When the harbour lives at the bottom of your garden, why wouldn’t you want to make the most of this extraordinary neighbour? This 396sqm architect-designed home relaxing across its site shows how it’s done. With its widespread glazing, connections to decks and an outdoor room with louvres, the house has front-row seats to one of the best views in town.The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home, clad in marine-hardy timbers, never overshadows its environs, however. It’s been skilfully built to make the most of the views without distracting from them. It’s a theme that continues inside, where the palette is natural and muted, and the finishing touches, such as the kitchen’s panelled walls and cabinetry and the tiled bathrooms are in keeping with the ambience. Luxurious? Yes. Obvious? Certainly not. The house also has two living rooms, one with a fire for cosy nights in. If, however, the residents want to dine outside and there’s an onshore wind, they can retreat to a tucked-away patio festooned with fairy lights. It’s one of the few places where the sea isn’t front and centre. Living spaces and bedrooms enjoy a marine outlook, and even the main-bedroom ensuite has a bath with a view.