Interior designer Abi Wisnewski was delighted to find two homes side-by-side in this double-bay transitional Epsom villa on big grounds very near Cornwall Park.
She and her two sons live in two-bedroom 30A Gardner Road, while three-bedroom 30B next door has earnt her super host status on Airbnb.
Abi says: “It’s incredibly relaxing coming home here to this beautiful home on generous flat grounds in a lovely Epsom street. It’s double grammar zoned and we’re so close to Cornwall Park that we sometimes hear the lambs baa-ing.
“Having two homes side-by-side offers so many options. Owners could live in one, as we do, and bring in rental income on the other, or have extended family living there.
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“And 30B has been very popular as an Airbnb, attracting a mix of tourists and New Zealanders. Kiwis recognise its great proximity to Eden Park for concerts or games. And it’s conveniently located if they’re in Auckland while they’re supporting someone who is in hospital.”
Abi has used one of the bedrooms in 30B as her office for her home makeover business Kärlek (meaning love in Swedish). “As an interior designer who can have lots of projects on the go you need space to spread out.”
She bought the two homes, which sit on grounds of about 1000sqm, in mid-2020.
30A Gardner Road has two bedrooms, which the homeowner resides in with her two sons, and 30B has three bedrooms.
The vendor has rented out 30B, earning her super host status on Airbnb.
“As soon as I stepped inside, I thought there was an amazing, beautifully calming energy and I wanted to make a home for us here. Being on a big, flat corner site with established trees you feel nicely removed from the city’s busyness, and yet you’re so close to everything.
“It’s a friendly neighbourhood and Greenwoods Corner is really close; people know me when I grab a coffee there. You’re also handy to Newmarket, Mt Eden and the airport.”
She understands this was originally one house, built in the early 1900s. She’s re-roofed, painted the exterior, tamed the grounds and installed ducted heating and cooling throughout. She’s used her makeover skills on the interiors including re-carpeting 30A and upgrading both kitchens.
“I love the double bays, original stained glass windows and having some three-metre high battened ceilings.”
Abi’s side has a kitchen-lounge-dining opening up to its own north-facing deck. Two bedrooms, a bathroom and laundry complete its layout.
“I love my living area with its bay window and my bedroom because it’s so spacious. I’m a big cook and feeder – that’s one of my love languages. My kitchen’s so easy to cook in, with the perfect cooking triangle and a big pantry. We entertain a lot. Sometimes I’ll cook long, slow lamb roast on the charcoal Weber out on our deck.”
Interior designer and homeowner Abi Wisnewski: “My kitchen’s so easy to cook in, with the perfect cooking triangle and a big pantry.”
The homeowner has re-roofed, painted the exterior, tamed the grounds, installed ducted heating and cooling throughout, re-carpeted 30A and upgraded both kitchens.
Next door, 30B’s living-dining area adjoins its kitchen, which opens out to one of this side’s two decks. Two larger bedrooms, a single bedroom and a bathroom complete the floorplan. There’s a separate four-car garage on the grounds.
Abi is selling, ready for her next project.
Barfoot & Thompson agent Leila MacDonald says: “There are heaps of opportunities in this an incredible double grammar zone location. You could reinstate this to one gracious home, live here and use the other part for friends or family to stay, rent part or all of it, or operate an Airbnb.
“And there’s the option to sell 30A and 30B separately seeing they’re on separate titles.”
- 30A and 30B Gardner Road, in Epsom, Auckland, go to auction on September 25
