Nestled into a hillside overlooking Wharekaho beach, this four-bedroom Whitianga home is the pride and joy of its retiring owners. The north-facing beauty is clad in the classic combination of cedar and stone. Step through the double front doors and into the spacious dining, lounge and kitchen area. Inside opens to a large deck with a macrocarpa pergola and aluminium louvre roof. The chimney, which features local river stone, forms a striking centerpiece in the living room. The top of the kitchen island is crafted from an ancient totara tree felled 130 years ago and washed down the river in a flood. The owners’ office is accessed through an oversized barn door off the kitchen. Wrought-iron chandeliers provide feature lighting while the rest of the home is illuminated by LEDs. The interior has been finished with traditional splayed architraves and skirting. Grooved doors feature handcrafted wrought-iron handles. The bathrooms are finished with traditional white wall tiles, a claw-foot bath and Art Deco-style wash basins. This home won regional Gold at the Master Builders house of the year awards in 2016, along with National Gold reserve (top 100). It was also nominated for the NZ Wood Resene Timber Design awards in two categories and made it into the 'Exterior Innovation and Infrastructure' and the 'NZ Specialty Timber' Finals.
