Award-winning homes
See pages 2-3
Bay of Plenty’s leading manufacturer and retailer of high-pressure laminate (Formica) and acrylic solid surface benchtops and splashbacks can create a fresh new look that will help transform your home for many years to come.
An established Bay of Plenty residential builder is celebrating a clean sweep of all three Supreme Awards in the 2023 Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau
Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition.
“We’re so incredibly proud of our team and the talented tradesmen we work with,” says Belco Homes’ owner and project manager Mike Bell. “We treat every build as a potential award-winning project, so to have our hard work recognised is outstanding.”
Impeccable at Bethlehem
Belco won the Supreme House of the Year Over $1 million award for its new build in Bethlehem, along with being awarded the Resene New Home $2 million-$4 million category, Pink Batts Craftsmanship Award, Kitchen Excellence Award and a Gold Award.
e judges described the house as “impeccable”. “Every detail has been meticulously considered, resulting in a dwelling that exempli es elegance and sophistication. is achievement is a testament to the visionary talent and the unwavering commitment to excellence displayed by Belco Homes.”
For Kerry Mear, Belco homes project manager and co-owner, crafting this sprawling modern-day manor was no easy feat.
“ ousands of cubic metres of soil needed to be shifted,” says Kerry. “ e section had a steep gradient that required a lot of earthmoving to create a level platform.”
e e ort has paid o with the 518m2 vebedroom dwelling sitting beautifully on-site with expansive views to the Kaimai Ranges. Generous spaces inside ow seamlessly to a covered outdoor
living area with a replace, secluded courtyards and a lawn that’s ideal for backyard sport.
“First and foremost, this is a family home,” says Kerry. “ e owners wanted room for the kids to play and open plan areas that could be sectioned o to comfortably host guests.”
Several formal and casual dining and relaxing spaces were created, a custom-built oak bar, an opulent main-bedroom suite and triple garaging.
e exterior of the home is stunning in Hinuera stone with timber accent beams.
“I love the use of Hinuera stone from a quarry just 47km away,” says Kerry. “ e timber is Australian hardwood and was purposely left more rustic for the exterior but was smoothed to add class and elegance inside. It makes the house so special.”
Belco Homes also won the Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau Supreme House of the Year Under $1 million award for its Ōmokoroa new build. In addition this project collected the Altus Window Systems New Home $750,000-$1 million category, and a Gold Award.
Once again, there were construction challenges with the dwelling being built on a tight corner site.
“Everything had to be carried in by hand up the steep right-of-way, which needed to be kept clear at all times,” says Mike. “Site storage was so minimal there wasn’t even room for a skip – so rubbish had to be removed daily.”
e end result, a home exuding a quiet calm while maximising every inch of its compact site. It’s perfect for its owners who wanted a sleek, low-maintenance home.
e judges applauded the exceptional talent of the designer and builder, describing it as “outstanding”. “From corner-to-corner, every part of this build impresses with meticulous construction and well-appointed detailing.”
“ e owners went bold with the colours,” says Mike. “ e exterior’s aged copper coloured aluminium and concrete panels rendered in white plaster is easy care and durable and the contrast looks really smart.”
e 218m2 home draws in light and warmth with two custom skylights in the extra-width entrance and hall and oor-to-ceiling glazing in the main living areas.
“My favourite part is the living area with its high raked ceiling,” says Mike. “ e house is elevated so it has an uninterrupted view of those amazing sunsets behind the Kaimais. It’s also cut in below the back neighbours, so it feels really private.”
Remarkable at Waihi Beach
Mike also project managed the Waihi Beach house renovation that won the Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau Supreme Renovation of the Year, alongside being awarded rst place in the Renovation Over $1.5 million category and a Gold Award.
“It’s a 1990s beachfront home that was looking tired,” says Mike. “It was a tricky
cladding. e sleek lines demanded some complex work, from customised ashings and cladding corners to secret screwed exterior weatherboards. It came together perfectly, and I couldn’t be happier.”
e Belco team worked alongside the homeowners to meld a Kiwi coastal aesthetic with European comfort and style. “Handpicked Italian tiles, antique Swiss lighting and, on the kitchen island, blackened brass panels,” says Mike.
