36B SHELTER GROVE, FRANKLEIGH PARK

The owners of an award-winning home with a plethora of stunning features on 1.5 acres of land in upmarket Shelter Grove are reluctantly selling.

Glen and Christine Fale are intent on buying a motorhome and indulging their wander-lust – an urge that comes with an emotional wrench. “We love it here and it’ll be sad to leave,” Christine says.

The large attractive home along the well-tended right of way at 36b Shelter Grove is immaculately presented on a 6229sqm setting which is beautifully landscaped. It is obvious why it collected a Taranaki Registered Master Builders House of the Year Supreme Award for Hassall Homes Ltd in 2003. Many of the home’s features would have been well ahead of their time and the owners have ensured it has been well-maintained and updated since.

Through the big front door is a welcoming foyer, the back wall of which features a stunning lily print wallpaper just 18 months old. There is luxurious dark carpet underfoot and throughout the house. Through the internal doors is the spacious open-plan living area with its magnificent outlook across the city to the sea in the distance. Diners can make the most of the view through the large prow-shaped windows which look over the expanse of flat lawn and the bush, trees and fields beyond. Fat wood pigeons and tui are among the lively birdlife making the most of the big puriri and kowhai trees.

The contemporary kitchen had a new island bench installed last year and the black tiles and grey Eurostone surfaces are ultra smart, complementing as they do the dusky blue of the soft-close drawers and cupboards. The kitchen floors are top-of-the-line, unmarkable Italian tiles. There is a double dishdrawer, double oven, and a double sink with a new waste disposal unit installed just last year. A 30-litre tank in the ceiling space above gives instant hot water.

The kitchen is perfectly placed for entertaining. It is adjacent to the north-facing deck allowing easy access for barbecues and alfresco dining. A sliding window allows direct access to the outdoor area. In the adjacent family space, the cosy window seat is popular. “It’s beautiful place to read a book and have a little snooze,” Christine says.

A second deck, which runs the full length of the front of the house, ensures outdoor living can follow the sun and the many windows open to give the much-loved indoor-outdoor flow. A special feature out here is the spa bath, which is conveniently placed adjacent to the master bedroom and where you can have total privacy. The large lounge can be closed off with bifold doors. Heat is provided by a flued gas heater. “It heats the whole house,”Glen says.

There are three double bedrooms plus an office which could be used as an additional smaller bedroom on the other side of the passage way with its interesting angles. One of the double bedrooms has attractive mauve and taupe walls and a bay window giving extra interest and space.

This house has plenty of storage with two double cupboards in the hallway. A bar heater in another cupboard allows airing for linen and clothing. There is double-glazing throughout and an electric heater in the hallway for the nippier nights.

The main bathroom with a top-spec extra-size shower and bath has been recently painted and wallpapered in the latest smart black-and-white livery. There is a separate room for the toilet.

Around the corner is the master bedroom with everything you could wish for. It has a ranchslider on to the deck which gives direct access to the spa bath outside.

There is a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite with a shower and toilet. The wood-look vinyl is right up to the minute. Back along the passageway, there is internal access to the garage, which is both wider and longer than your average double garage. It also has room for a workshop and cupboards and has its own phone “… in case Glen is in the garden,” Christine points out.

They can be rightly proud of their extensive easy-care gardens and lawns which surround the home and bushclad bank beyond. The property extends down the hill to paddocks which are currently well cared for by arrangement with the next-door neighbour. “You could put sheep or goats down there. You could make it as much work as you want to,” Chris says. Walkways, with rope guidelines down the hillside, are popular with the grandchildren, as is the pretty little wendy house set back amongst the bushes. “We have 10 grandkids. They love it here. They have a ball inside and out. They tell us ‘We don’t want you to sell your house’.”

Stone pathways take you along the side of the house. On the hillside, Glen has tried to source plants that are natives of this area, such as lancewood, ponga and hebes, to ensure they will thrive. They point out there’s Frankley Rd in the distances and beyond there’s a sliver of sea and Paritutu and the chimney on the skyline. “And you can’t be built out.”

In the other direction, there’s a mountain view and welldesigned stone gardens.

“It’s so quiet, you wouldn’t think we’re only five minutes to town. I like the stillness,” Glen says. Buyer Enquiry Over $860,000