Ultimate bay window
When a real estate agent told Susan and Murray D’Ath-Weston that they would be able to watch orcas “scratch their tummies” on the rocks below their waterfront home on Waiheke Island, Susan laughed.
“I went yeah, likely story,” she says. “But they do.” Many a time she and Murray have seen orca and dolphins come in close.
The couple bought the property while they were working in Australia. An internet search brought 50 Kennedy Point to their attention.
“Within three days we flew over to have a look,” says Susan. “I fell in love with it straight away and then we flew back two weeks later to have a second look and signed the sales agreement.
“It was one of those places — I knew we weren’t going to find something like it again. We have been here about eight years now.
“The views are unbelievable, and also the position of being on the end of a peninsula.”
Their stunning 270-degree panorama stretches across the waters to the Coromandel one way, and as far as Auckland’s Sky Tower to the other.
And in front of the home is the bay where the car ferry berths and yachts are moored; and then lifting the eyes, you have more island bays and vineyards.
“Also, the house. It’s private and elegant. It needed a bit of work, but I thought, yes, we could live here,” says Susan.
The concrete slab home with terracotta tile roofing is on two levels with two-car internal garage, spacious living areas opening to the deck entertaining areas, four bedrooms and a designer kitchen with black granite benches, Electrolux and Bosch appliances.
The lower level’s guest en suite area offers separation and privacy from the rest of the home.
The couple have made a lot of changes in their time here.
“It had nice bones but was looking tired, the carpet was old, and the tiles were old-fashioned,” says Susan.
“The ground floor now has limed oak flooring, which is lovely. And we put a big Oamaru stone fireplace in the living area.
“We updated all the bathrooms and we created a master suite sort of parents’ retreat upstairs with a sitting area.
“We updated the exterior tiling to a limestone tile, so you get that lovely light look when you walk out on to the deck. And a patio to the side of the house is where we have a barbecue.
“My husband is one of those people who is not happy unless he has a project, so he is just continually perfecting things.”
The interior decor is elegantly neutral, giving a light perpetual summer feeling throughout the home.
“I wanted to keep the interior as a blank canvas. I like the French Provencal look,” says Susan. “You wouldn’t want to go mad with colours when you have that view outside.”
Indeed, opening all windows and doors allows this house to be all about the sea views. Every room has a view of the water.
“Everything is light, bright and airy all the way through the house. Especially in the summer you’re sitting outside with a glass of wine, the umbrella is up, you have all the white walls and it feels like you are in the Mediterranean.
“It is stunning when you walk through the front door. You see all the way through to the house and out to the
water and it is tranquil and relaxing.
“When we are on the deck, we are so high up in the air we have sea birds going past and they are eye level with you.
“It is very special not to be overlooked by other houses.”
The couple have enjoyed living in this beautiful home, with a walkway down to a shipping beacon and beach.
And their mature, manicured garden is testimony to Murray’s hard work, with planting including natives, roses, hibiscus and flax, plus water features including a waterfall and fishpond.
“The birds use the waterfall to bathe in. The tui come every day for their water,” says Susan. “They get very tame and sit in the flax.”
But now Susan and Murray are at retirement age, they want to be out on the water, not looking at it.
“It’s time for someone else to enjoy this house and we are going to go out there and build a boat and spend a lot of time on the water exploring.”