Domestic and Residential Homes

Five tips for building or renovating by the sea

24 February, 2021 by

This recently renovated home in stunning Waiheke ticks all the boxes when it comes to coastal living. A sturdy weatherboard home, a stunning view of the ocean, a pool and plenty of living spaces. After supplying the lucky owners with new Marley Stormcloud^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes in white, we picked their brains for five tips to having a great coastal home and here they are.

1. Make the outdoor living space a priority

Think about including some functional and inclusive outdoor areas. These will become the centre of any party as you cook or enjoy them. Some ideas might be:

An Argentine fire
A pizza oven
Outdoor kitchen
A pool
Nooks and chill spots
A games area with darts, or pétanque
An outdoor dining area
A gazebo

Having a spot for outdoor dining is essential at a coastal getaway. Just make sure to break up any direct sun so that it’s not too hot during the day.
Build these spots for an ideal number, most likely 6 or 8 so they are intimate yet functional. You can use plants and planters to close in spaces to make them cosy.
Outdoor fires are mostly illegal now, but if they are a cooking tool, like a pizza oven, councils will often allow them.

If you’re lucky enough to have (or fit in) a pool, it’s important to make it blend in with the surroundings. For example, their pool utilises stone from Waiheke helping it blend into the natural rock surroundings.

2. Salt and rust are your enemy

It’s essential that you use durable materials that are rust resistant. This includes stainless steel, powder coated aluminium and uPVC.

Marley Stormcloud^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes are perfect for coastal environments as they are made of long-lasting uPVC which is UV resistant and has a 15-year guarantee.
Did you know that the quarter-round Stormcloud^® profile is New Zealand’s most popular spouting style?
It has clean, strong lines that suits both traditional and contemporary homes.
It’s available in white and also Black, Grey Friars^®and Ironsand^®

3. Think about flooding / storms

Even if your house is well above the tide, you need to make sure everything else is elevated above the possible storm-induced highwater mark.

This home is north facing and in recent years they’ve had a dramatic increase in coastal northerly storms with heavy rain. This has prompted them to invest in better-than-adequate drainage to avoid any future flooding.
If you do have an area that may be prone to flooding think about practical flooring and emergency drainage (a sump for instance).

4. Frame the view

Think about framing the view, not dominating it. Do it in a way that uses the view as nature’s artwork. This allows you to enjoy the view from many places in your home.

White floors, walls and doors allow the view to do the work. Avoid using a lot of colours which will compete with the view.
A simple interior with a range of natural timbers, tones and textures will work in harmony with a coastal view.

5. Build an escape from the view

Believe it or not, you will need a break from the sunning sea views once in a while!

Build sheltered, shaded inward-looking spaces to occasionally escape from the view.
A nook that is dark enough for TV watching during the day allows for a cool escape from the sun.

If that isn’t enough to make you dream of a coastal house for now, or possibly retirement, nothing will!

And if you would like to find out more about Marley Stormcloud^® spouting click here.

Or more about the Stratus Design Series^® range of colours click here.

An innovative build in Kinloch

10 February, 2020 by

In 2016 John and Suzanne Callesen bought a Kinloch section with extensive views across Lake Taupo, surrounded by bush on both sides.
A stunning location to build a holiday home for themselves and their three children.

Following an 11-month build with Monteith Central Construction Ltd, they were finished in time for Christmas 2019. They’re in love with the result – a home with an understated modern style which sits comfortably in the landscape. A black beauty on the hill.

On arrival the glass front door delivers a pop of colour (Ontario Sunset), matching their vintage Corvette (Ontario Orange) in the driveway. Gorgeous sunsets are one thing they love about their location.

Innovative use of materials

Bondor/Metalcraft insulation panels have been used inside and out. They consist of an expanded polystyrene (EPS) panel with a metal skin stretched to cover. Being prefabricated, they are economical in terms of cost and time. The finish is also durable and low maintenance.

