GOOD POINT

Coast and Country

57 TAKATU RD

Their plan was to go sailing, but bad timing meant Ali Skinner and her husband Tony exchanged their sea-faring dream for something different — an olive grove.

They had left Wellington to live in Kerikeri to prepare for the sailing adventure. However, Tony’s construction business required his input so instead they started looking for a property that would give him easy access to Wellington.

“We were attracted to the Matakana area for that reason,” Ali says. “It’s close to Auckland and therefore easy to get to Wellington, and we’re just five minutes from Matakana village and the lovely local school.”

Ali says she’s always had green fingers so an olive grove ticked a box for her. Green fingers notwithstanding, she knew nothing about olives when they bought the property nine years ago. Fortunately it was part of the Matakana olive growers’ co-operative, and she met a few people through that group who made it sound simple. The couple’s extra virgin oil is now an award-winner.

The T-shaped house ticked another box, thanks to Tony’s expertise in the construction industry. It was board and batten and an unfinished project, but Tony, who Ali says has tremendous vision, had plans for it. A large garage was transformed into a living area with a five-metre high stud and a massive limestone-faced fireplace, which is an impressive focal point.

“We’d considered all kinds of materials for the fireplace but we were at the tile shop and there was this limestone,” Ali says. It was a must-have, and she chose the tiles for her kitchen splashback at the same time. They’re handmade glass in a dark red and not, she admits, everybody’s cup of tea.

Colourful accents against what Ali calls ‘50 shades of white’ are a feature of the house. The kitchen joinery is mix and match with some drawers faced in timber and others painted Resene’s Celery. The table in the adjoining casual dining space comes to the party with chairs painted different colours. And on the back wall of the living room are a dozen or so wall-hung bookcases in a range of sizes, shapes and colours. While they are different, they’re not totally random, and, as Ali explains, “You can get away with it if you get the background right”.

A split-level floor plan creates some separation between the living area and the bedrooms, each of which has painted or wallpapered feature walls. Ali likes to spark them up even further with bed linen in surprising colours.

“I like the interplay between different things and I don’t like everything to be over-organised. The bottom line for me is fun.”

She describes herself as a ‘percher’ and likes to perch at the kitchen island bench, where there’s always something interesting to look at. “You need something to give you a lift when you come in here and find there’s an hour’s washing up to do.”

But not all the interesting views are inside the house. Oversized doors and windows showcase the rural outlook and open to various outdoor living spaces enclosed by low maintenance gardens. The land has been planted with around 400 olive trees and there’s a potager shed and vegetable gardens.

The olive grove has been managed onsite for years and the property is being sold with all the tools of the trade. However, for those who are not lured by the romance of olive production, other growers in the area could take on the management role.

Ali and Tony are downsizing. They’ve bought a bach at Scotts Landing. “It’s like a tree house with beautiful sea views, and it’s tiny,” Ali says. “I’m just hoping it stays tiny. I’ve loved living in a big house but there’s more to life than cleaning windows.” Size (more or less):

Land 2.3 ha, house 316sq m.

Price guide:

Interest

Auction: Inspect:

Schools:

expected above $2 million.

Nov 15. Today, Nov. 12, 1-2pm.

Matakana Primary School, Mahurangi College.

Dahnie Burton, Bayleys, 021 628 327.

Contact: On the web:

bayleys.co.nz/1220663