69 At Home

And then there were five

Words: Adrienne Matthews

Some people have an uncanny ability to bring dreams to reality and Chris Warren is one such creative. Purchasing a six hectare property with gentle contours in Upper Moutere seven years ago, he has created five exquisite cottages that have become Tilvery Boutique Accommodation. Named after his teenage daughters, Tilly and Verity, the project has been a true labour of love.

No stranger to hard graft, Chris is well known for the way he previously transformed a guest house in Queen Charlotte Sound into highly praised, artful boutique accommodation. Not intending to ever do it again, he couldn’t resist the pull of the new property on his imagination and he has brought the same flair and attention to detail to Tilvery. Already graced with established oaks and redwoods, he embarked on an extensive planting and regeneration plan. Chris has lost count of the number of plants and trees he has dug into the Moutere clay. These include what will be spectacular ‘cathedral’ tree plantings where a central large tree or groups of trees are surrounded by layers of lower growing species. In one a Redwood forms the centre, surrounded first by a layer of Silver Birch, and then a hedge of thriving Griselinia. Included amongst other mass plantings are banks of Cork Oak and Italian Cypress. Builder Andrew Dillon enjoyed the project from the start. “There was a huge amount of preparation before we could begin,” he explains. “We were essentially building on a swamp

CLICK HOMES

CLICK HOMES CLICK HOMES

and so the footings had to be huge. They went down two metres. Once they were done, it was just a matter of getting up the first cottage then replicating the design four more times.” Each cottage is 57sqm with almost identical layouts that include a living/kitchen area, bathroom and bedroom. That is where the similarities stop. While researching cladding options, Chris realised he loved the texture of brick, resulting in each cottage having its own three-dimensional brick pattern after which it is named; Diamond, Rows, Noughts and Crosses, Sawtooth and Zip, all now painted in a warm and inviting crimson red. The bricklayer spent nine months completing the job. It was complicated because only full bricks were used and the pattern had to work right around each building with no breaks, a challenging task for the draughtsman where extreme precision was required to ensure the window and door spaces would be the correct size. Exquisite parquet flooring graces each cottage, made from American Oak and laid by Chris himself. It is just one example of the extreme attention to detail that exists everywhere. Even the metal grills set between the travertine style tiling at the entrance to each cottage are individually crafted by him with the likes of geckos pierced into their frames. The simple but fully appointed kitchen in each cottage has everything needed for a staycation. The benches are a stylish granite that enhances the different colour schemes of each cottage. The living and bedroom areas make the most of the views and the colour pallete in each is inspiring, ranging from a soft aqua to a deep phthalo blue, even a vibrant lime green. All the cottages are set in their own gardens. The surrounding rural views are celebrated while privacy is maintained by clever planting, delicately curved trellis work and striking wrought iron gates made to Chris’s design. Each dwelling has its own parking area and plenty of room to enjoy the outdoors.

Stylish contemporary cottages, each with their own private terrace garden – just minutes away from the vibrant seaside village of Mapua and right in the heart of the Great Tasman Taste Trail. Tilvery is the place to base yourself, while exploring our beautiful Nelson/Tasman region.

A major part of the design was the choice of interior décor. Each cottage has its own unique character, dressed wonderfully around its specific colour scheme. There are comfortable leather sofas, quirky chairs, intriguing light shades and local art. Each has air-conditioning in the ceiling with heating and lighting controlled from a central smartmetre. Bathrooms, including one that is accessible for wheelchairs, are smart and contemporary with polished granite used on both floors and walls. Set in the midst of cycle trail country, Tilvery is sure to be a winner with visitors and locals alike, who will appreciate the extra effort that has gone into providing a home away from home with unique character and style. To walk into each cottage is to feel serene and pampered, just as Chris intended.

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