Green pastures divided into four hectare blocks defined this countryside when Ken Muir and his wife Vicky bought here in the late 1980s.
One such block caught their eye and its charms have kept them here ever since. With the original 1970s concrete block house at the heart of their extended home, they’ve created a lifestyle better connected to this rural land than ever before.
Firstly, they sold off half their land, retaining two hectares for themselves. Then they got acquainted with their small, north-facing home and which rooms benefited from the sunshine. From there, they engaged architect Don Nelson to redesign and extend the house to become the home it is today. Vicky and Ken’s vision was for a family home with a luxury vibe, inspired by their overseas travels.
“We loved looking at buildings with columns and they were mostly hotels, and Don was able to create that look with columns that are structural and non-structural,” says Ken.
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“This is a one-off house. We had it designed for what we liked.”
During the build, Ken and Vicky lived on-site in a hired caravan. “The builders preserved enough of a kitchen to allow us to cook some food,” says Ken. “It was good to be on-site too, to talk to them about any small changes that were needed.”
481 Paremoremo Road in Paremoremo has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a double garage.
Its single level 317sqm floor area boasts multiple living areas including a media room with a fully-equipped bar. Another lounge can be closed off with bi-fold louvered Cedar doors at either end. The kitchen with its engineered stone benches has a matching well-equipped scullery beyond cavity sliding doors. Off the garage, there is a temperature-controlled wine cellar.
Later, Ken and Vicky put in the 124sqm heated, salt-water pool that is their focal point of life from their three-covered decks off their living areas. “Those rooms open up to the pool as if it’s part of the house,” says Ken.
Importantly, mature trees ensure privacy between this home and their G.J. Gardner Homes minor dwelling at the front. This 80sqm home plus garage has provided rental income since it was built six years ago.
At rear of the property, there are more investment options in the two buildings that Vicky and Ken used when they were showing and breeding Rottweilers as a hobby. The kennels, permitted for 10 dogs, and the separate utilities block could, says Ken, be used for other animals or animal-related business or converted into guest sleepouts.
As one property on one sub-dividable title, this location has enhanced Vicky and Ken’s rural love affair. They’ve planted many trees here including native and fruit trees and revelled in the birdlife that call this place home too.
“For me this property is about three things - security, serenity and privacy,” says Ken. “This is about countryside living, not a farming proposition. We’ve been here for many years and had busy lives and still maintained this. It’s a fantastic place to live.”
Bayleys agent Anelise Wolenszky, who is marketing the property, says “It is a sanctuary.”
The property's set date of sale is June 8.