We didn’t know that houses were being built from it but saw another house and fell in love with it.

Typically used for large storage warehouses where insulation is critical – they minimise both heat loss and heat gain. For living this means it’s easier to keep a consistent temperature inside, cool in summer and cosy in winter.

Cosy it sure is!

Inside there is a warmth of lighting and form. Tom Rossau lighting (floor lamps and pendants) were specially brought in from Denmark by the owners. These helped to inspire architect Malcolm Taylor’s choices for the interior design. The handmade sculptural geometric shapes transform when illuminated.

The natural birch veneer of the lighting is reflected by the colour of the plywood walls (Classique Birch Ply) adding to the warm glow. Their light also highlights another intriguing feature – custom acoustic hanging ceiling panels. They’ve been placed where needed to absorb noise: kitchen, living, dining, lounge and media room.

With the hard surfaces, we need these to absorb sound and they work!

Overall, the materials used are modern and inviting with a slight bach-like feel. Certainly, when you come to the bunk room, which has three sets of bunks sleeping six. Plenty of room for holiday guest overflow!

There are plenty of small spaces to escape to that could also be transformed when entertaining a group. It’s full of style but also comfortable and functional. One well-used feature they love is the Insinkerator hot tap. Instant near-boiling water without the noise of a kettle. Simple, but a game-changer for making tea!

The kitchen/dining/living area opens wide out to a concrete deck – with BBQ, fireplace and pizza oven. Perfect for entertaining, outdoor sunset dining and that view!

Designed for the elements

The large half-round profile of Marley Magnum^® spouting adds to the industrial look of the house. It’s also a smart choice for the local weather. Its flow capacity is more than enough to cope with any storm.

We get heavy downpours in Taupo and also, due to the style of the house, we needed a bigger spouting than traditionally used.

Although typically used for commercial projects, Magnum works equally well on residential builds, and its sturdy external brackets make it popular from a functional styling point of view.

The landscaping, designed by Jonathan Harrison, was also carefully chosen with the climate in mind. Hardy plants to cope with the elements.

We have a colourful bank above a rock wall, planted for the climate – frost, wind and sun. Diagonally planted with leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’, purple flax, astelia, euphorbia.

A getaway to enjoy

In hindsight, John and Suzanne wouldn’t have done anything differently. The result is a gorgeous getaway. It is creative in its use of materials yet humble to its location and has all the comforts they could want!

Beside the Seaside, Whitianga

21 January, 2020 by

Undisturbed sea views across Buffalo Beach and Mercury Bay attracted Richard and Hannah to buy this Whitianga property in 2018. Stacks of potential for the family home of their dreams! No wonder it won Gold in the Auckland, Northland & Coromandel region of the Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition.

With 20+ years in the building game, Richard (HAMR Home Building Contractors) had a strong idea of what he wanted to build to replace the 1950’s dwelling and take full advantage of the location.

He picked up his pencil and drafted plans for a spacious two-storey home. Designs were developed alongside Studio 77 Ltd and a 9-month build followed.

Now that it’s a reality, the family are even more delighted with the location than they had expected. The extraordinary views are a stand-out from almost anywhere in the house.

Bright and spacious living

From the open plan kitchen/dining/living area, high stud ceilings and huge windows flood the room with natural light and frame the view. They open out to a substantial deck built using FSC certified Kwila with a frameless glass balustrade for a seamless view.

Sliding doors from the living area also open wide to an internal deck with louvre roof for shelter from the elements if needed. Good old kiwi BBQs no matter what the weather.

The furniture throughout is stylish, yet comfortable and inviting, meaning there are lots of spaces to relax and enjoy balmy Coromandel summers. Come winter, they can tuck themselves in with the usual features to keep in the warmth: double-glazed windows, heat pumps and Hotwire electric underfloor heating in the tiled areas.

