While searching for a house with just the right work-from-home set-up, Jane Francis spotted a for sale banner on a distant deck and said to her husband Tim, “find me that house”.
After living in Kohimarama their search for a home with a decent-sized work-from-home space situated at the front of its layout took them to the North Shore in November 2010.
“After spotting the for sale banner we figured out how to get to the house and saw it was an absolutely stunning 1920s character home with unbelievable views,” Jane says.
46 Seaview Avenue in Northcote, North Shore, Auckland is on the market for sale by deadline treaty, closing September 21. The property has an RV of $3.61 million and, according to OneRoof data, last changed hands in 2010 for $1.65m.
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“Throughout most of the home you get beautiful views over Le Roys Bush and Little Shoal Bay to the harbour, harbour bridge and city,” Jane says.
“And its very large 505sqm layout included an area which had been a dance studio which Tim and I could run the fashion import business from which we had then.”
This area, which now has its own entrance, fitted with their desire for a work-from-home area situated at the fore of a home so staff and couriers could come and go easily without disrupting the household.
The home has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a double garage, expansive decking and a floor space of 505sqm on a 1031 sqm site. Photo / Supplied
“It’s a weatherboard home with shingles and some lovely character features such as the entrance foyer, stairwell with big banisters and polished timber floors,” Jane says.
“Interior design is a hobby of mine and we’ve updated the home a lot. For its exterior colour scheme, we took inspiration from the iconic black-and-white heritage houses of Singapore. When decorating I was influenced by art nouveau, to fit with the front entrance’s stained glass, but with a very modern edge.”
The couple and their son have loved their quiet location at the end of a no-exit avenue in this friendly community. It’s handy to Northcote Primary and for paddleboarding at Little Shoal Bay and walking their griffin dog in Le Roys Bush.
The home, which they installed central heating to, sits on 1031sqm. It flows out to large decks and an entertaining patio complemented by subtropical landscaping by Natural Habitats and lawn.
Off-street parking bolsters the internal-access double garage. Entry is into the ground floor, plus there’s a first floor and lower level. A grand foyer introduces the ground floor’s sophisticated separate living room, dining-family room and kitchen-dining room, accompanied by one ensuited bedroom, a laundry and powder room.
46 Seaview Avenue in Northcote has a work-from-home space at the front of the property with its own entrance. Photo / Supplied
The window seat in the master suite offers fabulous views down the harbour to the bridge and the city beyond. Photo / Supplied
On summer days fare from the entertainers’ kitchen with pressed steel splashback often gets shared with friends on the substantial patio.
“You can sit on its window-seat in our luxuriously oversized master suite and feel transported away by the wonderful view.”
This ensuited bedroom with walk-in wardrobe sits on the first floor, accompanying two more bedrooms, a family bathroom and the front office-study area with its own entrance. This includes a bar, bathroom and storage and could be adapted for extended family. The lower level’s ensuited rumpus or fifth bedroom accompanied by a storage area also flows out to decks.
The couple now own another business with its own premises so no longer need such a substantial home.
The property is being listed by agents Jordan Selwyn, Brooke Barrass and Deb Talbot-King of Harcourts, Milford.
“Buyers will be surprised to see what they can secure here. A grand character home with jaw-dropping city views. It’s the kind of property you’d expect to find in Sydney,” Selwyn says.
