ULTIMATE A-FRAME: FAMILY SELLING AFTER 40 YEARS

A-frame houses had a moment back in the ‘70s, but this home in Birkenhead, Auckland shows how they can still be relevant and practical today. And much of that is due to the amazing transformation undertaken by two generations over 40 years.

Ricky and Lindsay Daniel-Nield live in the house, which was bought by Ricky’s parents, Sarah and Paul, in the 1980s. Back then, the house was significantly smaller. The couple renovated extensively in the 90s, adding a second living area and laundry to the rear.

Lindsay Daniel-Nield says she and Ricky bought the house from his parents in 2018, an arrangement that worked out well for both parties: “We wanted to get on the property ladder, and it was a way to help the family out.”

And the young couple undertook their own huge renovation last year. Notably, they transformed the interior, which had featured orange-toned timbers, much like those found in early Lockwood homes.

“We really wanted to modernise it, so we sanded and blonded every single board by hand,” Lindsay Daniel-Nield says. “It was a massive job and it took six months.”

The couple also had the exterior painted - the dark colour helps the house blend in with the native bush surroundings.

“We are fortunate that the bush provides good privacy. But the garden still gets sun all day, and we have the best vegetable crops all year round.

“Ricky’s parents planted a cherry tree at the side, which has grown large. It provides wonderful changing colour through the year, and has the most beautiful flowers in the spring. At the moment it’s a gorgeous orange.”

Inside, the 130m² house flows effortlessly, with an open-plan family living area, second living space, four bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The pointy ends of the two A-frame forms have been cleverly utilised. The couple have chosen to stage one of these as a nursery - a door opens to a small balcony.

“We have had a double bed in there in the past,” Daniel-Nield says. “When they were young, the other loft was used by Ricky and his brother as a playroom for their toys and Lego."

The couple use the loft as a storage space, but it could be a cool hangout for teens.

The couple are selling because they are moving to Mangawhai, where they were married just three weeks ago. They both work in IT and can work remotely.

Josh Smith, who shares the listing with Nathan Canton of Harcourts Cooper & Co, says potential buyers have been intrigued by the chalet style of the house. “It looks more like something you would find at a ski resort than in Birkenhead. It has really caught their attention. It has an amazing feel inside, and plenty of space.”

Smith says they are getting interest from a mix of people, including “first-home buyers, upsizers, investors and some curious buyers”.

The property, at 5A Glenbush Pl, Birkenhead, is being sold with a deadline sale date of June 4, 2026. It has an RV of $1.1 million.

Cotality puts the median property value of homes in Birkenhead at $1,342,100. Other recent sales in the suburb include 7 City View Terrace, which sold last week for $1.25m; 2/43 Rawene Rd sold last month for $1.161m; and 8F Roseberry Rd, which sold in March for $1.25m.

Property market update: New Zealand homeowners are holding properties for near-record periods as the country’s prolonged housing downturn continues to impact the “pain and gain” of resale outcomes.

Cotality NZ’s Pain and Gain Report for the March quarter shows 87.8% of residential properties resold for more than their original purchase price, a figure that’s remained relatively stable since the third quarter last year.

Cotality NZ chief property economist Kelvin Davidson says while almost nine of out 10 sellers are still making a gross profit, the figures remain well below the peak of more than 99% recorded in late 2021.

He also noted that profit-making resales had a median hold period of 10 years, matching the longest ownership duration on record.

“Property values have been broadly flat for some time, and the pain and gain figures are reflecting that same gradual downward shift rather than a slump,” Davidson says.

Colleen Hawkes - Stuff

JOSH SMITH

Cooper & Co Real Estate Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008