On the beach

Living at the beach will always have a different tone to a town lifestyle. It may be a little more casual, but those who have made this choice still want to enjoy all the comforts of home.

The latest offering from design-and-build company Harbourcity Developments & Construction is a large two-storey home on the beach at Orewa, north of Auckland. At 460m², this home has separate formal and informal living areas with fireplaces, large patios facing the north and east with an outdoor fireplace, four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a study. This home is currently for sale.

After 14 years of designing and building homes around the Hibiscus Coast and Rodney, director Ian Inglis knows what is successful.

"People want to feel as if they are living at the seaside, enjoying the casual lifestyle, but they also want comfort and a touch of luxury," he says.

To create this ambience, the living areas of this home all open out to patios that lead directly to the beach, which is only 20m away. Polished timber floors provide a practical surface throughout most of the ground level, while carpet adds comfort to a second living area and study downstairs and to bedrooms upstairs. Granite, stained cedar and stone are other materials that add to the quality and practicality achieved throughout the house.

"The beach is also reflected in the colour palette soft, muted tones that echo the hues of driftwood, sand and the haze over the sea," says Inglis.

Harbourcity Developments & Construction undertakes design-and-build and contract building projects. The company works with several different architects to ensure every home it constructs suits the needs of the clients and the site.

For more information, contact Harbourcity Developments & Construction, PO Box 582, Orewa, phone (09) 427 5990, fax (09) 427 5991. Email: ian@hcity.co.nz. Website: www.hcity.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas