Flexible lifestyle ideal for family

By Donna McIntyre

NZ Herald·

16 Jun, 2017 05:00 PM3 mins to read

75 Joseph Dunstan Drive, Kumeu. Photo / Supplied

When her Whenuapai lifestyle block was designated for use for the Northwestern Motorway extension, Michelle Alexander started looking for a similar property in the area.

"We wanted to stay city-side of Kumeu, and this land was available when the money came through from Transit," she says.

Michelle and her former husband bought this 2ha block in 2002, working out a design for their home plus outbuildings for their daughter's horses.

Michelle, who lives here with daughters Dani and Geo, and her partner Grant Whitford, says the contemporary executive home was designed as an H shape, allowing two separate bedroom wings.

"The kids have one side of the house and we have the other, with the living rooms in the middle.

"We wanted to make it contemporary, so it has a 2.7m stud which gives it that more open fee; light and airy."

The home's distinctive roofline can be seen from the road. Underneath the roofline are painted circles to break the angular look.

"We wanted the front of the house to look different, but it was also practical. The big roof catches the rain water for our water tanks."

Inside the house, bi-folds in the master bedroom, second lounge and the rumpus room/lounge off the kitchen allow these areas to open to the outdoors. "It is very light," says Michelle.

In the middle section of the 290sq m brick home are the kitchen, dining, living and study.

One wing has the master bedroom, en suite, laundry/mud room access to the block and the double garage.

The other wing has a second lounge, the family bathroom, the two kids' rooms and a guest room with en suite.

"We have a heat pump that does the main areas and we also have an HRV system that moderates the air flow right through the house," says Michelle.

"That has been fantastic at keeping it warm and dry. It is fully insulated, under the floor, in the walls and ceilings."

Five years ago, the home received an interior refurbishment. Walls were painted, new carpet was laid, a new kitchen and bathrooms installed. In the kitchen, the marble benchtop has a waterfall finish.

Landscaping has transformed what was a bare block. A hedge runs along the back boundary, there's a shelter block by the side of the house and the front gate.

"Around the house we have raised garden beds. It is becoming established now and looking pretty," says Michelle.

The drive-through barn has direct access from the driveway. There are covered yards for the horses, and paddocks with post and rail fencing.

Being 3km city-side of Kumeu means they can quickly be on the motorway to Auckland.
"Having that convenience of being close to Auckland but still having land. I work on the Shore so I come across the Upper Harbour Highway - a 20-minute commute."

Leisure time is taken up with her daughters' sporting interests. "I groom and transport the horses and help with her ponies.

"The other daughter is into netball, umpiring and coaching. Good thing they are summer and winter sports so I can do the ponies in summer, netball in winter."

Michelle says her property is well laid out.

"I come in one gate and everything is on that side of the house to deal with the animals, everything is easy. The house is light, airy, comfortable, it is a neat place to come home to."

She is selling to move to a bigger block. "It is a similar property with a bigger house and more land, but in the same area."

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