7 minute read
Sight unseen
This holiday home, on a spectacular site, will be the fulcrum of many happy memories – when the owners finally get to move in
OPPOSITE A jaw-dropping vista towards Slipper Island gives this home a holiday flavour through and through. ABOVE On the kwila deck, a Horizon gas fireplace with an aerated concrete subframe extends alfresco dining into the cooler evenings. BELOW An i02 long rectangle shade follows the form of the kitchen island with its Silestone top and Decoform panelled front. The custom-designed splashback is a single large-format tile from Tile Space.
TAIRUA IS A town that many only drive through, hurrying deeper into the Coromandel Peninsula as fast as permitted along the main road, never getting any real sense of the beach and the estuary and the picturesque hill that lies between them. That’s why Patrick Stafford and Melanie Neish were pleasantly surprised when an enthusiastic real estate agent ferried them around the area. The very same day, they were convinced of its charms – and bought a section.
Situated on top of the Paku hill, with views across to Slipper Island (Whakahau) and, in the far distance, Mayor Island (Tuhua), the 860 square metres of land was dead flat. “We thought that would be easy to build on,” says Patrick. It was…and it wasn’t. “We hadn’t factored in the volcanic bedrock or the fact the site was in New Zealand’s highest wind zone,” adds Melanie.
As first-time builders, the pair took their time deciding on who would construct their holiday retreat. Initially, they considered buying a standard bach design off the plans. But although the site was rectangular, it was facing an awkward direction: the views were to the short side. This called for a bespoke solution to provide a panoramic punch to the lounge and main bedroom, one that would F
wrap the house around the outdoor living to save them from the devil wind. The Auckland-based pair also knew they’d be building remotely so full project management was a must.
Enter Ben Green from David Reid Homes who, on a weekend, drove over from Matarangi within an hour of receiving the couple’s call. “He was really great to deal with. He talked us through absolutely everything and gave us the confidence that no one else had done up to that point,” says Melanie.
A three-bedroom home to make the best of the views was on the agenda, but although the elevation delivered a sweep of blue as far as the horizon, Patrick felt they were missing out on the action in the foreground. He had the idea to raise the house 1.3 metres off the ground, so at night the twinkling lights of nearby Pauanui dot through the dark. “Being in a high-wind zone, that effectively created a kite,” he laughs. “It meant a lot more concrete, reinforcing and structural steel to hold it together.”
That was a big call, but the team went with it, and it has done the business. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors put the hero landscape in the picture and the L-shaped footprint allows a sheltered outdoor entertaining area on the north-west elevation.
Externally, vertical cedar cladding and a dark-toned steel roof is a subtle palette that gifts the scenery and greenery top billing. Internally, the couple was bolder yet still disciplined, choosing neutral tones with black accents and finishes with a sense of verticality. That includes slender finger mosaics for the bathrooms and laundry, a long rectangular plywood pendant for above the engineered stone bench, and timber strips (vertical of course) as decorative detailing on one side of the island. They also opted for wallpaper as a feature in the bedrooms and the laundry, where a tropical print in metallic amps up the vacation vibe.
Design decisions made, and supply issues sorted, the construction process was off and running. Patrick and F
OPPOSITE. The team at Hostess Kitchens in Hamilton helped the owners with the design of their kitchen, which features a beautifully minimal Greens Luxe pullout sink mixer. A Frankie Oak dining table from A&C Homestore allows a primo view across the ocean during meals.
LEFT Quickstep Impressive timber flooring gives a casual coastal feel to the interior while a Regency GF1500 gas fire keeps things cosy.
BELOW In the living room, where double-glazed joinery from the APL Architectural and Metro series slides right back for full connection to the landscape, an L-shaped Sorrento sofa from Freedom wraps around a Jena coffee table from Republic Home.
LEFT The owners chose a Progetto Vista mirror cabinet as a statement piece in the en suite. It is mounted on a wall of glossy Yubi Sake finger mosaics above an Odessa Urban vessel basin. Elementi Uno tapware in brushed nickel is a finishing touch. ABOVE The main bedroom is positioned at the front of the home and the CurtainStudio team in Whitianga suggested the floaty white drapes to emphasise the holiday feel.
Melanie, who live on Auckland’s North Shore, received regular Facetime progress reports from the builder and made the two-hour journey to see it for themselves on weekends. But then. the big C. Covid, that is. Nine weeks of lockdown meant they couldn’t travel. “We were just hitting the point when all the finishing details would be done,” explains Patrick. “We didn’t see the flooring go in, or the bathrooms. We didn’t see the decks built.”
Superlative communication from Ben and the team lessened their disappointment and Patrick is pragmatic. “There’s no point worrying about it; we try to keep everything in perspective.” And when the couple heard the house was up for a photo shoot, they even generously agreed for their furniture to be trucked in from the city for the occasion. “We had a dining table and chairs, the sofa, three beds, a coffee table and fridge-freezer, even the bedside lighting, already stored in a warehouse and ready to go,” says Patrick.
All things considered it has been a wholly positive experience. “Everyone we worked with, including Matt the electrician, Jess at CurtainStudio, the team at Hostess Kitchens plus our project managers Jason and Mark, with Ben holding the whole thing together, was great,” says Melanie.
At the time of writing, the couple could only give thanks for a Christmas miracle: a chance to host family, including Melanie’s parents, in the holiday home. Patrick, who hails from the UK, was looking forward to testdriving the Belling oven he personally picked out, with roast beef, Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings on the menu. Melanie couldn’t wait to put the tree up and sit outside by the fire. “For me that will be a highlight; I’ve never owned a home with a fireplace.” They’re both keen to see the fireworks display that the town invests in. It’s launched from a barge in the middle of the estuary, an incredible light show to see in the new year.
A room that started out as a lock-up storage zone (in case they use the house for holiday lets) has since had two windows added so it’ll make a good work-from-home office. Sounds like a prescient plan. Because, when the couple finally do get to experience their summer escape in the flesh, chances are they may never want to leave. F
The digital experience
Patrick and Melanie are first-time builders who lived remotely and took on the project in the middle of a pandemic. Here’s how cyber tools helped:
• At the design stage, the couple was shown a 3D flythrough visualisation of the concept. “It was amazing – it went through every area of the house and allowed us to shuffle a few things around,” says Mel. • Keeping in touch with the project manager through video messaging apps such as Facetime allowed them to make decisions and maintain a sense of excitement in the journey when they couldn’t be there to see it in person. • Another app – Buildertrend – was a godsend for continuity. It is a construction management system that owners and the project manager communicate through. There are sections for the plans, all written documentation, and the billing system. “It’s excellent, as you can see exactly where you are financially,” explains Patrick. • David Reid Homes also used the
Buildertrend app to provide Patrick and Mel with daily log updates.
They would upload photos of the day’s progress and write notes about what had happened on site (e.g. the electrician has been today).
RIGHT Wallpaper from the Vivid collection by Aspiring Walls (featuring palm trees) and finger mosaics bring a touch of luxe to the laundry.
