Basking in seaside bliss
Simplicity and relaxation are signatures of this beachside home, writes Sandra Goodwin
Interior designer Vicki McCauley loves the way her Pakiri beach house embraces the quintessential simplicity of Kiwi beachside living. Vicki says: “It’s not trying to be ‘ Remueraby- the- sea’. There’s nothing precious about it and that means it has a wonderfully chilled feeling to it.
“People love that they feel they can kick off their shoes and put their feet up and enjoy the natural beauty around them.”
Vicki, who runs her interior design company from Parnell, believes Pakiri is one of New Zealand’s most beautiful beaches.
She says: “I think what is unusual is that it’s still got that lovely unspoiled beach feeling whereas so many other seaside areas feel very built up and crazy now.
“From the house you get sea views one way looking out towards the beach and Great Barrier and lovely rural views in the other direction. It’s surrounded by natural bush and bird life so you feel like you are sitting in a natural park looking at the sea.”
The opportunity to build on this leasehold land arose because she knew other people with holiday homes in the little enclave of five houses which share one- fifth each in the 1.6ha plot.
She designed the house herself, having it built in 2002 of battened marine ply with a Colorsteel roof and large cavity sliders.
“I purposely chose robust materials with simple form to fit in with the environment.”
She says its big loggia is integral; the setting for some memorable long lunches and for afternoons luxuriating on the long bench- seat immersed in a good book. The wood- burning fireplace ensures the retreat’s living area is a cosy place to curl up in winter months after strolling the sand dunes.
And when she and her friends want a change from remote beauty, Matakana’s shops, restaurants and movie theatre are a 20- minute drive away and there are golf courses nearby.
“But much of the time we just enjoy what’s on hand. You can kayak right up the estuary, go windsurfing, paddle- boarding or horse- riding. It’s great swimming at the beach and on days when there’s a bit of surf children can swim in the estuary which is clean because it’s tidal.”
Vicki says there’s a nice sense of community between the five bach owners who sometimes socialise together. Other than lawn, the land, which has a lease until December 2038, has largely been left in bush so grounds are low maintenance.
The white- washed rattan ceilings interspersed with exposed beams in the open plan living- kitchen are a reminder of Vicki’s travels to the Philippines from where she used to import furniture.
The kitchen includes concrete bench tops and a dishwasher. Mussels collected from the south end of the beach are sometimes on the menu.
The L- shaped beach- house orientated for the sea view and sun has front and back decks; the front one a good spot for early morning breakfasts. The leg with the living- kitchen also includes the master bedroom opening to the front deck, a hallway and a bathroom.
Vicki upped the utility of the loggia running down one flank by fitting one side of it with three big opening windows and installing roll- up screens at the ends.
The second wing contains two bedrooms and a laundry/ bathroom. In summer most visitors choose the open- air simplicity of the privately positioned outdoor shower.
It takes Vicki about 75 minutes to get from Parnell to Pakiri avoiding peak traffic. She is selling as she wants to embark on another project.
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