“My favourite feature of this home is the staircase leading up to the living area. “ e steps are industrial style that oat alongside an illuminated brick feature wall. e way the light plays in that space is amazing.”
e bach is now a contemporary beachfront oasis that the judges described as “remarkable”.
“ e builder embraced the opportunity to create an outstanding home, showcasing their expertise in working with a wide range of materials, tolerances, and nishes both inside and out. e nished product is a testament to the builder’s unwavering dedication, skill, and experience.”
Now that it’s done, Nikki Flaws’ only regret is not getting her bathrooms and laundry renovated sooner.
“It’s amazing,” she says. “It’s made life so much easier, and my bathrooms are simply beautiful and so much more functional.”
Her Otūmoetai home was built in the 1980s and felt dated, tired and dark.
“Our bathroom consisted of three rooms side-byside with horrible walls, the colour of an overripe avocado, and was well overdue for an update,” says Nikki. “My ensuite was pokey with a dark shower cubicle and the laundry downstairs had a green benchtop and two tubs that didn’t seem to be the smartest use of space.”
Big decisions first
Nikki felt immediately drawn to Bay Bathroom Design & Build with its great user-friendly website. She loved that consultant Vicky Gillespie followed up her query to quickly set up an initial design meeting.
“She was friendly and helpful, and we gelled straight away,” says Nikki. “I didn’t have a lot of ideas. I just knew that I didn’t want tiles in the shower and that I wanted a big bath. I actually ended up leaving a lot of decisions to Vicky. She was really
great at putting the colour palettes together. She even o ered to come tile shopping with me!”
“If you can narrow down the big decisions rst, the design features tend to fall more easily into place,” says Vicky. “I get clients to pick their furniture like the vanity they love and it helps guide me towards the ttings that would suit.”
Vicky also looks at the rest of the home and what the client chooses for themselves. “If they have carpet running through the house, we want to match that or maybe the client hates that colour and wants to change. at’s the kind of conversation we have,” says Vicky. “At the end of the day, I want something that re ects my clients’ style and personality.”
Insight and advice
Vicky was also able to o er valuable insight and advice about the ttings.
“ ere were so many things I just hadn’t even thought of – like the taps matching the rest of the décor,” says Nikki. “I had initially liked squareshaped tapware, but Vicky wasn’t afraid to use her expertise to point me in the right direction. She suggested rounded shapes to compliment the freestanding bath and she was right. ey’re gorgeous.” “ ere are so many nishes when it comes to tapware, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or stressful,”
says Vicky. “I can narrow down the options that would work best with the bigger elements in the room.”
Nikki says despite the entire project taking around three months, Bay Bathroom was careful not to disrupt her life more than necessary.
“ ey consulted me on how to stagger the work and we decided the most sensible was to nish the ensuite rst. I moved into a di erent bedroom until it was nished and that meant I had a bathroom to use while the worked on the main bathroom then the laundry,” says Nikki. “ e workmen were unobtrusive when they came inside and brilliant about cleaning up each day. All the trades were so friendly that I actually missed them a little when the work was done.”
“Most of our tradesmen have been with us for years so there’s a lot of trust there,” says Vicky. “Our philosophy is this is someone’s home, not a building site, so we insist on a high level of respect.”
For homeowner Nikki, the attention to detail was appreciated. “Project manager Matt is quite particular. “If he found any imperfections, he would arrange for the tradie to return to x the problem. Even things I probably never
would’ve noticed. It gave me immense peace of mind that I could relax and the job would be completed to the highest possible standard.”
Huge transformation
Nikki couldn’t be more thrilled with the results. She describes the transformation as ‘huge’.
“Everyone who visits me gets the grand tour of my bathrooms,” laughs Nikki.
