Keeping the dream alive
When Hamish and Anna Brown bought five hectares of land overlooking Omaha Bay, they would come from Auckland at weekends to camp there. “We wanted to get a sense of what the land felt like and where the sun was,” says Hamish.
The visual attraction of this property is obvious. Spectacular views reach from Pt Wells across Whangateau Harbour, Omaha, Ti Point, out to Ta¯wharanui and the Coromandel.
“They are amazing views. We pinch ourselves sometimes,” says Hamish. “But we fell in love with the land as well. We felt it had a nice energy.”
While architect Graham Pitts was designing their home, they asked a kauma¯tua to bless the land.
“That was before we started to do the earthworks. We didn’t want to disturb the energy of the land.”
Their brief to Graham was for something long and low; not ostentatious. “Something that fits snug into the landscape.
“We didn’t want anything huge, we did want something that feels roomy and spacious, that takes advantage of the sea views out the front and the fantastic rural views out back.”
They bought the land four years ago, at first moving into the separate 80sq m garage/workshop/ studio they built while the house build was under way. The home was finished in 2016.
“Graham absolutely got it right,” says Hamish. “It is exactly the home we wanted. It is incredibly easy to live in. Anna and I love the privacy up here. We get a real sense of peace.”
The home has quarter-cut cedar weatherboard cladding, the roof is corrugated iron, joinery is aluminium, and windows are double-glazed with sliding stackers on both sides of the house.
Walls are gibbed, except for a texture cedar wall at the front entrance. Flooring is American oak with carpet in the bedrooms and underfloor heated tiles in the bathrooms. The main level has the entrance with an extra wide hallway that runs past bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry, and then opens into the open plan kitchen, dining and living room.
The entertainer’s kitchen has granite benchtops, Miele double ovens, F&P fridge plus a butler’s pantry with Vintec wine fridge. Decking on both sides of the home measures about 80sq m.
Off the main living space is the snug with fireplace. “This is where we have the TV,” says Hamish. “It is one of our favourite rooms and we can shut it off with big sliders if we want.”
From the living space, you go up to the master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and en suite. About 10 steps away from the master bedroom’s deck is the spa pool.
“We located it there so we could get a real sense
of the open sky but also see the lights of Omaha,” says Hamish. “Usually we get into the spa on dusk and we watch the sun go down.”
The downstairs area has storage, another bedroom and the wine cellar. A double garage is next to the main entrance.
The couple say they have always loved the area, coming up to Matakana frequently when they were living in St Heliers.
“I think one of the reasons we love the area is that Matakana has so many facilities, fantastic cafes and restaurants, great beaches. The only thing we tend not to do is go into Matakana on a Saturday morning because half of Auckland is there.”
It all sounds idyllic. So why are they selling? “We sold our business and that prompted a ‘what now?’” says Hamish.
“I have had a dream to go sailing in the Mediterranean. And then, in a couple of years, to sail home. We are in the process of buying a boat in France and that will be ready next year.
“It’s has been an emotional decision to sell. But if we let our emotions hold us back, we won’t go and do the adventures we want to do.”