18 minute read
57 My Home
My home
Just up the hill from the Beacon Hill Country Store sits Rebekah and Roger Bay’s historic family home in Hope. The Beacon Hill house was originally a humble cob cottage, constructed back in the 1840s. Since then it has seen a number of renovations as six generations of the family have made it their home.
Advertisement
Tess Jaine
Where is your home and who lives here?
Our home is in Hope. My husband Roger and I, and our youngest daughter Evangeline, live here along with our puppy Esther, our four chickens, our herd of yaks and our deer.
What four words would you use to describe your home?
Spacious, timeless, rustic and private.
What inspired this look?
I’ve always loved traditional homes but I have pretty eclectic taste, I like mixing styles, so as long as I love it, I add it. We live on a farm so it has to pass the ‘is this practical’ test. I don’t follow trends and I don’t change things often, so whatever I choose I know I’ll have to live with for a long time, so I choose carefully. I still have items I bought when I was 18 which I still love. Quality never goes out of style. What’s your favourite spot in the house?
We all love the conservatory.
Where do you shop for homewares?
I love Richmond Antiques and Eclectic. I also shop a little too much in my own shop.
What piece would you never part with?
I’d never part with our historic family portraits, brought out from India with the Paton family in the 1860s.
What’s your decorating style?
I love quality and the natural world, so I adore natural materials. My decorating style is very influenced by this, I love stone, timber, linen, and earthy colour schemes. Nature definitely has a strong influence on my style choices. I am always drawn to things with a rustic edge and a bit of a story. I love antiques but they have to be practical.
What’s next on your interiors list?
We’re talking about creating an easy-care potager veggie garden with raised beds that are close to the house, so we can grow more of our own food.
Have you done any renovations?
Yes, the original part of our home was built in the 1840s so many renovations have been done over the years, there is always something we’re plodding away on. I don’t think we’ll ever be done. When it comes to homeware, do you save or splurge?
I save, but if it comes down to a quality issue, I spend what it takes as quality always wins for me. I don’t change things often so poor quality really annoys me.
If money was no object what would you get for your home?
We’ve always dreamed of putting in a beautiful pool area.
Best money ever spent?
Building our conservatory, we love this space and use it all year, during the day and in the evenings. It’s a beautiful space to entertain in and we love the open fire in there. There’s something so lovely about sitting looking at a fire in the evenings. It’s a great way to unwind.
What should every home have?
A fireplace.
What do you love about the neighbourhood where you live?
I love the rural vibe, the space, the privacy, the views, the sunshine, the trees, the birds and that everywhere I look is green, and I love that it’s only five minutes to Richmond. It’s a great place to live.
Best memory in the house?
Having two of our children’s weddings on our property.
OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: The kitchen was renovated in 2010 to better accommodate the Bay’s growing family. OPPOSITE PAGE LEFT: The formal lounge is one of the homesteads original rooms, dating back to the 1840’s, it has been renovated many times over the years. OPPOSITE PAGE RIGHT: An original family portrait of Charles Paton who died in India in the 1850’s before the Paton family moved to Hope, New Zealand. TOP: The outdoor wash station was a lockdown project by Roger. BOTTOM: A portrait of Major Paton, whom Patons Road is named after, takes pride of place. The Bay’s commissioned Rebekah Codlin to paint it from an old photo.
At Home
Living the dream in Tasman Bay
In a serene and secluded spot, nestled amongst the rolling Tasman countryside, lies the dream home of Glen and MiYoung Parsons.
Tess Jaine
The happy couple met while kitesurfing in the Philippines, “I was a kitesurfing school owner in the Philippines and global telecom contractor for Alcatel-Lucent, and MiYoung, originally from Seoul in South Korea, was a dive school owner.” Moving to the Nelson Tasman region from Queenstown in 2015, the couple observed the pattern of their children’s outdoor playing habits and chose to create a home befitting of this. “We noticed that our children tend to play outside more on the same level as the parent living space - so we decided to find a space and build, wanting our kids to grow up in the sunshine and not in front of a screen.” The family found the perfect space to suit their lifestyle, falling in love with a section near Ruby Bay. “The kids walk to the small beach nearby with short runs to Rabbit Island and Kaiteriteri for perfect activity beaches. The area offers serenity while not being too far out of the way, and yet feels secluded.” Their Aporo Rd home, completed late last year, is the family’s first build and they say a key element of their initial brief was to maximise solar energy from the north creating thermal mass, whilst capturing views to the south and west. Inspired by other local builds, and after a few initial hiccups, the couple were able to tweak their plans to suit their vision and chose to enlist the help of Russell Bruce and his team at Bruce Design & Build. They say it was Russell’s ability to listen to their needs, and their vision for their home, that was the deciding factor. “Russell walked us through a few builds of
