Piha: Moonlight and storms

3 Te Ahuahu Road, Piha.

An artistic home on Auckland's west coast could be used in a variety of ways.

Walk up the bush-lined driveway of this house and you might hear splashing coming from the trees.

There's a bath nestled into the bush, fully plumbed from the house, and open to the sky.

It's just one of the many surprises at this Mediterranean-style home on the ridge above Piha beach. Another is the 2m tall mosaic gecko that welcomes you at the front of the house.

"We had to put a panel between the two sets of windows, so I thought why not make a mosaic for it?" says owner Julie Savage.

Julie's handiwork continues in the edge of the curved path to the front door, a colourful step up into a courtyard, and a big sun in the kitchen.

"I wanted to create a Mediterranean-style house because I knew they can take lots of art. We've only just finished the courtyard, and I won't have time to make the mosaic geckos I planned to have crawling over the walls."

Julie can't quite believe she's giving up a house that "has everything I want", but she and her boyfriend have found a section in another part of Piha that they couldn't pass up.

"It's in a very natural setting, it has a stream, it's really beautiful. But it's going to be quite heartwrenching leaving this place."

Julie has lived at Piha for 15 years, and built her first house with her former partner further down the hill.

"We always knew this section was here, and thought if it ever came up for sale we'd buy it. It did, and we had within two days."

Julie's second house is built of timber framing, with thick plaster laid on by hand the old fashioned way. Each of the two levels could be self-contained, with their own bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry, kitchen and living areas. This opens up the possibility to section off one level for full time or holiday rental, or as bed and breakfast accommodation.

While the lower level looks out into the regenerating bush, the upper looks down the long sweep of Piha beach, and out to sea.

"Sea views aren't just about sunlight, you also get beautiful moonlight reflections," says Julie. "And watching the storms come in is fantastic. Once we saw what seemed like three separate storms all converging on Piha - you could see the sheets of rain out at sea, and the lightning. It was very dramatic."

And the sunsets, well, they go without saying. There are three terraces upstairs to make the most of the range of views.

All through the house, large windows bring in light, and a gas fire in the downstairs lounge provides extra warmth in winter.

The courtyard provides a sheltered retreat, and is just begging for the barbecue and pizza oven Julie had planned for one wall.

But maybe she'll install that at her next house. Right now she's packing up her three children, Jackie, 18, Darryl, 15 and Ryan, 11, their two galahs Petra and Sydney, three dogs Misty, Bandit and Rosie, and Misty's four puppies.

"I can't believe I'm starting the building thing all over again," laughs Julie, "but it'll be easier this time.

"I told the kids they're in for another year of hardship and asked what would help ease the process for them. They asked for a big TV and an Xbox!"

But after this long at Piha Julie can't imagine living anywhere else. She loves the community spirit shared at the RSA, the surf and bowling clubs, the shops and art gallery and the preschool.

A bus comes out to take children to Oratia Primary School.

"There is the travel for the adults, but the cars soon get to know their own way home," says Julie. "I use the drive as an unwind. By the time I'm home I'm on holiday."

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 7

BATHROOMS: 3

*No garage but off-street parking for 5 cars. Two ground floor bedrooms could be converted back into a double garage.

SIZE: Land 1618sq m, house 340 sq m.

PRICE: $939,000.

INSPECT: Sunday 1-1.30pm

CONTACT: Mike Ferris, Piha Property, ph 021 543 005, 812 8112, 812 8238 a/h.

FEATURES: Mediterranean-style house in the bush above Piha with views down beach and out to sea. Upper and lower levels could be self-contained. Gas fire in lower lounge, outside bath in the bush.