Country: Set in stone

By CEDRIC GRAY

Having followed their instincts and stuck by their decision, the owners of this fabulous country property have silenced the sceptics.

Garth and Marie Holmes raised a few eyebrows in the building industry when they decided to make grey Wairau stone a striking feature of their new home.

That was about four years ago, and the sceptics have since been silenced in a big way.

"Now that the house is finished, the people who questioned our choice are quite excited about it," says Marie.

The Gothic-style home in Anzac Valley Rd, Waitakere, is impressive. It occupies a commanding site at the head of a pleasant valley a few kilometres from the Waitakere railway station.

Although the 1.4ha property has yet to be fully landscaped, there is enormous potential for further beautification of the land, which nestles on the edge of the bush-clad Waitakere Ranges.

The property includes 270sq m of floor space on two levels, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, an office, four-car garaging and a second, two-bedroom, cedar and Wairau stone home.

The house has been designed around Wairau stone, says Marie. "Many homes built in recent years have featured the stone in cream and limestone colours, but I believe we were among the first to retain the stone in its grey, natural form, which is now used in much of the Wairau stone marketing."

The two impressive stone pillars at the entrance and the stone lower level are exterior features of a home designed to capture the sun.

The stone work is repeated at the floor of a central staircase, which extends to a superb upstairs atrium.

Vertical, floor-to-ceiling pine walls in the open-plan layout throughout the main living areas complete the natural-look interior.

The five bedrooms flow from the atrium and second lounge on the first floor, the master bedroom enjoying an en suite, a walk-in wardrobe and a small balcony. A well-appointed bathroom serves the other bedrooms.

There is a stone woodburner fireplace and under-floor heating.

The adjacent garage covers 145sq m and includes a large loft, which is used as an extra bedroom but could just as easily be converted into a great kids' games room or a gym.

The second dwelling has a matching cedar exterior and enjoys a slightly elevated site and peaceful, rural views.

For sale through LJ Hooker, Kumeu, at an asking price of $665,000, the property is being handled by Simon Armitage. Call 412 8876 for further details.