KEY POINTS:
A British couple seeking peace and quiet renovated a resort-like property by a river.
99 Messenger Rd, Stillwater, near Silverdale.
As the suburbs become more crowded those who can afford it are moving just out of town seeking space and quiet.
And for Paul and Kelly Sym, who migrated from the United Kingdom with lots of money from the sale of shares in a thermoplastic company, this property was just what they wanted.
Paul says they immediately began a renovation because while the house had good bones, it didn't quite fit their aesthetic sense or family needs.
Paul says they love permanent materials and doing things properly so had the house clad in South Island schist - which immediately gave the house a gravitas not realised with the original timber.
And it is the schist that stands out when you approach the house down a drive with old trees on one side and a vineyard on another.
(You could for a few moments be transported to those parts of France pictured in travel brochures.)
The house has a forecourt which features a copper tree sculpture in a reflecting pond and a garden that will get better over time as the plants settle and mature.
On a practical note there is a three car garage with room to store big sporting items, and space to add a workbench.
The house's big front door leads to a lobby which features a tiny fire box that when lit adds a warm flicker, plus closets for coats and shoes.
The lobby leads to a large living space which speaks to the home's origins as a lodge built about 10 years ago by a Japanese entrepreneur.
For the new owners it's the opportunity to show how the considered use of furniture will create a series of zones without boundaries but let people spread out.
The kitchen has a total commercial fit-out which is bound to cause appliance envy and makes the house an entertainer's delight. It has a walk in chiller, freezer, one minute dishwasher, pantry, warming lights, extractor fan and a separate entrance for deliveries.
There are five bedrooms in the private section of the house - each with bathrooms with high quality fittings and access to the extensive terraces that run to the water. Like all the other rooms in the house there are ipod stations connected to the internal communications system which features high quality speakers, not to mention computer wiring.
This part of the house has its own entrance, so people can come and go quietly.
The house also has a gymnasium, two saunas, a spa pool and a 23m swimming pool with an ozone treatment system - just like many public facilities.
The pool can be heated too and sits in a giant courtyard that snares the sun.
Paul says the house is warm but has both a wood burner and diesel heating. They added extensive terraces finished with schist and downlights and one of them also serves as a helicopter pad. Paul says they've had friends drop in that way from time to time.
There's also a jetty on the Weiti River and enough water tanks to see the house through the driest summer, though it also has a bore.
Paul says even though they love the schist house they are moving, but not far. They own the vineyard next door and construction on their new home, which has a 33m swimming pool, is expected to finish sometime before summer.
VITAL STATISTICS
BEDROOMS: 5
BATHROOMS: 5
GARAGES: 3
SIZE: Land 1ha approx, house 600sq m approx.
PRICE INDICATION: Over $4 million.
INSPECT: By appointment.
ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz # 181158
SCHOOL ZONES: Kingsway School, Silverdale School, Stanmore Bay School, Orewa College.
CONTACT: Louise Urquhart or Graeme Mann, Bayleys, ph 021 639 004 (Louise), 0274 500 589 (Graeme).
FEATURES: Expansive schist-clad house on the Weiti River, with a jetty. Commercial kitchen, billiard room, gym, two saunas, 23m heated pool.
