Words by John Merriman. Photography by Nick Clayton
A holiday retreat, just six metres wide that had to cater for a family of five, needed specialised With enough room to sleep 14 people, John and Kerryn Harvey’s new home can cope with a partysized crowd for days on end. The couple wanted somewhere to relax with their two children Jackson, 5, and Zara, 2, and to use the home’s potential as a holiday shack.
After buying their block they were faced with the challenge of maximising views, which were to the rear and side of the north-facing block. “The way our block is situated, the views are to the rear over rolling hills, with sea views to the side,” John says. “We couldn’t find a house design to maximise those views because everything was basically back to front for us.”
John and Kerryn then approached Sarah Homes who modified a version of its two-storey Emily design. After basically reversing their home, they added large picture windows to ‘true’ front which faces the road. “We added the windows to make sure we get the northern sun as well as good ventilation through the home,” John says.
At dusk and dawn it is just great to look
out the windows or be sitting on the balcony
The house has three or four bedrooms on the ground floor, a large casual living area, bathroom with separate toilet and a laundry. “The design is great because when our kids get a bit older they can just hang out down there with their friends and have their own space,” John says. “And the adults can enjoy the relative peace upstairs.
Often when we come up to holiday here, we come with a couple of other families so there are always plenty of beds and room for everyone.”
Upstairs includes the main bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, central living area and a dining room. Sliding glass doors combine with large picture windows to maximise the gorgeous views to the rear and side of the home. “At dusk and dawn it is just great to look out the windows or be sitting on the balcony,” John says.
The couple combined purples and greys inside and outside the home. “We wanted weatherboard cladding for that holiday home feel, while inside I was sick of seeing yellow and blue colour schemes for holiday homes so we went with purples and greys,” he says.