THE GREAT OUTDOORS ... AND INDOORS
Two favourites vie for heart and soul of this home, writes Leigh Bramwell
Despite a massive open-plan living area comprising kitchen, dining room, lounge and snug, guests at this house always seem to spend 80 percent of their time on the kitchen. It’s the focal point of the living area and people are drawn to it.
It’s not surprising, as the kitchen island bench has room for eight bar stools on one side, and plenty of hangout space for guests to congregate while food is being prepared. A walk-in pantry, stainless steel appliances, twin integrated dishwashers and ample bench space are designed to satisfy the needs of the most demanding cook.
The engineered timber floors throughout the whole living area add warmth to the white and grey colour palette, and beautiful lighting brings an elegant aesthetic to a space that is filled with character in furnishings and artworks reminiscent of a smart country lodge.
But while the owner describes this as the heart and soul of the house, the outdoor room, onto which all the living spaces open, is a close contender for the title of favourite space. It’s large enough for easy entertaining and has its own fireplace and barbecue, and looks out to an impressive water-feature on the lawn.
The main lounge area opens up through two sets of bi-folds to the outdoor room, and via sliders to the pool area. High ceilings with exposed trusses further contribute to the spacious feel. The slightly more enclosed snug, tucked around a corner, also opens up to the outdoor room.
“It’s a stunning layout for family living,” says Precision Real Estate agent Nicky White. “It’s unusual to find a house where most of the bedrooms have their own ensuites. And it’s also unusual to find such a beautiful setting only 20 minutes from the city.” Set on 2.27 hectares at 42 Grace Hills Drive, the property sits at the top of a rise which affords good views over the rural landscape.
All four of the big bedrooms have sliders or stackers to the garden, and there’s a possible fifth bedroom currently used as an office. Three garages became two when the owners decided to convert part of the space to a separate gym/rumpus/ lounge/sleepout.
Professional input into the interior design is evident in the detail throughout the house, from the elegant lighting which includes a chandelier in the outdoor room and over the dining table, curtains and blinds in earthy tones, and subtle feature walls.
Outdoor living was high on the wish list for this house and even when building was about to get underway more was being added – a heated salt-water pool, spa and cabana made it onto the plans at the last minute.
Built in 2012 by multiaward-winning company House of Nautica, which specialises in high-end masonry homes, it has another standout feature, which is its wheelchairfriendly design. There are no steps or changes of level, and all the doorways, halls and interior and exterior built spaces are designed for easy wheelchair access.
The garden includes native and exotic planting all designed for easy maintenance, and the rest of the land is divided into four paddocks. Over time it’s been home to a number of horses, and a much pet kunekune pig.