Surprisingly, the 1950s brick house which preceded this bespoke near-new builders’ own home, inspired the layout of its luxurious, architecturally-designed successor.
Owners of Onform Construction, Dan and Lynka Harison, bought the 1950s version in 2018, when sons Nixon and Bastian were just 5 and 2 years old. Living there and planning to renovate, they grew to appreciate how well its layout and west-facing backyard worked for the 809sqm corner site.
Dan’s a perfectionist third-generation builder of 30-plus years, who specialises in high-end residences and won Master Builders 2013 House of the Year’s Renovation category.
Lynka says: “Drawing up renovation plans he decided to take the advice he often gives clients, it can often be better and more time-efficient to just start again. We wanted to keep the layout, essentially two adjoining rectangles, make spaces bigger, open things up and put in lots more windows because we love light.”
Start your property search
They had Macfie Architecture cleverly evolve a plan they’d conceived, designing this nearly 500sqm, two-storey house of their dreams. It’s designed to accommodate a family throughout the years, offering a self-contained option if desired.
Yes, the luxurious kitchen won designer Morgan Cronin the NKBA Elite Kitchen Design Award last year and it boasts underfloor heating in its six-car garage, just for starters.
For the couple of years they’ve lived here, it’s also functioned incredibly well for a busy family with kids jumping in and out of the pool.
One rectangle of home (above the plastered block basement) is clad in antique bronze aluminium cladding, the other in stained cedar. Floating in-situ concrete entry stairs lead to the pivoting American Oak front door.
Xanthe White’s landscaping design for the fenced grounds favours sub-tropicals, also incorporating turf lawns, swimming pool and a hot tub. Photo / Supplied
The kitchen won designer Morgan Cronin the NKBA Elite Kitchen Design Award last year. Photo / Supplied
The Louvretec-roofed loggia comes with an outdoor fireplace. Photo / Supplied
Lynka, a clothing business owner and engineering firm’s operations manager, had a strong hand in the timeless design aesthetic, which is impactful without being divisive.
The entire area of upper-level, open-plan living has bespoke ceiling battens of stained Monterey cypress just below lofty 3m-high ceilings. This area has textured light-hued floor tiles throughout, flowing out seamlessly to the Louvretec-roofed loggia with outdoor fireplace, preceding the swimming pool.
In contrast, French oak herringbone flooring graces the upper-level’s bedroom wing (with three bedrooms including the ensuited primary with walk-through wardrobe, a svelte bathroom and toilet).
The open-plan living-kitchen with scullery-dining expanse, extending into a TV-watching area, accommodates glorious entertaining and everyday living.
An entire wall in the living area is almost sculptural in the way it discreetly incorporates a fireplace. It was painstakingly designed so there are no partial tiles and seamlessly executed with stunning Metaline large format Italian tiles.
“The kitchen was designed to see the sunsets over the city in the evenings, and you can also look out to the swimming pool. I laughed that the thing the boys were most excited to show their friends when we moved in was the ‘secret room’, meaning the invisible scullery.”
The 494sqm home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, garaging and off-street parking, and a swimming pool on a 809sqm corner section. Photo / Supplied
An entire wall in the living area discreetly incorporates a fireplace. Photo / Supplied
A portion of downstairs can be self-contained – a family room with kitchenette, fourth bedroom, bathroom and smaller laundry, suiting extended family, guests or a nanny.
A media room which could be a fifth bedroom and its neighbouring office, bathroom and primary laundry, plus the big, high-stud garage, complete the layout. Home automation controls advanced climate systems, security and much more.
Xanthe White’s landscaping design for the fenced grounds favours sub-tropicals, also incorporating turf lawns, the swimming pool, a hot tub, and boat parking.
Having genuinely enjoyed building themselves multiple homes, the couple will move on to build again, watching to see this home’s fate in this year’s Master Builders awards.
Agent Peter Cleave says: “This is the most carefully planned and perfectly executed luxury home I’ve had the privilege to sell.”
- 26 Lammermoor Drive in St Heliers, Auckland, is for sale, deadline July 9
