Family and lifestyle blended easily
Five into two is easy enough to work out when you are talking maths. But a family with five children and a home with two bedrooms is another problem altogether, needing a clever solution.
That’s the situation Barb and Bill faced when they decided on a rural relocation after they moved from the US to Taranaki in about 2010.
‘‘When we first came here from the States, we did the whole new living experience and lived in town,’’ Barb explains. ‘‘But I quickly learned I was not a townie.’’
That’s not too surprising since they moved off an 33-hectare Kentucky farm to come to New Zealand.
They scaled down their rural experience and bought a 4.87-hectare lifestyle block at 292A Plymouth Rd, between New Plymouth and Oakura. The shoehorn effect of five into two wasn’t as grim as it sounds now; the house may have had just two bedrooms then, but it had plenty of space to reshape into more appropriate accommodation, Barb recalls.
‘‘It had lots of garage space that had been used for a boat and boys’ toys,’’ she explains.
‘‘We could easily see that the house had enough space with remodelling.’’
Much of that surplus garage space was promptly converted into three more bedrooms and another living area, creating a spacious and comfortable home. It wasn’t an old home, either, the house had been built in about 2010, so was quite contemporary in its construction and fitout. Board-and-batten cladding did give it a rustic air that sat well on the rural landscape.
‘‘The views and the land,’’ Barb says, when asked what sold them on this property.
The views are obvious, reaching down about 3km to the blue sea off Oakura and looking back inland to the Kaitake Ranges and the rising slopes of Mt Taranaki. It’s distinctly pleasing whichever way you turn.
The land here is in two portions. A long narrow gully runs along the western boundary, richly textured with native bush of sufficient quality that it has been granted QE2 National Trust heritage protection. It’s a pleasing green border to life here that emphasises the variety of shades of green there are in native bush and the different foliage types.
The main area of the property is in flat pasture, and the fencing, arena facilities and brightly coloured jumps Barb’s focus for this aspect of horses.
It’s horses that are behind their move off this land as well. Barb knows the healing effects of living and working with horses and wants to create an equestrianfocused retreat for young girls who are struggling with life and society.
New owners will appreciate the opportunity that move gives them. They will get a well-presented and set up lifestyle property with pleasing seclusion at the end of the long drive in from the road.
The house sits in the centre of the property with the main pastures to the front and behind. The driveway opens up into a generous parking and turnaround space in front of the house and its integrated double garaging.
A formal front door opens into the former surplus garaging, where you now find a living area, two double bedrooms and a bathroom, and stairs leading up to a guest bedroom that looks out over the farmland and down to the sea. There’s internal access to the remaining double garage space with convenient mezzanine storage Saturday, December 15, 2018 point to the land:
292A Plymouth Rd, between New Plymouth and Oakura.
4.87 hectares in land; about 314sqm in home.
By negotiation. Buyers above $1.1 million should view.
Unique lifestyle property in the popular Koru area between New Plymouth and Oakura with a family-sized, five-bedroom home. Views down to the sea and back to the mountain slopes capture the eye, while protected bush along one boundary adds a green buffer to the land. Flat pastures set up for equestrian use complete the profile here.
Anjie Cook at McDonald Real Estate, 06 752 1340 or 027 555 4736. eieio.co.nz – ref OAL00251; open2view.com – ref 441246
Open home on Sunday, December 16, from 12.45pm till 1.15pm. level built into the high-pitched roofline.
A hallway leads through to the home’s original living areas on the north-facing side of the house. On the way, Barb notes the family bathroom and separate toilet, and the dedicated laundry space she designed that doubles as a convenient mud room.
Another set of stairs along the hallway takes you up to the master bedroom, with its ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, and a balcony that looks out over the protected bush. You can also gain another great view down the farmland to the glistening blue sea.
‘‘In the morning, I can look at the mountain and check the horses. I will really, really miss this.’’
The open-plan living areas were a satisfying family space from the first day they moved in here. They embrace kitchen, dining and lounge areas and the raked ceilings add an even greater sense of space. That’s helped by the full-height views out. ‘‘There are no windows,’’ Barb points out. All the glazing around the living areas is in bi-folding doors that open up the space to the grounds outside.
The kitchen is set to the back of the space, with its family friendly island bench. Barb appreciates being able to cook and prepare meals while still feeling part of life in here.
The bench tops are solid timber, with the grain adding pleasing visual warmth to an otherwise white kitchen.
A gas electric stove is a feature, fed by gas bottles, as is the gas fire at the end of the lounge space. Over the island bench, they added attractive glass-and-wroughtiron lights.
The kitchen and hallway spaces were tiled from new, but the couple lifted the carpet in the dining room and lounge to lay dark-oak vinyl timber planking. It’s much more practical, according to Barb.
Step outside, and you find a barbecue table with a secret. Move the table aside and there’s a firepit that can make cool evenings comfortable and cosy.
Stock loading ramps are a practical feature at the end of the property, although the only animals carried now are several chickens, a few sheep and Geoffrey the kunekune pig. Both the sheep and Geoffrey are negotiable items in the sale, Barb adds. www.taranakidailynews.co.nz