At first the intention was to renovate the 1920s cottage on a tiny section close to the beach. But on closer inspection Mike realised time had taken its toll and the best option was to re-create the quaint cottage.

So successfully has this been done that from the outside it’s hard to tell this is a new build, which is among the reasons judges in the 2016 House of the Year were so impressed with it - and presented Belco Homes with a Gold Award, Category Win, and to top it off a Gold Reserve Award.

Traditional weatherboards clad the exterior and the double-glazed aluminium windows are set into timber frames. Inside, matai flooring salvaged from the original cottage is a feature of the living area at the front of the house.

What was the kitchen has become a modern bathroom with separate toilet. A floor-to-ceiling storage unit of drawers, shelves and cupboards maximises hall space between utility area and the two bedrooms. Solar panels provide hot water and the home is wired for sound throughout, adding to the holiday atmosphere.

In this part of the home the finish is true to the 1920s era but the kitchen-living area, which leads from it, combines both traditional and new.

Kitchens are often the preserve of the ’resident chef’ but this one has been designed so anyone and everyone can be part of meal preparation - at any time of the day or night.

The long galley style design provides ample space for several people to work together. There’s a conventional electric stove and an impressive solid fuel oven too, so feeding a small summer army or keeping winter time visitors warm is no problem. The room’s polished concrete floor can cope with sand and spills too.

The large and attractive room has a high stud and is filled with light thanks to skylights and two extensively glazed walls.

And there in the very same light and airy room, meals can be enjoyed, or taken out onto the deck and lawn. This is truly a heart of the home kitchen in the best traditions of Kiwi beach bach living.

Large doors, which open wide, let the outside in and encourage enjoyment of the pleasant back yard where wooden decking leads from the living area to the private lawn big enough for at least a couple of tents to accommodate holiday guests. The garage also serves as a bunk room.

Beach living is all about enjoying the ocean, so the provision of an outside shower is an asset too. In designing this home, Kathy and Mike gave thought about now and the future. Currently, it’s a wonderful holiday home for a teenage family and friends, which will in the future be enjoyed by grandchildren too. And eventually, become a cosy, comfortable and practical retirement haven.