Elegance meets performance in this dark delight a stone’s throw from the Avon Heathcote Estuary. From the moment you sight the 166sqm house cloaked in moody timber-panel cladding and sheltered by a pair of magnolia trees, you know this is something special. The north-facing house with a monopitch roof welcomes with semi-covered outdoor living zone that runs the length of the house. The horizontal boards of the house are juxtaposed with the balustrades around the deck and beside the timber steps that lead to the main entrance.

Open the door and you’re right inside the open-plan kitchen and dining area where the moody hues of the cladding are repeated in feature walls, cabinets, shelving and the kitchen island. These are offset by a stunning green-tile splashback and neutral decor in the rest of the house. Wide sliders open the dining room and separate lounge to that lovely long deck. For all its dark good looks, this two-bathroom home is also a performer and represents value for money. Claddings, roofing and fixtures were chosen with the salt air in mind and are low maintenance. Internal walls have noise-control insulation and over-height doors are polycore filled to further dampen sound. In case of floods, the house is 1.8m above the ground, which also provides underfloor storage. Most crucially, the owners love their new home.