Country: Limitless potential

By CEDRIC GRAY

Diana Frazer could well regard the number three as her lucky number.

Just over three years ago, she and her husband, Duncan Annandale, spent three hours in consultation with their architect before building their new home.

They had three specific instructions. The family rooms and kitchen should greet the morning sun, there should be an easy flow from room to room in the family area, and the bedrooms should gain maximum afternoon sun.

Diana says that the architect, Kevin Herring, delivered on all three counts.

The property, in Annandale Rd, Kumeu, has been carved from the Annandale family farm, which was one of the biggest dry stock holdings in the district. Duncan is a third-generation member of the family, and the farm forms a large part of the rural scene.

The near-new house, of about 270sq m, occupies an elevated site with lovely rural views from every room. With just under a hectare of land and with three paddocks used for light grazing, it appeals as a property that could easily be developed.

There is space for a tennis court and a swimming pool, and a small stream near the boundary could be developed into a place of beauty.

"The potential for beautification on a grand scale is virtually unlimited," says Diana.

The two-level, four-bedroom house is just the start. It could be described as an entertainer's dream, because of the easy flow from the patio to the family dining and formal lounge areas.

The modern kitchen and family dining room have under-floor heating, and an open fire provides winter warmth in the nearby formal lounge.

Two bedrooms, a family bathroom and a study are also on this level, a neat feature being the clear division between the children's play areas and the kitchen/dining rooms.

A second lounge or fifth bedroom is on the first floor, along with the master bedroom with an en suite and a walk-in wardrobe.

The property is being marketed by Harcourts, Kumeu, and goes to auction today, April 13. Contact Simon Spiller on 412 7666 for further details.