This grand Hamptons-style family home in Tennyson offers four levels of luxury living, a swimming pool and panoramic views spanning from the Adelaide Hills to the CBD, all within steps of the sand.
Building a house from afar isn’t an easy job, but when the Covid pandemic hit, Ben and Natalie did just this.
They had been renting nearby for over a decade when 24 Seaview Road, Tennyson came on the market.
The couple already knew they loved Tennyson, so they wasted no time putting down an offer, hoping to create their dream home in this beachside locale.
“It’s located on – in our opinion – the best stretch of beach in metropolitan Adelaide and yet despite this, it is off the beaten track enough to be quiet while only being a 25-minute walk down the beach to Henley Square,” says Ben.
After purchasing the property in 2017, the couple moved into the house with their young children, but they soon outgrew the property’s dated 1950s dwelling.
“We purchased the property with an old house on the block that was only really suitable to be knocked down, although we lived in it for almost two years,” says Ben.
“The main attraction was the location – in an elevated position with views both west across Gulf St Vincent and east over the city and to the Hills.
“It’s also directly opposite a nearly private path to the beach and our son used to count the number of steps from his bed to the sea – at low tide, he almost made it to 100.”
Ben and Natalie enlisted Medallion Homes to create their four-storey Hamptons-style dwelling, which has five bedrooms and three bathrooms.
They designed the house in 2019, but when the Covid pandemic was declared, Ben and Natalie found themselves locked down behind the Western Australian border.
But with the full suite of services provided by Medallion – including an architect, in-house interior design, and a site manager – they were able to build the house between 2020 and 2021.
“They were an absolutely fantastic company to work with and we truly appreciated every member of the team who helped with the project,” Ben tells SALIFE.
“Medallion was great at guiding us through what was and what wasn’t possible while listening to our needs.
“We had a lot of input into the layout of the house but also into the fixtures and fittings, sourcing brassware from Europe, lighting from Italy and England and importing large, efficient and beautiful fans from the US and interstate.”
For the interior design, Ben and Natalie opted for a timeless, classic look, with timber floors, fireplaces and wooden panelling.
Ben says a priority of the build was to have sufficient living space, while other must-haves included a stylish but effective kitchen with a large butler’s pantry, a high energy efficiency rating, and a lift for ease of access to the dwelling’s four storeys.
The couple also created a large entertaining area on the first floor, with views spanning from the sea all the way to the Hills.
Upstairs, Ben and Natalie designed a private retreat for when their parents visit from the United Kingdom, while the ground floor has spacious bedrooms for their children and the master suite, with its walk-in wardrobe and ensuite.
"We will miss the close community of Seaview Road and the ability to walk barefoot out of the front door, glass of wine in hand, to sit on the beach and watch the sunset while the kids play in the dunes of sand."
Outdoors, in the landscaped gardens, you will find the outdoor kitchen and entertaining area, as well as an in-ground pool.
Ben says his favourite room of the house is the first-floor living area, with its traditional wood-burning fireplace and oak flooring “that is cosy in the winter”.
He adds that during the summer it, “transitions through sheer curtains and French doors to a modern enclosed outdoor living area with fully retractable bifold windows and sweeping views over the Adelaide Hills”.
“The feeling of swimming amongst the trees when on the first-floor elevated swimming pool is also pretty amazing,” he says.
For Natalie, her pride and joy is the kitchen, which features a double integrated fridge/freezer and a free-standing Falcon oven and cooktop.
“I love the kitchen with the range cooker and large communal island; being able to see the sea while cooking and eating is something truly special and the room is the focal point for family life,” she says.
“My other is our master bedroom, which overlooks the pool and trees – it is a very calming place for a morning coffee while watching the sunrise over the hills.”
The couple has integrated clever functional features into the home, from the laundry chute system to the entryway mudroom for sandy shoes.
But after around eight years, Ben and Natalie have decided to pass on the keys for a new family to enjoy the home.
The couple says they’ll miss the close-knit community of Tennyson, as well as the home’s proximity to the beach.
“The community herd has an old-style feel where the neighbours really look out for each other,” says Ben.
“We will miss the close community of Seaview Road and the ability to walk barefoot out of the front door, glass of wine in hand, to sit on the beach and watch the sunset while the kids play in the dunes of sand.”
The sale of 24 Seaview Road, Tennyson is being handled by Grant Giordano and Jacqui Ilicic from Giordano & Partners.