PARADISE, PIECE BY PIECE
A well-planned build allowed this house to expand to meet its owners’ needs, writes Leigh Bramwell
“It’s built like the proverbial,” says Bryce Howard proudly of his big brick and tile family home near Albany. And he should know - he project- managed the build after buying the land at 361/7 Paremoremo Road in 1993.
He and his wife had just returned from Australia and wanted a piece of paradise close to Albany which in those days was still very rural but conveniently close to amenities.
“We were young then and had limited funds but we wanted to build a quality house that we could expand over time,” Bryce says.
The house was built during 1994 and 1995 with block foundations, rimu floor joists, timbers sourced from the South Island, brick cladding and a tile roof, expanding to a four bedroom, two bathroom family home with double garaging and ample off-street parking. The master bedroom is privately located on the lower floor with a tiled ensuite and sliding doors to the deck. All the bedrooms are spacious, with views.
The whole property has been designed for family living and indoor-outdoor entertaining. The smart, contemporary kitchen has an oversized island bench that creates a visual separation from the adjoining casual dining area and family room, both of which open up to a balcony. The family room features a Stovax fire that is Bryce’s pride and joy.
“It’s 1.1 metres wide and it heats the whole house,” he says. “We burn wood off the property, and we don’t require any other heating.”
The Stovax is stylish as well as practical, and sits within a solid slate fire surround, creating an elegant focal point in the room. There’s a second, more formal lounge and adjoining formal dining room. The entire house, which is being sold by negotiation, has a modern look thanks to progressive improvements and a major renovation right down to new insulation throughout.
The heated pool was added a few years ago and it proved a major success. Its natural shape is encircled by a garden of palms, tree ferns and other mainly native plantings, it’s surrounded by plenty of decking for lounging in the sun, and there’s a firepit.
“The kids loved it,” Bryce says. “Everyone wanted to come to our place.”