Classy end to close call in Dairy Flat

Photo / Supplied

136 POTTER RD DAIRY FLAT

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SIZE: Land 2ha, house 400sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: RV $1.9 million.

INSPECT: Sun 1.15-2pm.

ON THE WEB: www.premium.co.nz/ ABN21368

SCHOOL ZONES: Coatesville School, Albany Junior High, Albany Senior High, Long Bay College.

CONTACT: Debbie Manning, Premium, ph 970 2170 or 021 348 346.

FEATURES: Modern family home on lifestyle block with park-like grounds and three fenced paddocks. Large living area built with entertaining in mind, including several outdoor dining/entertaining areas. Underfloor heating beneath all tiled floors, gas fire in lounge. Home theatre room.

Sitting in the spacious lounge, windows and sliding doors flung open, we can hear the sound of bleating lambs from the neighbour's property.

The view takes in rolling hills and valleys, punctuated by stands of native bush, paddocks and landscaped "home paddocks" around a few large country homes.

Yet it's just 10 minutes to Albany.

This was precisely what attracted Brian and Delwyn McKeown to the then-undeveloped 2ha plot when they discovered it five years ago.

They'd been living in Ridge Rd, near Riverhead, and the idea of a country lifestyle - but with all the convenience of being very close to town - appealed.

And they're self-confessed gypsies of a sort - always moving on to the next home once they've completed the present one and got the garden close to perfect.

"Brian decides he wants to move before I decide I want to make alterations," laughs Delwyn.

So they bought the land, set in a semi-gated community of just four properties, and began to create a spacious, easy-living family home. As well as making the most of the views, it also had to accommodate visits from their children and grandchildren and allow for regular entertaining.

Built into the side of a rolling hill, the single-storey home's entry is at ground level. But the other side of the house offers elevated views from the large open-plan kitchen, lounge and dining room, the self-contained home theatre, the master bedroom, one of the guest bedrooms, and even two of the bathrooms.

The house is divided into two wings either side of the main entrance. To the right are four bedrooms, including the master suite. Two of the guest rooms share a semi-en suite between them (plus a private, west-facing patio), the other flows directly into the main bathroom.

As well as the obligatory en suite and walk-in wardrobe, the master bedroom, on the eastern side of the house, has its own deck from which to enjoy the morning sunshine over a cup of coffee.

To the left of the entrance is the living wing, which can only be described as spacious. Not only is the open-plan kitchen/living/dining area large, it's also high, with a 3.5m stud.

It's also surrounded by various outdoor living areas - off the lounge is a large outdoor patio, which flows to the large undercover deck off the dining room.

The deck continues round to the eastern side of the house to take in those views.

So it's easy to believe Brian and Delwyn when they say they have had several functions with 40 to 60 people here and there has been plenty of room to move.

"I've done a sit-down dinner here for 30 people," says Delwyn.

Such an event needs not only plenty of space, but also a good kitchen, and Delwyn certainly has that. Not only is there oodles of bench space, but the De'Longhi oven is a full metre wide and has six gas burners.

The butler's pantry is the size of many a kitchen, and with a second dishwasher and fridge as well as the microwave, it is effectively a second kitchen.

This doubling-up of functional areas is repeated down the other end of the house where there is not only a large, light laundry, but more laundry facilities in the garage - just to deal with the really dirty gardening gear.

Under the house is a huge storage area, which has real potential for turning into more functional rooms. Indeed, says Delwyn - and had they realised how much room there was, they probably would have done something with it to begin with. As it is, it's great for storing the ride-on mower and all the gardening gear.

After five years and thousands of dollars in plants, Delwyn and Brian have created a large, modern, comfortable and gracious home, set in park-like grounds. Give the trees (including the orchard) five more years, and it will be even more restful than it is now.

But they've been here long enough and it's time to move on again. They're not sure what to, but they are looking forward to the next project.