Privacy with views forever
WHANGAMATA 127 PACIFIC VIEW DRIVE
The holiday house Bryce Dick bought in Whangamata 10 years ago was not what he liked and not what he was looking for. But as soon as he walked up to the 2ha block with the stone and cedar house, he wanted it.
The 180-degree view taking in the Otahu river estuary, Whangamata Beach and town, Mayor Island, the harbour entrance and inner harbour, was a definite drawcard.
But it was the special feel of the property and the sense of calm that sealed the deal.
Set in a big lawn surrounded by easy-care plantings, the house enjoys peace and privacy in its elevated setting. But when Dick took possession it needed serious renovations and he embarked on a sixmonth programme to bring it up to the standard he wanted.
He demolished the bathrooms and replaced them with smart, white-tiled spaces. The master suite is served by a large bathroom with a bath, twin vanities and a double shower.
There's now a modern kitchen with tiled floors, smart midnight-blue cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, opening through bi-fold doors to an outdoor dining area on the deck.
A casual sitting area adjoins the kitchen and there's also a large, formal dining space with built-in timber sideboard and cupboards, and a log burner. The main lounge has an open fire with stone surround, and an adjoining sitting area. Three bedrooms, one of which is set up with bunks, two and a half bathrooms and a big laundry/utility area complete the floorplan.
The most noticeable feature of the interior of the house is the use of timber. The original owners had timber mills in the North Island and milled the matai and Douglas fir that lines the walls and ceilings. It adds a feeling of warmth, which is enhanced by the fires, and underfloor heating in the bedrooms.
“We were pleased it turned out to be such a warm house because we didn't want to have curtains and lose the view,” Bryce says.
Most rooms open up to the deck via bi-folds and sliding doors. The original deck on the house was small, so Bryce extended it to 175sq m with kwila. The saltwater concrete pool at one end is 11.5m by 5m and 1.8m at its deepest, and it's solar heated. Bryce added glass pool fencing to ensure the views from the deck and the interior of the house were not obstructed.
There's now room to eat, entertain, swim and relax in the sun, all with views.
He added retaining walls to define the area around the house and deck and provide a lawn. The space is enclosed by trees and shrubs, with a spectacular stand
of ponga at one end. Plantings camouflage the 90sq m storage shed.
Although it was bought as a family holiday home, the house has also been used as a holiday rental. “We blocked out the times we wanted to spend there and put it on a holiday bach site to be rented out. That covered all the costs,” Bryce says.
Now that he’s working in Australia the house is under-used and will be sold either as a private home, or as a rentable property with existing furniture, linens and other equipment.
But it won’t be the end of Bryce’s relationship with Whangamata. He says at some point in the future he’s likely to have another holiday place there.