KEY POINTS:
A wooden country home has all sorts of living spaces and interesting nooks and crannies.
165 Kern Road, Ramarama.
While family houses come in all shapes and sizes, Kim and Roger Williamson's rambling four-level board and batten version in the rolling Ramarama countryside is one out of the box.
Constructed over a number of years in the 80s by its original builder-owner, it has a feel of the house that Jack built.
Staircases ramble, interesting little corners hide secrets, and floor after floor produces astonishing amenities just crying out to be brought into the 21st century.
The semi-basement level, with its 500-bottle wine cellar, games room, sewing room, laundry and garaging, also has a self-contained guest suite and multiple nooks and crannies for everything the biggest and busiest family could want to store.
The ground floor contains the living spaces, a sound-proofed home theatre, a spacious office, and a playroom beside the kitchen.
Proving how much love has gone into the building of this home, a couple of the tiles in the Morris and James terracotta floor are imprinted with a tiny baby's footprints.
Upstairs, via either of the two staircases, four generous bedrooms and a family sized bathroom surround a central living area.
While Kim and Roger might find it hard to put their finger on their favourite feature, their 10-year-old son Oliver has no such reservations, ``The turret, it's awesome.''
Accessed up a steep rimu staircase, this is a magical little space to retreat to and drink in the quiet peace of the valley below.
From its window seats a watcher can appreciate at close quarters the low flying kereru, drunk on berries and flower nectar, staggering back to their perch in the puriri, watch baby rabbits gambol on the lawn far below, or just kick back with a favourite book as Kim has been known to do.
Outside, the 1.25ha grounds which surround the house lie sunny and sheltered on the lee side of the hill. Stunning views of rolling pasture and clumps of mature bush roll out below the boundary.
Tucked below the house a large barn houses stabling, a workshop, parking for the horse trailer and a place for the fodder. Nearby is a full size loading chute and yard to handle the most temperamental of yearlings, and just around the corner is a hard surfaced dressage arena.
``You might have guessed that the original owner was very keen on all things horsey,'' laughs Kim. ``We haven't made use of it but all these different sheds and things mean there is actually undercover parking for eight vehicles.
The stables have been empty all the time we have owned the property because our boys are mad keen cricketers, and so the top field has had a lot of use, but everything is here for anyone with an interest in horses or show animals of any sort.''
In some ways they are sad to leave but Kim and Roger have built a new home a couple of hillsides away, and have already moved in.
``This is a great place. It's just surplus to requirements,'' is how Kim puts it. ``But it's got so much going for it, we know someone will love it, just as we did.''
VITAL STATISTICS
BEDROOMS: 6
BATHROOMS: 3
GARAGES: 6+
SIZE: Land 1.25ha, house 320sq m (approx).
PRICE INDICATION: In excess of $935,000. Auction February 21.
INSPECT: Sundays 2.15-3pm.
ON THE WEB: www.barfoot.co.nz # 355758.
SCHOOL ZONES: Ramarama and Pukekohe East primary schools (to year 8), Rosehill College and Pukekohe High.
CONTACT: James Twigg, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 298 8029 bus, 021 500 668 mob, 292 4885 a/h.
FEATURES: Rambling family home with wine cellar, games room, sewing room, self-contained guest suite, home theatre, office, playroom and turret. Native bush, a field to play in, and fully equipped for equestrian activities.
