How this family realised their dream of modern bach living

Background

For a family formerly based in Auckland, a piece of land on Waihi beach was too good to pass up and the lure of a relaxed lifestyle too strong. Until recently, there was a 50-year-old bach on the site of what is now Belinda and Andrew Greville’s showstopper of a house. They had it removed, giving them carte blanche to design their home on the beachfront site.

The brief

It was always going to be about the views, says Belinda, which extend to Tuhua (Mayor Island). The house they wanted to build had to honour the environment and not look like a blot on the landscape. “We’d always loved the look of cedar and knew it was particularly suited to the harsh coastal conditions,” says Belinda, even though they knew it would require regular staining.

Planning

The couple decided to Design & Build their new home and worked with one of Signature Homes’ chosen designers, so they could realise their hearts’ desire. “Our New Home Consultant was fantastic, organised at all the meetings with Signature and got back to us extremely promptly,” says Belinda.

Design

The couple wanted modern beachfront living, with a particular focus on outdoor living, which is where the family likes to be. The outside conversation and fire pit is where the family naturally congregates and it’s a great spot for entertaining.

Layout

Open the front door and the view extends down the hallway and all the way to the beach. The bedrooms, bathrooms and internally accessed garage feed off the long corridor at the rear of the house, before opening out to the living spaces. The lounge, kitchen-dining-living space and covered deck happily spread out here.

Interiors

“We wanted simple, clean lines and neutral tones,” explains Belinda. This translates to a predominantly white backdrop, with hits of black for contrast. Engineered timber floors in antique oak provide unity across the communal areas, while comfort was a factor in the bedroom wings, where Belinda went for “the lushest carpet I could find”.

Exterior

“Everyone loves the cedar and the fire pit is the talk of the beach as people stroll by,” says Debbie Williams, co-owner of Signature Homes Bay of Plenty and Coromandel, with her husband Craig.

The build

“The Signature team has the whole process so well organised that we ended up having an amazing experience and wouldn’t hesitate to do it again,” says Belinda. “The house was completed exactly on the date planned and Signature Homes took care of all the worries regarding getting tradies on site. They operate like a well-oiled piece of machinery, but with a heart, she says.

For more information on the Greville click here.