Down The Line

Brief A laid-back island home where every room has sea views.

A long list of decisions needs to be considered when building a dream home. When that home is in the middle of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, every little resolve is increased tenfold, thanks to the sheer logistics of getting materials to the island. “You’ve got to be really organised – you’ve got to have time frames, there are vehicles and ferries to organise so it’s a pretty full-on project,” says Tony Smith of A1 Homes South Auckland.

After some persuading, he agreed to work with the Burdett family on their new build at Palm Beach. The streamlined design, housing three generations, was well worth the preparation sessions. “We worked closely with the owners, and sketched through several designs with them,” says Smith. “It worked out to be just what they wanted, so they’re really happy with it.”