Apartment living in real style
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HERE'S apartment living with all its advantages – no garden to upkeep, no maintenance to worry about and all the other perks like, perhaps, a communal pool.
And then there's apartment living with a complete difference, where the accommodation in question comprises almost 400m² of attractive living space spread over an unusual two floors – and offering commanding views not only over Algoa Bay but also of the city and its attractions like our very special World Cup stadium.
The apartment in question is in King's Terrace, a secure and up-market block conveniently sited at the top of Brookes Hill, but also far back enough from Marine Drive to overcome noise from passing traffic.
Secure in that there is a watch-tower that is manned 24 hours a day, and secure in that there is a controlled entrance which leads to the lifts which service the block.
Occupying the eighth and ninth floors of Kings Terrace is an exquisite apartment which could easily be used by two families, with its light and airy accommodation being very carefully planned to make full use of the space in elegantly angled rooms.
The first thing that strikes you on entering unit 802 is the view: there's a massive balcony accessed from the lounge, dining room and master bedroom which offers the perfect spot for watching surfers and dog-walkers at Kings Beach.
Sundowners? A definite yes. Dolphin and whale watching? A definite possibility.
And while the vertigo- challenged among us may not like to venture too close to the edge, there's security in the glass walls and so much space on the balcony that the edge does not need to be an issue. And on the windy days which Port Elizabeth is famed for the panoramic view can also be enjoyed from the interior, which offers varied and interesting accommodation options.
On the downstairs level there's a stunning lounge with lots of built-in cupboards and a jet-master for those chilly winter nights and a separate dining room with a serving hatch to the spacious kitchen.
The kitchen also features lots of wooden built-in cupboards, some fronted with glass to make attractive display units, double Bosch ovens and electric hob, plus a separate scullery/laundry which offers a clever nook for drying clothes.
To the left of the lounge as you enter the apartment there's a guest loo and a master bedroom to die for.
Not only does it offer those commanding views of the bay but the bedroom itself is also of ample proportions to easily house a king-sized bed plus a small lounge suite.
Fittingly the master bedroom has a luxuriously fitted en-suite featuring a tile surrounded bath, large shower, double sinks plus toilet and bidet.
Adjacent to, but completely separate from the bathroom, is a large, walk-in dressing room.
And so to the penthouse which is accessed via a tiled flight of stairs with a solid handrail which again offers peace of mind to the vertigo- challenged amongst us.
A former balcony has been enclosed to create a delightful lounge with stack windows protecting it from the elements.
There's a built-in braai in this entertainment area, while a second lounge has a built-in bar, which leads to a smaller, but still adequate, second kitchen.
There's also a small, but useful storage room with built-in cupboards a guest loo with a hand basin.
Completing the penthouse level accommodation, there's two spacious bedrooms, one sea-facing one not, each with lots of built-in cupboards and en-suite bathrooms.
It is left to the sea-facing room to feature an especially impressive en-suite with large a bath, shower and double sinks.
Interesting use of windows and making the most of the available space makes this unit delightfully light and very special – and an added bonus is that there is a 68m² double garage, plus there's a swimming pool in the complex.
802 King's Terrace is on the market with Solomons Crafford and the asking price is R7.5-million. - Helen Crooks
