Owners David and Sherylee had had their eyes on this particular section in Beach Haven for some time, recognising it as the perfect spot to build a home that would commune perfectly with nature – seemly floating in the surrounding lush native bush.
So, when it came to market, they snapped it up swiftly.
“Then we began looking at major building companies, but they were very expensive, so I started surfing the net and came up with what turned out to be a dream team,” says David.
First came Ray van Wayenburg from Modern Design Limited, an Auckland firm of architects. He has enjoyed a lifelong love of Japanese culture, spending a large amount of time there, and David could immediately see that they shared the same aesthetic.
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What’s more, it turned out that Ray was practically a neighbour and their children had gone to school together.
“He was so clever at interpreting and achieving the look we wanted, with simple, peaceful spaces and huge windows for us to see the sea,” says David.
73 Hadfield Street in Beach Haven, North Shore, Auckland, is on the market for sale by auction on May 13. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property has a June 2021 CV of $1.575 million and, according to OneRoof data, last changed hands in 2011 for $180,000.
The zen-like home is centred around the main kitchen, dining and living area with its huge, cantilevered deck which ensures that indoors segues to outdoors and back, effortlessly and seamlessly.
Peaceful spaces and huge windows to admire the views are prominent throughout the home. Photo / Supplied
The dramatic, black KXN steel kitchen fits in very well with sleek, stylish panels and it complements the polished concrete floor, which runs the length of this level – its valuable thermal qualities helping keep heating bills to a minimum.
Downstairs are two bedrooms, a bathroom, double carport and another sun-drenched deck. As with the rest of the house, the décor down here is light and bright and less is definitely more, in terms of continuing the gentle Japanese vibe.
The primary suite is upstairs from the home’s main level and it’s another delightful oasis, with bedroom, ensuite and wardrobe and fabulous views encouraging peaceful lie-ins.
The cedar-clad concrete home was constructed by Glen Powell of Kiwibok Construction, and David sings his praises.
“He led a team of three other builders and was hands-on. He was there all the time – always fastidious, with an eye for detail, and nothing was too much trouble – even when we made changes to something he’d already done!”
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home was designed by Ray van Wayenburg, from Modern Design Limited, whose lifelong love of Japanese culture is visible is his design. Photo / Supplied
The Beach Haven property has a June 2021 CV of $1.575m and is centred around the main kitchen, dining and living area. Photo / Supplied
David says that he and Sherylee planted passionately, with guidance from talented landscape designer Jared Lockhart, who had recently returned from the UK and was excited to be working with NZ native plants again, albeit interspersed with tropical stand-outs, such as bromeliads.
A lush, abundant living wall is testament to the sheltered nature of the site, where the air is always filled with birdsong.
David and Sherylee are at retirement age and have once more commissioned van Wayenburg to demonstrate his design skills at their section in Mangawhai. “We are very excited about doing it all again,” says David.
Tanya Kwasza of Ray White, Parnell, says this special property is perfect for families – or for downsizers – and the Beach Haven neighbourhood is popular with its beaches, shops, cafes and ferry access.
“And above all, the sunsets are some of the best that I’ve ever seen.”
