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| Millhouse |
| Visit this charming piece of Old England. |
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Situated in the hills of New Zealand is a "Shakespearean sanctuary" owned and built by Robert and Lea Chapman. The house, which was inspired by a visit to the UK Tudor home of that famous bard William Shakespeare, has undergone numerous renovations in its 20-year history.
As devoted collectors of anything Old World, each part of the home has taken on a slightly different look. When the Chapmans first began, they created a New Zealand farmhouse-style, which has gradually turned into what may be loosely described as English mock Tudor with a 16th century Provence touch.
Robert, who is semi-retired from his profession in advertising, is a self-taught carpenter who gets a kick out of building in an authentic and antique furniture style. He visits antique shops and makes exact measurements from his chosen pieces, which he then translates to his own designs.
The ancient-looking and slightly rambling house contains two kitchens. The larger one for entertaining and for private functions, while the smaller one is in keeping with the rustic look of the rest of the building. Needless to say, countless collectables adorn every nook and cranny of the home, adding to its warmth and charm.
Robert and Lea are self-confessed collectors of anything authentic and antique that blends into the overall surroundings of their enormous home. There are even bundles of corn hanging from the ceiling in one of the living areas: the remnants of a crop given to them by a local farmer. These have proved popular with Robert's furniture buyers who have started buying the decorative corn as well!
Robert says that one of the major problems is finding the weathered timber needed for his building work. It's not unusual to find a queue of people lining up after houses have been demolished, all wanting the same timber floorboards. He also enjoys working in stone, which is used as cladding on parts of the house.
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More Info
The house is available for parties, conferences, etc
Contact: Robert and Lea Chapman
255 Millflat Road,
Coatesville, RD3 Albany, Auckland, New Zealand
Ph: (64) 9 412 8262.
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Disclaimer
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