Tucked within a quiet Remuera pocket, Bay Tree Cottage at 24 Mainston Road is a James Chapman-Taylor original that was adored by its owner Judy Turner for over three decades.
So the story goes, the gracious Arts and Crafts home was designed by the acclaimed architect for artist Ella Spicer and her husband John and built in 1913, when it became known as The Spicer Residence.
Judy and her husband Peter, who have both now sadly passed away, were serious afficionados of character homes and were thrilled to find one with so much soul, as well as historical significance, when they moved up to Auckland from Wellington.
Kelly Clark, the couple’s daughter, says “it was mum’s absolute dream home. We’d always been brought up in character homes but this would have been her favourite.”
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“It’s like something out of an Enid Blyton book, with an enchanted garden down the back.”
The elegant two-storey house showcases many distinctive Arts and Crafts hallmarks – a tiled roof, bagged brick and plastered walls, sturdy jarrah beams and mullioned windows. Unusually for the era, but a big bonus today, Chapman-Taylor designed the living rooms to open to the north-facing backyard, allowing for the integration of indoor and outdoor spaces.
24 Mainston Road in Remuera, Auckland, is on the market for sale by deadline, closing October 17. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property sits on a 948sqm section with a 2021 CV of $3.2 million.
The property is beautifully preserved and has been sympathetically refreshed in a French country cottage style.
The galley-style kitchen still retains the original hand-adzed wooden cabinetry.
While it is a beautifully preserved moment in time, the residence has been sympathetically refreshed in a French country cottage style, which was done under Judy’s watchful eye. The largely black and white interiors are flooded with sun and light and accented with feature archways and handcrafted timber detailing. These are enhanced with all the essentials required for easy modern living.
A series of formal and casual living and dining spaces provide options for relaxing and entertaining on the ground floor and the galley-style kitchen still retains the original hand-adzed wooden cabinetry. All three bedrooms and the large family bathroom are located upstairs. The inside flows out to classic brick paved patios and an inground swimming pool.
Judy was a very keen gardener and loved the therapeutic nature of planting and tending the grounds, as well as the peacefulness of the woodland garden at the very back of the property. This thatch of mature trees not only enhances the sense of privacy but creates a home for abundant tui, kereru and fantail.
Kelly says that while she sadly never spent any time living at the property, her and the family spent lots of precious time there over the years. “The kids hate us at the moment for selling it,” she laughs.
“It deserves another family to love it. It’s so private, you don’t even know you’re in Auckland. The kids used to go and play down in the backyard and spent hours down there hunting fairies.”
The gracious Arts and Crafts home was designed by acclaimed architect James Chapman-Taylor for artist Ella Spicer and her husband John, and was built in 1913.
The largely black and white interiors are flooded with sun and light and accented with feature archways and handcrafted timber detailing.
They found a particularly special treasure as they prepared the home for sale. “When we were packing up, my sister found a book of notes from James Chapman-Taylor. His wife was sick at the time the house was being built, so he had written all the notes on how to build it while he went and looked after his wife.”
James Doole, from Barfoot & Thompson, is selling the unique property and says it’s a true one of a kind.
“They don’t build them like this anymore. It’s a beautiful, traditional, classic and elegant home.”
He says the layout and location mean that it could appeal to many different demographics.
“It could be a young couple wanting to buy that lovely character home in a leafy Remuera street, or it could be downsizers from a big family home that want something as grand, but on a smaller scale.
“It could also appeal to a family, a couple or even a single – as the owner lived here on her own for many years after her husband passed away. It’s got real X factor. From the moment you step in there you fall in love. Everyone does, even the modernists.”
- 24 Mainston Road in Remuera, Auckland, is for sale by deadline closing October 17
