Appealing Onaero lifestyle setting
Chad found his perfect bachelor pad at 39 Ohanga Rd, Onaero, but its next owner could just as easily be a family or a gardener.
The sheds have been the appeal for Chad on this lifestyle property of just over an acre: the big shed with five bays and four roller doors, a three-bay shed with two doors, and a two-bay implement shed. ‘‘I’ve put them to good use,’’ he says. ‘‘It’s going to be a nightmare to move now, but I’m working on it.’’
He bought the property four years ago with established gardens and flower beds. Preferring a lower-maintenance lifestyle, he replaced the gardens with easy-care pebbles and lawns, keeping just mature specimen trees as features and a selection of fruit trees, including feijoa, lemon, mandarin, orange, pear, apple and avocado. There are also blueberry and raspberry bushes.
New owners could easily recreate the garden areas, with the trees as anchor points in a landscape design of their own. Chad imagines a couple moving in; one of them embracing the space of the sheds and the other relishing the gardening opportunities.
While Chad has enjoyed his dream of endless shed space, he knows just how well this property would suit a family. ‘‘I’ve had a lot of barbecues here; my mates have heaps of kids and they love it. They come out from their townhouses to enjoy all this space.’’
The lawns provide all the room the youngsters need to bowl a cricket ball or kick a football. The property is set well off the road, adding security and privacy. ‘‘It’s such a long driveway, a couple of hundred metres, and sealed; it doesn’t seem like an acre when you are on it.’’
The central position of the house, its generous concrete parking and turning area, and capacious sheds, means carrying stock has not really been an option, which suited Chad. ‘‘I just whip around with the mower and weedeater and it’s all done.’’
The house was everything he wanted and more: four bedrooms, two living areas, an office nook, a huge conservatory that linked most rooms, and a large deck for outdoor living. That feature list should attract the attention of families, or maybe retiring farmers, wanting to live in the micro-climate of the Onaero area.
Built in the 1970s, the weatherboard home was seriously renovated by later owners, who upgraded all the aluminium joinery when they added the conservatory about 20 years ago. It was also reroofed just before Chad bought it.
The conservatory is an impressive enhancement, wrapping right around the north and west faces to create massive extra living space. Three of the bedrooms and the open-plan kitchen-family-dining area all open out into the sun-soaked space. The lounge, which is through a set of internal French doors in the dining area, has more French-door access to its own separate deck area.
The sun fills the conservatory all day and the heat flows into the house, making it a cosy environment during the chilly winter months, says Chad. If there are cold, cloudy days, the freestanding woodburner between the kitchen and dining area comes into its own. ‘‘It pumps the heat out; it’s an awesome fireplace.’’
In summer, all the doors can thrown open to let a cooling breeze through.
The kitchen is a capable space that looks out to the paved approach off the driveway, through a partially glazed verandah area that protects the barbecue activities. Chad says it works well, but new owners could well upgrade it with contemporary refinements.
A study nook between the kitchen and dining area is well placed to host homework efforts or provide a home office focus.
A short length of hallway off the living areas connects the bedrooms, making the original 110sqm floor plan of the home very efficient. The family bathroom is complemented by a second shower and toilet in the generous laundry behind the kitchen, but Chad had the idea of converting a smaller bedroom adjacent to the master bedroom into a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite – something new owners might well decide to do.
The extra bathroom services are also accessed through a small conservatory at the back of the house; handy if someone has been working in the sheds or grounds.