That was a decade ago. They bought it, and had plans drawn up for a large, solid masonry home that harked back to the Spanish, Santa Barbara and Santa Fe design styles they'd fallen in love with on their travels, with soaring cathedral ceilings, balconies, a sweeping staircase with a wrought-iron railing, and a large north-facing courtyard and pool accessed from the living areas.
Their first step was to build a two-bedroom cottage in the same style, which they moved into while supervising the build of the house, across the circular driveway. At that time, Michelle was pregnant with their second child, so they created a home that would work equally well for immediate family and for guests.
The family's three bedrooms are all on the upper level, accessed off a landing and bridge that overlook the soaring foyer. A games room and the swimming pool keep the kids happy, a large family room with an enormous wood fire opens via bifold doors to the courtyard, and a formal lounge and dining room provide elegant, cosy spaces for grown-ups.
Guests are well provided for, with their pick of two rooms downstairs, a self-contained loft-style apartment and the cottage. All of the bathrooms (five in total across the two dwellings, plus a powder room) are large and elegant, with French farmhouse-style sinks and underfloor heating to keep things cosy.
As well as sourcing their inspiration from overseas, Dave and Michelle imported many of the most striking features of the home. In the kitchen, the tiles are from Portugal and the benchtops are Italian Carrara marble. The rustic Baltic pine front doors are from Egypt, as are the four chandeliers that grace the foyer, formal dining room, main bedroom and even the loggia in the courtyard. Dave says the latter looks magical lit up at night and is a great spot for entertaining.
The flooring is a mixture of tinted concrete, scored to resemble large tiles; carpet and Australian blackwood, with thick, exposed macrocarpa beams milled in Puhoi for the ceilings.
After such a lengthy and involved development, Dave doubts they'll find anything comparable to move to. But Michelle is adamant that she wants a change, and their 9-year-old daughter is campaigning to get a horse, so they've decided to look for a property that will accommodate one.
So, with the paint on the tennis court still fresh, Dave is resigned to playing the good husband and indulgent father, and giving in.
