An Enviable Lifestyle
Newcastle Herald
Saturday November 1, 2003
PLAY tennis to the ring of bellbirds in the rainforest and be cooled by ocean breezes.
That is part of the enviable lifestyle offered by this Caves Beach property on a ridgeline about as high up on prestigious Scenic Drive as you can get.
The road, once used as a shortcut to the Pacific Highway, is now a cul-de-sac allowing the residents unfettered enjoyment of their idyllic surroundings.
This split-level house is backed by bushland with ocean views from the front. One of its best features are the large decks off all the living areas looking to ocean, bush or mountain views.
Owners Peita Heffernan and Peter Lane had the top part of the house built seven years ago.
They then decided to extend down the block and have just finished more than doubling its size.
The extension has made it a four-bedroom home with enough self-contained living accommodation to comfortably house two families.
There was little use for the rear yard sloping steeply away from the house until the owners decided to take advantage of the incline by building large deck areas and a high-fenced tennis court on a platform supported by steel bearers.
It's a design that maximises the bushland views to the Watagan mountain range from the rear of the house.
Extensive use of timber inside and out enhances the home's country retreat atmosphere.
A pole home with the central timber pole adding character to the upper living area, it is built of western red cedar with a Colorbond roof. There's Blackbutt timber flooring, timber-lined ceilings and beams, timber decking and stairways and a country timber kitchen upstairs.
On the front, ocean side of the house, a wide driveway and parking area gives access to the double garage which opens into the house through a large laundry.
The original house offers an open-plan kitchen/living area opening to a deck at the rear.
Also on this entry level is a three-way bathroom which doubles as an ensuite having access from the main bedroom.
Downstairs is a large timber floored family room and a sparkling well-fitted wet bar/kitchen area with a slate tiled floor.
It leads down a few stairs to an even larger, carpeted living area leading out to the entertainment space.
This level includes another large bedroom with a lovely new ensuite plus another two bedrooms.
Extensive use of glass bricks and air-conditioning are other features.
With a convenient location close to the beach, schools, transport, shops and sporting fields, this is the ideal family and entertainer's house.
© 2003 Newcastle Herald
