“CHERRY ON TOP”

This attractive contemporary house in a peaceful and appealing neighbourhood has ample space for four generations.

It boasts both a flat and a sleepout - one within the house and the other is nestled in the backyard courtyard. In total there are five bedrooms and four bathrooms all making for easy living.

Jane and Brent and their extended family have made good use of all this house offers, in particular the large open plan living rooms and extra-large glass conservatory. "This house is perfect for a large family," Jane says. "And the really good thing is the separate bedroom wings. It is big enough for the four generations." When they bought, they knew immediately they had found their ideal house. "When we first walked in it had a nice feel to it and we stopped looking at other houses. It is really easy to live in," Brent says.

The formal lounge can be closed off with double sliding doors. It has an overhead projector installed and this will remain. "It's great for the rugby," Brent says. The sharpness afforded by the big screen ensures they know precisely whether it's a try or not. "But no one listens to us!" he quips. The lounge, adjacent family room, dining and kitchen areas provide heaps of entertainment spaces.

All these north-facing rooms enjoy all day sun and open up through large stacker doors to the lovely wrap around decks, pizza oven, flat lawn and gardens beyond.

The kitchen has a simple but practical layout. There is a handy breakfast nook at one end, plenty of bench space, double sink with an Insinkerator and a water filter. The piece de resistance is a detachable hose tap with two modes: shower and a full flow. There is a big walk-in pantry and an appliance garage in the corner. A five-hob gas cooktop and large electric oven ensure the family is well fed. There are plenty of long drawers for storage.

Off the spacious foyer behind the internally-accessed double garage is the entrance to the self-contained unit. It benefits from having its own quiet space, well away from the hub-bub of a busy family on the other side of the house.

"We added the one-bedroom unit for Brent's mum," Jane explains. The double bedroom has a good-sized wardrobe and the ensuite has a big shower, vanity and toilet. The unit also has a smart kitchenette and a door to the outdoors.

Outside the door, nestled within the tidy fenced-in courtyard with its aggregate concrete pathways and black stained decks, are the separate rooms Jane now uses as her office. "This used to be my daughter's bedroom," she explains. It could easily be converted back to an apartment with a separate entrance or for a variety of other uses such as a rumpus or hobby room or an Air BnB. It has a large wardrobe. Off the bedroom is a tiled ensuite with a shower and vanity with ample drawers.

Back inside, the master bedroom has its own wing. Jane has put frosted panels on the windows to ensure privacy from people walking to the back door. The cutout flowers make beautiful light-play patterns within the room, she says. It has a space-saving sliding door to the walk-in wardrobe. The tiled ensuite has a corner shower, toilet and vanity. All the bathrooms have heat lamps ensuring they are cosy in the cooler weather.

Opposite is the passageway to the other wing. There is a double bedroom to the left, the family bathroom, which has a bath, shower and vanity, a separate room for the toilet and another double

bedroom with a double wardrobe. Storage is not a problem in this house. There are double cupboards throughout the passageways.

They currently have their son and daughter-in-law and their two young children living comfortably with them. The three generations remaining are now all moving into separate homes: Jane and Brent are off to Wellington to live while their children and grandchildren are moving to their own home in New Plymouth

The cladding is a mix of linear weatherboard and panels. The roof is coloursteel. Heating is provided with a sturdy pot belly style wood fire which has a heat transfer system into the bedrooms. It is backed up with a big gas heater when they want to take the chill off in a hurry in the morning or come home late and are feeling lazy. There is an additional gas heater in the hall. Hot water never runs out for this busy family as heating is provided by infinity gas. The separate flat has its own electric hot water supply.

The location is great. They have excellent schools close by, such as Francis Douglas Memorial College just up the road. Barrett's Domain is a favourite spot for a stroll. The café and convenience store are also popular venues.

The property is market by TSB Realty's Maxine Rogers 027 687 2488 & Wayne Beggs 027 453 5318

Negotiable Over $729,000