Multi Award Winning – Bespoke Design – Manufacture – Installation

Crisp Finish

The fresh walls in the superb interiors were expertly painted by Dyer Decorating.

Anderson Interiors was a great help in helping me achieve this look.”

This New York style is continued throughout the rest of the home. For example, the ensuite and walk-in wardrobe have plenty of room for clothing, shoes and space to get changed, while the kitchen has those black and white tones throughout.

The couple worked directly with Larissa Brekelaar, designer at Modern Age Kitchens and Joinery, to achieve their desired look in the kitchen, scullery, laundry, office and bedroom wardrobes.

“Sarah loved black and white, and she had lots of inspirational images when she came to see me,” says Larissa. “She knew she wanted a sleek yet functional and cohesive space, so we used only a few materials but showcased them in different ways.”

Enticing Interiors

For example, the Acrymatte cabinetry in the kitchen is a soft matt finish with anti-fingerprint resistance, so it stands out well in the dark kitchen. The simple, light marble-look Calacutta Gio benchtop pulls through the colours and looks incredibly sophisticated. “To provide some texture we changed the overheads and feature shelving to a black-stained veneer, so it ties in nicely and has a subtle texture," says Larissa.

Sarah and Howard are pleased with the kitchen, which often becomes the hub of the household’s activities. As Larissa says, “Some people underestimate how important a well-designed kitchen is. Having a space like this creates a really beautiful central area which grounds the home.”

Every aspect inside the home’s walls were coordinated by the homeowners. As a result, they felt entirely in control of the process and knew exactly where they were in the process. This was very much a hands-on build, so a strong relationship with their builder GMac Builders, and draftsman Steve Butterworth, was going to be crucial.

GMac Builders have had a presence in the Canterbury region for almost 20 years, so over this time director Geoff and his team have gathered longterm relationships with subcontractors and suppliers throughout the region.

Geoff was born and bred in Canterbury, so he understands the industry and specialises in a range of building services, from bathroom and kitchen renovations to new house builds, home extensions and earthquake repairs.

“Architecturally designed homes always throw up a few challenges,” says Geoff. “An experienced builder can generally work through issues as they arise.”

The biggest challenge of all were the constant supply issues and price increases. “The GIB board crisis had a direct impact on this job, pushing the completion date out.”

In addition, the couple introduced some special effects lighting in some of the living areas and master bedroom that didn’t feature on the plans. “We were able to come up with a solution to achieve this,” says Geoff. “And we had to give some forethought to the outdoor fire, as the Kwila deck was not going to support the 800 kilograms Masport Matakana fire, so we needed to construct piles at an extra depth, and joists spaced closer together to carry the weight before laying the decking.”

The homeowners were impressed with Geoff and his team of Hayden, Greg and Leon who worked on this job. “Nothing was a problem, and they saw any problems before we did and dealt with them promptly,” says Howard. “They were very professional and completed work to a very high standard.”

The result is a great family home, with lots of communal spaces as well as private areas to retreat to.

This family has created something that expresses their dreams as a family. The home’s success is also largely due to the extensive research and many hours the homeowners spent envisioning the kind of house they wanted. It is the embodiment of who they are.

BUILDER GMac Builders Ltd 0274 940 665 gmacbuilders.co.nz

DRAFTSMAN SWB Designs Ltd 03 338 4768 swbdesign.co.nz

INTERIOR DESIGNER

Julie Anderson Interiors 021 921 214

KITCHEN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE Modern Age Kitchens and Joinery 03 365 1675 modernagekitchens.co.nz

FLOORING AND CARPETS Floor Pride 03 348 0939 floorpride.com

EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR CLADDING

Hard as Rocks Ltd 0800 353 672 hardasrocks.co.nz

DECKING

One Stop Deck Shop 0508 4 DECKS onestopdeckshop.co.nz

PAINTING

Dyer Decorating 027 229 4421

LOUVRES Louvre Concepts 0800 568 837 louvreconcepts.co.nz