“And I’m pretty sure my daughter only comes home from university to take a decent bath. at, and the massive shower are just amazing. ey’ve xed the water pressure, too, so the water doesn’t just dribble out.
e laundry is much more user-friendly with its huge bench space and integrated cupboards that give so much storage but just look like a clean wall.”
“I’m absolutely wrapt with this renovation,” says Vicky.
“Nikki was a dream client; exible, open-minded and it made everything easy. It was lovely that she trusted me, so we’ve been able to give her a real ‘wow’ bathroom.”
e Bay Blinds experts discuss the bene ts of motorised or automated roller blinds versus the traditional chain operated roller blind.
“I don’t know why, but if it has a motor – there’s an extra fascination,” says Vinnie from Bay Blinds.
“Perhaps that’s why our motorised roller blinds are becoming more and more popular,” Niki also suggests.
“As Kiwis, we just can’t resist the new clever gadgetry.”
“It’s the ease of use,” says Chris, “to be able to use a single remote to close all the roller blinds in the house for the evening – it’s just so handy”.
“No more having to climb up on the sofa, or reach behind the dresser to access the blind chain. It’s all done with the click of button,” says Chris.
“ ere’s also some pretty clever home tech too,” Niki chimes in.
“With our a ordable SmartHub unit,
our motorised roller blinds can also be controlled via a cellphone app.
“Not only can you open and close your rollers from your cellphone, you can do it from anywhere in the world! Whether you’re in Huntly or Hamburg, Waikato or Washington!”
“Anywhere,” Vinnie agrees, “and if you’re so inclined – with the use of Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home technology – you can operate your motorised rollers by voice command!”
“And not to be forgotten is child safety,” says Chris.
“Strangulation on dangling blinds cords is a real problem with many children around the globe impacted every year. Motorised blinds make your home even safer for your children and grandchildren.”
Motorised blind technology, once a luxury limited to the elite, has
now become a ordable for everyday Kiwi households.
“Our wire-free, battery powered motorisation means that homes no longer need internal electrical wiring to power their blinds,” says Vinnie.
“Rechargeable battery units and solar powered units provide smart, sustainable and cost-e ective options for Kiwi homes,” he says.
Continuing on with sustainable solutions – the team report that Bay Blinds can even retro t Battery Motors into existing roller blinds for some customers, converting your chain-operated blind to a motorised blind. is applies to most existing Bay Blinds rollers but may not apply to other brands.
Call now to book your In-Home Design Consultation by phoning: 0800 229 254.
A bathroom can re ect your love of interiors just as much as a bedroom or lounge.
Wallpaper, with its beauty and versatility, could become your new go-to.
Wallpaper packs a punch in every room, whether you use it to liven up living rooms or set the scene in a dining space. Bathrooms and powder rooms are no exception. Wallpaper might not be the rst thing that springs to mind when decorating wet areas – think humidity, splashes and mould –but plenty of options in the Resene Wallpaper Collection work well in damp conditions.
Squeaky clean
Wet rooms need all the help they can get to withstand moisture, so strong vinyl wallpapers – which can be cleaned if soap, shampoo or any moisture sticks to their surface –are your best friends. Keep an eye
washable, extra-washable or scrubbable. Opt for extra-washable and scrubbable varieties, and you can’t go wrong.
Add personality
Bathrooms and powder rooms, usually much smaller than living areas and bedrooms, are among the less-daunting rooms to decorate, which makes them ideal for experimenting. If you have a bathroom without natural light, invite light in with a pop of brightly patterned wallpaper.
Large-scale prints will open and expand your space. Go bold and try orals – create a lush garden with botanical wallpaper. Perhaps create a holiday vibe with designs such as Resene Wallpaper Collection 220100? Palms and parrots will surely bring a slice of paradise to your bathroom.
Talking point
Wallpaper is a fantastic conversation starter. Vibrant
a deep wall colour such as Resene Coast with a blue-toned wallpaper – designing with a monochrome palette adds understated glamour.
