Designer Kerikeri holiday home priced to sell

A designer Kerikeri home which was featured in NZ House & Garden in 2021, has just come to the market and is appealing to both locals and out-of-towners.

The three bedroom, two bathroom house with separate self contained unit at 6 Keridale Lane, Kerikeri has been the home of builder Matt Cooper and his wife, clothing designer, Tania Cooper, since they built it 10 years ago.

The Board & Batten clad timber property set in a quiet cul-de-sac is a total of 280 sqm which comprises the main home (200 sqm) and the garage and a one bedroom, one bathroom unit designed in the same style as the house.

This is a property which could work both as a holiday home or a main base for the new owner. “It’s on top of a ridge and you look out over Kerikeri’s Stone Store Basin, a beautiful water inlet, you can see for miles on a clear day,” says Tania.

The charming town of Kerikeri is known for its cafes and restaurants, Sunday market and art community.

The home was designed by local architect Graham Cowie and built by Matt. “We wanted to give it a Palm Beach vibe. We wanted it to be very open with lots of light,” says Tania.

It was a real labour of love, Matt hand-pouring the attractive concrete walls inside and outside the home.

“All the walls along the driveway are hand-poured cement. It was like building Noah’s Ark,” laughs Tania. Matt made the front cedar door himself and the floors are engineered oak timber, white-washed and with hydro underfloor heating which is adjustable in zones around the house.

The couple weren’t idle during Covid lockdowns. They built a pond at the 2,363 sqm site, to add to the Balinese-inspired water features and fountains. They also finished off the outdoor lounge and fireplace, adding striking latticed black screens.

The home, off Pā Road, which runs down to the water, is 15 minutes walk into Kerikeri or two minutes by car. Tania also recommends a stroll from the house taking you to the historic Stone Store and the Plough & Feather Tap Room and Kitchen. You can then go onto Rainbow Falls, an 8km round trip walk.

When designing the house with the architect, Tania and Matt made sure the hallways were wide so that there was plenty of light and space to display art pieces. This design approach also makes this single storey home an attractive choice for retirees to age into.

A cosy media room off the main living area is one of the couple’s favourite areas with dark walls, a quiet space away from the busyness of the open plan living and kitchen. The main lounge is also a lovely area to sit by the fire, says Tania. Meanwhile, if the new owners wanted to work from home, they could use a bedroom, the one bedroom unit, or find a spot within the spacious laundry to work from, suggests the vendor.

Tania has an idea of what the new owner will be like. “I think it would suit someone who wants a relaxed lifestyle, who appreciates artistic surroundings and nature. The house has large glass sliding doors that let all the greenery of the trees inside. The house is very calming and open.” she says.

The vendor thinks this spacious property would suit families, as Kerikeri High School and Kerikeri Primary School are just down the road. The one bedroom unit is an ideal place for teens to chill out, she adds.

The property could also be used by out-of-towners as a holiday house and could be rented out as tourist accommodation at other times. The four bedroom (in total) home can cater for eight guests and would command a premium nightly rate of around $800, Tania estimates. The home is very conducive to lock ‘n leave and is low maintenance, she adds.

If an out-of-town buyer ends up buying the house, they’ll be grateful for the extra unit to accommodate guests, notes the seller.

“Every time someone moves up from Auckland, they find everyone wants to come up and stay so you tend to get a barrage of people,” she jokes.

Kerikeri offers residents a rich lifestyle with time to connect with friends, family, culture, history and the natural environment, says the home’s agent, Vince Buxton from Real Property Kerikeri.