On the ground level is the main open-plan living with lounge and kitchen, plus two bedrooms and a bathroom. They extended and widened the deck with its frameless glass panels, added a window seat to look out to the deck and the water, and installed a new kitchen and bathroom. "We love the window seat, for sitting and relaxing," says Bronwen. "And I love the way the kitchen connects with it all because it's open-plan."
Throughout, they painted over the wooden interior walls, giving it more of an open feeling in a contemporary white finish, as well as whitewashing the wooden floors and using carpet for the bedrooms.
On the upper level is a lounge on the landing and the large master bedroom and bathroom.
The renovations have given a lighter feel to the whole home, explains Bronwen. "Everyone who comes here says how lovely and fresh the house feels."
With the large bunkroom, they can accommodate up to 14 people in the home, handy when the children were growing up and invited friends along on holiday. "I have two girls and a boy and whoever has their friends over tends to sleep in the bunkroom. The house can cope with large numbers and we're not on top of each other.
"Arran Bay is a great place, it's safe and we never had to worry about the children, they would roam between houses and do things they can't do in the city, like building play houses or playing bull rush."
The bay has about 15 houses, which makes for a close-knit holiday community. Each New Year's Eve, families gather for a bonfire on the beach; on Labour Day they have a barbecue at "unofficial mayor" Bob Gray's place; and in January there is the annual regatta between Orapiu and Arran Bay ,plus a fishing competition.
The boatshed beside the beach stores a speedboat, windsurfer, Laser and kayak. They also have two moorings, one a deepwater and the other closer into shore. "It's a boaties' paradise," says Bronwen. "When we are here we walk, sail, fish, kayak and windsurf. It is quite social in the bay but you can see as much or as little of the people as you want. You have Passage Rock and Poderi Crisci near enough and there are the vineyards like Man of War."
Why are they selling? "The home has been in the family 14 years, the children are older and they are not using it as much," says Bronwen.
"We want to do other things and Stefan is keen to do some sailing in the Pacific. It's just that we want a change, really. It would be lovely for another family to use it."
