Linda and Andrew had owned their 1950s New Plymouth bungalow for years. Set just back from the ocean in Strandon, the site offered sea views, city proximity, and a relaxed, coastal lifestyle – the kind of place they knew they wanted to return to.

Rather than renovate the ageing bungalow, they chose to remove it entirely. The house was recycled, the site cleared, and plans for something new began to take shape.

With the build taking place in New Zealand and Linda and Andrew still based in Melbourne, the design process had to work a little differently, but that didn’t hold anything back.

“Every Friday, without fail, we’d get an email from our project manager with photos of what had happened that week,” says Linda. “It was the highlight of our week!”

Linda’s love of Art Deco design was the starting point for many of the home’s defining features. Having lived in an Art Deco-style apartment in her 20s, she had always been drawn to soft, sweeping lines, and wanted to bring that feeling into their new home in a fresh, modern way.

From the street, the curved white façade sets the tone. It softens the home’s crisp geometry and offers a subtle hint of the detail within. The exterior combines Nuwall Aluminium cladding with Specialised Caviteclad Thermashall Plaster, finished with a painted brick feature wall at the entrance – a low-maintenance solution ideal for the coastal setting.

Inside, that sense of movement continues. The staircase wraps around a dark timber wall, creating a sculptural feature in the centre of the home. 

In the kitchen, curves on either side of the island bench complement the flow of the space, echoed again in the scullery entry and even the laundry wall behind the stairwell.

The curved fireplace wall in the living area was a particularly difficult challenge for the Landmark team. “I don’t think they’d done these curves before,” says Andrew. “But when you look at them, you wouldn’t know because they’re so perfect.”

At the centre of the home, the kitchen balances personality and practicality. The green marble benchtop and splashback anchor the space, complemented by light timber cabinetry. A skylight above the island brings in natural light without blocking the ocean view, while lighting from About Space in Melbourne adds a subtle design edge.

Elsewhere in the home, practicality and design go hand in hand. The laundry is cleverly tucked behind the curved stairwell wall and includes a chute from the upstairs wardrobe – a feature that’s both useful and perfectly in tune with the home’s thoughtful detailing. “I love my laundry!” says Linda. “I think that’s the first time I’ve ever said that about a laundry.”

The natural palette continues in the bathrooms, with copper tapware, timber accents, and warm grey tiles that echo the tones used throughout. A curved vanity in the guest bathroom adds softness, while a built-in bench in the ensuite shower shows careful attention to comfort.

One of the boldest spaces is the striking powder room featuring tropical-patterned wallpaper from Grafico in Melbourne. “It’s amazing wallpaper,” says Linda. “They custom-printed for the space so that the print would fit the room perfectly.” 

Now fully settled in, Linda and Andrew are enjoying the relaxed pace they’d been looking forward to. Morning starts are a favourite, with automated blinds rising to reveal the ocean view, and a quiet sense of arrival that never wears off.

“Every morning I start the day with this wonderful smile,” says Andrew. “I walk out into the lounge, hit the button to open the blinds to see what’s happening in the ocean. It gives me a real boost – I love it.”

Reflecting on the build, the couple say it was the people who made the difference. “From day one, the Landmark Homes team was phenomenal. They were proactive and reassuring, always offering solutions and finding a way forward. Nothing ever felt too hard. They genuinely wanted to help us get the best result, and they’ve definitely delivered on that.”