Ironsand

What was once an ugly duckling of a property is now unrecognisable. Back in 2013 when Michael and Jude Anselmi discovered this sprawling rural property in Patumahoe, just South of Auckland, there was only a Skyline garage and an old hay barn with a dirt floor.

Fortunately, they could see the potential of the site and had the experience to tackle the fairly major renovation. They had over the years developed a number of houses for themselves and clients, so they possessed a keen eye for design as well as having a team of trusted tradesmen to call upon.

Firstly, the garage was converted into living accommodation, then the barn was upgraded to act as a workshop and farm shed.

Looks great from any angle

The renovation made the most of what was there to begin with. A new living area and main bedroom suite was neatly joined to an accommodation wing by a wide interior walkway and the angles of the two buildings created a sheltered, sun-drenched courtyard. Wrap-around Kwila decking also helped to make the two buildings work as one.

Interiors are a highlight

Large picture windows let the outside in. The views are stunning, yet the double glazing ensures that the temperature is moderated all year round. The high vaulted ceilings create a wonderful sense of space, yet the large wood burner keeps everything cosy no matter what’s happening outside.

The kitchen features a stunning combination of gloss black, satin white and timber. The splashback is an eye-catching yet subtle fork print in black and white. A butler’s pantry also helps to minimise the space required in the main kitchen for everyday items, which adds to the simplistic and tidy approach of the space.

The ensuite bathroom is clean and simple with white marble tiles and black accessories and tapware. The wet room style shower is very generous on space, future proofing for the potential of growing old in the amazing home – an important consideration when building. The Veil Intelligent Wall Hung Toilet by Kohler, automatically opens when you approach!

Michael and Jude have gorgeous touches of personality throughout their home. And, the small bathroom is a great example of this. The wallpaper adds a tropical and playful burst of colour to a usually bland bathroom space.

A farmyard in the backyard

This was not to be a toy farm. It had to be a working farm and pay its way, fattening and finishing cattle as well as breeding lambs. So, a lot of effort was put into improving the pasture, fencing and water reticulation on the farm before rushing in and designing the additions to the house.

Having time to live on the site and carefully consider the design of the house was a huge advantage.

Michael and Jude knew they wanted a comfortable home that had everything that they need now and into the future. A swimming pool was installed as a touch of glamour, and it works in beautifully with the rural surroundings; adding a splash of blue to the sprawling green pastures.

Has its own night life, too

Look to the North and you’ll see the city lights. Look straight up and you’ll see an amazing light show of stars, which is too good to miss out on. The outdoor shower is a bit of light-hearted luxury that also makes the most of its stunning surroundings.

It’s wonderful and private (the road is 700 metres away) yet all the big city amenities are within easy reach.

Easy maintenance was a must-have

ColorSteel^™ roofing, board and batten cladding, and Marley^® spouting are all materials that fit the low maintenance brief. And the natural colour palette; Flaxpod for the roof, San Sebastian on the cladding, and Marley Stratus Design Series^® Ironsand^® for the spouting and downpipes combine to create an elegant impression that’s perfectly apt for its rural setting.

No detail overlooked

The Amselmi’s were very mindful of the role that spouting plays in the finished look of their home. They chose Marley Stratus Design Series^® Typhoon spouting and RP80^® downpipes to crisply frame the house.

Because of the nearby trees in the central part of the home, they installed four Marley Curve^TMLeaf Diverters to keep debris out of their drinking water.

Having external brackets on the spouting also made for easy cleaning and a great aesthetic. Marley Stratus has the added advantage of being easy to customise so that even tricky joins cause no problems. The tight corner below was custom made by Marley to suit the plans.

We went for the Typhoon half round spouting profile because it can carry more water, which means we could use fewer downpipes. And that’s great from a design viewpoint.