John and Andrea Davies describe their spacious country home as an entertainers' dream.
Spread out over 385sq m, there was always plenty of room for the family of four plus John's mother who lived with them, family guests and the kids' entourage of friends.
The family bought 10.9ha near Waimaukuabout 23 years ago, later selling off 8ha.
They drew up the plan for this large, single-level home, configured so John's mum could have almost a separate house at one end with a large lounge and kitchen and two bedrooms.
"I designed the floor plan and had it drawn up by a draughtsman. We designed it to suit our particular needs," says John.
The large house has six bedrooms and three bathrooms and stunning views over two lakes and the Kumeu River which can't beblocked as John and Andrea covenanted the north-facing paddocks.
"It can never be built out behind unless you allow it, unless you relinquish it," he says.
At the same time they were building up their international logistics business which, until last Christmas, operated out of a 160sqm office further along the sealed driveway.
The north-facing lounge and rumpus room (with billiard table) - both with pitched roofs - are at the front of the house, flanking the heated swimming pool and surrounding covered 12m by 10m deck. Behind the rumpus room is the self-contained area that was John's mum's space and then, behind the lounge, is the formal dining, kitchen and family room. The bedrooms are all on the south side. John says the choice of decking and entertaining areas worked for the family. "The teenagers can be on the deck, with the billiard table, having a bit of a party and you could be at the other end quietly in the lounge with other people."
When John's mother died, the couple decided to renovate, changing and updating the outside shape. "We completely went over the house from top to bottom and spent the thick end of a million dollars on it.
"We pitched the roofs and ceilings and now we have eight sections of opening doors going out to 300sq m of decking, a lot of it covered. You can have barbecues on three different directions and all of them undercover regardless of whether it's winter, summer, raining or windy.
"When we did the renovations, the previous house was built modern with a lot of glass and aluminium and we wanted to move away from that and made it quite warm, a lot of timber and we softened up the lighting.
"It's almost like a country lodge, pitched ceilings, lovely interior fittings but it's homely; it exudes warmth," he says. "There is a lot of timber and an open fireplace nearly a metre wide in the lounge."
John and Andrea have landscaped the property with large lawns and English-style trees. "It is all pretty easy maintenance, bark gardens."
The couple are selling because John is approaching retirement and their daughters now live in Dunedin and England.
"This is a quiet house now; it needs a bit of noise again. After 22 years I'm looking for a change, I don't need that space, I don't need six bedrooms."
