All for views and the sun
Seaside home ticked all boxes for couple who knew how to be flexible with travel and traffic, writes Leigh Bramwell
Rob and Marie de Rooy didn’t particularly want a big piece of land when they started looking north of Auckland, but they were totally smitten by the views from a 2ha block between Algies Bay and Martins Bay at Mahurangi East.
“The land size was what it was — we didn’t have a choice about that because we wanted those views to Brick Bay, Sandspit, Ocean Gap and the island,” Rob says.
The first box was ticked. After that came several others that cemented their choice of this elevated site. “There were a number of things that added up and one was the commuting distance from here to Auckland,” says Rob.
“We’d commuted around the Auckland suburbs all our lives and had found during our careers that commuting is all about scheduling your travel for the traffic. Employers are flexible about hours and traffic so it wasn’t a problem.”
In the face of their experience in the city, Warkworth to Auckland never seemed like an obstacle, and the fact that the motorway was coming ticked another box.
The house was sited facing true north to take advantage of the sun and views, with ranch sliders at the front and back of the living area giving superior indoor-outdoor flow.
Interior ceilings in the open plan lounge and dining room are sloping and slightly higher than the rest of the house, adding to the feeling of space and airiness.
The contemporary kitchen has modern stainless steel appliances, an island with seating on the living room side, plenty of cupboards and bench space, and bifold windows behind the sink that open to reveal views over the property and down to the sea. A neutral colour scheme throughout the living space gives the view priority. The master bedroom opens off the lounge through oversized cavity sliders.
A retired builder, Rob sees an opportunity to add an additional bedroom to the house and use this as a media room or an extension of the lounge.
A fireplace in the lounge keeps the area cosy in winter, and there’s also a heat pump.
Outside the living area the deck at the front of the house offers great views, but Rob has a preference for the rear deck.
It’s large enough for both a lounge suite and a dining setting and is equally well-used. “From there we still have views over the bay and yet it’s a cool, secluded area,” he says.
Plenty of hard work has gone into getting the property set up for easy living. There are two road frontages, concrete driveways, retaining walls, a developed dam and spillway and a large shed /workshop /garage.
The shed was built with future options in mind, with some elements made to residential specs to more easily facilitate a possible conversion.
“When you’re retired you think along the lines of options for the future, like a passive income,” Rob says.
He also built a boatshed “just for fun”, but acknowledges it’s almost an essential in this coastal playground.
The property is fully fenced and Rob and Marie have enjoyed some landscaping, planting trees and shrubs.
Their move further north for a new work opportunity for Marie is being undertaken a little reluctantly, especially because of the view.
“We love watching the different weather patterns. The Spirit of New Zealand often comes in, and we see some tall ships that come in to shelter. There’s always activity out there so it’s a very interesting view and we’ll really miss it.”