Amaia: Sun-Drenched Living with the Spirit of Spanish Architecture

Nestled on a quiet street in the Gold Coast’s Burleigh Waters, PJH Constructions' latest project, Amaia, offers a sophisticated blend of palatial elegance and Spanish architecture. 

From sweeping arches and limestone flooring to soaring ceilings and Silver River Marble, every detail of Amaia has been meticulously crafted. The home is a seamless fusion of luxury and lifestyle — a warm, detailed residence that fosters a genuine sense of connection and comfort.

Co-owners of PJH Constructions, Nicki and Paul Harms, closely collaborated with Jayson Pate Design from concept to completion to bring their vision to life.

From the streetfront, Amaia stands in quiet serenity, its Spanish sensibility boldly distinct yet harmoniously balanced against neighbouring homes. Nicki explains that their goal was to create a property that appeals to a broad spectrum of buyers while still capturing the essence of their unique design style.

“We wanted the front to have a point of difference from the rest of the street and have something a bit more striking than everything you see in the neighbourhood. We think it looks warm and inviting with all the natural materials.”

This Spanish-inspired exterior flows seamlessly throughout the home, from the master ensuite to the dedicated wellness area — each space echoing its rustic yet refined appeal.

“We really loved the Spanish architecture look, and that's what we’ve done with the front façade. That’s how we started, and then the rest of the interiors evolved from that,” Nicki explains.

Within its walls, Amaia showcases exceptional craftsmanship and grandeur, with four-metre-high ceilings that bathe its arches and curves in a golden, inviting glow. The combination of handcrafted textures, from Venetian plaster and natural stone to microcement, is balanced by sleek modern accents like black aluminium glass doors and brushed gunmetal tapware.

“We wanted to give it more of a contemporary feel with the black aluminium glass doors; we’ve got some aged bronze lighting to give it more of a luxurious feel than just that traditional style,” says Nicki.

Framed by waterfront views, Amaia’s spaces are designed to flow from one to the next, with each maintaining its own distinct character. The home strikes a balance between retreat and connection, achieved by the thoughtful design of Jayson Pate.

“He was able to create a home with different zones and different areas for living, but they’re interconnected really well; they flow beautifully through to each other, so it's functional for a family to live in or perfect for people to entertain in the home,” says Nicki.

The interiors are unified by an earthy, natural palette of organic textures, creating rich visual interest from floor to ceiling.

“I didn’t want to go too bright white in here; I wanted to make sure that everything was natural materials with really nice textures,” she adds.

Indoor and outdoor living are woven together through the continuous flow of limestone flooring, which extends from the front of the home to the adjoining alfresco area.

“The natural stone we selected has a lot of variation,” says Nicki. 

“So there's the light beige; it even has a gunmetal grey colour in it, and that blends really nicely with the warm render colour we’ve selected and the deeper wood colour of the knot wood.”

At the heart of the home, the kitchen and dining area exude an earthy elegance beneath softly curved ceilings and high-set windows, thoughtfully positioned to draw sunlight deep into the interior.

“It changes as the sun moves across the space, so the first thing in the morning, it's calm and light — at the end of the day, the sun shines through here and gives it a beautiful glow,” Nicki notes. “The materials we've used really enhance that.”

One of Nicki’s favourite spaces is the main bathroom, where custom craftsmanship, textured microcement, and bold brushed gunmetal tapware anchor the room with a sense of cool contrast.

The custom concrete-formed bath features perimeter-wrapped heating and is finished with cohesive microcement, seamlessly tying its sculptural form into the bathroom’s design. Recessed wall shelves, brushed gunmetal tapware, and an overhead skylight evoke a calming bathhouse ambience.

“You can lie in the bath and look up through the skylight at the sun or stars, and it has a beautiful retreat feel,” says Nicki. 

“Some standout pieces that have worked really well in the home are the brushed gunmetal shower heads up against the microcement in the shower.”

PJH Constructions has thoughtfully incorporated entertaining and wellness features throughout Amaia to elevate every aspect of the home.

“You can also access the wellness area through the master ensuite, where we’ve got a cold plunge shower and outdoor infrared sauna,” says Nicki. “We’ve created that space to feel like you are secluded and in a completely different section of the house.”

Amaia’s master suite is a luxurious retreat, enveloped in rich mocha tones and warm timber. Minimalist in its detailing, the space opens to water views and rolling hills beyond, softened by sheer curtains that filter a gentle, hazy light throughout the room.

The master suite flows effortlessly into the walk-in robe and ensuite, all connected by a cohesive palette of texture, colour, and style — creating a private retreat, distinct from the rest of the home.

“It's got the recycled timber, recycled beams, and beautiful aged bronzed lighting throughout.”

“This project has taught me that although we’re trying to build homes to appeal to a large group of people, it's still okay to go out of the box and do something different."

PJH Constructions are no strangers to ABI, having featured our products in several of their other standout projects, including Kooringal Lodge and The Breeze House.

“We have used ABI products through so many homes, I've lost count,” Nicki admits. 

“I knew once we had come up with how the front facade was going to look and what kind of style of home, the brushed gunmetal was going to be perfect. It blends with our chosen colour palette; it's not super shiny, but it has a great feel with these muted colours.”

Amaia is a home that balances presence and personality, a thoughtful design made to be lived in and loved for generations.

“If someone were standing in Amaia for the first time, I would want them to feel calm and inspired — like they want to spend a whole lot of time in this space.”

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