Lea Chapman said neither she nor Robert polished or sanded any items in the house. Photo / Janna Dixon
A wacky haven packed with antiques and with its own pub is on the market.
One of the country's most unusual homes is for sale, and it comes with hundreds of antiques collected over 30 years.
Known as the Millhouse, the home in Coatesville, north of Auckland, was built by Robert and Lea Chapman on a 4.5ha property and has its own pub.
It has
been featured on American television show The World's Most Extreme Homes, and appeared on New Zealand shows, including Auction House and Maggie's Garden Show.
Robert died five years ago, and Lea, 72, said she's ready for someone else to continue their "creative adventure".
"Now I want to move on as me, and I want to have my own place," she says.
The house was largely built by Robert, who gave up a job in advertising to work full-time on the project.
The main house was designed as a barn, then converted into a colonial-style farmhouse.
Materials such as kauri floorboards, wooden ceilings and leadlight windows were salvaged from houses, pubs, banks and theatres before they were demolished.
Doors were sourced from a Queen St bank, an Auckland pub, and a South Island woollen mill. The dining chairs had a previous life in the old Auckland public library.
Among the collectables are advertising signs, railway clocks, silverware, crockery and beer tankards.
An English room and French room were added later, as well as the replica English pub, The Hog's Breath.
"We've collected things we love," Lea said. "We never sand things back or polish them, we only made sure things work."
The house has been used for weddings and private functions, has operated as a B&B and opened for charity tours and fundraising events.
It has been used for television sets, featured in advertising shoots, and Robert's vintage Model A car was used in Peter Jackson's King Kong.
Lea is selling the house privately through Trade Me and said she wouldn't let it go to someone who planned to sell off the antiques.
"Everyone who's been to see the house is thrilled to know that everything will go with it."
The property had an official valuation of $1.5 million in 2007, including $1m for the land. Putting a price on the extraordinary contents will be a matter for negotiation with prospective buyers, Lea said.
Antiques dealer Peter Wedde, who visited The Millhouse for TV show Auction House, said the sale was "without precedent".
"It's a personal expression of a couple of dedicated collectors," he said.
"It's eclectic, wacky, wild, individual, not everyone's cup of tea, but some people will love it."
