Behind the Agaves

When Rangiora locals Linda and Ron designed their dream home 20 years ago, they knew exactly what they wanted, but the developer of the land wasn’t so sure.

Words: Michelle McCullough Images: essence

“We had an architectural draftsman draw up the plans, but we had already worked out where everything was and what it was going to look like. We put pegs out in the garden [of our former home] and marked where everything would go. It was a very different design for the time, and I actually ended up having an argument with the developer because he didn’t like the plan,” Linda said.

Thankfully Ron was able to change his mind, and two decades later the couple still call the central Rangiora house their home.  

The modular-style 270 square metre home, with its funky flat parapet roof, is partially hidden from the street behind three giant Agave plants which were planted more than 15 years ago.

Once through the front door, the home opens up into a large communal living area, with a modern, well-equipped kitchen at its centre.

“Everyone likes to gather around the kitchen so there is lots of room to have family and friends around. It’s a great home for entertaining.”

With children and grandchildren spread between Rangiora, Melbourne and Auckland, the four-bedroom home has plenty of space for when guests come to stay, Linda said. A dedicated children’s play area in the corner of the living room, with a large doll’s house and toy cars, is a popular spot with the couple’s seven grandchildren.

The walls of the home are adorned with art curated over a lifetime of family experiences. With a mix of professional pieces and homemade art, these precious memories give the house a cool, edgy vibe. A painting of the New York skyline, a wedding gift that is almost 50 years old, hangs proudly beside a print made by the couple’s youngest daughter Jemma when she was at high school. With a keen eye for decor, a lot of the wall art in the home has been created by Linda. 

“I’m a sucker for crosses. Everything you see [in the house] that has a cross I have made myself.”

Another key feature of the interior are the orange internal doors which really stand out against the home’s light colour scheme.

“Ron insisted on the orange doors with light frames, and I wasn’t so sure but now I like it. I think it works.”

The open plan living area is light and airy, thanks to an abundance of windows and doors that lead out into the stunning wrap-around garden. Linda refers to the different sections of her garden as rooms and described the style of the garden as “scruffy rustic”.

“The garden is very private, and it’s quiet. I love being outside so that’s where you will usually find me. We try to have breakfast and lunch outside, weather permitting because it’s so lovely and peaceful.”

Featuring a luxurious spa bath, several lounge areas and an outdoor fireplace, the garden is surrounded by luscious flowers and plants, some of which have been sourced from Linda’s favourite nurseries: Ouruhia Nursery on Marshlands Road and Terra Viva Home and Garden in Burnside. Many plants in the garden have also been propagated by Ron in the couple’s greenhouse, Linda said.

“Ron has propagated a lot of the plants, including the yuccas. Whenever I find something  I like I bring a bit home and he can get roots on it for me to plant. I just love white flowers in pots and around March I take out the petunias and I plant them with white pansies. That takes me through to November when I can buy petunias again because I just love the bushy white look.”

Another room of Linda and Ron’s outdoor oasis is the well-stocked vegetable garden which is sheltered behind the home’s large garage. With its giant orange pumpkins and a scarecrow made by Linda’s oldest daughter Kalee and her family, the veggie patch is a favourite with the grandchildren.

“We’re always out in the garden with the children and they really enjoy it. They help me plant things like herb gardens and things like that. I think it’s really important to encourage them because hopefully one day they will have their own gardens. Ron plants specifically for the children to find and eat out there.”

The couple’s 8-year-old granddaughter Neevah said she loved to play hide and seek in the garden, and raid the strawberry patch when she visited.

“There are so many places to hide. I really like the veggie garden because it has so many fruits and vegetables. Every time we go over we go looking for tomatoes and strawberries,” Neevah said.

While their five-year-old grandson Dane said his favourite part of the house was the scarecrow, and the spa which he described as “really hot”. A treasured memory for both children was throwing water balloons over the roof of the house and hitting their mum and aunt with cold water while they tried to relax in the spa.

With no plans to downsize any time soon, Linda and Ron are looking forward to redecorating their lounge area and making more memories with their growing family.