When Nicki and Richard Ware decided to move from their native England to Auckland about 10 years ago, they'd only ever spent a day in the city, while on a honeymoon cruise.
Richard was choosing between two jobs -- one in New Zealand, and one in Newbury, near their hometown of Reading. Not the sorts to do things by halves, they decided New Zealand would offer the bigger adventure. So they packed their belongings and their two young boys and moved.
They figured the risk had paid off when they found themselves living in a 1950s bach on a quiet street in the North Shore suburb of Rothesay Bay, within strolling distance of a beach and a traditional English-style pub. Their sons were gobsmacked that their primary school had a sea view.
"Coming from the UK, being so close to the beach was amazing," says Nicki. "We just loved the area -- it seemed a good fit for us. It ticked all the boxes."
Though the house was in a suburban street, it felt private, with plenty of greenery, including a regal pohutukawa in the corner of their backyard, shielding them from their neighbours.
The only thing that didn't quite fit was the house itself. It was small, cold and draughty, and turned its back on the north-facing lawn and garden. By the time the boys hit their teens, a few years ago, Nicki and Richard knew they would have to do something drastic.
They considered renovating, or moving, but when you've already come from the other side of the world, what's the point of half-measures?
Image 1 of 4: Herald Homes
37 Beulah Road, Rothesay Bay.
18 May 2015 NZ Herald photo by Ted Baghurst.
NZH 27May15 - PHOTOS/TED BAGHURST
So they swept the slate clean and started over. With the help of Harbourside Homes and Urban Design, they replaced the old bach with a two-level home that kept everyone in the family happy.
Downstairs is the main open-plan living area, opening out through bifold doors to a deck with a heated pool, a barbecue area and outdoor wood fireplace, which enables al-fresco living year-round.
The five bedrooms are upstairs, along with a large office, second living area, and two beautifully appointed bathrooms.
Nicki got her wish of a warm and dry house. Richard, an IT consultant, got smart-wiring so every room has seamless access to music, internet, videos and the intercom. And, as well as a gamer's paradise, the boys got their heated swimming pool. Their English relatives were also catered for, with a guest bedroom adjoining the family bathroom.
With two teenagers, two dogs and two cats, the couple were adamant it had to be a solid, sturdy house. So when Nicki brought home a sample of bamboo hardwood flooring to test, she took to it with a meat tenderiser and her sharpest pair of stilettos.
It shrugged off the assault, so the living areas and stairwell were laid with bamboo floorboards. Lush longpile SmartStrand carpet line the bedrooms -- that's the carpet with the ad featuring a rhino stomping over it. The colour scheme is otherwise neutral, with a striking feature wall lending the living area a modern touch.
The outdoor living area is the family focal point. On days off, Nicki says she will graduate from reading a book on the lounger, to dining at the outdoor table, to enjoying a wine by the fire.
After a happy decade in the Bays, Nicki and Richard figure it's time for a new challenge. They initially decided to find a small lifestyle block in Dairy Flat, but, true to family form, they've ended up with a 9ha farm.
"We've loved living here," says Nicki. "But we're ready for a change, for something different."
