SCHOOL ZONES:
Hingaia Peninsula School, Rosehill College.
CONTACT:
Marcus Hill, 021 430 665, or Richard Lyne, 021 687 000, Ray White.
Finding themselves "between homes" while they built a large home on the riverfront at Karaka, Fiona and Steve Wallace began searching for a house nearby to see them through the project.
This award-winning solid masony home, with its European styling, ticked all the boxes for the Wallaces, being comfortable, luxurious and low-maintenance.
"Steven and I love all things Italian and French so this home really resonated with us and suits all our furnishings," says Fiona. "It's a multiple gold award-winning home built by Eden Homes as a show home, so they didn't hold back and the level of detailing is incredible."
As well as character features such as wrought-iron balustrades, wooden shutters and barrel roof tiles, the home has modern comforts such as underfloor heating, a built-in sound system and carpeted internal-access double garage.
"It's like a five-star lodge," says Fiona. "You feel so good when you pull up in the driveway. And being a solid masonry home it's thermally efficient, so it's warm in winter and cool in summer."
Formal gardens -- as part of extensive landscaping -- frame the house, which has French doors leading out to paved patios with fountains. Layered plantings -- including box hedging, griselinas, jasmine, roses and camelias -- soften the walls and fences around the home.
The sense of luxury starts with a tiled double-height entrance punctuated by a chandelier. A wrought-iron balustrade follows the sweeping stairway and continues along the landing.
An open-plan kitchen/living/dining area on the northern side of the house flows out to a west-facing loggia, with views of the nearby reserve. A built-in barbecue with bench space is off to one side of the loggia and makes this an ideal entertaining area. "We entertained recently and had 30 people here and the house just breathes so easily," says Fiona.
Quality materials such as American oak and granite tops feature in the kitchen, which has a timber sarked ceiling. A cavity slider provides access to the adjoining formal lounge with gas fire. This room, facing the street, opens to its own patio and is acoustically insulated so that the couple's two young girls and their friends can watch TV without disturbing other guests.
Also on the ground floor are a powder room, a wine cellar under the stairs and a fitted out laundry. The oversized double garage has a pull-down ladder to access a loft used for storage.
Upstairs, all four bedrooms are off the open landing. The girls share the main bathroom, which has a spa bath, granite topped vanity and glass shower. The master bedroom has a balcony overlooking the street, as well as a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite with double shower.
Image 1 of 5: This award-winning solid masony beauty makes its owners feel like they're living in a five-star lodge -- with recreation facilities to match.
Fiona loves the proximity to the motorway on-ramp, which is about a minute's drive away and the fact that the developer of this subdivision has provided reserves and pathways along the waterfront for residents.
"It's been set up as a recreation-friendly area," says Fiona. "There are fully formed paths around the harbour and you can take the kids cycling or walking around there, and go over to the lakes and feed the swans.
"It's something of an undiscovered secret this area but that is starting to change as people realise you get a lot of bang for your buck around here."
