This Herne Bay property is a masterclass in heritage renovation and a captivating combination of both classic and contemporary design.
The owners, Curt and Lelah, fell in love with the neighbourhood first.
“We were living in Herne Bay, renting a house on Marine Parade, and absolutely loved it. You can walk to the restaurants with no problem, or the beach, or the city. I’m a member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and could walk to the club. It’s a nice stroll along the harbour,” says Curt.
Then it was the charm and extraordinary potential of the house that sealed the deal. “The house really had some character to it and we’ve been through a number of renovations and new-builds in the past, so it wasn’t a daunting project.”
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They closed on the villa in February 2021 and set about transforming it, with the assistance of architect Greg Jones from Jones Architects and Ray Sale from Haven Residential.
Sale says it was the great collaboration between all parties that made the project such a successful one. “They knew what they wanted from the start, so working alongside people that had experience was good.”
He describes the new incarnation as “a blend of keeping the character of the home on the exterior and keeping it in line with the street, with a modern twist on the inside.”
2 Galatea Terrace in Herne Bay, Auckland, is on the market for sale by a set date closing November 2. The four-bedroom, five-bathroom property has a 2021 RV of $7.5 million and, according to OneRoof, last changed hands at the end of 2020 for $7.5m.
The current homeowners redesigned the back veranda to emulate the architectural features of the front of the house. Photo / Supplied
The open-plan chef’s kitchen with sitting room and the veranda are the homeowners' favourite places. Photo / Supplied
Listing agent Joe Telford, from Bayleys, sold the house to the couple off-market and has been along for every step of the renovation journey.
“This was never supposed to be a spec house or one to renovate and sell, it was always done for themselves. The people who have been through it and looked at it so far have all commented on the level of detail and that the quality is second to none.”
A real commitment to authenticity is evident, with the home’s distinctive circular fretwork restored, enhanced and continued at the back.
“We’ve accentuated the circles – I’m sure that’s not the technical term – but the circles on the front porch originally were just too wide, then we wrapped it around to the kitchen,” says Lelah.
“When we bought the house, the back just had an upstairs deck off it and we’ve taken the architectural features of the front, or I should say Greg Jones did, and designed them into a clean back veranda that emulates the look on the front.”
This detailing was all meticulously custom-made to be in-keeping with the original. Chic interiors are filled with light and exquisitely balanced, with the significant scale enhancing the sense of space in every room.
Upstairs offers a formal dining room and separate lounge (or fourth bedroom) then flows into the open-plan chef’s kitchen and sitting room. The luxurious main bedroom also has veranda access, as well as a dressing room and ensuite.
Downstairs offers the ability for older kids or guests to live quite independently if they wish. Two bedrooms are serviced by two bathrooms and the living space with kitchenette flows out to another veranda.
From the kitchen and dining room upstairs, you get great views of the water. Photo / Supplied
The homeowners are selling their Herne Bay home because they have fallen in love with Tasman and have bought a farm with views of Mount Crusader and Mount Campbell. Photo / Supplied
The couple sourced the very best materials and finishes both locally and from around the globe, including tapware from the United States, prime grade engineered flooring to sit above the heated floors from the Netherlands, door hardware from the UK and windows from Renall in Carterton, where Curt paid a visit the factory to ensure the quality.
Despite the classic exterior, it’s like living in a modern build and is fully automated.
“Everything in that house is new. All the systems are new – the electrical, the plumbing, the security, the heating, the water system,” Curt explains.
The couple both agree that the kitchen and the veranda are their favourite parts.
“You can see the water from the kitchen, which was an intentional structural change, and we expanded the verandas to be around four metres from front to back. You’ve got great views of the water from there and it's a nice covered outdoor living space,” says Lelah.
The lighting throughout is also a thing of functional beauty.
“We worked with Sam Walle at Dark Arts and he was an integral part of the design process,” she says. “The dining room is my second favourite room, I love the juxtaposition of the modern cosy lighting with the traditional fretwork outside.”
Fate intervened when the couple were stuck down south during Auckland’s lockdown. “We stayed at a lodge in Tasman for two months and were the only ones there. And we just fell in love with the area.”
So they subsequently bought a farm with glorious views of Mount Crusader and Mount Campbell, leaving their Herne Bay dream home to await its next owners.
- Sponsored by Bayleys
- 2 Galatea Terrace in Herne Bay, Auckland, is for sale by a set date closing November 2
