Tairua: Sand between your toes

Holiday homes don't come much more beachfront than this luxury pad in Tairua. By VICKI HOLDER.

Memories of blissful, sundrenched days in Tairua as a child drew Kendall Kitto back to this picturesque beach resort with her husband, Kevin. Searching for the perfect holiday home, they were astounded when a beachfront bach was actually on the market.

What they found was a modest, weatherboard place. "The thing that drew us was the fabulous position, right on the waterfront. You just can't get that usually."

So close to the beach, the views are simply breathtaking, say the Kittos. "You can see the sea, you can smell it, you can hear it. When the waves are roaring and the surfers are out, it's entertaining. Then you can sit there in the calm and watch dolphins go by, people swimming and walking."

Kevin and Kendall enjoyed their little bach for a while, but soon started toying with grander plans. "We wanted a home that was gutsy and masculine; something solid and square with cedar monsoon shutters. It had to work around the existing house and the posts would have to be wrapped in pillars."

Robert Madenblick designed them a large, four-bedroom home on two levels, which opens out to generous decks, only a few metres from the sand. All in one big, open space, the lounge, dining room and kitchen eases out to a terrace where you can sit back and enjoy a glass of wine al fresco with friends and family while watching the waves lap at your feet. Sliding cedar monsoon shutters on the upper deck give privacy and shade when the sun gets too hot.

The interior is clean-lined and simple. Limewashed, sand-coloured walls have colour accents of orange and terracotta tiled flooring. It's practical and easy to clean when the sand is at the doorstep, especially important when you have two lively dogs like the Kittos.

Made for entertaining, the kitchen has extras like heat lamps for keeping meals warm. Kendall had a cafe in Tairua and brought many of "her cheffing comforts" to this home, including the large Whirlpool fridge-freezer and the Whirlpool six-burner gas hob and double wall oven.

Also on the upper level is the master bedroom, which takes a good half of the space. A walk-in dressing room has cabinets made of swamp kauri, hand-crafted by a gent from Tairua who was also responsible for the kitchen cabinetry and various other cabinets throughout the house. The en suite features twin basins and a bidet beside the toilet. A shower over the bath does away with cleaning shower doors.

A guest bathroom has the benefit of an en suite as well. This room looks out to a glazed deck where the Kittos and their friends shelter when the weather is not so pleasant.

Downstairs, two more spacious bedrooms, equipped with double wardrobes, are used as a solarium/office and a gym. Designed as a kids' lounge, another living area on the ground level opens to a covered patio.

A low-maintenance tropical seaside rock garden is planted with succulents, hibiscus, grasses, proteas, palms and a dragon tree. Impressive dry stone walls along the front of the home provide privacy and a degree of security, while plants in terracotta pots create colour contrasts around the decks.

Placed in a sheltered spot on the outdoor entertaining area, a stainless-steel gas barbecue lets the chef continue to cook the steaks, should rain arrive at an inopportune moment.

Offering many practical design contingencies, this big, comfortable, waterfront home on the sand ensures nothing gets in the way of relaxing and having a great holiday.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 4 Hemi Place, Tairua.

FEATURES: Luxurious private beachfront home completed in July 2003; four bedrooms, master and guest room with en suites; two lounges; gymnasium; formal and informal living; generous outdoor living; double garaging; landscaped garden with easy-care coastal plantings.

SIZE: Land area 675sq m.

AUCTION: 2pm, March 3, at Barfoot & Thompson's city auction rooms.

AGENT: Nick Robinson, Barfoot & Thompson, Highland Park. Ph 534 9042 bus; 025 929 737 mob.