Made for memories in Tuakau

196 Ridge Road ,Tuakau. Photo / Michelle Hyslop

196 RIDGE RD TUAKAU

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SIZE: Land 15.91ha, house 310sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $1.225 million (2011). Auction December 10, 1pm, on site.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1.45-2.45pm.

ON THE WEB: harcourts.co.nz/PW111101

SCHOOL ZONES: Pokeno Primary (Year 1-8), Tuakau College.

CONTACT: Craig Tunzelmann, Harcourts, ph 027 309 4023.

FEATURES: Country estate over 16ha with roomy recently renovated house, large heated pool and spa house, plus farm buildings, 380sq m of workshops with own three-phase power supply.

In the 35 years Derek and Carol Stent have owned, lived in and developed the generous lifestyle block in the rolling countryside near Pokeno that has been their family home, it has seen a few changes. Perhaps the most dramatic of these would be what Derek calls "the birthday" they gave the house about five years ago. "It was Huntly brick and very well built, but we could see it was dated and decided it was time to bring it into the 21st century. At that point [2005] we intended staying here another 20 years so it made sense."

Not only has the insulation been upgraded, everything else has too, from the smart plaster cladding over the once knobbly Huntly brick, to repositioning of all but two internal walls.

A new bathroom was added to make a luxurious guest suite, while the family bathroom and en suite were brought smartly up to date with a simple grey and white colour scheme.

The four bedrooms, with their generous storage and copious windows looking out to gardens, were all improved, while the kitchen was replaced and now stands proud with granite countertops and as many cupboards as you could shake a stick at. The laundry is also of generous farmhouse scale.

The family room, the dining room and the extremely large formal living room do not disappoint either. Most have extensive views of some part of the gardens and a multitude of sliding doors. The public parts of the house are wired with a surround-sound system that reaches the pool house.

Derek and Carol did much of the finishing themselves, with Carol spending a painstaking week prepping to paint the living room. As part of the upgrading, Derek also re-painted the exterior of the aluminium joinery a smart grey to match the roof tiles.

It's hard to believe this is not a totally new house, in looks, finish and liveability, which Derek and Carol appreciate most in the depths of winter.

"We have all these panel heaters from before the renovation but they never get turned on now. We have a woodburner in the family room and underfloor heating under most of the tiles and that is all we need for heating. It's economical, too, because there's now insulation everywhere."

Also economical and environmentally friendly is the recycled oil that is used to heat the large pool, which is in a glazed structure that allows year-round use.

However, this pool house is but one of the associated buildings that make up what this property offers. Nearby is another which is in use as a secondary office and gym room, but this area could have a multitude of future uses: from teen haven to media room.

Close, but not too close, to the house are two large sheds with their own three-phase electricity where Derek had his workshops. These also have an office and are in excellent condition. Over the years the fencing and water for the paddocks has been upgraded and a deep-water bore drilled. Like everything around them, the box-hedged gardens, white roses and seating are immaculate, while a cedar shingle summer house is the perfect place to laze on a sunny day.

There is nothing to do except move in. As Derek says "At the point we renovated we couldn't imagine living anywhere else and intended staying here another 20 years so it made sense. Now it's all here for the new owner, and we're moving on to the next stage."