American Home in NZ a Record Breaker

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, April 10, 2011 -- A unique $6.3m luxury eco-home built in New Zealand's top wine region will be a record breaker when it sells, says its agent.

Marketed by First National Marlborough, 'Stone Aerie' is a fabulous 525m2 (5651sqft) homestead on 35 acres (14ha) near Blenheim with a view across the Wairau Hills, Richmond Ranges and Cook Strait.

Constructed of mostly natural materials, it is the dream home of former Hollywood lawyer Terry Shagin and his wife Francie.

Marketing agent Mark Stevenson, of First National in Blenheim, said Stone Aerie will have strong international appeal.

"There are few homes in New Zealand like this, let alone Marlborough. Overseas buyers with money to spend are often disappointed at the range of elite homes available in New Zealand. In Stone Aerie, they will discover that they can own a heritage home in New Zealand that will exceed their expectations.

"From a regional perspective, elite lifestyle properties sell for around $2.5m so this will break records.

"Designed by former Nelson architect Greg West and built by Graham Valk, Stone Aerie is breathtaking in its modern, spacious design and luxury detailing, but is not ostentatious.

"Everything here is as natural as possible, from the wool insulation and hand finished cedar joinery to the German bio paint on the inner plaster walls.

"With a massive master bedroom, two guest bedrooms, two offices, multiple bathrooms, a gym, a sauna, a small library, wine cellar, formal dining room and formal lounge, Stone Aerie is a fantastic place to live, work and play," Stevenson says, describing the Shagins as "visionaries."

"Surrounded by olive orchards, this is a real trophy property for someone who appreciates the integrity of natural materials, values privacy and loves entertaining. "

Stone Aerie incorporates Matai flooring from the former Wellington Parliament debating chamber, over 600 tonnes of Tuamarina schist, 64 hand-adzed Australian iron bark poles and a hand split Canadian Cedar roof.

Francie Shagin says over their lives the couple has lived in many different places, from a 1971 VW campervan to a beach house in Ventura, California to an 18-story Los Angeles high rise. But moving to a 35-acre vista near Blenheim, New Zealand almost 20 years ago inspired them to build and 'Stone Aerie' was the result.

"It took more than two years to create Stone Aerie and I intentionally use the verb 'create.' This house is quite literally a work of art whose genius has astounded me every day of the 17 years we have had the privilege to own it," Francie says.

"My favourite thing about Stone Aerie is the comment we hear most often - that despite its size, it feels like a home."

Despite its rural feel, the property is not remote. It's seven minutes from Blenheim Airport, 10 minutes from Blenheim township, a 25-minute flight from Wellington city or an hour and a quarter from Auckland.

Now retired, the Shagins want to remain in Marlborough and plan to build a smaller home on just one or two acres.

"In another few years even the easy care grounds here will be more than we have time for," Francie explains.

"We feel we are at the stage where we have one more good adventure left in us but we won't be building another Stone Aerie. There will never be another Stone Aerie!"