You get the feeling Sheryl and Noel Macnamara will miss their park-like garden more than they will miss their magnificent house in the Karaka countryside.
Indeed it was the long tree-lined driveway and the landscape that caught their eye on their first visit in 2009.
The setting, landscaped in the fashion of an English estate, has mature trees including oaks, swamp cypress, chestnuts, crab apples, magnolias and poplars. From the driveway you have only a hint of the dimensions of this fully renovated house, as the back profile is more modest. The full magnificence is found at the front of house, which has outstanding views over the manicured garden, the gentle slopes rolling down to the tranquillity of the lily pond and across the water of the Whangapouri estuary and the outline of hills in the distance.
"The visual aspect of this home is not what you see from the driveway, it is what happens at the front of the house," says Sheryl.
The couple viewed the house as a challenge, appreciating the original French provincial style structure designed by Ron Seeto but realising this was a house that could be enhanced and improved.
"Every owner had done something different and we have tidied all the messes up," says Noel.
For the renovation plans Sheryl and Noel engaged architect Terry Hitchcock, considered a master for his outstanding designs featuring solid construction and pitched roofs.
"We bought this house because we loved the grounds and we could see the shape and footprint were there for Terence Hitchcock to design something special," says Noel.
Image 1 of 5: With its park-like garden and tree lined driveway...prepare to be amazed at this property. Photos / Supplied
His plans for the renovation were extensive; in fact, Noel says it borders on a rebuild and their home now resembles a new home.
It has been re-clad in cedar stained black, setting off the copper roofing.
"Now we call it timeless elegance. You wouldn't know if it is a 10- or 50-year-old house when you drive in. That was our vision, but inside it is modern. It is a house you have to live in to appreciate fully.
"We have totally remodelled it, reclad, reroofed including remodelling the roofline, replumbed, rewired and rebuilt. It's like new."
One feature left intact in most rooms is the painted steel joinery windows and their striking multi-paned designs.
"And the 6m ceilings in the living space are what gives the house its volume, it's the slope of the roof that is the architecture," says Noel.
From the driveway you would never know there is garaging for five cars as Terence Hitchcock designs his homes so garaging is out of sight. Instead your eye travels to the manicured garden with plantings of carpet roses, topiary bushes and buxus hedging.
As you come in the main entrance of this five-bedroom home, wine cellar and guest toilet are on each side.
Going down two steps, you turn left directly to the master suite, which has the tiled bathroom, French doors to the terrace, walk-in wardrobe, study and formal living space with fireplace.
Then you come back to the centre of the house to another generous living space and the kitchen -- Smeg, Miele and Liebherr appliances -- and open-plan living/dining (also with fireplace), which opens to terrace areas including outdoor seating and a sheltered barbecue area.
Also on ground level are a bedroom, bathroom, office, laundry and outdoor access to the garage (there is also a lift). There are a bedroom and bathroom on a lower level.
Upstairs is a media room with movie screen and large picture window, and two more en-suited bedrooms.
