Picture perfect

While many of us look back with a touch of nostalgia to the days of the slightly down-at-heel old New Zealand bach, the reality of modern finishes and facilities is also very attractive.

The owners of this A-frame beach house on the edge of the dunes at Whangapoua, in the north of the Coromandel Peninsula, found their original timber-lined cottage was no longer meeting their needs. Originally built to be shared by two families with young children, over time the house had become shabby and family circumstances had changed. In addition, the floors on the upper levels creaked and the entire structure had gradually become less stable.

The decision was made to renovate rather than rebuild, and the owners worked closely with the architect and with interior designer Celia Visser to make the most of the existing house without large additions or loss of the beach flavour.

The ground level was pared back to a single, large, open-plan space for the living area, dining table and kitchen. Exposed beams in the ceiling were a feature of the original design, so the kitchen had to be fitted in around them. The only addition to the house is a small extension to the right of the front entrance, which created space for a larger downstairs bathroom, and a new laundry and storage area. Doors concealed in the outside wall give access to useful outside storage space for items such as the barbecue and garden tools.

Most of the changes are to the interior, and owner Jill Ambler's aim was to create a beachy look.

"I wanted an understated interior, where the view provided the drama. We didn't want a flashy kitchen we wanted more of a casual bach style, yet with a modern look," she says.

Visser suggested a sea-green tile for the splashback in the kitchen to bring the outside tones in, so this became the basis for the colour scheme.

"We decided to keep to the same colour throughout, and we disliked the old timber walls, which had faded to a golden tone over the years. So we started by whitewashing the wood on the walls in a pale sea-foam colour. The knots can still be seen, but the wash has covered up the golden colour," says the owner.

The effect of the new light-toned, oiled, distressed timber floor and the whitewashed walls is a more modern, and much brighter interior.

An open staircase rises up from the centre of the ground level to the upper floor, which has four bedrooms and a second bathroom. Previously a very small room, this bathroom was extended into the space created above the new front entrance by the renovation.

The two bedrooms at the front of the upper level have small balconies and enjoy views out to the island. Loft spaces above the two bedrooms at the back are accessed by ladders. These can be used to accommodate extra guests or provide storage space.

Outside, a small deck that overlooked the beach was extended. Now, a much larger terrace wraps around three sides of the house, effectively increasing the living space. Whatever the wind direction, the owners can find a sheltered outdoor area for barbecuing and alfresco dining.

To create a large flat lawn between the house and sand dunes, landscape design company Natural Habitats raised the ground level. Corokia hedging and native grasses were planted to break up the expanse of timber decking. On the street side of the property, the hedges provide privacy and shelter from the wind for the small courtyard created by the extension to the front entrance of the house.

Story by: Mary Webb