In 2000, Jackie and Wayne Lye built their dream home on their lifestyle block at Hunua. “We put a lot of thought into it and we thought this would be our last stop,” Jackie says.
“It [the dream house] was four years old when the news broke about the power lines coming through our property and our home was in the way. It took a few years of negotiation but the new house [paid for by the power company] was completed last June.”
Jackie says they were never tempted to build something different. “We wanted things the way they were. It was an emotional thing to happen. We looked around and thought we could move on but nothing came up to what we had.”
Four months after the Lyes moved into the new house further down the property, the original was demolished by the power company. The only remnant is the established garden of trees and shrubs, which the Lyes have fenced off. “It had taken a long time to grow and we didn’t want to flatten it,” Jackie says.
Their 400sq m brick and tile house sits on the edge of a steep slope and a ha-ha provides an uninterrupted view across the valley to the Hunua Ranges.
Because of the stunning views, the new garden is minimalist, mainly composed of raised beds around the periphery of the house section bordered by box hedging, dug out piece by piece from the old garden and replanted.
Jackie describes the house’s style as “classic, not modern, it’s a country house”. The colour scheme throughout is in taupe and mushroom shades, blending with the exterior bricks.
Double cedar front doors lead into a spacious entry foyer. A slight change to the plan allows the family living and dining area to open onto a sheltered patio looking across the lawn and over the ha-ha.
The central triangle-shaped kitchen, open to the living area, is a focal point. It features a dark granite bench and rimu drawer and cupboard joinery. Designed by Jackie, the fittings include three separate pantries — one for food, one for crockery and a dedicated baking cupboard which contains ingredients and utensils.
Continuing along the ha-ha frontage is the master bedroom with the same view to the Hunua Ranges through two large fixed picture window.
“We don’t need to pull the curtains at night (except in the winter for warmth),” Jackie says. “We can lie in bed and look straight over the ha-ha. Our other house had opening windows at the end of the room. But our builder said frames would distract the eye and it would be better to have a fixed window. We are really pleased we did because it gives a real picture look.”
An en-suite opens to a spa pool on yet another patio at the other side of the bedroom. It provides easy wet access to inside and, as Jackie says, “we can sit in the spa pool with a glass of wine and look at the view”.
The Lyes’ “grandchildren’s room” also opens onto the spa patio. On the opposite side of the hallway a guest bedroom is connected with a semi en-suite bathroom, including a separate toilet. An airy corner window wraps around the spa bath.
Another fixed picture window is a stunning feature of a special quiet room on the other side of the hallway — a library looking out onto a courtyard and a rock pool with a quietly rippling waterfall.
“The library shelving all came from the other house,” Jackie says. “It is beautiful rimu and we didn’t want to lose that.
“The reading area is restful and gets the late afternoon sun.”
The courtyard, where barbecuing and informal entertaining takes place, is incorporated with a new addition to the house plan.
The room is also enjoyed by Jackie’s craft group which meets there regularly. A sink bench, fridge and tea and coffee-making facilities are a convenient asset. Behind sliding doors running the length of one wall is a configuration of shelving and spaces designed by Jackie for her tools of trade. The design accommodates a range of shapes and sizes for plastic container boxes, craft magazines, ring binders and fabrics.
“This is probably my favourite place because of what I can do here,” Jackie says. “Wayne is very pleased with the family area. We enjoy opening up the doors and sitting outside. That’s where we live.”
But tucked off the hallway is Wayne’s special place. The former wine merchant has a wine cellar room, insulated and temperature controlled, for the dozens of bottles stored on a wall rack saved from the previous house cellar.
And not to be outdone, two “rescued and pandered to” dogs have their own dedicated residence with the best view in the house.
To make the relocation less confusing for SPCA special Benjie and border collie-cross Chad, two new kennels were built to fit exactly into the wall space between two sets of windows on the front central patio.
“From their kennels they can see us when we are at both ends of the house,” Jackie says.
