Manaia home has grace and space

A gracious Manaia residence instantly captured owners Andrew and Sandy with its celebration of more than 100 years of style and comfort.

‘‘One look and we fell in love with it,’’ they say.

Settling in proved the property was about more than first impressions. ‘‘We have enjoyed the quiet country lifestyle, the beaches, and mountain walks. We have met some amazing people and enjoyed small-town living, and we are very sad to leave.’’

The weatherboard home at 1170a South Rd, just a couple of kilometres or so from the centre of Manaia, was built between 1910 and 1920. It can be described as a transitional villa, adopting features of the bungalow designs that were then beginning to grow in popularity. The lower-pitched pyramid roof, extending out over the wide front verandah, is a pointer to the transitional style.

The immediate appeal that Andrew and Sandy felt here is understandable.

The driveway off the road sweeps around the tree-bordered, 3318sqm grounds to the separate double garage behind the centrally placed house. A threebay garage and workshop nearby adds more vehicle and equipment storage options.

A path leads from the front of the property through the trees, and across the front lawn, to the house. The verandah is an eyecatching welcome, with its roof protection supported on a pair of massive concrete pillars, and low brick balustrade walls that define the space.

The leadlight-detailed front door and side panels are just one indicator of the fine craftsmanship in this home. The door opens to draw visitors into what is essentially a large reception area, rather than a traditional foyer or hallway, with a dedicated coat cupboard to the side of the door.

From this reception area, a glazed door opens left into a front lounge with its feature brick fireplace, and a stunning corner bay window and rimu window seat. The windows are doublehung, with more leadlight filling the upper panes – a presentation repeated in many of the rooms throughout the house. The high ceilings are also finely detailed with boxed beams and plaster panels.

Another door adjacent to this corner lounge opens into the spacious kitchen, which reveals classic rimu cabinetry complemented by contemporary stainless-steel appliances. The wide standalone cooker has gas hobs atop an electric oven. The kitchen is large enough for a dining suite to sit in the middle of the room, and there’s a connecting door linking this room with the front lounge.

‘‘We love the kitchen. It’s a wonderful place to sit and talk.’’

French doors at the back of the reception area open wide to access the home’s middle lounge, where you note the substantial brick fireplace and its woodburner insert, flanked by built-in, rimuand-leadlight cabinets. The decorative plaster ceiling is edged with deep, decorated plaster coving.

Another set of French doors opens the middle lounge to a lightfilled sitting area with a rimufaced window seat wrapped around three sides and providing handy storage beneath the seats.

The choice of living areas is another pleasing feature, Andrew and Sandy say. ‘‘You can always find a place to sit and read in this warm and dry home. It would make an excellent family home, with loads of room for children, but it’s just as good for people like us who enjoy a quiet lifestyle.’’

Four bedrooms give the home real family capacity, with the master suite adding ensuite convenience to its character ambience. The family bathroom has rich rimu detailing with walls clad in half-height panelling; the ensuite is more contemporary

with white tiles and a glass shower screen over the bath, although the old sewing machine cabinet recycled as a vanity adds a quirky character touch.

At the back of the house is another porch area that looks out into the rear gardens and their lushly planted perimeter. Gardens close to the house are bordered with buxus and filled with soft colourful plants.

From this north-facing part of the house, there is a great view across the rural landscape to the mountain.

Bayleys consultants Greg and Lorraine Brunton are marketing the property, which they say is an elegant and spacious South Taranaki villa, which has great presence, exceptional character, and privacy.