Contemporary coastal home by Bravo Ltd Builders with Palliside weatherboards

It promises to be a great summer for the owners of this new house at Beachlands. Their home opens up to expansive sea views, inviting outdoor living areas and a pool.

The high-end, four-bedroom family home was built by Bravo Ltd Builders, an established company with a proud history of residential construction in Auckland's eastern suburbs.

Director Andy Parker says the home is all about lifestyle the large, open-plan family living space can be separated from the formal lounge by a glass cavity slider. Both areas open up to decks with overhead aluminium louvres providing shade. On the upper level the master suite is also designed to maximise the view.

Not surprisingly, low maintenance was a key consideration when it came to choosing materials for the exterior. Products also needed to be able to withstand the coastal conditions and the potentially corrosive effect of salt-laden air.

As a result, the owners chose a mix of Hyde schist stone from the South Island and Palliside weatherboards in a Traditional profile for the exterior. Palliside never needs painting and is designed to withstand New Zealand's demanding coastal condititions.

Because the house has a carport, rather than a garage, there was a need for sheltered outdoor storage. Bravo built secret doors into the Palliside cladding at the front of the house. A flush finish ensures they are near-invisible.

PVC gutters and downpipes were also specified for the project, to minimise maintenance.

Yusuf Yaseen of Dynex Extrusions, the manufacturer of Palliside, says the home is notable for the especially high standard of finish.

"Bravo's painstaking attention to detail has ensured this project raises the benchmark for a family home in every possible way."

When it came to choosing the interior colour palette, the owners say they took several factors into consideration. It needed to work with their art collection and, with three sons, they wanted a durable paint surface.

With these things in mind, Resene Ash a smoky grey with a hint of green was chosen for most walls in the family areas. In the formal living room it is paired with an accent wall in Resene Spanish Green, which Resene describes as a marinade of mellow green hues. Here, it forms a backdrop for the entertainment unit.

The master suite teams Resene Quarter Marsala, which is a sensual soft brown with mysterious grey undertones, with Resene Raging Bull, a strong, energetic red. This picks up the tones in some of the artworks.

Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen is the paint recommended for broadwalls. This low-odour, Environmental Choice-approved waterborne enamel provides a tough durable finish that can be wiped clean.

Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel features on trim and joinery, with Resene Ceiling Paint on the ceilings. Both these paints are also Environmental Choice approved.

The family was looking for an outdoor wood fire for their sheltered area on the deck by the pool. They wanted something that could be used for entertaining with a cooking option as well as warmth on cooler nights and approached Fires by Design for a solution.

The advanced Warmington Nouveau wood-fired barbeque was an ideal choice for their area, says Fire by Design's Deborah Grey.

"This model is fitted with a hot plate and grill, and features a stainless steel weather shield to protect the firebox when not in use."

Fires by Design visited the site to meet with the builder as the specific space for the fire was tight. The company came up with a solution that suited all parties and the finished product is now a stand-out feature of the outdoor area.

The Fires by Design showroom is open 9-5, Monday to Friday, and on Saturday mornings.

"We have a number of working fires on display and can work with your architect, builder or designer to ensure your fire complies with local council requirements," says Grey. "Fires by Design employs a number of architectural graduates with extensive knowledge of the building process who can assist with your project.

Story by: Trendsideas