Tony chips in: "It's really peaceful and you can feel like you're the only ones along here." They'd often lived rurally but were wowed by this land's placid waterfront location at the end of a no-exit street, looking over Lucas Creek and protected wetlands.
Auckland architect Simon Stephenson, of Stephenson Architects, designed their home. The Wilsons had already agreed it would consist of three linking pavilions when a trip to Bali saw them rethink details, finishes and accents. Retaining the core concept of three linked pavilions, they imported premium Indonesian materials and furniture, which contribute to the finished home's luxurious resort ambience.
Sandstone stairs lead down past a free-standing double garage, the gardenia bank and three huge Balinese urns. The boardwalk to the front door advances beside a courtyard with three sinuous water-features. There's textural delight in a wall of imported quartz crystal, which starts outside and continues into the single-level cedar weatherboard home.
Two of the three pavilions are devoted to living and entertaining, accompanied by the generous bedroom wing. They're surrounded by striking landscaping. The private rear grounds are designed around another boardwalk, a flat rear lawn and an outlook that struggles to show other houses. All interior living has hardy bamboo floors and calming views over the heated swimming pool.
Both sides of the central lounge open up to the front courtyard and the partially covered big rear deck, designed for year-round entertaining. The elegant kitchen-dining-living room, also opening to the deck, features a fireplace wall of volcanic ash tiles, with a texture that screams "touch me!".
Their youngest child reckons the home is brilliant for parties. Its huge deck, courtyard and two big interior living spaces allow parents and offspring to entertain simultaneously.
Near the designer kitchen, with butler's pantry, is a guest toilet and a laundry opening to an enclosed edible garden.
The master suite (with vast wardrobing) gets premium position in the bedroom wing; its private water vista meaning Deborah can soak in the en-suite tub and admire the outdoors. The en suite is the stuff of luxury hotels with freestanding terrazzo bath and huge separate shower atop bluestone parquet floors.
Like the master, the other three bedrooms open to the outdoors and have generous wardrobes. They line up along a corridor including a similarly finished family bathroom and culminating in an office-study.
Deborah jokes about friends wanting to kick them out some weekends to enjoy a taste of their luxury. But now Deborah's Dad has passed away, the family want a property with a granny flat for Deborah's Mum.
