ITALIANSTYLE MANSION
It’s reminiscent of an Italian villa, but to its owners what’s important is the space it offers for a blended, extended family
If Andrew Holliday has his way, he will trade his jet-setting lifestyle for a garden shovel. The motorcycle-loving financial software company boss, who is currently away from home or offshore for up to 300 days a year, longs to tend his Bay of Plenty flower beds and spend more time at home with his family. And perhaps ride his motocross bike a little more often.
The past three years have been particularly frenetic for Andrew and wife Frances. In that time, they have shifted countries, overseen three renovations and had two children while travelling and working internationally. In March 2017, they hosted their own garden wedding four months after purchasing and refurbishing an ivy-clad house and its hectare of garden facing Omokoroa Golf Course. >
The couple’s marriage vows included a pledge to Andrew’s sons Liam, 18, Lachlan, 16, and Kiefer, 12, who live in Auckland but frequently stay with the couple alongside siblings Kiannah EllaGrace (KiKi), almost three, and one-year-old Beau Keanu-Kai. The household also includes Frances’ parents Mike and Pauline Renwick, who help with childcare when they are not looking after guests at the Hollidays’ two Lake Rotoehu properties.
“We do everything as a family, we holiday as a family; all the kids and Mike and Pauline,” Andrew says, recalling their honeymoon for nine in Hawaii. “Kids are our everything.” The Omokoroa abode was chosen with the extended clan and plenty of play in mind after Andrew’s work propelled the couple back to New Zealand from Australia.
After living on Sydney’s Manly Beach, lifestyle was paramount for the initially reluctant returnees. They decided to settle either in Queenstown or on the beach at Mt Maunganui until a savvy realtor led them to a rapidly burgeoning harbourside village north of Tauranga city. What the location lacked in surf or ski
field access, the house made up for in size and build quality, with handsome grounds, a pool for the children and a tennis court for sporty Frances and her equally competitive parents.
“We came down the driveway and just fell in love with it. We liked the elegance, the form of it. As soon as we walked in I had a vision of how I wanted it to work, very much that chateau elegance.” The Hollidays also envisaged renting the property for small weddings and lodge accommodation (hollidayhomes.co.nz). “For us, it’s a house first but we could see it could be a business if we want.” >
“I’m a banker,” Andrew says, with a grin. “And Franci is extremely logical. She said I can have it as long as we make it a business.”
So they set to work planning renovations for the 650sqm house, as well as the lakeside log house Andrew had purchased decades earlier. Then they bought a second Lake Rotoehu property and renovated that too, in preparation for paying guests who stay when the Hollidays are not wakeboarding and waterskiing, fishing or swimming at the lake.
The couple met when the superbly organised Frances was employed as Andrew’s executive assistant, and their shared attention to detail is evident in the house makeover that happened ahead of the equally meticulously planned wedding.
Together, they chose new paving, flooring, paint and curtains as well as custom-made wrought iron fencing and archways. In addition to spectacular outdoor sound and lighting systems, there was bespoke clothing for the large bridal party and each of the five Holliday children. >
‘It’s a place the kids will always be able to come to. I hope they’ll get married in this garden one day too’
Although their existing art and furniture worked beautifully, there wasn’t enough of it, so they began placing orders with their favourite Italian furniture store in Sydney and an antiques dealer in Auckland. The original double garage has been converted to a teenage boys’ suite that sleeps up to 10 and includes a kitchenette as well as space to hang surfboards and skis and to display Andrew’s beloved limited-edition Italian motorcycles.
He admits to knowing almost nothing about bike engines and is angling to move one of the machines into the main living area.
“To me, it’s mechanical art, it’s the aesthetics. My Ducati 1299 Superleggera was rated the sexiest and fastest road bike they’ve ever made. I’ve never ridden it, it’s too fast.” >
The ex-lawyer and former commercial property developer is a decades-long NZ House & Garden reader who bought his first home shortly after getting his first graduate job as a lawyer. He has made a point of developing gardens in every successive house and his current role makes him relish the tangible and comparatively speedy results of a hands-on domestic project. This time around, though, the planting was already done. He is quick to credit previous owners Phillip and Lisa Rowe for the attractive landscaping and his father-in-law with its upkeep. Given Andrew’s work schedule, it’s Mike who spends about 30 hours a week clipping and mowing, grooming and replanting.
“I’d love to be here more,” Andrew says wistfully. “I’d quit work tomorrow and work in the garden.”
Q&A
Since meeting Andy: It’s like being on an escalator. A fast-moving one. He’s what I call an active relaxer. (Pauline)
I have always wanted: To buy an Italian villa in Italy. I will do it one day but in the meantime, this is the nearest we can get to it. (Andrew)
The previous owner: Did such an amazing job with this garden. We were blown away when we learned she filled in what was a steeply sloping site one wheelbarrow load at a time and laid all the paving stones by hand. All the trees were planted as seedlings. (Andrew) Everything in this house: Is difficult because of the double concrete block and plaster walls. Plumbing, wiring; nothing is easy. (Frances)
This home revolves around: Food, coffee and wine. And family of course. It’s for the next chapter in our lives. It’s a place the kids will always be able to come to. I hope they’ll get married in this garden one day too. (Andrew) Pauline Renwick, Andrew and Frances Holliday