Wana, who bought the classic cottage in 2013 for $645,000 and turned it into a luxury contemporary home, told OneRoof he was selling up to follow international opportunities.<\/p>\n
Wana was one of the world\u2019s top softball pitchers and has been inducted into the International Softball Congress (ISC) Hall of Fame. He played in New Zealand and overseas throughout the 1980s and 90s, and his efforts helped the Black Sox<\/a> clinch the World Series in 2004. <\/p>\n Wana at the 2004 World Series, in his sporting heyday. He was one of New Zealand\u2019s top softball pitchers and played at a national and international level. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n The four-bedroom home was substantially rebuilt in 2016 and is home to the Wana family’s colourful collection of art and pop culture curiosities. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n Elvis is in the house. The legendary singer looms large in the family’s living room. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n Along the way, he married Michelle Spiers, a former army officer turned real estate agent, and together they have raised three children. <\/p>\n He said the couple bought 24 Ventnor Street with grand designs in mind. \u201cWe purchased it in 2013, and it was basically a 99sqm cottage, owned by a 90-year-old who had moved into a rest home,\u201d Wana said. <\/p>\n \u201cWe rocked up, and I said to my wife, \u2018Let\u2019s buy it.’ She said, \u2018You haven\u2019t been inside.’ I said, \u2018Yeah, it\u2019s going to be crap.’ We put an unconditional offer in and ended up owning it that night. <\/p>\n \u201cWe came from a brand new four-bedroom home in Ngaio that we bought off the plans. We sold that and bought this.\u201d <\/p>\n Discover more:<\/p>\n – 90s TV star’s rundown home sells for $855,000<\/a><\/p>\n – Ex-All Black on why he’s selling his lifestyle block<\/a><\/p>\n – Forget houses … Wairarapa\u2019s hottest property is a KFC<\/a><\/p>\n A standard renovation was never on the cards for the couple. They wanted something modern and bold to house their growing art collection.<\/p>\n \u201cWe lived in it for about 18 months, trying to figure out what we would do. A number of architects came up with the old ‘add-on-top’ type thing. Old cottage, do a pop-up, put a stairwell in, and that\u2019s kind of boring. Then we had a housewarming party and a friend of a friend introduced us to architect Ron Partington.\u201d <\/p>\n Partington\u2019s vision was to retain the cottage\u2019s street-facing frontage while adding a new wing that seamlessly blended traditional and contemporary styles.<\/p>\n In the listing on OneRoof, Wana writes that the home’s original character was preserved and elevated with contemporary design, premium materials and unmistakable quality.<\/p>\n Wana says in his listing that the “designer kitchen is a true centrepiece, complete with dual ovens and a small scullery nook”. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n The iconic Mr Four Square dominates the family’s outdoor entertainment space. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n \u201cRarely does Seatoun offer a home with this combination of character, architectural quality, modern performance and lifestyle appeal. It is stylish without being showy, luxurious without being precious, and designed for people who want something with soul,” Wana says.<\/p>\n \u201cHigh-stud ceilings, oak flooring, full double glazing and light-filled interiors create a home that feels calm, refined and beautifully liveable. Every detail has been carefully chosen, from the low-maintenance exterior materials to the integrated smart systems controlling sound, vision and blinds.\u201d<\/p>\n Wana told OneRoof that he loved the blend of textures, including the cedar and concrete block in Partington\u2019s design. \u201cThe wood softens things and adds modern contemporary, but also nostalgia. It\u2019s not just gibbed walls.\u201d<\/p>\n The home works well with the couple\u2019s extensive collections. \u201cMy wife and I love art. Some pieces she’s picked, some pieces I’ve collected over the years.\u201d Quirky antiques feature in the house, with a Shell petrol pump one of the couple\u2019s favourites. \u201cI bought it from a retailer called Route 66 that had gone bust,\u201d Wana said. <\/p>\n![\"Space](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/8405b5847e4d56888972f60e5ad499cc.jpg\")
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