5 Glance Street, Warkworth. Photo / Supplied
Harbour views and easy access were the main reasons Bruce and Margaret McCallum chose this flat site on 7705sq m overlooking Sandspit marina about 18 years ago.
And Bruce didn't hesitate to use concrete tilt panels for the build of their home – "125mm of concrete and you have
no problems with leaks, no rotting timber".
"My wife wanted a slightly different home. Margaret and I are in our 70s now. You move on when you get to different ages," says Bruce.
"We are still at Sandspit, we absolutely love the place. We wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
"I designed this house and I have designed my new one."
The contemporary home, which enjoys a prime hill-top position, has a layout that focuses on the outdoor spaces as much as the interior. A long tree-lined driveway and bush surroundings provide privacy to home and its tropical garden.
"There is no one within cooee of it," he says. "The neighbours are probably 100m away.
There is all this bush, but we still get this beautiful outlook of the harbour which I think is one of the best little harbours around."
The home has numerous living areas, all with sea views, four double bedrooms, two bathrooms, laundry and an office as Bruce works from home most of the time.
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"My wife decided we needed a powder room and I think it is a good idea. We have done the same in the new house."
Flooring is tiled through the home except for the carpeted bedrooms and lounge.
The granite of the kitchen bench is repeated in the vanity tops of the bathrooms and the powder room.
Bruce points out the living room's "cappuccino corner".
"It's a little nook that has glass and looks right out on to the harbour and the marina.
That's where Margaret and I sit together when we want to talk about things.
"I came up with the idea that you cut the corner of the house and then you have two rooms that enter on to this outdoor area. So we had the lounge that could go out of this outdoor area and also the family room. You can open up or close up a big area with bi-folds.
"The home is single storeyed and has such a good flow."
A large garage is attached to the home, and there's a separate workshop and plenty of parking for cars and boat.
Two of their children were married on the property.
"My youngest daughter got married up by one of the ponds. They had six bridesmaids and four groomsmen and I put substantial circular wooden structures into the pond like lily pads for them to stand on during the ceremony."
The photographs were taken with the bridal party standing across the pond.
There was a nervous moment when one of the group dropped a ring in the pond but Bruce says the ceremony continued without the ring and they managed to fish it out later.
"The other daughter was married around the front of the property overlooking the harbour.
"We have very nice memories of this home."
He says the close community is what he and Margaret like about Sandspit and they're only a short drive away from Warkworth or Snells Beach.
"And obviously the water and launching facilities for boats. We just love the harbour and out around Kawau.
"Our kids have been bought up here. We are here to stay."
5 GLANCE ST, SANDSPIT
• 4 bedrooms, 3 bathroom, 3 parking spaces.
• Land 7705sq m, house 326sq m.
• Price: $1.92 million.
• Inspect: Sun 1-2pm or by appointment.
• Schools: Warkworth or Matakana Primary, Mahurangi College.
• Contact: Jennie Georgetti, LJ Hooker, 021 389 236.