House of dreams

Nestled in a picturesque country setting, this architecturallydesigned home is aptly named Te Whare o Nga¯ Moemoea¯, or house of dreams. Owner Kate Campion, who lives here with husband Ben, explains: ‘‘We were drawn to the land the first time we saw it and looked at the lake from the top of the hill and knew we would have a beautiful life here. The name was inspired by the Anne of Green Gables books, which I loved as a child. When Anne married the love of her life, she called their home the house of dreams. We built the house with a lot of love and care for each other, the land and the house itself and believed it would be our forever home.’’

With a career change necessitating a move, you now have the opportunity to make your own magical memories in this inspiring milieu. The lifestyle benefits are priceless – 5209sqm of land overlooking rolling farmland, plus a picnic spot reserving million-dollar views of Lake Karapiro and Maungatautari mountain.

The brief to Turner Road Architecture and Rob May Master Builder was: A lifestyle that offers the character and heart of yesteryear’s design, with the quality, comfort and low upkeep of a modern build.

The result: a timeless, elegant home perfectly positioned to make the most of sun and views.

At its heart is a designer kitchen, complete with scullery and SMEG appliances in harmonious colours, that Kate found so inspiring, it started her love affair with cooking. ‘‘I never enjoyed cooking before, and it’s become something I really love, facilitated by the kitchen design, including the free-standing oven, which makes meals a breeze. As you cook, you can look out at the farmland and right now lambs are bounding around.’’

Open-plan dining and living areas feature panelled cathedral ceilings, an inviting fireplace and charming window seat. Throw open the doors to the covered portico, where summer barbecues and sunsets beckon.

Three double bedrooms exude a Hamptons feel, the master served by a tiled ensuite with double basins and double-head shower, plus walk-in wardrobe.

Double glazing and ducted air conditioning provide year-round comfort. Timber plantation shutters on all windows and doors allow filtered light to stream in and frame the beauty of the changing seasons outside.

Ben and Kate have loved every moment here.

‘‘I love the sense of space and light, and the outlook of the lake and mountain when I’m on the ride-on lawnmower,’’ says Ben.

‘‘The beautiful sunrises in the morning which you can see from the kitchen, dining room and main entrance windows are a real bonus. We love coming home from work, sitting outside and enjoying a drink while talking about our day, after we have walked around the boundary with the dogs, see how the fruit trees are growing, watch the river. It’s easy to go for walks and runs along the private road. During lockdowns it was amazing to have the space to exercise freely. We never felt it was a burden,’’ says Kate.

Offering a fast, easy commute to Cambridge and Hamilton, and set in a close-knit community, while being very private, this incredible property awaits those who dream of a slice of paradise.