Magical atmosphere

15 Reid Road, Glenbrook. Photo / Supplied

It's not often you see a home that includes - among assets such as a swimming pool, man cave, outdoor pizza oven and pond - a fairy den.

But there is definitely a secret home for fairies among a stand of pine trees on the Allan property in Glenbrook, reveals Amanda Allan.

"Red spotted toadstools pop up under the trees, and that's obviously where fairies are," says Amanda.

"My girls grew up going searching for fairies there, and occasionally the fairies even left them some nice mementos."

The fact there's plenty of scope for imaginative play shows what an ideal family home the Reid Rd property has been.

Amanda and her husband Dave bought it 19 years ago, intending to starting a family, and it has proved an idyllic place to bring up Zoe (16) and Tegan (14).

"It's just been wonderful for kids - there are trees to climb, a pond to catch eels and tadpoles in and fairies to find," says Amanda. "Every child who comes here loves it."

The three-bedroom house started life as a railway cottage in nearby Waiuku before being moved to the 1.6ha block in 1977.

It was pretty basic when Amanda and Dave bought it just over 20 years later but they loved its character and when they renovated they were careful to preserve that period charm.

One of their makeovers involved adding to the master bedroom, so there was room for a walk-in wardrobe and en suite.

The kitchen was extended to create an informal family living room.

"It's good because when you have people over and you're in the kitchen doing prep for dinner, they can sit at the breakfast bar and talk to you," says Amanda.

"It is very sociable."

The kitchen, featuring tongue and groove cabinets, a gas hob and plenty of storage space, is alongside a dining room that has been extended so that there's space for an office area.

15 Reid Road, Glenbrook. Photo / Supplied

The dining room leads through to the lounge, which has a built-in fire that throws out the heat.

The lounge, dining room and family room have French doors leading to the patio and pool area. Amanda and Dave also put in the heated saltwater pool, which is used from October to April.

"It's fabulous in summer - the kids are in the pool, we get the neighbours over and stay out there cooking dinner in the wood-fired pizza oven and enjoying the sunset."

Nearby is a sleep-out that has been well-used.

"It's where my parents stay when they come over from Australia. It is close to the house, but far enough away to be away from the noise of teenagers."

There's also a big shed where Dave has spent many fruitful hours building furniture.

The couple have done a lot of landscaping, including planting tropical and native plants around the pool area.

Fruit trees provide plums, apricots and apples and there is also a walnut tree.

With six paddocks there's plenty of room for animals - the Allans have chickens and calves but in the past they've also had goats and lambs.

Amanda's favourite spot is on the covered front porch, listening to tuis in the puriri tree.
"It's so lovely and peaceful - you feel like you're part of nature," she says.

Though their home feels rural, they are just eight minutes from Waiuku, 15 minutes from Pukekohe and, on a good day, around an hour from central Auckland.

They're now looking for a home that can provide more accommodation for Amanda's parents, so the time has come to move on.

"It will be very hard to leave but we'll be taking lots of wonderful memories with us when we go."

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