When Emma and Dominic first pulled up to the gates of 190A Ellett Road in Karaka, on the southern fringes of Auckland, it was a revelation as to some of the benefits of rural living.
Emma says that they had thought their 550sqm Onehunga property was large, until they saw the 21,000sqm Franklin section.
The pair snapped up the home for just under $2m in May 2020. “For me, it’s just this utopia ... there’s this sense of the beauty of the country. If you want a country rural feel it’s the absolute peak of that,” Emma says.
The couple were surprised by the easy transition to life in Karaka where they are only 10 minutes from the motorway and supermarket shopping can still be delivered. “I would call it rural light. It’s still very Auckland. It’s all the comforts of city living, but the beauty of the country,” Emma says.
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Emma and Dominic never thought they'd sell the property, but they have decided to move closer to her parents for the next chapter of their lives as their young children start school.
The property, which has a CV of $2.1m, goes to auction on May 17, with the listing agent, Scott McElhinney, of Barfoot & Thompson, the same agent who sold the house to Emma and Dominic.
Original features like high ceilings, stained glass windows and a built-in fireplace have been carefully maintained. Photo / Supplied
The north-facing four-bedroom 1910 kauri villa has three living areas with still-intact character features such as high ceilings, stained glass windows, and a built-in fireplace, while the main bathroom has a clawfoot tub.
Updated by previous owners to include an open-plan kitchen and French doors that open out to a generous deck, Emma and Dominic have modernised it further with designer lighting, shutters, and ducted underfloor air conditioning and heating.
McElhinney says that the easy commute from this country escape will be really interesting for buyers looking to get away from urban areas while still having access to schools and other facilities.
“It’s a pretty spectacular rural retreat tucked away super privately in the country in a really premium location in Karaka with really useable land,” he says.
190A Ellett Road in Karaka has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and garaging for three vehicles. Photo / Supplied
The auction date for this home was brought forward to May 17 after a pre-auction offer was accepted by the vendors. Photo / Supplied
“The combination of the beautiful flat land, the gorgeous villa, and the country garden setting with the pool and the garaging studio annexe – it’s got a lot of charm about it.”
One of the property’s assets is its large landscaped section which includes three flat paddocks, a large shed, and a saltwater swimming pool with a diving board.
The three-car garage has storage and a flexible mezzanine space – perfect for use as a bedroom, teenagers’ hangout, or a home office.
Emma particularly loves the stunning trees visible from the home and seasonally accented by the previous owners’ extensive hydrangea planting.
The deck of the north-facing 1910 kauri villa looks out to “the best backyard in Auckland”, say the homeowners. Photo / Supplied
Calling the deck “heaven” with its view of “the best backyard in Auckland”, and no neighbours in sight.
“It’s quite magical sitting out on the deck with the kids swinging on the magnolia tree, the dogs running around. It’s a family paradise basically, like something out of a fairy-tale,” she says.
