Space race final frontier
Search for more room for growing kids results in build of their own, writes Catherine Masters
Jenny and Graeme Thompson had already made the move from the suburbs of Auckland to the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. They had happily become “coasties” at Manly, enjoying the beach lifestyle with their three small children and loving the warm community. It was a nice place for children to grow up, Jenny says. “You could walk to the beach, you could take your tea down, you could have a quick swim and come home. They could walk to school — it was a good life.”
As the children grew the couple decided they needed a bigger house. But when they couldn’t find what they were looking for they bought a freehold section, also in Manly, and began building.
“We wanted to have space where the kids could bring their friends around and have separate spaces,” says Jenny.
“We were also quite strong on having family spaces as well, so this house actually allows you to be a family all together.
“But there’s a separate lounge and there’s another living room downstairs, so people can also separate off.”
While building was a bit daunting (“it hadn’t really crossed our mind”) they fell for the stunning sea views and privacy of the north-facing section.
“It looks across into the Manly bay, you look over to Swann beach and then you look to Orewa and beyond,” says Jenny. “You get amazing sunsets.”
They are on a hill but sheltered and the beach, with its sailing club and summer regattas, is a quick walk one way and Manly shops an easy walk the other.
One of the wonderful things about the house is the salt water pool, Jenny says.
“We had to have a place that captured the view and the warmth and we also wanted a pool for the kids, but we didn’t want it away from the house.”
They had come from a house which had been built around a pool and they really liked that idea, which is why this house is a U-shape.
That design enabled them to capture the view from all the bedrooms and living areas and allowed the pool to be part of the indoor/outdoor flow.
“So basically you walk out of kitchen or the family room or the lounge and it’s all part of that entertaining area.”
The slope of the section allowed them to step the house without going “up and up and up”. There’s a living room and garage at one level, then a main level, and then the master bedroom above that.
There is a spacious atrium entranceway, an internal garage, and decking, which looks out to sea.
There is plenty of off-street parking with room for a boat and trailer and on this level is a living area the children used a lot with their friends.
Jenny says a great part of the house is the way living spaces can be used.
You can open everything up for entertaining, or close areas to make more intimate spaces — the house functions brilliantly for big gatherings and equally well for smaller gatherings and family living.
Jenny particularly loves the pool area (there’s also a spa pool) which she says is the hub of the house.
When you swim you can look out to the bay, and when you sit at the table you can look across to the view.
“So the views, you get them wherever you are, basically,” says Jenny.
She also loves the kitchen which has two big ovens and a gas hob, a big scullery with sink, benches, freezer, shelving and pull-out drawers.
Jenny says the house met all their needs but the children have all left home so it is time for another family to enjoy it as much as they have.