Farm Cove: Spread your wings

The vast 1400sq m section flows directly down to the Rotary Walk - a lovely public walkway that stretches for several kilometres along the river. Photo / Geoff Dale

Forget the car - there's room to park a plane at this family home in Farm Cove.

David Rose has a workshop that's the envy of any shed-loving bloke - it's big enough for him to tinker with his light plane.

He took the wings off, mind you. But his neighbours still did a double take when they saw a trailer heading down the driveway not with a boat on the back, but the body of his BD5.

"He's got a little hanger for it out at Ardmore," says his wife, Coral. "But he's spent hours building the motor and body of it here."

"I deliberately had the double garage built over size," adds David. "I wanted to get the fuselage of the plane across the back so I could carry on rebuilding it. I've had the wings in there separately, too."

The expansive driveway and double garage that enabled such a hobby is indicative of the space of this property on the water at Farm Cove, near Pakuranga. While David was in the shed out the back building his plane, Coral and their two children could be on the deck at the front looking at the uninterrupted view across the Tamaki River, and out to the Hauraki Gulf.

"There are fizz boats, yachts from the Pakuranga Sailing Club just down the way, windsurfers and kite surfers. We haven't really used the water so in a way this position has been wasted on us, but we've loved the view," says Coral.

The 1400sq m section flows down to the Rotary Walk - a lovely public walkway that stretches for several kilometres along the river. A wall and gate below the level of the house provide disguised security.

"We used to walk our son Darren along there to St Kentigern's College - it was such a nice way to get to and from school."

In the 15 years David and Coral have lived here they have turned a small '70s house into a large, gracious home perfect for a growing family.

"I remember taking one look at it and deciding to buy it," says David. "It was such a great location."

The family lived in the basic house for three years while they planned what they wanted to change. They then brought in architect Don Nelson, who, with his background as a builder, knew what was possible.

"Although, in the end about all we retained were a couple of walls and the wooden ceiling," says Coral.

From the entrance, visitors can head up a small flight of stairs to the living and dining areas, which open to expansive decks. A new kitchen featuring granite benchtops flows from here, with its own terrace to catch the morning sun. Turning right at the entry hall will take you down the main bedroom wing - each of the three bedrooms here has windows cleverly positioned to catch the view. Down a spiral staircase is a games room, currently housing a billiard table which the future owner is welcome to keep. There is a hobby room and storage room here also. Down a short hallway is another bedroom with its own lounge, en suite, and access from the garden - ideal for older offspring who are lingering at home.

The games room also opens to the garden - Coral was inspired by a trip to Bali and has installed a filtered fish pond surrounded by palms, ferns, clivia and bromeliads. From here a sunny grass expanse flows down to the gated exit to the walkway.

"It's not a spot you really want to leave. We thought we'd be here forever. But you move through different phases in your life."

With their son out flatting and their daughter Michelle living in London, David and Coral are downsizing.

"We really only live in the top bit these days - it's wasted on us," says Coral.

David builds apartments for McLeod Group and they are thinking of moving into one to tide them over until he retires, and then enjoying a beach property at Omaha. Coral is, however, being unashamedly fussy about where they move to next.

"It has to have a bit of a garden, and a water view," she smiles. "I've lived here too long to be able to do without those things."

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 44 Bramley Dr, Farm Cove.

SIZE: Land 1394sq m, house 380sq m, decks 100sq m.

FEATURES: Four bedrooms, all with sea views; three en suites, one with spa bath; study; billiard room (with billiard table if buyer would like it); TV room/extra bedroom; gas fireplace; air conditioning; central vacuum system; double garage and workshop; access to Rotary Walk along Tamaki River.

AUCTION: April 18. Expected to sell for between $1.5 and $2 million.

AGENT: Angela Rudling, Ray White. Ph 533 0872 bus; 027 477 0176 mob.