This Katikati house has seven bedrooms and a swimming pool shaped like a grand piano.
This Katikati house has seven bedrooms and a swimming pool shaped like a grand piano.
The Herald is profiling some of the country’s most exclusive houses for sale this summer
Why buy local when you can fly in components of your house from around the world?
This three-storey mansion at the foot of the Kaimai Ranges in Katikati, near Tauranga, has a staircase and floor of American oak, stone columns clad in Southland schist, an Italian marble kitchen and outsidetiles, and $60,000 worth of curtains imported from England. Valued at just over $2 million, the asking price is $3.9 million.
The house comes with an AV system reaching to all rooms, underground storage, four car spaces in the garage, a Mastercraft kitchen, scullery, air conditioning, spa pool, walk-in wardrobes, and a "film star" quality bathroom.
The house at 90 Windridge Lane is 5km inland from Tauranga's harbour. The ocean is visible from the panoramic windows in each bedroom.
"On a good day, you can see right down to White Island," real estate agent Frank Vosper said. The house "would fetch twice as much on Marine Parade" in Mt Maunganui.
Mr Vosper spoke on behalf of a private family who asked not to be identified. Owners of a cleaning business, the family built the place as their dream home in 2008 but have since moved back to England. Sometimes nicknamed the Von Trapps, the seven family members left seven bedrooms to fill - for with en suites. "You're not showing that sort of house off every day of the week," Mr Vosper said.
This Katikati house has seven bedrooms and a swimming pool shaped like a grand piano.
"They haven't spared anything. It's the best home I've ever listed, and I've been doing this for 18 years."
Interest in the house has come from Germany and England, so far - and, of course, Auckland. The listing appears on 50 websites in 16 different languages, Mr Vosper said.
The palace comes with CCTV, outdoor swimming pool built in the shape of a grand piano, indoor entertainment room with theatre surround media, and a detached two-bedroom cottage. This last feature is a must - it's home for a groundskeeper who looks after the 4.44ha of land which come with the house. On that land is a stream, purpose-built vegetable gardens and paddocks.
It's not surprising the house is now being suggested as a bed-and-breakfast, or venue for weddings and corporate functions.
Mr Vosper wasn't sure how to explain the most opulent feature of the house. "It would be easier for me to tell you what's not there - and the answer is nothing."
Glamour in the Bay
• 90 Windridge Lane, Katikati. • 2008 roughcast. • Asking price: $3.9m. • CV: $2,055,000. • 7 bed, 4 en suites, 1 bath. • 759sq m floor, 4.4ha section • You won't believe what this house comes with: Swimming pool built in the shape of a grand piano, "film-star quality" bathroom.
