Suburban touch on rural road

NZ Herald

21 Kahika Grove, Huapai, Rodney. Photo / Supplied

There's a mix of town and country going on at the Baker-Slater family's three-year-old home on a lollipop-shaped road in Huapai.

It looks a typical executive suburban house, very much like the neighbouring properties that orbit a man-made pond with footbridge.

"But that changes inside," says Kirstie Baker-Slater. "Then people see it's suburbia out the front and rural out the back.

"We look out across our 2274sq m section to trees and bush, which gives you the feeling of being in the countryside. And that's council land so you'll never be built out here."

Kirstie and her husband, automotive sales manager Alan, immigrated to Auckland from England in 2012 when their son Lucas was three-months-old.

Wanting to maximise their deposit for new builds, they went section shopping. This reserve-like outlook sold them.

Sentinel Homes completed this five-bedroom home at 21 Kahika Grove in Huapai, Rodney, in mid 2016.

21 Kahika Grove, Huapai, Rodney. Photo / Supplied

The couple wanted it to be sizeable to welcome visitors from the UK and when Alan's 27-year-old son and his wife immigrated.

Harcourts agent Justin Meldau says the property is to be auctioned on site on Sunday, June 9: "This substantial family home is truly the best of both worlds. It has that sought-after rural feel in an urban location."

It's within walking distance to local shops, eateries and services and is a two-minute drive to a supermarket.

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Kirstie says Kahika Grove is a family-orientated community where children play together after school. It has its own Facebook page.

Their architecturally designed home comes with ample off-street parking, a double garage with internal access, and covered outside storage.

It's built of Palliside weatherboards (with a 25-year guarantee) with ducted air-conditioning, tinted windows and a tile roof.

The rear of the home faces north, has rooms on two sides and opens out to expansive decks. Two sliding doors off the living-dining-kitchen open to a covered corner loggia (with optional clear sides).

The kitchen, with its scullery-laundry, has a three-dimensional black splashback and a Belling cooker combining grilling and dual ovens.

A double-sided gas fireplace in a wall papered to mimic stone adds ambiance to the family lounge and to Alan's media room with its drop-down screen and projector.

They chose pool fencing around most of the property to minimise interference with views to the bush.

The master with en suite and walk-in-wardrobe opens to the rear deck and is one of five bedrooms supported by a family bathroom and powder room.

"You can really see how this is a layout which would suit all ages and stages."

The couple are looking to downsize but stay in the area.

21 KAHIKA GROVE, HUAPAI, RODNEY
• 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathroom, 2 parking spaces.
• Auction: June 9.
• Contact: Justin Meldau, Harcourts, 021 171 6083; Lisa Marsden, 021 0275 6773