RURAL PANACHE
A clever fusion of styles sets this house apart, writes
Plans for a European-style house with a tiled French roof were fixed firmly in Annette Bayly’s mind when she started to think about the house she was designing at Dairy Flat — but a surprise U-turn changed everything.
“I came across Eurotray roofing and I really fell in love with it, and that altered the whole design,” she says. “Then everything else just fell into place.”
Annette and her husband have created a farm park subdivision at Dairy Flat and have kept seven of the sites to build on.
“I love doing houses and this one is on the best site in the subdivision, although we didn’t think so to start with,” she says.
Once the choice of roofing was settled the sun and views directed the exterior design and footprint, after which Annette put together an interior plan which could be described as a fusion of contemporary and rustic with many bespoke features.
For sale by negotiation, the 488sq m house, at 20 Myra Evelyn Grove, Dairy Flat, Auckland, has a rural earthiness which provides a distinctive backdrop for high-end materials, fittings and features.
Solid rendered brick and schist exteriors anchor the building to its rural setting, with a central portico defining the entranceway through antique oak doors.
The main living area has exposed Oregon timber beams which have their own story to tell. “Actually I had been going to get the Oregon made into tongue and groove and use it for the floors, but everyone was horrified by the idea and I wasn’t allowed, so I’ve used oak on the floor,” Annette says.
A schist-faced wood burner fireplace keeps this big space warm, and despite its grand proportions, it has the feel of a relaxed social hub ideal for entertaining.
Annette is well pleased with her kitchen design, where ash and redwood timbers are contrasted with quartzite counter tops.
The 1200mm Smeg cooker has a double oven, and there’s a spacious butler's pantry with an additional dishwasher which ensures ample storage, prep and clean-up space.
The kitchen is open to the family room with its schist-faced gas fireplace with totara mantel and slate hearth.
Three sets of stacker doors open the room up to patios on either side, and the covered portico at the front.
The wide planked oak floors and white walls give this area a bright, casual aspect.
On either side of the foyer are double barn-style doors into the formal lounge on one side and the dining room on the other.
“Those barn doors are the first things the builder made, even before he started on the house,” Annette says.
The formal lounge has a secluded, intimate feel with deep grey walls and grey carpet.
Beyond it is the master suite comprising a spacious bedroom, walk-in wardrobe and a full bathroom with double vanities with marble bowls, a marble wet-floor shower with rain head, and an elegant oval bath tub located to take advantage of pretty rural views. The family/ guest sleeping wing on the opposite side of the open plan living area has three bedrooms, a full bathroom and additional en suite off the guest room, and internal access to the guest garage.
Well-chosen light fittings, mirrors and built-ins give all the rooms in the house special character, and Annette is pleased she was able to source virtually everything locally, apart from some items she created herself. Outside there is a choice of paved outdoor living areas and the 3559sq m section has been extensively planted with easy maintenance in mind.