Waikanae quality home in tranquil and picturesque setting

An oasis of park-like grounds and signature architecture is for sale in one of Waikanae’s loveliest and leafiest streets.

The stunning four-bedroom house, at 9-11 Rosebank Grove, is on a private, verdant double-section teeming with rhododendrons, maples, golden elms, kowhai and an oak tree surrounding a large flat lawn.

Built around 1984, and extended in 1996, the 280-square metre Craig, Craig and Moller design stands out for its spacious living, timber joinery and quality build.

Taupo-bound vendors Greg and Cheryl bought it because of its character and construction.

“It’s a very well built home,” says Greg, a builder who appreciated the calibre of the band-sawn beveled back cedar weatherboards, Douglas fir ceilings, rimu finishing timber, cedar doors and American oak flooring.

They also loved the indooroutdoor lifestyle it offers. “We came from a home with 180-degree views of Wellington – and all the wind,” Greg says.

“We rarely got outside to have a barbecue but here we barbecue well into March and April.”

“We will miss the outside, the peace and quiet, and the size of the house, especially when family come to stay,” Cheryl says.

“The family can go down to their wing and we meet in the middle for meals,” Greg jokes.

The L-shaped house, which includes an internal doublegarage, has two wings with glazed galleries that showcase the grounds and open to a wraparound veranda for indooroutdoor flow from virtually every room.

The hub of the house is the large living/dining room and modern kitchen, which opens to a laundry, then leads out to the sunny, private courtyard.

The kitchen has granite benchtops, two ovens, a refrigerator-freezer, double dish drawer, ceramic cooktop, downdraught, breakfast bar and garden window.

It also has bifold shutters to close it off from the entrance and flows into the sunny living/dining area, with its gas fireplace, high ceiling with exposed rafters and heat pump.

In the east wing are the guest bedroom suite, with a walkin wardrobe and ensuite, a bathroom with floor-to-ceiling tiling, and two more doublebedrooms, including one on an upper level that could be used to work from home (if you’re not too distracted by the views of the exquisitely picturesque garden).

The main bedroom is at the far end of the west wing, where it has a timber-panelled cathedral ceiling, a sunny annex with conservatory-like glazing, French doors to the garden, a dressing room and an ensuite with skylights beneath the spreading branches of the oak tree.

Other features include a large formal lounge, underfloor heating in the upgraded bathrooms, fig, grapefruit and citrus trees, two grapevines, a pergola, bore water for inground irrigation, abundant birdlife and a garden shed.

“Quality homes in such a tranquil and picturesque setting seldom come to the market, so don’t miss out,” Ceinwen Howard, of Howard & Co Realty, says.

“Private viewings are available.”