Contemporary comfort in Hawera
controlled gas fire with a timer. The couple has enjoyed being able to come home to a pre-warmed house in the evenings.
And what family wouldn’t consider it to be sheer bliss to come home to a warm house after spending a chilly winter morning cheering the kids on at an exposed sports ground?
At night, the sun’s stored warmth radiates from the tiles, dramatically cutting the home’s heating costs. It’s then just a case of closing the curtains and settling in for the night. Conversely, during summer it’s a simple task to open up all the sliding doors to turn the house into a cool haven. A ceiling fan in the lounge redistributes the heat on the cooler days and provides a welcome cooling airflow on summer days.
‘‘We use a heat pump to help keep everything cool during summer,’’ says Jane. ‘‘Andrew often works night shifts, so it’s been great for him to be able to get good sleep on the hottest of summer days.’’
The modern kitchen’s focal point is a large, sleek, stainless-steel-topped island which perfectly matches the stainless appliances. To call the island unit large is a bit of an understatement. It’s the perfect place to serve plates of food for hungry guests; and there’s plenty of room for those guests to sit at the island.
‘‘During summer, we often open everything up to turn the entire kitchen, lounge and garden into one big entertainment space. When the rugby’s on TV, the bench often transforms into a very handy bar,’’ Andrew jokes.
The washing machine and dryer are neatly hidden away in a kitchen cupboard.
The hallway is home to a double linen cupboard, wall-mounted panel heater, and a skylight diffuser that directs light into the area.
There are three double bedrooms and one single bedroom. All of the double bedrooms have sliding glass doors that open out onto the garden. The master bedroom easily accommodates a Californian king-size bed with ample room to spare and features a walk-in wardrobe, and a wet-area shower in the ensuite.
A central speaker system has been wired into every bedroom. Each bedroom has a speaker and television port set high in the walls. This has been designed for flatscreen televisions and demonstrates just how much forethought went into designing this house in 2003.
The main bathroom also features a wetarea design and pride of place goes to a fitted sunken bath with a beautiful mosaic pebble surround. The bathroom’s massive vanity wouldn’t look out of place in a movie star’s dressing room.
‘‘All of this space is perfect when family or friends stay over; there’s plenty of room for everyone,’’ Janes points out. ‘‘You never feel cramped. For me, coming from the UK, just being able to have this amount of space and a home with such a modern design is a total luxury.’’
Security cameras and an alarm (capable of being remotely accessed) provide added security and peace of mind.
The internally accessed double garage features a vanity, nine wall-mounted storage cupboards and ample space for a workbench or freezers.
The securely fenced rear garden is private, quiet and safe for kids and pets. Pear, apple, plum and citrus trees have provided the family with an abundance of fresh fruit. There is also a large, very productive vege garden that reliably fills the dinner table with bountiful goodness.
‘‘It’s been great to have been able to pick fruit from our own trees,’’ says Andrew. ‘‘We have three mature grape vines and it’s frustrating to be leaving just as they are getting into full production. Last year we had an incredible crop.
‘‘We’ve enjoyed setting up a table and chairs under the cherry tree; it’s a perfect natural sun umbrella. Kids can run around and have a lot of fun here. There’s plenty of space for them to have all their mates around.’’
A rooftop balcony is accessed by an outdoor iron spiral staircase with views out to Mount Taranaki and the surrounding farmland. Here, Andrew and Jane have spent many evenings relaxing with a wine in hand watching the sun set behind Mount Taranaki.