Herne Bay: Magic

An old gem has been given a contemporary twist to create an adorable family home by the sea. By VICKI HOLDER.

Total seduction starts at the verge of this beautifully nurtured Edwardian villa, which wraps its owners in sensory pleasures.

Elaine and Kerry Bell employed professional designers to bring about a contemporary feel and flow to their old home in Herne Bay. Graham Dickie and Peter Reid of Republic Home worked with Elaine on the interiors and Natural Habitats helped with the landscaping. However, evidence of Elaine's exquisitely feminine flair is present with the breathtaking balance of minimalist restraint and sumptuous romanticism.

The first glimpse of her style is in the simple structured borders of box hedging and green mondo grass, which wrap around the return veranda.

Beautifully manicured lawns form a calm, crisp edge in a long sweep that manages to tame the busy profusion of the garden, which includes rambling pink roses, choisya, gardenia and hydrangeas mixed with subtropical palms. Just inside the picket fence and at the edges of the house, tall bangalow palms sway in the gentle breeze, mimicking those planted along the street.

Pathways of smooth aggregate are segmented by narrow strips of riverstones, adding texture to the smoothness. Elaine obviously enjoys playing with contrasts, for the interiors display the same careful attention to detail.

The original kauri floorboards were stained and lacquered a rich mahogany as a gleaming counterpoint to the cool white walls. Judicious colour is used on feature walls in each of the rooms to enliven the formality of traditional character.

In the master bedroom, the wall behind the bed is the perfect shade of lavender-grey to complement the diaphanous drapes strung on nautical wire across the bay window. A delicately scribed French poetry print adds a romantic note to these alluring long drops of fabric.

But the luxury touches are more than just cosmetic in this room, which flows into an en suite with heated floor tiles. A large fitted dressing room has plenty of space for someone passionate about clothes.

Four-year-old Louis enjoys an equally striking room with blue and white striped curtains framing french doors that open to the veranda. In here and in the guest room, built-in wardrobes feature Stephane Rondel-designed door handles.

Recently modernised, the family bathroom is spiced up with a dramatic rust red wall inset with three little square halogen lights. Beneath a tent-like, pitched, white tongue-and-groove ceiling, a clawfoot bath bathes in the soft light filtering in through a bay of frosted glass sash windows.

Minimalist furnishings allows a better appreciation of the beautiful proportions of the lounge with its tall stud, bay window and real fire. A large circular glass lampshade in the middle of the room injects drama, while french doors opening to the veranda keep it cool in summer.

The dining room next door features a grey plastered fireplace and more french doors leading to a beautiful little balcony. This room extends to a kitchen-family area where entertainment gear is concealed in built-in, flip-top, frosted glass cabinets.

Big enough for a computer workstation, a handy laundry and storage space open to an outdoor utility area with a retractable clothesline.

French doors ease out to the garden for sheltered entertaining beneath electronically controlled aluminium louvres. Fringed with mondo grasses, palms and giant bromeliads, stone pavers form a low-maintenance terrace around the spa and a 13m lap pool.

Meals can be enjoyed in front of the large outdoor fire. There is no need to venture inside once you've sampled the ease of this calm, resort-like haven. Drinks are served from the cabana-style pool house fitted with a wine cellar, kitchenette and sound system. An outdoor shower with a pebble floor offers the chance to breathe in the scent of the nearby star jasmine.

Wandering through this exquisite seaside property, you can sense the passion that has been poured into its creation. Not only is it a house with many great features, it's a home that casts its magic spell on anybody who visits.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 4 Upton St, Herne Bay.

FEATURES: Renovated grand return veranda villa a street up from the bay; sea view from garden; three bedrooms - master with en suite and dressing room; heated floor in en suite; separate lounge and dining room; family area opens to sandstone pool terrace; double garaging; two fireplaces; landscaping by Natural Habitats; interior design by Republic Home; 13m gas-heated pool and spa; outdoor fireplace; outdoor shower; irrigation system; pool cabana with toilet, wine cellar and kitchenette.

SIZE: Land area 769sq m.

SALE DATE: December 14.

AGENT: Jan George, Ray White Damerell Earwaker, Ponsonby. Ph 376 2186 bus; 0274 784 119 mob.