STARS IN THEIR EYES
The owners of this property feel as if they’ve been living in their own stardome, writes LEIGH BRAMWELL
When one of the new owners of this European-style home at Matakana first arrived at night on moving day, she was astonished. “The sky was pitch black, and as I drove up the driveway I felt as if I’d entered an amphitheatre of stars.”
She calls it the stardome effect, and it’s the feature of the property she loves the most.
The house, at 178 Hamilton Rd, Warkworth, is set on 1.68ha hectares of land the real estate agent describes as part of an ‘epicurean wonderland’.
“Everyone in the area is working on their land to provide food products,” say the owners. The big butler’s pantry is a feature of the kitchen, which has all the hallmarks of a home built by gourmets.
Other spaces that reference the focus on entertaining and stylish living here are the wide entrance hall, the wine cellar and the elegant formal lounge with its woodfire.
There’s also a family lounge with an adjoining dining room which opens up to the loggia, the owner’s favourite space for sitting and daydreaming.
The master suite is on the ground floor and has access to the outdoor living areas, which include an inground pool and paved courtyard. Upstairs are two double bedrooms with balconies, a third bedroom and big family bathroom.
The house is clad in creampainted Insulclad with a bespoke finish and terracotta barrel-tiled roof.
Inside, French doors fill the rooms with light, and a neutral colour palette provides a fine backdrop of art and furnishings.
The owners says they have lovingly looked after the house. “We’ve replaced all the water filters and pumps and upgraded other facilities.
“It’s had a total interior repaint, and outside we’ve also loved the land, adding nutrients, pruning and maintaining it as organically as possible.”
The boutique vineyard produces red wine and there’s a oil-producing olive grove with about 80 trees.
The owners have often hosted photo shoots, workshops and off-site business meeting. As well, there’s a detached cottage affectionately known as ‘the Bolt Hole’, secluded from main house with its own deck.
It has hosted many repeat B&B guests and provided sought-after overflow accommodation for friends and family. Tender: November 22 Contact: Avalon Sanders, Harcourts, 021 230 9515; Jeneen Binsted, 0275 367 107