Waitakere: Landscape artist

A unique home on a hill met its owner's need for inspiration.

86 Duffy Road, Waitakere.

Painter Alan Waters has used the setting of his Duffy Road home for inspiration in the past, and now it's going to serve his artistic endeavours in another way.

Alan, who is now living in his hometown of Invercargill, plans to use the proceeds from the sale of Duffy Road to help him build a studio on land he plans to buy in Central Otago.

"I've always loved Central Otago since I was young," says Alan. "My wife and I are looking to buy some land somewhere between Queenstown and Arrowtown; in the Wakatipu Basin."

Alan, who does realistic and surrealistic paintings, has been something of a wanderer in his life, having lived in England for eight years and Australia for 22.

When he returned to New Zealand he had a studio on a large piece of land in Paparoa, east of Dargaville, but had a fall and wrecked his shoulder. He began looking for a property that required less upkeep.

"I was looking for something that was private, had ambience, an outlook and wasn't too far out of Auckland."

Duffy Road ticked all those boxes for Alan, especially when it came to the view. It stretches around 180 degrees, over rolling countryside and out to sea with Rangitoto Island looming in the distance.

As Alan says, "It's perched up on the hillside and looks right down the valley. It gets the sun first thing in the morning right through until last thing at night - it's fabulous."

At the end of a metal driveway, stairs take you to walkways and ponds outside the house's front door.

Once inside, your eye is drawn to the view captured by the windows lining the northern side of the cedar weatherboard house. There is a log burner in the main living area.

The house has some interesting features, such as octagonal domes in the bedroom ceilings and exposed poles used in the framing running floor-to-ceiling. The irregularly shaped rooms give the house an oriental feel.

Wide decking - some of it covered - runs the length of the northern side of the house and connects it to a self-contained one-bedroom studio that was built after the main dwelling, but in a similar style.

The studio has a kitchenette, living room, bedroom and its own bathroom. It is quite private from the main dwelling and would be ideal for a home office or a teens' hangout.

Beneath the main dwelling there is further decking and a storage room. This area has potential to be redeveloped as it also enjoys extensive views.

Alan says he enjoyed the peace and solitude of Duffy Road and found inspiration all around him from the regenerating native bush and abundant birdlife.

He says the new studio that he builds in Central Otago will take a lot of design cues from his home in Waitakere, but he know's its a home that would not be to everyone's liking.

"It's a one-off place, Duffy Road. It's unique and it's looking for someone who is unique."

Vital Statistics

BEDROOM: 3

BATHROOM: 3

GARAGE: 2

SIZE: Land 2.2ha, house 125sq m.

PRICE: $739,000.

INSPECT: Sun 3pm-3.45pm, or by appointment.

CONTACT: Steve Miles or Diane Miles, Barfoot & Thompson Glen Eden, ph 818 2424 bus, Steve 0274 988 386, Diane 021 668 004, 838 7967 a/h.

FEATURES: Elevated home with unusual design features, panoramic views and large decks for entertaining. Separate self-contained studio.