Karaka: A rural showpiece

Follow the lifestyle dream with this equestrian farm boasting a host of impressive extras, writes VICKI HOLDER.

A pretty, white, gabled colonial villa welcomes guests as they sweep through the gated stone entrance to Linwood, a showpiece equestrian farm in Karaka.

A picture of quaint traditional charm, it doesn't seem to have changed much in the 100 years it has reigned over the surrounding gently contoured pasture. Then you step inside and discover a broad hallway that disappears into the distance through a plethora of magnificently proportioned rooms.

As soon as guests pass the threshold, it's immediately obvious that little remains of the original two-bedroom villa layout, apart from the classical facade. The rest has been meticulously transformed and extended into a grand country homestead that looks through beautiful park-like grounds to the peaceful countryside.

Traditional character is preserved in the weatherboard construction, the new Colorsteel roof, copper spouting and timber joinery. It continues inside in the tall stud height and beautifully crafted interiors equipped with every modern comfort. Jetmaster fires, dehumidifiers, thermostatic heating and hidden sound systems enhance everyday living as well as lavish entertaining.

Flanking the entry foyer, the formal dining room and adjacent formal living space were pushed out at the sides, doubling the spaciousness of the rooms. Sumptuously decorated with extravagant bumphed curtain treatments and luxuriously soft, blue-green wool carpet, these rooms provide an elegant atmosphere for formal entertaining.

The lounge offers a chance to dream of warmer climes in far-off lands. Gazing out through tall sash windows framed in crisp plaid curtains and pelmets, it looks to a sheltered Italian-style courtyard garden bordered with clipped box hedging in planter boxes against ochre-washed plaster walls.

The dining room opens to the terrace through rich, red tasselled drapes to a vast family room-conservatory. It curves out through three sets of french doors to the enormous kwila deck that overlooks the pool, which can be lit up at night.

Across the hall, lit by copper sconces like old-fashioned oil lamps, the modern kitchen with granite benchtops and taupe cabinetry is packed with the latest appliances. They include a Kenmore fridge-freezer, compactor, AEG dishwasher and combination oven, as well as a gas and convection hob. Three pantries cater for the fact the supermarket is not just down the road, although town is only 25 minutes away. Skylights in the ceiling above and multi-paned windows looking out to the garden ensure it's always filled with natural light.

Next door, a huge farmhouse-style laundry with loads of storage is more than merely a place to hide the washing and drying appliances.

Four grand, beautifully dressed bedrooms and an office unfold to elegant European bathrooms that take a traditional theme with quality fittings. One features a clawfoot bath, while another has a free-standing Kaldewei bath. Several of the bedrooms open to the terrace.

At the far end of the house, the enormous master bedroom suite opens to the main terrace and its own private deck overlooking the full-size, floodlit Astroturf tennis court. It can be closed off from the rest of the house for total privacy. Saving the walk back to the kitchen for refreshments, it has its own kitchenette, as well as a huge, room-sized dressing room.

Near the house, utility buildings blend perfectly with the gentle, rural ambience of the homestead. A traditional, quality batten-and-board barn with livery stables, wash-down bay, tack room, loft and handling facilities provides a fine equine haven. An Olympic-sized dressage arena invites bloodstock opportunities. Races converge centrally from 12 post-and-rail fenced paddocks for easy stock management. A fully fenced, grassed area with dog shelters keeps pets secure.

Nothing has been overlooked to create this environment befitting one of the most desirable farming and lifestyle areas in South Auckland.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: Linwood, 507 Linwood Rd, Karaka.

FEATURES: Meticulously transformed, extended, 100-year-old villa on quality rural property; formal entertaining rooms; casual living/conservatory opening to terrace; four grand bedrooms; five bathrooms; office; modern kitchen with gas cooking; Jetmaster fires; dehumidifiers; thermostatic heating; sound systems; large laundry/boot room; full security systems with ability to segregate areas for alarm purposes, directly linked to fire service; three-car garaging; extensive landscaping with fully fenced pool area; 18m x 5m pool with auto feed filter; computerised sprinkler system; full-size tennis court; extensive mature trees; stables complex and horse facilities; stock yards; dressage arena; dog run; post-and-rail fencing.

SIZE: Land area 9.7258ha.

PRICE: $2.6 million to $3 million.

AGENT: Mike Butler, Barfoot & Thompson, Papakura. Ph 09 298 8029 bus; 025 946 064 mob.