26 Molong is the star of the Windy Dropdown estate

BUILDER and owner Peter Trew has been in the building game a long time and is perhaps not easily impressed, but when he saw this block of land he knew it was something very special.”I couldn’t believe you could get this sized block, especially on top of a cliff, in a gated community,” he said during our walk around his simply sublime home.

He attributed the success of this three storey ocean side retreat to his great relationship with leading North Shore architect Mark Hercum.

“We understood each other,” said Peter of their easy and successful collaboration on this solid as a rock home.

Their clever, though unconventional decisions have made this house immensely liveable. The pool for instance, an elevated 15m strip of brilliant blue, is placed down the side the house, rather than in the conventional location across the front of the house.

“It’d be crazy out there – the winds can be strong,” said Peter. At the side of the house there is complete privacy, well proportioned shade and the chance to interact with the central courtyard where family and friends have fun while watching the kids swim, or splash along with the little kids in the brilliantly conceived 15m companion pool.

Nor have they wasted space with exterior decks on the cliff side of the house. The lounge room appears to jut out into the ocean, a sensuous 300 degree curved glass wall wraps around the creme carpeted expanse, with sliding doors that open wide, with people protected behind elegant balustrading.

A few steps away is the dining area and then the cool recess of the giant kitchen. Dark mushroom tones are a welcome contrast to the bright light of the glass walls, and the well outfitted culinary centre can cater for any number of lucky guests.

It is an entertainers’ home; one floor down (though it can be overlooked from the gantry) is a generous room with space for the pool table, screening area, wet bar and huge opening to the driveway bay.

Architecture than embraced the site makes this property extraordinary.

Despite the big proportions of everything here (even the translucent front door is enormous) the dynamic layout allows for continuing interest as rooms and views reveal themselves slowly.

Sleeping quarters are plentiful, with options for guests, children, even a nursery space (or study) is located near the exceptional master suite. Here again curves are celebrated, with a very private terrace offering a view to the ocean’s horizon. It’s hard to think what luxury is missing here – when asked if he could think of anything he may have missed Peter’s gaze turned out toward the ocean.

“A helipad. And this house is so strong it could take it,” he said with well deserved pride in a grand property.

Prue Miller is a journalist with News Ltd and can be read in The Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Telegraph and The Manly Daily

Superb at every turn.

PERHAPS it was the glistening drive around the Serpentine, winding my way down to Bilgola Ave, but by the time I came across home owner Rowena McGilvray watering the front garden, with 4yr old son Ben at her side, I was already in love with this house.

Rowena is the creative soul behind this boldly beautiful home which she has not gutted, but rather renovated to perfection. She explained on the way up the wide and welcoming front stairs that it was she who determined to make the steps this wide, and to keep the font of the house, including the front door, filled with simple glass.

“I wanted this house to be welcoming from the moment you arrived here.” And it is. From that front door the home seems to open up, with your line of sight immediately drawn through the house, through the enormous opening to the terrace (central to the living areas of the house) and out to the towering cabbage palms.

The main living area is a very big space, though not cavernous, nor fussy. The broad planks of the floor are not highly polished; the planks milled from recycled timber found in a Lidcombe factory. The ceiling retains the original battens, that intersect around the perfectly chosen overhead fans that lazily spin from their well designed fittings  around the house. A casual, classy Hamptons feel has rarely been captured so well.

As we stop for a cup of tea, there is time to admire the very long `kitchen’ bench topped in a gold flecked marble, over white painted cabinetry. The teas are, however, made in the very generous walk through butler’s pantry.

Across from here is another lounge area, that fits around an enormous fireplace with a sandstone clad chimney breast, besides which is a special spot I had admired in pictures, and quite literally adored in real life. The perfect window seat. “We all fight over who gets to sit here,” said Rowena as Ben jumped up to show me how he could stretch all the way out and still have room to spare.

As we walk toward the rear of the house, we pass three three large bedrooms where the McGilvrays’ four children rest their lucky heads and then enter their lounge wing.

“They have their own entrance,” said Rowena, pointing to the rear boundary through more enormous windows.

While Rowena and Ben struggle with a stubborn toy I went up stairs to the master bedroom, with it’s cute cape cod roof lined and painted timber ceilings and ample ensuite. Ben ran up the stairs and assures me it is a “loverly “house.

“The bones of this house,” said Rowena with admiration, “they were here when we arrived, and we couldn’t make it any better than it was.” However, I disagree. She is a highly talented designer and decorator, who has created a stunning family home that is more than welcoming, it is enchanting.

Prue Miller is a journalist with News Ltd and can be read in The Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Telegraph and The Manly Daily – on paper and online.