Make a splash on Waiheke

40 Beach Parade, Oneroa, Waiheke Island. Photo / Geoff Dale

40 BEACH PDE ONEROA WAIHEKE ISLAND

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SIZE: Land 928sq m, house 269sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $3.12 million. Expressions of interest close November 18 (unless sold prior).

INSPECT: Phone for appointment.

ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz/101441015

SCHOOL ZONES: Te Huruhi and Waiheke High.

CONTACT: Pat Regan, Bayleys, ph 027 448 3348 or 372 0005.

FEATURES: Prestigious, beachfront home looking over Oneroa Bay. Two bedrooms have balconies and the third is a bunk-room guaranteed to delight children in the family. Bathroom areas look out to the garden, with a herb garden off the kitchen through French doors. Double garaging and large deck area.

When David and Susanne Lee decided to buy a holiday house on Waiheke Island, one aspect was non-negotiable.

It had to be close enough to the beach that David could access it from his house, as he is a keen swimmer, and has been since he entered his first swimming race at age 5.

"He is an absolute water baby," says his daughter Meredith. "When we come here at the weekend Dad goes out for a swim and Mum and I play Upword on the deck and read and relax."

This beachfront property on Oneroa's premium Beach Pde was perfectly placed for David to wander across the no-exit road to the safe swimming beach; plus frequent ferry services meant it was only a 35-minute ride from downtown Auckland or slightly longer coming from Half Moon Bay.

They bought the Cape Cod-inspired home some four years ago from Nick and Robyn Jones, owners of the island's popular Mudbrick vineyard and restaurant. Another island resident, Paul Macintosh, designed the house for the Joneses, with a brief to build with all the qualities of an older home in a beach house.

It is an impressive home, with no expense spared on materials or detailing, and high-vaulted ceilings that create lofty spaces. Yet it has simple lines, so as not to distract from its beachside setting, and magnificent pohutukawa on and in front of the property.

A wrought-iron French gate sets the scene when entering the property, with a pattern repeated on balcony balustrading. The home's exterior cladding is solid board-and-batten mixed with salvaged hardwood from telegraph poles and sleepers.

Steps lead to the entry door and hallway with a bedroom to the left, and then open-plan living, dining room and kitchen on the right. Leading back off the kitchen to the hallway is a butler's pantry and then the laundry, with another bathroom on the left. Stairs near the front of the house climb to the master bedroom, en suite and walk-in wardrobe, while further along the ground-floor hallway, seven stairs take you to the mezzanine level with the delightful children's bunk room and study. Inside the house, walls are mostly tongue-and-groove or board-and-batten.

A dominant feature of the home is the living room's ceiling. The limewash on the salvaged Oregon timber is the perfect finish for this home, and fits in well with the French oak flooring, latticed windows, bifold and French doors.

The kitchen, too, is casually chic, in a French country style, with distressed-finish joinery and a spectacular butcher's block-style island bench, crafted by Tree Essence, also an island business.

Meredith, who has enjoyed the house along with her parents, twin Charlotte and sister Sarah plus Sarah's children, says they have made few changes as they felt the natural colours worked so well.

"We have not changed anything inside ... it was only 18-months-old when we bought it and we loved its decor." The interior is enhanced with rustic French antique and mid-century pieces from Meredith's business, European Antiques & Furnishings, and potential buyers can negotiate to buy the interior furnishings.

"This place is so calming, and the flow is really good," says Meredith.

"If my nephews are in the bunk room, they're not disturbing Mum and Dad in their bedroom upstairs."

Outside, the Lees have planted flax and grasses and glorious orange ice plants around the front deck and added a large "pole-less" umbrella that gives the option of shade on the deck without compromising the view.

"The attention to detail when the house was built is just fantastic," says Meredith.

"It will last and last. It is a comfortable house to live in without being pretentious. Everything is practical for easy living at the beach."

But the family has decided to sell as while David, a barrister, has retired from his Auckland practice, property and business interests here and overseas mean he rarely has time to enjoy his home. The family feels a house as beautiful as this, and so close to the water that you can hear the sounds of waves lapping on the beach, needs and deserves to be enjoyed more often.