SCHOOL ZONES:
Star of the Sea School,
Ormiston Senior College
CONTACT:
Angela Rudling, ph 0274 770 176
Living "la dolce vita" - the good life - with a tinge of the lifestyle you'd find in a small Italian village drew the Wright family to this select Whitford enclave. Turanga Creek Estate is an exclusive gated community of Mediterranean-style villas enjoying a close association with organic Turanga Creek Winery next door.
This home is one of the first of the small cluster of European-inspired masonry homes to have been built, with views of the grapevines.
"It has an old worlde, Tuscan country feel to it yet it has all the modern conveniences. It's an incredibly low maintenance, easy home to run."
Sarah, husband Tex and their three sons had lived in Whitford for 14 years in an older home on more land. They were attracted by the ease of the lifestyle here.
"It feels like true country living but without a whole lot of work."
She points out that the home's double glazing and integrated heating-air conditioning system make it very cost effective to run. She says the romantic style of a Tuscan village and the solidity of the construction were other drawcards.
The gated estate is handy to Whitford Village, with the entrance to Brownhill Rd being just opposite Whitford Park Golf Club. Sarah finds it lovely that the owners of Turanga Creek Winery encourage residents to be part of the vineyard, happy for them to join in picking the grapes.
A lofty entrance hall hung with a wrought iron chandelier welcomes visitors. "When I walk in the front entrance I still feel the 'wow' of its elegance every time. It's got a wonderful high stud, solid oak floors and lighting which creates a gentle ambience. And it still sort of feels brand new."
Pointing to the loggia just outside which invites long Italian-style lunches, Sarah says: "The outdoor fireplace is a beautiful feature." The grounds include a formal clipped garden. And if future owners wanted to add a swimming pool, a promenade of copper beech trees would provide the perfect setting but still leave plenty of lawn.
A wrought-iron door announces the wine cellar, near an office off the entrance hall. A polished powder room kicks off a hallway leading to the bedrooms. An elegant family bathroom with freestanding bath services three good-sized bedrooms.
The hall culminates in the master suite, which flows to outdoors via two sets of French doors. Its smart double-basin en suite also has a double shower and its walk-in wardrobe differentiates his'n'hers built-ins with dark and light cabinets.
Since buying here a year ago the Wrights have come to realise how much of their lives is based a fair distance away, around their younger two sons' sport. Moving nearer the boys' school, St Kents in Pakuranga, should make their schedule more manageable.
