
Crime fiction writer Loraine Peck selling luxury beach home
Award-winning Australian author Loraine Peck and her husband Stead Denton are ready to downsize from their luxurious beach home on the Gold Coast.
. It's the very house where Mrs Peck, a crime-fiction novelist, penned her first book, The Second Son, in the study nook of the apartment.
The Main Beach residence offers the best of apartment living but the feel of a luxury home.
Positioned within easy reach of Tedder Ave, parks and the beachfront, The Hill Pde
apartment occupies the lower two levels of the award-winning Axis building and boasts its own private yard and swimming pool.
Mrs Peck and Mr Denton bought the three-bedroom apartment seven years ago.
At the time, they were looking for a villa, but the property's garden, pool, house-like design, and private entrance sealed the deal.
'When we walked in here it was just wow,' Ms Peck said.
'The light pouring in through those double-height windows facing north and the space, it was such an uplifting feeling.'
Known as 'The Axis Beach House', the property features floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the private garden, with two bedrooms, a study nook and spacious master suite with private balcony on the upper floor.
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Downstairs, the lower level is dedicated to entertaining, with the open plan lounge, dining area and kitchen seamlessly connecting to the immaculately landscaped yard.
'The garden is a private sanctuary, and we've spent many wonderful days with friends and family swimming, eating and drinking – sometimes even dancing,' Ms Peck said.
'We completely forget that there are apartments above us.
'We have no common walls and as we have so much internal and external space, it really does feel like we're living in a house.'
Initially the property served as Ms Peck and Mr Steadman's holiday home, but soon became the couple's main residence.
Over seven years living there, Ms Peck has not only completed an award-winning debut novel and its sequel but has also given parts of the home a makeover.
Improvements include a kitchen renovation, updated bathrooms, new oak flooring, painting, drapes, and wallpaper.
'But the garden was the big one,' Ms Peck said.
'We planted out a Tuscan villa kind of garden that's lush and green all year round with lots of herbs and palms to add a tropical touch, and our veggie pod, which is tucked away in the utility area, provides fresh greens.'
In addition to being a private oasis, the property's central location is also a drawcard, offering access to parks, the yacht club, restaurants, the beach, and Broadwater.
'We love Main Beach, it's such an easy yet sophisticated place to be,' Ms Peck said.
'Being next to the river is lovely too.
'We take a couple of fold-out chairs out there and fish for whiting, bring the fish back home, barbecue it, and enjoy a glass of wine… bliss.'
The prized apartment is now set to go to auction on June 11 with Ms Peck noting it would suit a range of people.
'Living here has been such a delightful experience,' she said.
'It's just like living in a two-storey house with a large garden and pool out the back, but you can lock it and leave it whenever you want and know you have all the security of living in a residential-only high rise.'
The property is marketed via Robbie Graham and Michael Willems of Ray White Main Beach.
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