19 Maritime Terrace, Birkenhead Point, North Shore City, Auckland

Fall in love with the heritage charm of this peacefully hidden 1920s home that has evolved with gracious ease into an immaculate, modern family masterpiece. Rich with character, the very special solid concrete home was once the Mayor of North Shore's gardener's cottage on the vast estate he owned.

In 1995, a comprehensive, sympathetic renovation added two new floors and an airy open family addition making it a large dwelling with 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms on different levels, with formal and informal living spaces. Today's owners continued improvements, adding huge sunny decks. They also installed a salt-water heated pool off the lawn surrounded by beautiful landscaping and added a magnificent social contemporary kitchen and casual dining area - the heart of the home.

Through a welcoming light-filled atrium entry, the enlarged 240m2 (more or less) floorplan is ideal. It has separate wings - for children on the main floor, guests downstairs and parents in a spacious lofty rooftop suite with walk-in robe and sweeping views from the balcony across Little Shoal Bay to Mt Vic, Rangitoto Island and the City.

Indoor-outdoor entertaining choices are fantastic. The family gravitates to the central kitchen island for dinners where they can watch sport on the projector screen in the family area, bifolds open wide to the pool. There are outdoor play areas for children and guests are impressed by the adorable original arts & crafts character of the formal spaces with a traditional fire, leadlights, high baton ceilings and doors to a huge terrace.

But location is key here. There is ample parking for at least five cars (and a workshop) - plus walks aplenty meander through Le Roys Bush and down to Little Shoal Bay. Top-class restaurants and cafes are a mere five-minute walk away and 10 minutes' walk to both the City ferry and Birkenhead village with the Ponsonby strip the same time away by taxi. Birkenhead and Northcote Primary is close as is Northcote College and the private school buses are handy.

The property has been beautifully maintained ready for your family to step in and live the dream.

Auction 27th March at 12pm (USP)

To view or download property files please go to: https://www.harcourtsfiles.co.nz/listings/HRQY