- A 21st-century home in Kohukohu, made from recycled materials, mimics an 1890s cottage.
- The property is listed for $810,000 and includes a home, cottage, and studio on 1.35ha.
- Owners Christine and Allan Finn are selling to move closer to family in the South Island.
A 21st-century home built from recycled materials regularly fools everyone from architecture lovers to estate agents into believing it dates from the 1890s.
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Built in the early 2000s of recycled materials, 31 Rakautapu Road, in Kohukohu, Far North, has been listed for sale so that its owners can move south to be with family.
The home has all the hallmarks of a colonial cottage: high ceilings and wooden sash windows, just with all the mod cons that come with a 21st-century build.
The house was built in the early 2000s, but it appears to have been around since the late 1800s. Photo / Supplied
The interiors retain their rustic charm. Photo / Supplied
The home, cottage, and studio, sit on 1.35ha of land. The property, which is being marketed by Lara Robus and Sarah Brandt of Barfoot & Thompson, has an asking price of $810,000.
The home is situated just minutes from the centre of sleepy Kohukohu. The site overlooks the Hokianga Harbour, and the village has a café, art gallery, general store, post office, medical centre, library, community hall, primary school and other amenities.
Vendors Christine and Allan Finn bought the home in 2019 from the original owners, Suzanne Hensman and Dave King, who had built the main home and cottage from scratch using reclaimed materials.
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Hensman was an avid collector of recycled materials, Christine said. That’s where several of the multiple stained-glass windows came from, although one was commissioned especially for the home.
"If Suzanne was anything like me, she just collected windows, which is what you do,” Christine told OneRoof. “We've still got some in the garage.” King and Hensman were also responsible for large-scale plantings in the garden.
“Suzanne had a love of beautiful old hardware. So it's full of all the beautiful old original door handles and window fittings."
Christine said she was brought up by her grandparents in large old properties in the Manawatu. “I was brought up in old houses and love [them].”
The property sits on 1.35ha and boasts water views. Photo / Supplied
Unlike a genuine 1890s property, the home is well insulated, which is a welcome change for the Finns. "We've got a beautiful big wood burner with a wet back."
When the Finns moved in, they set about adding to King and Hensman’s legacy. "My husband built the studio for me as a total labour of love. We sourced all the old double-hung windows and doors for that as well.” The linings in the studio and some of the other materials that were surplus to the original build had been left in a shed by the previous owners. The Finns sourced genuine antique Egyptian windows from Auckland for the front of the studio.
The plan was for Christine to use the studio for weaving and yoga. It has also been a godsend when family descends on them. "At Easter we had eight of us here and one grandchild and three dogs spread throughout the property, and that was amazing. Everybody had their own space, which was awesome.”
Triple treat: in addition to the main house, the property also has a studio and a cottage. Photo / Supplied
The Finns are selling to be closer to family members who live in the South Island. The couple has been lucky enough to buy a heritage home in Christchurch, which they can move into once their current home is sold.
Reflecting on life in their Kohukohu property, Christine said that both she and her husband would miss the tranquillity. “I said to my husband, ‘what are you going to miss when we leave here’? And we both agreed it's the quiet nights. There's just no sound except the moreporks. And the greenery. We’ll miss all the bush.”
Robus told OneRoof that when she first entered the home it looked just like an 1890s cottage. “Once you look closely, you can see that it's not.”
She added: "The water views are stunning, and it's been really well maintained.
“There is the possibility of subdividing in the future, but we haven't delved too deep into that at the moment.” A buyer would need to do their research.
Robus said she wouldn’t mind betting that an artist buys the home. "Or someone who's retired and wants a water view and wants to live a peaceful life."
- 31 Rakautapu Road, Kohukohu, Far North, is for sale for $810,000
