can hear the hum of conversation from the beach and the sound of people splashing in the water,” says Leonard. “It just adds to the ‘every day is like a holiday’ feeling you get when you’re lucky enough to live somewhere as lovely as this.”
5 Turnbull Road has four bedrooms and two bathrooms, with extensive wraparound decking and a covered outdoor room. Photo / Supplied
The mostly white walls are a perfect back-drop for the diverse variety of artworks the homeowners enjoy collecting. Photo / Supplied
She and King have made the difficult decision to sell the “best home they’ve ever had” because her career as an artist means she’s spending long hours at a studio elsewhere and they hope to find a property where she has enough space to work at home.
Virginia has enjoyed developing the garden which has a subtropical flavour yet still includes traditional favourites such as hydrangeas.
Jemma Glancy, of Bayleys, Devonport, who is marketing the property with colleague Victoria Mules, says that 5 Turnbull Road’s location is second to none.
“You’re spoiled for choice with excellent schools – including world-famous Takapuna Grammar and the bus stop is just a few steps away so you can go to Devonport to catch the ferry or to Takapuna and the CBD.”
She says that Devonport village is an easy 20-minutes’ walk and Narrow Neck is right near the golf club so there’s lots of green space to enjoy. “It’s just the very best neighbourhood, and everyone is friendly.”
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