Crafting a home for generations

It takes more than the ability to build a great house to build a home that will be loved and appreciated for years to come. Tasman builder and president of the Nelson Master Builders Association, Ruben Fry, and his wife Shaye have recently completed their dream home in Motueka, and done just that.

Confronted initially with the spectacle of overgrown paddocks and smashed glasshouses, they saw the potential for building a family home that they could enjoy bringing up children in. “Having already built and lived in a number of homes, this time we wanted something we could really personalise,” says Ruben. “It needed to be a generational home that would suit us now with our new baby but also one that will accommodate family members of all ages and children as they grow. It was a blank slate and something we could really get our teeth into.”

“We actually got married here when it was still bare paddocks,” says Shaye.

Stephan Meijer was the architect tasked with turning the couple’s ideas into reality. “We had been inspired by a ten-million-dollar house in Auckland so we told Stephan we wanted that, but on a fraction of the budget,” laughs Ruben.

With years of building experience behind him that includes a number of award-winning homes, Ruben had plenty of exciting ideas to bring to the project. He and Shaye sketched some initial plans which Stephan developed.

“The site was very spacious but due to the property’s zoning as Rural 1 there were a number of restrictions about where the house could be situated,” explains Stephan. “Once those requirements were met it was important to connect it with the surrounding landscape while creating an enclave that, although very spacious, was still an intimate family home.”

The house is situated well back from the road. The sweeping driveway leads to what is clearly a home for both indoor and outdoor living with large exterior entertainment areas visible, complete with swimming pool, large fireplace and sensitive landscaping.

The dramatic, contemporary wings of the house rise to peaks of five metres, anchoring it firmly in the surrounding green landscape. “The ceilings are high with a lot of light coming from above, which is one of my recurring themes and was very much something Ruben and Shaye wanted,” says Stephan.

The entrance, with large glass pivot door, leads to a grand hallway with high windows at each end to both flood the area with light and also allow the sky to be appreciated in all its moods. A trio of spectacular David Trubridge “Nikau” lamps hang here, resonating with the other many wooden features that form an organic contrast throughout the home.

The main living, kitchen and dining area covering 80 square metres appears even larger thanks to the 2.6 metre to 5 metre stud height. This generous space is flooded with light courtesy of the extensive windows and sliding doors that open up on two sides. Shaye particularly wanted a stream-lined, understated, but efficient kitchen. “Cooper Webley did a fantastic job of turning my ideas into reality,” she says. Appliances including fridge and freezer reside behind stylish cupboard doors with another opening to a substantial walk-in pantry.

A large Caesarstone benchtop provides an extensive area for food preparation and the pièce de rèsistance is a bespoke American White Oak circular wooden frame with recessed lights, 1.5 metres in diameter, constructed by ITM Joinery. Lee Burton, kitchen design supervisor at the company is well used to their teams of joiners creating unique designs for clients. “This was such an oversize space so it needed an oversize light feature,” she says.

Despite the vast window areas of the home, it is never cold thanks to the installation of a hydronic heating system. The concrete slab contains an array of sealed water pipes that form a large heat mass which is heated by an exterior heat pump that adjusts the temperature as required. “This makes the house perfect to live in no matter what the season,” says Shaye. “We can even adjust our baby’s bedroom to the exact temperature he needs for sleeping comfortably.”

The heating system, along with all the house’s lighting, locking and entertainment systems and all media devices, including surround sound in every room, are managed by the smart home Control 4 automation system which the couple can easily access from their phones anywhere in the world. “It was a substantial investment but is proving its worth every day,” says Ruben. “We can even play different music in each room,” adds Shaye.

A very popular feature of the home is the entertainment room, complete with blackout velvet curtains. Children love congregating there to watch movies. It’s just like going to the theatre.

Another welcome feature of the house is the ample storage with wardrobes and cupboards extending to 2.7 metres, ensuring no space is wasted.

The Switch Lighting design team was consulted early in the design process to develop a plan that would ensure that the best lighting options were used in each area to meet the family’s needs and also create the appropriate ambience in each space that Ruben and Shaye wanted to achieve.

The high bedroom ceilings give them a spacious feel and the master has a cleverly constructed “reach in” makeup area behind a sliding door, along with a very ample ‘his and hers’ walk-in-wardrobe leading to an exquisite bathroom.

Brushed brass Elementi tapware is used here as well as elsehwere, giving a warm, country, but sophisticated feel.

The mirror was custom-made to fit the space and the view from the substantial bath to the garden outside can be enjoyed freely thanks to the use of mirror glass windows so nothing can be seen in from outside.

A striking feature is the wall of large Universal Mirabell Décor Porcelain floral Italian tiles in shades of grey with hints of soft ochre which echo the timber-style finish of the vanity.

Landscaping is an important feature to a home that is open to the outdoors from so many rooms and Ruben undertook the task himself to plan and carry it out. While designed with practicality in mind he has also chosen plants that will echo the colours of the house’s exterior.

“We wanted native plants such as kanuka and manuka that would reflect the darker colours and orangey-rust grasses that would echo the timber,” he explains. “I’ve put some big puriri trees in which are evergreen and won’t drop leaves into the pool. They will flower most of the year and attract the tuis and woodpigeons. In time, it will be a native oasis.”

Meanwhile, a particular feature of the main outdoor entertaining area is the large “Canopi” mesh wave shade that retracts as required. Ian Mortimer of Mortimer Upholstery and Shade Solutions was impressed with the solid structure built to contain it and hold the tension wire required to keep it in place. “It was a large span to cover but we were able to modify a single unit to extend over it. “All fixings are stainless steel and designed for exactly this type of environment,” he says. “The shades are so successful that “Canopi” are now exporting them.”

Every possible attention to detail has been brought to this build with the expansive laundry even including two smart, inbuilt dog crates. This is a house that really does feel like a much-loved home that will very well stand the test of time as the Fry family grows.

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