68C Sharon Rd, Waitoki. Photo / Supplied
When Natashya and Jonathan Franks decided to switch from the North Shore to a rural lifestyle, their priority was finding somewhere private.
"We wanted a change from suburbia — the land, the privacy and neighbours far away," says Jonathan.
Their search for land led them to Waitoki.
"We discovered Waitoki and we felt it was almost undiscovered," he says. "And it wasn't too far away from our jobs on the Shore."
They bought the land in 2015 and moved on some cabins to live in while they designed and built their place in the country.
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"We have been living in this home about 18 months," says Jonathan.
For the build they used Landmark Homes. They had set ideas on what they wanted, drawing on their experience of renovations and extensions over the years.
The intention was that Natashya's mum would live here, as well as the couple's two teenagers.
"We sat down with the design team at Landmark Homes and gave them a briefing. We wanted a separate cottage for Tashya's mum, a separate area for our two kids and an area for us," he says.
The couple enjoy entertaining, so the wish list included a covered entertainment area outside with a fireplace, and a scullery off the kitchen.
"And the way we live is we wanted to come home, into the garage and drop our uniforms from work in the laundry and then go into the scullery to drop the groceries off and then in to the kitchen and the rest of the home," says Jonathan.
They describe their large brick and board & batten house as a modern country home that fits in with the environment.
"And we have a lovely big driveway for plenty of parking and lots of room to turn around and drive out."
The formal entranceway has interesting angles with the roofline, and the mix of build materials. Inside, a table is fashioned from an oak tree that had fallen on the property before the build started. "It is a reminder of what was here before," says Natashya.
Although technically one level, the design incorporates one or two steps between rooms, to add character.
The separate accommodation beside the garage has one bedroom, open plan living, dining and lounge plus bathroom and laundry.
"We have been quoted it would get $500 to $550 rent a week," says Natashya.
The garage leads to laundry and the scullery, as the couple requested. The layout then leads to the entertainers' kitchen — with granite benchtops including the island bench, and luxury end F&P appliances — lounge and dining room, and a media room/snug.
"For the lounge and entertainment area, we can open all the bifold doors and it is like having one big space. There is a pizza oven out here, too," says Jonathan.
The children's wing has three bedrooms (or two bedrooms and a study), a lounge and bathroom.
"This area has a door, so it can be closed off and the kids can make as much noise as they like," he says.
"We just thought, being teenagers, it would nice for them to have their friends around, party and we have their own area of the house," says Natashya.
The parents' wing, past the hallway has a storage cupboard and the guest toilet, has their bedroom, walk-in wardrobe and en suite.
Also, on the property is a gazebo next to the pond.
"This is lovely in summer. We sit down here and have a glass of wine and watch the birds at the end of the day," says Natashya.
And the views from the house are also to the green surrounds.
"We are on 31 acres but about 18 of these are covered in native bush and this attracts a lot of wildlife," says Natashya. "About 13 acres is in grazing land and garden.
"This property is like a little sanctuary at the end of the road. You are not that far away from the city, but it can feel like a million miles away."
They play golf on nearby courses, and on Sundays they often enjoy the half-hour walk to the "nice little coffee shop at Waitoki".
"For a rural property, it's great that the roads are sealed all the way here. In the school holidays the Shore is about half an hour drive away.
"And we go to Silverdale for our shopping; we often get our groceries at Pak'nSave on the way home.
"This home is effectively brand new, it has met all our requirements. And it is a quality build," says Natashya. "But we are selling because it's too big for us now. My mother never moved in, instead she is living in a retirement home in Browns Bay. Our daughter has moved out to Hobsonville, our other child will move out in time, and Jonathan's parents are living in a retirement village in Birkenhead.
"We think a smaller place will be better; somewhere closer to all our family."