Restored kauri villa offers country seclusion with workshop
By Jo Ferris
This historic kauri villa made local headlines in 1997 when it was shifted from its 6th Avenue site and eventually relocated to the Oropi hinterland, to start life anew.
Its history goes back a lot further than that, however. At the time, it was believed to be around 110 years old, making it about 134 now. Not that it shows – apart from all the original features that retain its character. Nestling within this idyllic country setting, the villa bears little resemblance to the sad dwelling photographed back in 1997. Restored and renovated, the villa epitomises a charming country residence. It’s picturesque. A thick fringe of natives and trees line the roadside to hide the home. Rolling hills sit behind to envelope the villa within a small dell, complete with a pond and country gardens. With four paddocks for the pony and stock, plus a chicken coop and aviary for the kids and huge businessready workshop – this is the good life. Bookend gabled wings enclose a sunny verandah to greet the day. Finials, fretwork and the paintwork’s two-tone charm accentuate the villa character, while keeping pace with modern-day comfort. This is particularly evident in the kitchen. Contemporary design blends with farmhouse originality – old flooring polished to retain the villa’s narrative, while a modern stove, dishwasher and double butler’s sink meet today’s standards. Similar character is seen in the bathroom - a claw-foot bath and original flooring matching the clean, white paintwork of sarked walls. High-stud ceilings showcase a lovely mix of traditional panelled finishes, plaster cornice in the lounge, with exposed beams and sarked linings elsewhere. It’s also lovely to see the attention to window dressings. Floor-length drapes not only accentuate each room’s height, they enhance their character and mood. Wallpaper and carpet choice replicate this aspect – friezes defining walls and bold, floral carpet honouring a bygone era. The décor merges yesterday with today – practical features like the log fire keeping life toasty, while setting it within an old-style rimu mantel. Don’t expect to find the old concrete laundry tubs in this house, though. This space caters for today’s appliances, while also making room for the chest freezer in this spacious utility area.
Outdoor settings provide a cobbled pergola area for the barbecue and covered place for a spa within a colourful garden filled with natives and birdsong; fruit trees and veges; chicken coop and aviary, with playground freedom all around. Men have a big-boys shed to retreat to - 120 square metre, high-stud workshop with resource consent to run a business – making it income ready. Attached to that is that is a 9x6m twocar garage, which is currently set up with a saloon bar.
This is history refreshed and a refreshing way to live life in the country.