23A Wiseley Road, Hobsonville. Photo / Ted Baghurst
Builder Wayne Foley reckons that Hobsonville is a tale of two suburbs: the old original roads that grew up around the service village for the local farms, and the new planned community of Hobsonville Point just up the road.
The difference is the size of the houses and land.
"These were big sections. This house and the neighbour were subdivided off an older place, and they're still over 700 square metres," he says.
"That means we get a much bigger house with lots of space, big high atrium, a good back yard."
Wayne had bought the house off another builder about six years ago. His partner Vonnie says that Wayne is a fussy builder, but the original owner was even fussier - working with his wife to choose materials and a colour scheme for this stylish house that, 10 years later, it is still up to date.
Vonnie owns a fashion and interiors store in Mairangi Bay, but was impressed by Wayne's style updates: the master bedroom wall is papered in a luscious quilted-look wallpaper, their walk-in closet is bigger than many a townhouse bedroom (she wins on the shoes, but his sneaker collection is not far behind).
All she had to do was add gorgeous cushions and decor from the shop to complete the family pad.
The white board and batten house is tucked up a private driveway on a quiet street just around the corner from the burgeoning Hobsonville shopping centre.
The family love to walk around the corner for shopping and services, but, even more, heading down to the Point for the terrific biking and walking tracks with views across the upper harbour.
The farmers market is a favourite stop off on weekends, while the motorways west, north and beyond are an easy drive.
The home is arranged in two zones around a light-filled double-height atrium entrance. Floors here are pale oak, transitioning to new grey carpet in the living rooms (the wood is still underneath if the next owners wanted to revive the look).
Sliding pocket doors close off the kitchen, dining and casual living room from the kids' favourite spot: a media room with gas fireplace.
With its charcoal wall paper and dark curtains, this is the best place to be on a winter night.
Wayne and Vonnie updated the white lacquer kitchen with black glass splash backs, but the original layout has worked well, with its integrated fridge and appliance cupboard.
The deep kitchen bar bench is the magnet for guests - they hosted nearly 60 people for Wayne's recent birthday. Baker and cook Vonnie has loved how she can spread out around all the bench space, while everyone congregates around her.
This winter Wayne updated the back yard installing decking to replace the paving and gravel.
A tall hedge creates a wall of greenery to one side, and there's room for a spa pool tucked outside the french doors of the ground floor bedroom.
As well as the double garage, there's a laundry and walls of closets and a bathroom.
Upstairs, one half of the house is the huge master suite; the other has two more bedrooms for the kids and their shared bathroom.
There's room on the landing for another television and couch for the kids, or a playroom for smaller children.
But much as they love the neighbourhood and the house, their blended family of four kids, aged 10, 15, 16, and 17, needs a fifth bedroom.
And the double garage and two parking pads are bursting with the collections of cars, motorbikes and boys' toys. The new couple are selling to look for a country spread to make their new home together.