Family kitchen with entertaining in mind

Our whole family enjoy cooking together and we love entertaining, so we needed a large kitchen to do that.

The island is solid oak – which is mainly used as a servery. The benchtops are pure black granite, with a honed finish – plenty of space to work in. The high ceilings, low hanging pendant lights and red stools at the breakfast bar create a very inviting space.

A walk-in pantry allows the small appliances to be handy without cluttering up the main kitchen. All hardware is Blum soft-close, and Blum Tandembox drawers give a quality touch in everyday use.

A striking exterior

A mix of cedar weatherboards and plastered AAC panel gives a clean-lined, solid appearance. The dark stain of the cedar (Wood-X Foundry oil) against the lighter colour of the plaster in Dulux Whakarewarewa contrast perfectly. Not to mention the choice of black Marley Stormcloud^® spouting to frame the whole exterior and connect it to the roof.

As builders we try and specify cedar into all of our houses, if we can. In fact, virtually wherever you stand inside, all you can see is the warmth of timber when looking out

Built to endure the elements

Living just a stone’s throw from the beach, Marley Stratus Design Series^® was an obvious choice for the spouting and downpipes.

Being beachfront we don’t have to worry about corrosion or rusting. We specify Stratus Design Series^® in almost all the houses we build.

The Stormcloud^® spouting profile was chosen for its clean, simple lines. The black colour discreetly ties in with the window framing and True Oak^® Corrugate roofing.

Marley RP80^® downpipes complete the system and offer the same 15 year guarantee as all products in the Stratus Design Series^®.

An escape for the kids

A self-contained area downstairs was designed with their three growing girls in mind. A comfortable place they can retreat to, so they can all have privacy as they get older.
No queues for the bathroom! The kid’s bathroom is built in three parts: the vanity in one room, toilet in the next and bath/shower in another. The vanity has three sets of drawers — one for each daughter.

Future-proofed

The Warwicks had the foresight to prepare for the future. The house has been pre-wired for solar panels to be installed on the roof at a later date. A dedicated circuit in the garage allows for a charging point for an electric vehicle.

A mixture of tropical and native plants, suitably fitting for the coastal location, will develop and grow over the years to come. Many years that the family will be loving their seaside lifestyle, we’re sure!

North Star, Marsden Cove

1 November, 2019 by

54 Stace Hopper Drive is a slice of heaven in the winterless North. It’s a freshly built Westmoreland Homes show home in Marsden Cove, one of New Zealand’s most exciting new marine villages on the shores of Whangarei Harbour. If you long for a relaxed lifestyle with some of New Zealand’s best boating, fishing, swimming and diving hot spots at your doorstep, Marsden Cove could be for you.

Welcome aboard

High vaulted ceilings add to the sense of openness in this generously sized 236 sq metre home. In keeping with the marine environment, the ceilings are constructed using grooved ply to create a nautical feel. The 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 2 living rooms can easily cope with a growing family and all those visitors you can expect in summertime.

Enjoy the outdoors at all times

A fan of indoor/outdoor flow? The big, double-glazed folding doors open wide onto sizeable decks and out to the large 740 sq metre flat section. Westmoreland Homes have been quite particular in specifying products that require little maintenance and can withstand the harsh coastal environment. That’s why they used a decking material made from 90% recycled timber and plastic, which requires little care.

Cook up a storm (and hide the mess)

This great looking kitchen will always stay that way. We love a kitchen that can hide the dirty dishes out of sight in a roomy scullery like this. There is heaps of bench space, great storage for appliances and crockery, and there’s even a wine chiller.

