New level of waterfront excellence

The strive for perfection by the owner-builder of this Benowa home has made it a stand-out among its peers and a worthy award winner

IT’S not hard to see why Martin and Dina Kenins have loved living in their award-winning home at Benowa Waters. Known as The Lakehouse, it has 24m of water frontage and is spacious enough to accommodate a large family and also allow for extensive entertaining.

A new project for the couple means it is time for someone else to enjoy the home.

It was the location of the land that first attracted them to 150 Sir Bruce Small Blvd, according to Mr Kenins. “As soon as we stepped onto the vacant block you could see the potential with wide water views and views to the hinterland,” he said.

“We have a construction development company and this has been our favourite build. It has been a pleasure to live here.”

They quickly recognised the potential to build something that would really stand out on the oversized block.

“I am a hands-on builder and a perfectionist, so what we built had to absolutely perfect,” he said.

It has won industry experts over with the home chalking up several awards including the 2021 HIA Gold Coast & Northern Rivers Custom Built Home award and the award for New Residential Buildings, Kitchen Design and Bathroom Design in the 2021 National Design Awards.

The exterior of the home uses extensive raw materials including timber, stone and concrete.

Entry to the property is through an enormous pivot door, which reveals a hidden gated courtyard, and proceed through to a front entrance.

A large open-plan living room, bar, dining room and kitchen is flanked by sliding doors and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow broad views across the lake.

“When you open them up it is like you are sitting outside and you get a lovely breeze coming through. But you can also close it off and it feels like a cosy family home,” Mr Kenins said.

The kitchen has a scullery and is fitted with dual Smeg ovens and an integrated coffee machine. It has Caesarstone benchtops along with a mosaic tile feature wall.

“We’ve used traditional features that don’t date and tiling throughout the house also for easy maintenance,” Mr Kenins said.

There are 100 per cent wool carpets in the bedrooms, which include a guest suite on the lower level, an ensuite and a walk-in wardrobe.

A Tasmanian oak staircase leads upstairs to four other bedrooms, including a large master parents’ retreat.

The suite has a terrace with water views, walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite with dual vanities, showers and a freestanding bathtub.

“We based the master suite at the back of the block so that you achieve views across the hinterland and water,” Mr Kenins said.

“We have a palm tree from the ground floor that pops up through a hole in the balcony, which is a real feature that offers a touch of greenery.”

The property has a magnesium swimming pool and landscaped gardens that are fully irrigated and have feature lighting.