Titirangi - Rising to the challenge

A couple braved the challenge of the last site available in a subdivision to build a big family home.

16A Chamari Close, Titirangi.

The land on which this house stands was the last section for sale in the subdivision, and it didn't take Gary Bishop long to see why.

``It was covered in scrubby trees, and you had to swing between them to get up or down the 9m slope,'' he laughs.

``Me and a mate were hanging off the end of chainsaws clearing the site, and boy, trees can come down bigger than they look. We learned how to figure out how far they would fall so we could steer them away from the neighbour's places.''

``But you loved all that,'' grins Gary's wife Sue.
True, the challenging site didn't dissuade the couple from building a home for themselves and their four children, now aged from 5 months to 7 years.

They knew the reward would be height, sun and gorgeous views across local Titirangi treetops to the Waitakere ranges.

They had been living further along Chamari Close when this section and one next door came up for sale about two and a half years ago. Gary and Sue bought both, built a house to sell on the first one, then planned a home for themselves at 16A.

Once Gary and his friend finished with the chainsaws, truckloads of dirt were carted off the section and major retaining work done to secure a flat building platform.

The bottom of the three levels was completed first, and the family moved in here while the top two storeys were finished. This lower level contains three bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchenette in a living area warmed by a logburner.

This space is now used as an office for Gary's fireplace installation business, and opens onto a large deck suspended in the trees, through which you can see the view.

``We planned this floor to be used by the kids when they were teenagers,'' says Gary. ``We hoped they'd bring their friends back here for parties so we could keep an eye on them.''

Also at ground level are two separate garages, one made longer than normal to store Gary's fireplace equipment.

At the second level is a space that could be a second lounge or children's play area. The master suite is off here, plus a guest room with its own en suite.

On the top floor is the open plan living, dining and kitchen area, all positioned to enjoy the view. An electrician friend wired the house ``so it could just about fly to the moon'' says Gary.

The only high-tech feature he and Sue installed was a movie projector that folds down from the living room ceiling, but Gary says you could set up a full home theatre if you wanted to. All the bedrooms are smart wired for phone and computer networks.

A sundrenched deck runs the length of the northwestern side of the house. Along here is an outdoor breakfast bar which opens into the kitchen through sliding windows.

From the side of the kitchen you can walk out to a lawn with an outdoor fireplace, and a children's playhouse with a slide that takes youngsters down a slope through ponga and some of the other native trees that encircle the section.

A winding path takes you down to a trampoline set against the trees, and another sunny lawn.

The house is not only well planned, it looks good, too. Clad with a combination of Zincalume and Shadowclad - a stained plywood - it sits comfortably in its semi-bush setting but with a modern edge. Inside, the wooden stairs are edged with textured aluminium.

The family has enjoyed the house for two years, but Gary and Sue now want to move closer to family at Red Beach on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

``I'll miss the bush, and the sunsets,'' says Sue. ``We've had lots of great barbecues on the deck in the afternoon sun. And Kaurilands School is just a short walk away. It's a really nice community.''

And although this house is surrounded by neighbours, its elevation ensures its privacy. Taking this last, challenging site wasn't such a bad idea after all.

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 5

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGES: 3

SIZE: Land 1046sq m, house 336sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $700,000. Auction September 2.

INSPECT: Sunday 2-3pm.

ON THE WEB: www.open2view.co.nz # 134412

CONTACT: Allan Kay, Harveys, ph 021 343 414, 827 4928 bus, 817 3163 a/h.

FEATURES: Two-year-old, three-level home surrounded by native trees, but elevated to capture sun and views. Three living areas, self-contained apartment-type space downstairs that would suit a teenager or grandparent. Outdoor fireplace. Walking distance to Kaurilands School.