When the vendors of this Stanmore Bay beauty first saw their enviable section a remarkable build, which achieved the highest standards in every way, was quickly on the cards.
Conveniently located – comfortably close to Silverdale and the motorway, yet quiet and private, this 15-year-old home at 78 Blue Heron Rise, overlooking Weiti River, is ready to move into the next phase of its rich life.
“At the time we had a young family, and we wanted a property which perfectly fitted our needs, so we put it out to architectural designers who cleverly interpreted our ideas,” the owner says.
“My wife and I were in the home maintenance business, with our own company, so we took into account many of the features that we’d seen in other houses.”
Start your property search
The couple laugh now when considering their modest budget which meant lots of ingenuity necessarily went into the finished product: a five-bedroom luxury family home with extensive living areas.
“Everything tells a story – including the rimu floorboards, which were originally painted silver when they came to us,” he says.
“They’d been ceiling beams in a grocery warehouse which was demolished when the motorway extension to Auckland Airport was built.”
In all the couple acquired 3.5 tonnes of Central Otago schist for the fireplace and other decorative features, plus Jarrah timber beams, which had a history as telegraph poles.
“One still has some graffiti on it, while another has little bits of windscreen glass, which adds character,” he says.
Other small details include ‘aging’ the framing of the louvre roof above the elevated deck and adding LED lighting.
“We simply did things as we could afford to and eventually it was all complete.”
He says that the house is especially good for entertaining and with five sets of stacker doors leading to outside areas, it has capacity for dozens of guests.
“We’ve even had a band playing here!”
The chef’s kitchen comes into its own when visitors arrive.
Recently revamped with a new Smeg cooker, it has timber benchtops, lots of storage in drawers and cupboards plus a butler’s pantry, and is surrounded by a dining area and essentially two lounges, with the huge stone fireplace as a central point.
Ceilings 2.7m high contribute to a sense of space.
The five bedrooms, which are all located upstairs, enjoy pleasant, leafy views and the main bathroom and ensuite are both elegant classics with earthy coloured tiles.
The master bedroom also has a private balcony with fabulous vistas.
With double glazing, quality furnishings and skylights, the property – which has recently been repainted inside and out – is ready for new owners to move on in, with nothing that needs to be done.
“We’ll miss the surrounding native bush with its birdlife and the easy access to a number of local beaches. Plus, it’s only 30 minutes’ drive to the city.”
Sharon Maxwell from Ray White Manly and Peninsula agrees, saying this is the property that will “take the townies out of town.”
“It’s an amazing lifestyle prospect, especially for residents with lots of toys as there is three-car garaging and lots of off-street parking.”
78 Blue Heron Rise, Stanmore Bay will be sold by tender, which closes on August 4.
