Set on a generous 6875sqm site in the heart of rural Karaka, a classic but very small two-bedroom villa stole the current owners’ hearts immediately when they saw it for the first time 10 years ago.
It had been moved from the Waikato to Karaka around 30 years previously, and was in need of tender loving care, which is exactly what it received in the form of a complete, very tasteful, renovation both inside and out, a process which took around 10 months and was completed in 2018.
The home’s character period features, such as stained-glass windows, have been expertly retained while a whole new wing, taking the total floor area to 221sqm and a major injection of breezy modern style is still perfectly in keeping with its era.
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Renovating the property took 10 months, and was completed in 2018. Photo / Supplied
“It really has been a labour of love,” says the owner, who engaged the very best tradespeople he could find to restore timber flooring and install a new kitchen which offers loads of space and a chic, crisp vibe.
The kitchen is surrounded by a large open-plan living and dining space and a formal lounge offers nice separation.
The house has four simple and incredibly chic bedrooms, all with garden and rural views. There are two bathrooms and a double garage.
The outdoor fireplace in a pergola in the garden is a magnet to family and friends. Photo / Supplied
The master has its own stunning black and white bathroom while the other three bedrooms share a similarly sensational tiled family bathroom.
Indoor living at 57 Whatapaka Road is elegant and refined so the English-style garden with perfectly manicured box hedging adds exterior glamour.
“I’m the hedge trimmer,” says the owner, who finds it a very satisfying process.
From a very small two-bedroom villa, the renovation increased the total floor area to 221sqm. Photo / Supplied
A wrap-around veranda, reached via several sets of French doors, provides a perfect spot for relaxation at all times of the day and evening while the outdoor fireplace, further out in the garden in a pergola designed for entertaining, acts as a magnet to family and friends.
“It’s such a lovely feeling to gather around it, so we’ve tended to use the fire all year,” says the owner.
He adds that they are going to miss their close-knit neighbourhood.
A wrap-around veranda reached via several sets of French doors is a perfect spot to relax. Photo / Supplied
“Everybody who lives around here is just lovely and we’ve enjoyed regular catch-ups over the time we’ve been here.”
While the property enjoys its peaceful rural setting, access to the motorway is only 12 minutes drive away.
“I work in the city, and I can get there in 35 minutes or so.”
An unmissable new opportunity on Waiheke Island beckons now, and it will be an entirely different sort of project.
The property has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a double garage. Photo / Supplied
“I know that I’ll never love another house the way I’ve loved this one but there’s nothing like a change of scenery,” he says.
Lynn Lockhart, luxury rural lifestyle specialist at Ray White, Karaka says that she can’t imagine ever marketing a more perfect property.
“I just love everything about it. This is the ultimate picture-book home.”
57 Whatapaka Road in Karaka, Franklin, Auckland will be sold at auction on November 27.
