After six weekends of taking the 99km drive up to Mangawhai they started to give up on finding something suitable.
"People were wanting a million dollars for baches that were falling over."
When they drove past this two-level house in Mangawhai's Golden Circle about three years ago they initially dismissed it because it did not have views. But they soon changed their minds when they looked through the bach, which is just 400m from the beach and close to Mangawhai's popular golf course.
The 1970s house felt tired and was crammed full of outdated furniture, but Stuart's partner could see past the clutter to its good bones and potential for improvement.
Working with the fact that the home's fibre planks look like weatherboards, they have created a Hamptons theme and made the most of the 200sqm footprint that includes deep, north-facing verandas on both levels.
The long, ground-level veranda, which opens off two downstairs lounges and the dining room, has been enclosed with clear plastic roll-down walls.
Image 1 of 5: Hamptons-style holiday pad is only 'a compact disc' away from the city, the owner tells
Getting one of Mangawhai's resident builders to install an outdoor fireplace in this space has helped to transform it into an all-weather entertainment space.
"One of the great things about Mangawhai is that it has tradesmen for Africa because so many people come up here to retire then end up working, so it is easy to get things done," says Stuart.
The home is spacious and well planned so little has needed to be done to its layout, although Stuart says a semi-open plan day room on the mezzanine level, previously used as an office, could easily be enclosed to become a fourth bedroom.
The three existing double bedrooms include two upstairs, which open to the balcony and overlook the sheltered garden of this 827sq m property. The main bathroom is also on this level.
Stuart says one of their main changes has been to scrap a separate toilet and shower that opened off the formal lounge downstairs and turn these into one a large en suite that opens off the guest bedroom.
They have also re-modelled the large kitchen, where the main bench has a large bay window that looks out over the garden.
A double lock-up garage at the front of the house includes a large laundry that opens conveniently to the garden. Stuart and his partner have given the garden a major makeover, planting natives and subtropicals on the property. They employ a gardener who keeps the property looking beautiful, and having a bore on site also helps.
"It means that we can water to our hearts' content. We are the only house in the street that has green grass in summer."
