Top homes for sale: Luxury comfort in the American style

The house at 32 Fitzpatrick Rd, Dalefield, Queenstown, makes the most of its surroundings and faces north to catch the sun.

Bill Fello says his Queenstown home is "like your own private park".

The American-born executive recruiter, who built his four-bedroom house around 1999, estimates he has planted 1500 trees since then. The orchard now contains cherry trees, peach trees, apricots, Italian elms and sequoia. The rose garden is Mr Fello's favourite part.

"We're surrounded by roses in full bloom right now, 130 rose bushes and a rose arbour."

Mr Fello works for consultancy and management firm Korn Ferry, which has offices on every continent. Mr Fello said he was "entranced" by Queenstown after living with wife Doris in Shanghai. "We kept coming back. We decided if we could live anywhere, why not here?"

The area has recently seen $10 million apartments being developed, with multimillion-dollar chateaux appearing on reformed high country sheep stations.

Queenstown-framing Coronet Peak, the Remarkables and the Crown Range are usually snowy and the house comes with two fireplaces, underfloor and central heating.

"We Americans are used to having the house much warmer in the winter, that's why we went for the capital expenditure for inside," Mr Fello said.

"It's quite snug. When we want the ambience, we light the fire."

The house, elevated off the Wakatipu basin floor, faces north to trap sunlight. The vast number of trees give privacy, Mr Fello said.

That's a far cry from the 1990s, when the land was simply sheep paddock.

Today, the two-storey, 500sq m home is tended by a gardener and part-time groundkeeper who helps Mr Fello on his ride-on mower.

When skiing or gardening have been seen to, there are three bathrooms and a powder room to freshen up in.

Other comforts include a gym/office area, laundry, rimu floors and some doors, sauna and wine cupboard.

"We have a large billiard room, it could also be used as a crafts room or play room. We use it as my wife's sewing room for patchwork and needlepoint.

"There's a fully modern air-con system throughout the house, shutters on all the windows, double glazing ... and I guess you'd say we have an oversized washer and dryer.

"The kitchen, we've totally renovated and remodelled, redone and modernised. Same thing with the master bath ensuite which has tile and marble and mirrors."

Of all the features, Mr Fello said the most impressive are the French doors which open up on to the patio. Mr Fello said this allows outside dining, under the glorious 2000m high mountains.

32 Fitzpatrick Rd, Dalefield, Queenstown:

• 1995 mix material

• Asking price: $3.75m

• CV: $3.14m

• 4 bed, 3 bath

• 490sq m floor, 3.34ha section

• You won't believe this house comes with: a powder room, private park/orchard with 130 rose bushes, two fireplaces, suana