Connie Rynbeek jokes that she almost needed roller skates to get around all the rooms of the house she and husband Henry built in Birkenhead 26 years ago.
Many couples choose to downsize when their children have grown up, but Dutch-born Connie and Henry decided to build themselves a large home which would accommodate friends, relatives and business associates when they visited from overseas.
"The house was so big, some people asked us if we were building a retirement home," says Connie.
Hidden at the end of a long right-of-way on Mokoia Rd in Birkenhead, the two-level house is an impressive 700sq m, including its five-car, internal access garage, workshop and shed.
Henry, who had already been in the construction business for several years, spared no expense in 1988 when he spent $1 million building this dream home.
The couple had firm ideas for their plan to include a billiard room, indoor spa, wine cellar, bar, pool and gym as well as large living spaces. They employed an architect to piece their ideas together and ensure the house flowed well.
"I also wanted to have sliding doors from all of the living spaces on the ground floor that would open up to the patio and the garden," says Connie.
The concrete house has a tiled roof, carpeted concrete floors, wooden panelling on most internal walls, and a 2.4m stud on both levels.
The first thing that strikes you is the amount of parking on the property, which has a user-friendly circular driveway system at the end of its right-of-way and room to park up to about 10 cars.
When the Rynbeeks bought the property they demolished an existing house on the north-facing section.
Erecting a high retaining wall on the western boundary and levelling the section gave them an elevated building platform, which sits above the sections in front of and beside them and means the house gets more sun.
The main living areas are on the north-facing side of the ground floor level and lead seamlessly to a paved courtyard, garden landscaped with Phoenix palms, the heated pool and the gazebo.
Entry to the house is through a large portico which has space underneath for parking two cars.
Image 1 of 6: 157 Mokoia Road, Birkenhead
15 September 2014, Herald Homes Photograph by Kellie Blizard
To the right of the lobby is a large office behind the open-plan dining room and kitchen. This kitchen, refitted a year ago, has wide windows looking out to the garden and pool.
The dining room flows through to a family room that leads, through an archway, into the formal lounge which opens to the courtyard.
To the left of the lobby is the billiards room and bar, with the indoor spa room, including separate change room and toilet, next door. Both these rooms open to the courtyard.
This level also includes the large north-west facing master bedroom with en suite and walk-in wardrobe, another bedroom, the wine cellar, a cloakroom, a bathroom, the laundry and a gym, which leads through to the garaging.
A stairway off the lobby leads upstairs to a landing plus three more bedrooms, another bathroom, separate toilet and eaves storage opening off it.
