3 minute read
Porcelain stone
You would think the 60x120cm wall and floor tiles pictured here are natural stone, but Brymac Tiles have supplied a fully glazed “porcelain stoneware tile”: the Stone Valley Cenere. The design incorporates sand, salt crystals, ashes and earthy grains that have been powdered and ground down by time to resemble a unique natural stone.
Brymac Tiles 03 366 8187 brymactiles.co.nz
we could create sliding glass screens to protect us from the wind while still enjoying the outside spaces,” says the homeowner.
The outside area also features a pool and dry riverbed effect, an outside fire pit and an outdoor kitchen. Despite the neighbouring property being visible across the stream, the vista is one of calm greenery and sun-drenched serenity.
Inside, the large living zone gives the home an impressive sense of space. The kitchen and living area lead naturally outside, and the entire scheme of dark, earthy materials and natural tones make the home feel remarkably serene. The material and colour palettes cohesively continue throughout the bedrooms and bathrooms, where the vanities have been constructed from the same material as the kitchen benchtop. It’s a seamless result.
The kitchen and scullery have an elegance about them, while also maintaining functionality. The granite stone benchtop and island give depth and solidity to the space, and with self-closing skylights the room is lit up for an easeful dining experience.
Behind such a masterpiece is Master Builder Simon Construction, a Christchurch-based building company with more than 35 years in the industry. The awardwinning builder revels in these large-scale residential
• NZ owned and operated.
• We are also the leading supplier of stone machinery and tooling, leading advances in the NZ stone industry.
Touch And Feel
The Neolith Layla feature stone wall from CDK stone separates the entrance way and the media room, adding a touch of nature and warmth to the space.
builds and is well known for its work on a number of high-profile restoration projects across the city following the Christchurch earthquakes.
Company director, Josh Simon, says, “The entire build from foundations to roof was heavily detailed with a sleek design. The first challenge was constructing foundations adjacent to the river with an elevated water table. We met daily with the geotech engineer, and based on all our shared experiences, it became an early success.”
Another success was the build itself, particularly given Covid-19, building restrictions and problems with sourcing and transporting supplies.
“Simon Construction planned ahead, so I had no issue with GIB or cedar supply,” says the homeowner. “It’s thanks to their forward planning that the 18-month build went remarkably well.”
Outdoor Sanctuary
Outdoor living is maximised by this perfectly positioned swimming pool from Mayfair Pools.
Excellence In Engineering
There is always more than one solution, and the team of structural engineers at Pocket sought to find an innovative and sensitive response to the brief.
The entire home is designed with clean, straight, minimalistic lines, from the structural steel, block work and timber framing. There was no room for any variance, and everything was constructed with absolute precision. For example, the exterior windows and interior doors have no standard reveals, and there are no interior door heads, meaning door head clearance margins had to identically match the ceiling linings.
Simon Construction’s construction manager Geoff Atkinson explains more, saying, “For the doors to open and close 180 degrees to within two to three millimetres of the ceiling lining takes an enormous amount of precision. There was no room for any variance.”
Any true tradesman or consultant will recognise and respect this incredible attention to detail and accuracy. Other details continue throughout the home. All the rooms have recessed blinds and curtains, which are controlled by a remote.
The way the kitchen benchtop has been mitred in place shows off the finessed joinery at play, as well as all the custom-built cabinets. The built-in furniture and diversity of the recessed lighting options both within and outside the home also profile the second-to-none approach to this build.
Now, following an incredible amount of hard work, it’s time for the homeowners to relax, take a breath and enjoy their forever home. “I’ve been surprised at how much time we’ve spent outside,” says the homeowner.
The end result is a functional and prestigious home with exceptional outdoor-indoor living. The combination of both modern and traditional composition provides a timeless and contemporary home, which blends beautifully into the streetscape and streamscape.
Invo lved in this project
BUILDER
Simon Construction Limited 03 385 2881 simonconstruction.co.nz
ENGINEER
Pocket Engineering 03 390 1588 pocketeng.co.nz
NATURAL STONE BENCHTOPS, SPLASHBACK AND VANITIES
Artisan Stone 03 348 0680 artisanstone.co.nz
NEOLITH WALL, VANITIES AND SPLASHBACKS
CDK Stone 0800 803 932 cdkstone.co.nz
TILES
Brymac Tiles 03 366 8187 brymactiles.co.nz
MEDIA ROOM LOUNGE SUITE McKenzie & Willis 03 341 3380 mcw.co.nz
PLUMBING SUPPLIES
Oakleys Plumbing 03 379 4750 oakleysplumbing.co.nz
POOL
Mayfair Pools 03 348 872 mayfairpools.co.nz
STAIRS
D.J. Morrison Ltd 03 389 8288 furnituremakers.co.nz
