The cathedral-like feeling inside this barn-style home and its retreat-like nature set privately and peacefully within large landscaped grounds near the sea immediately appealed to its owner Leigh.
She bought 27 Waimanu Place in Point Wells about 11 years ago when her daughter was young, wanting a restful base for them closer to her late mother.
“It’s set on lovely 1061 square metre level, fenced grounds which have a subtropical feeling, with palms and practically a mini-orchard of fruit trees,” Leigh says.
“I’d lived rurally before so I loved it that you can’t see into the house from the road. It feels so private and restful and doesn’t have that feeling of having neighbours living on top of you. We’re really keen on the water so we loved being at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac just across the road from a grass accessway which takes you right to the sea.”
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Leigh owns an industrial vintage furniture and homeware shop in Matakana so aesthetics are important to her. The peaked roof home is board and batten, with an internal-access double garage and plentiful off-street parking for boats, a trailer or campervan.
“It’s a home which is a little bit different and everything seems to have been done so well. When I first walked inside and into the main lounge I instantly loved the high ceiling, which reminded me of a cathedral.”
The main living-dining room opens outdoors to a patio. Rustic sleeper door frames define doorways, including the one transitioning to the kitchen. This level also has the first bedroom, a bathroom and a sewing-craft room which could alternatively be an additional single bedroom or office.
The elevated mezzanine level houses the master bedroom and a powder room.
The kitchen opens out to an outdoor dining courtyard with a bar leaner outside the main kitchen window. Across the courtyard is a free-standing separate garden room; a versatile room with its own walk-in-wardrobe.
“We mainly used the garden room for visitors but also found it a great place to do art,” Leigh says.
“Point Wells is a fantastic, close community with a bit of an old school New Zealand feeling to it. It’s become more and more popular over the years with some people moving here from places like Omaha, which have got so busy.
“After living rurally, it felt so welcoming moving here, where my daughter could happily jump on her bike and ride to see friends nearby or go to the dairy.”
Several years after buying this property, Leigh moved to a Point Wells property on the estuary, easily able to rent this home out since then. She’s now selling it to invest more in her business.
Bayleys agent Kellie Bissett, who is marketing the property, says, “This is a gorgeous find for Point Wells – huge section, super private and with beautiful mature trees.
“There is scope to enlarge if you need and good luck keeping friends and family away. You might struggle to find a weekend to yourself once they discover how accommodating the precious wee garden room is!”
The property goes to auction on May 26.
