Whangaparaoa: Californian hideaway

This low-maintenance house of grand proportions - built as a holiday home for an American couple - sports a host of luxury features, writes VICKI HOLDER.

Californians on holiday tend to do things a little differently to New Zealanders. They like to entertain with ease and in great comfort. And they adore their space - huge space where they can sprawl for miles, that is.

This easy-care retreat was built for an American couple, who come to soak up the sun's rays for a short period during summer. It provides them with the grand proportions and many luxury features seldom found in New Zealand homes, let alone holiday places.

On a prime site - overlooking the sea and next to the golf course in Gulf Harbour - it follows the classic lines of Spanish architectural styles that are so prevalent in California. The gracious arches over the doors and in the long, plastered loggia across the front were carefully measured to achieve a particularly pleasing, well-balanced effect.

While it's a big house, it's typically Californian in that it has relatively few rooms. A home of this size would normally house a host of bedrooms, yet this has just three, comprising a huge master suite, second guest suite and a third, much smaller bedroom.

From the loggia, a voluminous double-height entry spills into a vast, air-conditioned living area. Warmed in winter by a gas fire surrounded by Coromandel schist, it captures the rustic ambience of a country lodge. Double glazed windows keep the house warm and dry in winter, and ensure that it's particularly quiet.

The rich rust hue of the terracotta tiles in the entry is matched by a wealth of pale Victorian ash detailing in the skirtings, doors and trims. The window exteriors are framed in aluminium to combat the harshness of the salty sea air. Inside they are timber, to warm and enrich the buttermilk-toned walls.

The long curve of a Victorian ash breakfast bar splices through the living area, separating the mottled granite bench in the timber kitchen from the rest of the room. The kitchen is splendidly large with plenty of storage and views. It's also well-equipped with top-of-the-line Grohe and Smeg appliances.

Archways from the living area and the spare bedroom downstairs lead to a sheltered, sunny rear patio, where the owners can relax in privacy as they wallow in the spa pool. Gas bayonets provide for barbecues or outdoor heating.

A powder room is fitted with quality, imported American fittings. The super-soft carpet that lets your feet sink in deep is also American.

The storage along the passage leading to the internally accessed double garaging accommodates all the household linen and a laundry chute from the master bedroom.

Guests can escape to their big suite downstairs and luxuriate in the space that doubles as a separate living area with a walk-in dressing room. Accessed by a second door to the hallway, the semi-en suite is shared by those staying down the hall in the third bedroom.

A beautiful black wrought-iron balustrade clings to the stairs that sweep up to the second level. The entire floor is designed to be like a magnificent apartment, giving the owners private space that opens to balconies overlooking the Gulf.

At one end, the bedroom leads into a vast, tiled en suite with a spa bath, shower and separate toilet and bidet. Two huge dressing rooms include lavish his-and-hers wardrobes.

At the other end, a stunning timber-panelled library fitted with a gas fire emulates a traditional English setting, except it's equipped with sophisticated technology to enable working from home.

Because the owners leave the house for long periods, the garden needs to look after itself. Enclosed in low-maintenance aluminium fencing, the hardy palms, grasses and succulents are drought-resistant.

Close to the golf course, club house and marina, this beautiful Californian hideaway beckons keen golfers and boaties to enjoy an exceptional lifestyle.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 1 Belle-Mer Place, Gulf Harbour.

FEATURES: As-new holiday home; three bedrooms; two en suites plus third bathroom; large library; lounge and fireplace; imported fixtures and fittings; central gas heating; outdoor entertaining area with spa; full security; fully fenced.

SIZE: Land area 888sq m; floor area 422sq m.

AUCTION: 2pm, May 28, at Bayleys Maritime Square auction rooms.

AGENT: Fiona Taylor, Bayleys, Orewa. Ph 09 426 5911 bus; 021 279 5902 mob.