different specifications and was able to provide us with great ballpark prices.” Glen says the ability of Bruce Design & Build to offer comparative pricing on materials allowed the couple to make easy changes and the right decisions with budget in mind. “This approach, rather than a corporate model, was why we selected Russell and his team. It was clear they have the client’s vision in mind and were not just about the money.” Seeing the excitement from the children throughout the process was a highlight for the family, and watching their vision become a reality. “The kitchen and main area would be some of our favourite features of the home, along with the flow and blur of materials creating undefined lines from the inside to the outdoors.” Bruce Design & Build are expert architectural builders dedicated to delivering exceptional quality builds with a wealth of knowledge and experience, able to provide top quality, cost-effective homes. Alana and Russell Bruce are the managing directors of the business and Russell says working with the Parsons family was an absolute pleasure. “Glen and MiYoung were very definite about certain aspects of the build. They had done their homework prior and were great at making decisions.” Trusting in the process is a key element to a successful build, and Russell says the respect
shown by the couple was outstanding. “Glen and MiYoung had this amazing trust in us. They knew what they wanted, and they trusted us to do it.” The main brief was to create a low maintenance, warm and passive home, says Russell. To achieve this we chose Flashclad and concrete blocks for low maintenance exterior claddings, along with a touch of cedar to help blend into the surrounding elements.“ Installing solid concrete block walls both at the entranceway and behind the fireplace creates thermal mass absorption, utilising solar energy and maintaining comfortable temperatures. Floor to ceiling low emissivity (Low E) glass windows ensure the tiled floor captures the most of the sun’s heat during the day, maximising heat retention and creating a passive and energy-efficient solar design. The floor slab also has an underfloor heat pump system with a thermally broken edge which helps ensure the house retains heat and has an even temperature all year round. “Its an incredibly warm home,” says Russell. “The uniqueness of the site is their incredible views. The kitchen and living room look out over an amazing pond and the views across to the western ranges are spectacular. They did a great job.” Glen says the collaboration with Bruce Design & Build was a breeze. “Russell is connected to every build his name is on. He was in our corner at every step. If we build again, we will not hesitate to call Russell and Alana first.”
Japanese moss balls
With origins from Japan, Kokedama are made with sphagnum moss and string, the soil and roots of the plant are encased to create a natural pot and a unique focal point.
Little Beehive 123 Bridge Street littlebeehive.shop
Designed for the Kiwi home
Choose from the extensive collection of original furniture or share your ideas for a unique custom-made piece. Expert advice, superior workmanship and made right here in New Zealand. The Lounge Suite Company 120/122 High St, Blenheim loungesuitecompany.co.nz
Unique beds for unique people
Nelson Beds can custom make any size and style of bed to suit you. As well as providing a standard range of sizes, they can create the perfect fit for all shapes, sizes and spaces.
Nelson Beds 59 Quarantine Rd, Nelson nelsonbeds.co.nz
Get your craft on
Cruellas have a great range of hand dyed yarns for you to bring your dream knitting, crochet and weaving creations to life.
Cruellas 155 Hardy St, Nelson cruellas.co.nz
MOVEit X
You will not believe your own ears the first time you listen to MOVEit X! That much sound from such a compact speaker? MOVEit X will impress everyone with it’s huge sound. MOVEit X allows you to play wirelessly from the built-in battery or to plug it into a power outlet for unlimited use. You get 12 hours battery life when playing wirelessly. This allows you to bring the speaker anywhere - Just MOVEit! Beggs Music Works 264 Hardy St, Nelson beggsmusic.co.nz
Your own garden sanctuary
Rustic styled and attractive, these Oregon Shiplap buildings are perfect for sleepouts, studios or garden sheds. You can choose lined, insulated, kitset or assembled, decking, verandahs... So many options! Allwood Sheds 15 Gladstone Rd, Richmond 03 547 7026 allwoodsheds.co.nz
A peaceful sanctuary with endless possibilities
Imagine stepping through your front door and kicking off your shoes, feeling a sense of calmness wash over you and letting all the stresses of a hard day’s work melt away. That is the feeling the team at Mike Greer Homes Nelson have managed to capture with their brand-new, high-spec show home on Hart Road, Richmond.
Tess Jaine
Our brief was to showcase the range of endless possibilities for a potential client’s “ new home. Every home we build is designed for the section. Every home is individual.”
Owners of the company, locals Trevor Lineham and Ben Malthus, are excited to be presenting this to the public and say the collaboration has been a great experience. In late 2020 they took a leap of faith and purchased the business, continuing to provide top-quality homes to the region, built with purpose and passion. “Ben and I have known each other and worked together for years,” says Trevor. “We thought, why not us? It was a great opportunity and it just made sense.” The hands-on operators are no strangers to the industry. Both have extensive building backgrounds and have managed a multitude of builds in Nelson-Tasman over their many years in the trade. Their styles and strengths truly complement each other, which unquestionably shines through with their latest build. They are justifiably proud of their tight-knit team, saying they integrate well together, creating a perfect combination of a relaxed working environment with a professional attitude. “Our design team are pivotal to the success of Mike Greer Homes Nelson and Marlborough,” says Trevor. “It starts there and we are able to provide full support to our clients with our energetic sales team, dynamic design team, construction through to completion via our project managers, along with vital support from our dedicated admin team.” Every aspect of colour and design is covered during a detailed inhouse colour consultation, and there are co-ordinated client meetings with kitchen, wardrobe, lighting and electrical designers which sets the company apart from others. “We have the ability to walk clients through every stage of the build, and we are committed to designing and building a home perfectly suited to your needs. Our rule is, ‘It’s your home.’”
