If ever a home demonstrated spare, restrained elegance this is it. A pure form and clean lines are hallmarks of this contemporary barn-style home. Stretching out long on a semi-rural site, the 400sqm five-bedroom builder’s house is cutting-edge and filled with luxury comforts. Lying between the bush line and Mangawhai Heads, the house is clad in dark weatherboards and the covered entertaining area is trimmed with vertical cedar. The hardwood decking, which flanks the majority of the house, and golden cedar are wonderful counterpoints to the almost all-black structure. Skylights punctuate the dark steel roof, bringing in an abundance of natural light. On the ground floor, ceilings in the living area soar to trace the 45-degree roofline. The main-bedroom suite, which has its own balcony, occupies most of the upstairs level. It’s a lovely sanctuary. Bedrooms and bathrooms– there are four – are split between the levels. An L-shaped living space flows naturally from the kitchen to the dining and lounge areas, and then out to the covered deck. This home has everything needed for family life, and never deviates from being a showcase for craftsmanship and sublime pared-back style.