When she and her husband Alan bought a three-acre block of land to build a home from scratch, Judy Cordier knew she didn’t want a ‘new’ house.
She wanted something that looked as if it had been there a hundred years. She knew she’d nailed it when a tradie came to the door one day and said he was looking for the new house that had been built in the area.
She told him he’d found it, but he didn’t believe her. “I told him he’d made my day,” she laughs.
Judy has always loved all things old, vintage, and antique, and she admires the architecture of Europe. That passion was behind the timeless design of Casa Collina – the house on the hill where old and new blend beautifully.
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142A Runciman Road in Pukekohe East, Franklin, is for sale by tender closing September 14. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home has an RV of $2.125 million and, according to OneRoof data, the property last changed hands in 2011 for $750,000.
Having had some experience in the building industry, Judy had the knowledge and confidence to draw up the floorplan herself, and then put it in the hands of ‘an amazing builder from Hawke’s Bay’.
“If you’ve got the right builder, you can achieve anything,” she says.
The Pukekohe East home, dubbed Casa Collina, has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a double garage and an RV of $2.125m. Photo / Supplied
Distinctive European elements enhance the appeal of the vast open-plan living spaces with their herringbone tiled floors, bespoke timber ceiling beams, and timber detailing such as the barn door, wooden display shelves and a handcrafted wooden facing on the marble island bench. In the kitchen, the high-end modern appliances are gently integrated into the vintage design.
The colour palette is neutral. “These colours are easy to live with and the house has a lovely feel,” Judy says.
Her choice of furnishings and textiles contributes to the feeling of warmth. The house has three wings, and Judy was adamant that the roof lines should be perfect. “Rooflines are special and the pitches have to be right,” Judy says.
In one wing is the master complete with an elegant ensuite, French doors to a private patio and a large, European-inspired private garden. This is designed as a sanctuary and is positioned to capture all-day sun.
The guest wing has three bedrooms, each with French doors opening to separate patios overlooking private gardens. Also in this wing is a comfortable sanctuary named ‘the den’ by Judy and Alan.
In the kitchen of 142A Runciman Road, the high-end modern appliances are gently integrated into the vintage design. Photo / Supplied
The current owner wanted the home to look like it had been there for a hundred years. Photo / Supplied
During the build the couple lived in a studio which already existed on the property and planted out the section complete with full sized tennis court, to further the impression of a long-established residence. Adjacent to the studio is a shed/workshop which is actually larger than the house itself.
“This is a property that could suit a multiplicity of purposes,” says agent Ian Buchanan. He and Michele Mathieson of Bayleys, Pukekohe are listing 142A Runciman Road.
“The studio could well be used as an office for a business from home, and anyone with an interest in motor vehicles would be thrilled with the workshop space,” he says.
The location will also be a major drawcard, Buchanan says, being less than an hour from Auckland and Hamilton, and an easy commute to the Coromandel.
While leaving the 345sqm of beautifully curated space will be a wrench, Judy is thinking small for her next project. “I’d love to build a little stone house,” she says.
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