Dowie
CONTRACTING
Mike Greer Homes Nelson is locally owned by Ben Malthus and Trevor Lineham.
The 208m2 four-bedroom show home with soft cedar and schist feature cladding sits quietly on the 559m2 section, surrounded by a tropically-inspired landscaped garden, strategically planted to ensure maximum privacy. The front door opens to vaulted ceilings which run the entire length of the home; and there is stunning use of neutral colours. Peaceful and serene open-plan living spaces make the most of the views to the Western Ranges which are visible from many rooms throughout the home. There are clean lines and ample natural light. Attention to detail has been paid to every corner of this home. Corner, floorto-ceiling glass stacker doors cradle the recessed alfresco deck, bringing the outdoors in by being
It’s a good spot to curl up with a Sav.”
gently nestled between the living room, family room and open plan dining and kitchen areas, creating a perfect place to unwind and enjoy the sunset. A full-length window seat in the dining area includes clever additional storage and invites you to relax and switch off from the world. A separate lounge with gas fire is tucked away, providing peace and solitude when you need it. “It’s a good spot to curl up with a Sav,” says Ben. The superbly designed kitchen boasts a Caesarstone wrap-around island counter which integrates beautifully with the stainless-steel worktop, functional high-end cabinetry and appliances. There are high-tech features and a hideaway walk-in pantry showing the level of passion and excellence the experienced team possesses. Full height skylights provide an abundance of natural light to the kitchen and dining areas and draw the eye to the stunning mountain views. Further skylights flood ambient, pure light throughout the hallway, and the ensuite is fitted with a solar-powered skylight that can open at the push of a button. The family bathroom with separate WC showcases standard fittings, while the stunning tiled ensuite created an opportunity to feature upgrades. A ducted heat pump ensures everyone remains warm and cosy. Ample storage, a separate laundry, and large double garage complete this modern, easy-to-live-in home. The Mike Greer Homes Nelson new show home highlights the company's quality range of highspec products and finishes, detailing standard features through to upgrades, giving a bricks and mortar insight into what is possible. “Our brief was to showcase the range of endless possibilities for a potential client's new home”, says Trevor. “Every home we build is designed for the section. Every home is individual.”
The Mike Greer Homes Nelson show home is open every day from 1pm –4pm at 35 Hart Road, Richmond, and they welcome the opportunity to show you around.
For more information on how the team can help you, phone 03 544 7873 or email: nelson@mikegreerhomes.co.nz
Nelson Tasman’s newest private hospital
It can be daunting presenting oneself for any kind of medical procedure but it certainly helps when the facility has been designed to be as comfortable and inviting as possible. The recently opened purpose-built Tasman Day Surgery in the Lower Queen Street health hub in Richmond has been built with patient comfort in mind. With the Tasman region growing at such a pace it was very clear that new services were required in the area to meet the escalating need and also to help take pressure off the public service. Manager Lynda Wakefield was delighted to be a part of the new project which operates in partnership with the well-established Nelson Day Surgery in Collingwood Street. “Working in the health sector for twenty-seven years as both a nurse and an administrator, I have an absolute passion for health and helping people to feel relaxed around procedures that can be invasive,” she says. Her main area of expertise has been in endoscopy which covers a wide array of diagnostic tests. “Endoscopy can diagnose problems early, and treat them at the same time. This prevents them becoming a cause of major ill- health later,” she explains. Lynda continues: ‘We are also offering a wide range of surgery and specialist procedures. All this is provided in an environment that is welcoming, comfortable and ultra modern. This helps reduce the stress that these procedures might otherwise bring.” The design of the facility has been carried out by Arthouse Architects and thanks to local firm Opritech, Tasman Day Surgery has the most up-to-date operating theatre available in New Zealand. “It is amazing to think that this family business that has been operating right here since 1991 supplies many of the operating theatres around the country and into the Pacific,” says Lynda. “Their theatres are made to the highest standards and it has been exciting to work close-hand with such a prestigious local business.” Keen to support other local enterprises, as much of the interior as possible has been purchased locally. Hand crafted furniture comes from Acorn Furniture in Motueka, linen is supplied by Alsco and even the sandwiches offered following surgery come from Vanilla Bean café next door. “It has been a real pleasure to work alongside other local businesses and support them as they have supported us,” says Lynda. Open since March the new facility has already been receiving accolades from patients. “They love the calm and friendly atmosphere,” says Lynda. “Everyone who works here enjoys being in such a lovely environment and we are all totally patient-focused. We want everyone who comes through our doors to have the most positive experience possible.”
Surgery team at Tasman Day Surgery.
Tasman Day Surgery 0800 827 329 341 Lower Queen Street, Richmond tasmandaysurgery.co.nz
