new home

Escape the rush

24 April, 2014 by Living Edge

For the owners of this new home close to the seaside, every day feels like a holiday

While some of us love the buzz of inner city living, many others are attracted to the peace that’s to be found when you choose a home in one of Auckland’s iconic seaside suburbs.

For the owners of this Long Bay home, coming back after a day at work or school feels like being on holiday every day. But this is no bach. Instead, it’s a home designed with all the luxury and comfort of a city pad.

The formal and informal living spaces on the ground floor are partly demarcated by a small change in level, but they still flow smoothly together. And, with four bedrooms upstairs, there is more than enough space for everyone.

“The children can do their homework and we can entertain friends, without one activity interfering with another,” the owners say.

“But at the same time, there’s a sense of togetherness that you don’t always find in an older house with more separate spaces.”

Polished floorboards and the soft, sandy, neutral tones on the walls create a warm backdrop for the contemporary-style furnishings of the house. The interior designer’s choice of large, comfortable-looking sofas and low coffee tables enhances the spacious feel. The kitchen and family living area open out to a private, sheltered terrace.

Lively splashes of colour have been introduced to brighten the informal living area. A designer kitchen with an extra-large island and extensive bench space along two back walls gives plenty of scope for cooking and socialising. The furniture-style central island incorporates a breakfast bar, which has a black granite benchtop for a touch of glamour.

The white marble splashback in this kitchen is a subtle feature, in contrast to the highly polished granite benchtop and white lacquered cabinetry.

Upstairs are three bedrooms, a family bathroom, and a master bedroom with an ensuite. The double garage includes ample space for storage of bikes and other sports gear that every family accumulates.

The theme of neutral painted walls and carpets carries through into the guest bedroom. Bright lime green cushions and a throw reflect the colours outside the window.

Shades of blue, also part of the landscape, brighten this bedroom.

Designer: Shang Da Wei

Kitchen designer and manufacturer: Gu Bao Kitchen Company

Oven, dishwasher, cooktop, rangehood: Bosch

Flooring: American oak

Wall paint: Dulux

Window and door joinery: Chang Cheng

Furniture: Living Edge

About Long Bay

Just half an hour from the CBD, the development nestles alongside the Long Bay Regional Park. It offers residents the pleasure of living in a spectacular coastal environment within easy distance of all amenities that a world-class city like Auckland has to offer.

Source: Long Bay Trends is published by Trends Publishing International Limited.

Long Bay : www.longbay.co.nz

PHONE: 0800 LONG BAY

New Homes on the Scene

21 April, 2014 by Living Edge

With its expansive living spaces and sheltered garden, this home is a great place for a family

Before setting off to buy a new home it’s often a good idea to draw up a wish list. Some aspects of it will be practical and fairly easy to achieve and other items may be harder to find.

At Long Bay, new homes such as the house featured on these pages are designed with young families in mind. This home has a sunny north-facing aspect across the wetlands and towards the sea.

On the ground level the house has plenty of living space, with the formal lounge at the front overlooking the streetscape. This area integrates seamlessly with the kitchen, dining and family room, making a space that’s equally ideal for family activities and for entertaining groups of friends.

The casual living spaces then flow out through French doors onto a sheltered and private terrace at the back of the house. Oriented to face the north and west, this terrace catches the sun for most of the day and in the early evening. A guest bathroom downstairs draws a line between public and private spaces.

Upstairs are three bedrooms and a family bathroom, plus a master suite with its own ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.

Polished floorboards and a color scheme in shades of white enhance the feeling of light and spaciousness, and a distinctive personality is introduced through the owners’ choice of objets d’art, cushions and rugs.

Weatherboards teamed with windows and front door in a geometric grid give this house a smart, contemporary appearance.

White painted walls and polished wooden floors provide a connection between the formal and informal living areas in this house. Both areas look out onto the terrace and garden.

Wide vertical windows give a good view from the dining table into the garden and ensure plenty of natural light comes into the house.

The island benchtop in the kitchen and casual living area makes this space into a gathering point for friends and family.

The master suite opens up onto its own balcony, which looks out towards Long Bay. The black, white and taupe color scheme gives the room a crisp, contemporary look.

Designer: Shang Da Wei

Kitchen designer and manufacturer: Gu Bao Kitchen Company

Oven, dishwasher, cooktop, rangehood: Bosch

Flooring: American oak

Wall paint: Dulux

Window and door joinery: Chang Cheng

Furniture: Living Edge

About Long Bay

Source: Long Bay Trends is published by Trends Publishing International Limited.

Long Bay : www.longbay.co.nz

PHONE: 0800 LONG BAY

Long Bay – New home

15 April, 2014 by Living Edge

Built on the corner of two streets, this home has been designed to have a close connection with its local neighbourhood.

Developing a sense of community spirit is part of the philosophy behind the guidelines provided to builders at Long Bay. Many of the homes are designed to connect with the street so new residents can easily meet; facilities at the playground were planned to encourage community get-togethers, and some of the streets are designated as shared areas, so children can ride their bikes and play safely outside.

This new home, by architectural designer Alistair Dodds of Adoa Ltd, features a terrace downstairs and balconies on the upper level, to help reinforce the connection with neighbours.

Inside, the formal living room at the front of the house looks out towards both streets, and the family living area at the back opens up onto a more private garden that faces north.

Upstairs are three generous bedrooms and a family bathroom, plus a master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom. The bedrooms are light and airy, with the two larger rooms featuring pitched cathedral style ceilings and picture windows.

One of the particular challenges of this site at Long Bay was the need for the house to look good on two street frontages. Architectural designer Alistair Dodds added terraces at ground level and balconies with glass balustrades at the upper level to help connect the house with the street and to break up the structure.

A large family living, dining and kitchen area at the back of the house connects loosely with the formal living room at the front of the house. White painted walls are complemented by dark-stained timber floors. With an island breakfast bar, the kitchen is equally handy for children doing homework after school or for entertaining friends. An all-white colour scheme and cabinetry with concealed handles create a minimalist look for the kitchen.

Gabled ceilings in the bedroom let in plenty of light and offer views of the neighbourhood. A glass balustrade on the balcony ensures views are unimpeded

“These high gabled windows follow the line of the roof and have the effect of making the entire house appear visually lighter and less imposing on the exterior,” says Dodds.
Because the house is on a corner, Dodds decided to repeat the gables and balconies on both street facades to create a sense of balance and symmetry. “Overhangs on the two gables, an entry recess and mix of materials help to break up the volume of this large family home,” he says.

Architectural designer: Alistair Dodds

Roof: Elk Asphalt roofing shingles

Cladding: Weatherboard, brick

Window and door joinery: Elite Windows

Balustrade on balconies: Toughened glass

Kitchen manufacturer: Concept 2012

Kitchen benchtop: Engineered stone

Cabinetry finish: Lacquer

Oven, dishwasher, cooktop: Miele

Flooring: American oak

Paint: Dulux, British Paints

Furniture: Living Edge

About Long Bay

Source: Long Bay Trends is published by Trends Publishing International Limited.

Long Bay : www.longbay.co.nz

PHONE: 0800 LONG BAY

new home

Escape the rush

For the owners of this new home close to the seaside, every day feels like a holiday

New Homes on the Scene

With its expansive living spaces and sheltered garden, this home is a great place for a family

Long Bay – New home

Built on the corner of two streets, this home has been designed to have a close connection with its local neighbourhood.

Address

Contact us

Get in Touch