Country comfort

A pair of experienced developers knew how to create a luxury home to make the most of its setting in a country estate.

70 Goodland Drive, Goodland Country Estate, SH 17, Dairy Flat.

When you buy a brand new home in the country, it helps if your builder and developer know the area and are country-lovers themselves.

You figure they know how country living differs from town life, and have ironed out the wrinkles in layout, styling and finishes to create easy rural lifestyle without the hassles.

Margaret Rich and Grant Rich go one better: their company has been developing residential and retirement properties for over 15 years, and last year spotted the potential of sections in the newly created Goodland Country Estate.

The Estate gives homeowners the advantage of wide-open country spaces and country-style neighbours, without the hard work of running a farm (a farm manager takes care of that through a body corporate-type arrangement).

``We chose one of the best sites,'' reckons Grant. ``It has no immediate neighbours except the sheep paddocks, it is elevated with a northerly aspect, but tucked against the slope for wind protection. We used a boomerang shape to enclose the pool and provide views across the farm from every room.''

The company has a roster of contractors who share their vision, starting with architect Jim Cornes, interior designer Prudence Lane and landscapers Gary de Beer and Trina Tully.

Margaret, who lives in Dairy Flat, says their brief was quite simply ``everything I'd like to have in a country home'', which means details like a generous utility room for muddy gumboots, and a triple car garage for all the toys, get as much attention as the designer kitchen, living spaces or home electronics.

The house is built to manage energy - it has a northerly aspect, solid Firth hot block construction and insulated floors, two in-ground water tanks and two separate gas bottles for fires and cooking.

Finishing touches embed the house in country style - specially-milled Lawson cypress beams were used for exterior pergolas, roofs are generously sloped and eaved, and stairs in the landscaping are made of stone.

But the house also acknowledges the need for modern technology, and is fully wired for home entertainment and office work.

A sliding cavity wall separates the family room from the kitchen, so kids can play with their media while adults entertain. The family room wing includes two double bedrooms - each with its own en suite - and a built-in homework centre.

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Prudence Lane's design is sleek and urban in white with a long island, and includes clever details like a sliding-wall pantry that closes off messy preparation from the main room. Bleached oak floors soften the scheme.

Off the adult wing there is outdoor living on both sides of the house, providing sheltered entertainment spots whatever the weather.

A study and generous guest bedroom lead to the master suite. Prudence has varied her palette of neutral paint colours with rich textures: wallpaper, tile, timber.

Living spaces and bedrooms all focus on the pool (safely separated behind glass fences). The pool room is great for summer parties. For big celebrations homeowners can book the barn or tennis courts at the Estate's community centre down the road.

Margaret and Grant are so impressed with the living here, they are starting work on another country house on the Estate, further up the hill.

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 4+

BATHROOMS: 4+

GARAGES: 3

SIZE: Land 3166sq m, house 421sq m plus 100sq m pool house.

PRICE INDICATION: Homes in the area sell for between $1.5 and $2.3 million, plus $2500 pa for use of shared facilities. Auction August 16.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2.30-3.30pm.

ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz # 450942

CONTACT: Tracey Free or Heather Hitchings, Bayleys, ph 027 480 3334 (Tracey), 021 599 760 (Heather).

FEATURES: New architect-designed solid masonry home in the 95ha farm park of Goodland Country Estate, 5 minutes north of Albany. Includes use of shared community function centre and tennis courts. Two living rooms wrapped around a landscaped pool and gazebo. State of the art kitchen, large office and separate childrens' study.