You’ll love the details

It’s the considered details that can really make a home special. And 54 Stace Hopper Drive has original details aplenty:

The exposed feature trusses are real design feature to set the home apart…

There’s the over-wide hallways and over-height doors which create such a sense of space and light. The hallway ceiling has special LED lighting with built-in night lights…

The installation of Methven water-saving showerheads, and the inclusion of the handy shampoo shelf…

The use of Marley Stratus Design Series^® Stormcloud^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes in black to give a crisp and stylish edge to the exterior. The gloss black finish works beautifully with the Mt Hikurangi light grey used on the pine weatherboards. And did you know that versatile, quarter round Stormcloud^® is New Zealand’s most popular spouting style?! Plus, it’s absolutely perfect for coastal locations because being uPVC, there is no chance of rust.

Oh, how that gloss black shines! ?

The smooth lines…

Want to create this look for your home?

Then it’s time you visited 54 Stace Hopper Drive at Marsden Cove and take notes on how to recreate this style. Then visit our stockists page to find the plumbing or building branch closest to you so you too can order Marley Stratus Design Series^® Stormcloud^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes in black!

Imagine waking up to this Wellington view

4 October, 2019 by

Waking up to that view was the long-held dream of Brent and Jeanette Tuohy. They bought their property in Plimmerton, Porirua twelve years ago, with the intention of bowling the existing house and building their ideal family home that made the most of the spectacular site. And that’s exactly what they’ve done.

They’ve made quite an impression

The old 1930’s home has been replaced by a very elegant and spacious 342m² Lockwood home. Even though there were a few weather issues (it is Wellington after all) Brent and Jeanette managed to complete the entire project in just 10 months. Having their own building company certainly helped and the attention to detail in the home is simply outstanding.

All their own work

As Brent and Jeanette have spent many years assisting clients design their homes, all of what they know has been incorporated into the building of their own. Using their talented in-house draftsman they created a home that welcomed in the sun, opened out to the views and provided a warm and extremely comfortable haven. As you can see, they’re big fans of Velux Skylights!

“We’ve got them in both bathrooms too and they’re just brilliant. They let in the light, provide secure ventilation and automatically close if it rains.

Sustainability is built in

As a Lockwood Home it’s built from New Zealand grown Radiata Pine. And you can’t get much more sustainable than that. The cladding and joinery is all recyclable aluminium. The windows are all Low E (low emissivity) double glazed and the space between the panes filled with Argon gas to improve their ability to keep the heat in and the cold out.

Low maintenance is a high priority

When you’re this close to the sea and exposed to the occasional Wellington breeze your choice of building materials becomes incredibly important. Brent and Jeanette lead very busy lives so minimising maintenance was top of mind. Marley Stratus Design Series^® Typhoon^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes was a no-brainer.

“It’s a fantastic looking product. We love the exterior brackets and the Titanium colour goes with everything, and of course, it won’t rust!”

Lockwood’s aluminium cladding is also so easy to look after. The occasional wash down and it looks like new.

Detail. Detail. Detail.

It’s the attention to detail that really makes this home special. Brent and Jeanette were incredibly particular in what they wanted in their home. They specified Lockwood ‘Pine Clear’ interior wall finishes which means there are no knots in the timber. All walls and sarking were blonded to achieve a lighter contemporary feel. The kitchen incorporates Blum soft closing drawers and doors, plus overhead cupboards have double-hinged lift up doors that self close. The floating shelves are fitted with strip lights to softly illuminate the kitchen bench. There is a second sink in the scullery. And the list of carefully thought out features included in this home goes on and on.

When asked if they would they have done anything differently in hindsight, their answer was a very succinct, “No!” Which goes to prove that this home is everything they imagined.

Universal appeal

6 September, 2019 by

Universal Homes are renowned for delivering a lot of house for your money. There’s no better example of that than at 85E Hobsonville Point Road, which deservedly picked up Gold in the 2019 Auckland Region House of the Year Awards, Gib Showhome category. This three-storey terrace house delivers over 220 square metres of modern, stylish and affordable living.

Not run of the mill

This Isthmus Group designed home is full of innovation and interest. To make the home more energy efficient LED lights have been installed throughout. To help save water, full reuse water tanks are tucked discreetly away on the property. To minimise maintenance, