With nods to Nantucket and Ralph Lauren, this harbour side house is a virtuoso piece, writes Louise Richardson.

Address | 65 Maritime Terrace, Birkenhead

Agent | Jordan Selwyn – 027 671 5882
Agent | Brooke Barrass – 021 131 0566

Open Homes |
– Thursday 10th Dec 2020 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
– Saturday 12th Dec 2020 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
– Sunday 13th Dec 2020 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
– Saturday 19th Dec 2020 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
– Sunday 20th Dec 2020 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

He’s an opera singer who’s enjoying big success internationally, so it’s not surprising that acclaimed Wagnerian tenor Simon O’Neill, a self-described “big-person”, also lives in a very big house.

He and his wife, barrister Carmel Walsh, bought their 1920s Birkenhead bungalow in 2007 and since then they have practically doubled it in size. “It needed to be very clean and dry, as I am asthmatic,” says Simon, who grew up in a lovely, but draughty Canterbury villa.

Their renovations at Maritime Terrace have included putting in insulation on both levels and installing American oak flooring throughout. Essentially,the property presents as two homes, one on each level, and both are fully equipped, with individual, contemporary kitchens.
On the lower floor there’s a bedroom plus an office library, which could be a further bedroom. A kitchen, hallway and bathroom plus internal garaging complete this level’s features.
“We recently bought a Tesla, and luckily it fitted into the garage very well, along with our Mini Cooper,” says Simon.

On the top floor lie another three bedrooms, an extensive lounge, living and dining space along with two bathrooms and cleverly placed decking which seamlessly links the property with the water.

The home’s interior —was heavily influenced by homes they had,living in the United States, while Simon was studying in Manhattan, then performing with New York’s Metropolitan Opera.
“We just love that American-style generosity of space,” he says. “And Carmel is probably the most design-focused of us both.”

Her keen love of interior design has helped create an atmosphere which invokes the crisp, tweedy flavour of Ralph Lauren, while nodding to classic Nantucket nautical style; given the property’s waterfront location, with riparian rights and fabulous views of boats bobbing about on Waitemata¯ Harbour.

Simon says their family (he and Carmel have three children), tends to live downstairs in summer because it’s cooler and has easier access to the beach and the recently installed infinity container pool, while upstairs is definitely more cosy during winter.

“Before Covid-19, we used to have lots of overseas visitors and the layout of this place made it easy for them to be independent and self-contained.”

After unexpected,but appreciated time for talking, during lockdown —thanks to cancelled performances overseas —Simon and Carmel decided they needed anew challenge and now have their eyes set on another exciting project, nearby.

Whatever happens, the acoustics in any new bathroom will need to be excellent. “I have been known to practice in the shower,” says Simon. “It’s very important that an opera voice is always singing!”

Jordan Selwyn from Harcourts, Milford, says that this is one of the most exciting properties he’s marketed. “Yes, in one way it may seem like two distinct homes on two levels, but when you’re in there, it all works perfectly as one. “I imagine the purchaser could be somebody without enough time to commute each week from a city property to a northern hideaway. “In this case, every time you come home will feel like embarking on a holiday so you’ll always have the best of both worlds!”

Price: By negotiation

Source: OneRoof