104A Manly Street, Paraparaumu Beach, Kapiti Coast, Wellington, 5032, New Zealand

Thanks to a leafy back-section location, this home feels like one of Kapiti’s best-kept secrets. It’s only moments away from the beach and the park, and just a few minutes more to the shops and cafes of Paraparaumu Beach.

When you reach the end of the tree-lined driveway the house appears like an unexpected surprise: a picturesque place with arching eves and a vine-wrapped verandah, angled on a plot for all-day sun. It’s got a real ranch feel with the rake of the roof, and the traditional and timeless hardiplank construction, you know immediately it’s a place that’s bright and airy inside.

Once you’re through the front door: the entire home has been renovated to bring this beach retreat right up to date. It’s welcoming and modern, high-spec and low-maintenance, smart and cosy mix of spaces. The galley kitchen is expansive and well-equipped, the lounge is spacious, and the dining area is so flooded with light.

Downstairs there’s a double bedroom, a large laundry and family bathroom, and a spacious study. The upstairs bedrooms are spectacular – the ceilings stretch to the full height of the roof with exposed beams, and there are lots of windows to bring the outside in. The master bedroom is enormous, with a large ensuite and huge built-in robes.

There’s been a really clever approach to using space throughout the entire house – the garden is no exception, with raised beds growing bananas and passion-fruit alongside the native trees and shrubs. It’s a private sun-trap, great for al fresco entertaining, with lots of lawn too. There’s two sheds, a garage with loft space and masses of parking.

So whatever you’re looking for – a smaller space, a weekender, a starting-out or scaling down space, there’s plenty of it here in this secret, sun-drenched retreat of a place.