A dark, handsome stranger has arrived in town. The 274sqm three-bedroom home instantly catches the eye with its charcoal shiplap cladding, black roof and joinery, and contrasting hardwood entry pergola. The interior and outdoor living spaces are no less impressive. The house unfolds along the site, with a covered terrace extending at a right angle from the kitchen — each living space is sun-drenched and filled with light. From the moment you enter, there’s a distinct feeling of luxury lodge. It starts in the lobby with a mounted stag head on a sage-coloured feature wall. Turn right and you’re in the terrace room with its dark tongue-and-groove ceiling, fireplace and sliders that open to decking and a lawn on one side and a heated pool on the other.

A game of pétanque or a dip in the pool? Drinks on the deck, perhaps? With a second living room inside and a moody-toned designer kitchen with breakfast bar, this house is entertaining central. Continue down the length of the building to discover spacious bedrooms, a beautifully tiled family bathroom and a refined ensuite adjoining the main bedroom. With a garage, separate laundry, another bathroom adjacent to the pool and lovely landscaping, this Wairarapa property has it all, including top-drawer craftsmanship.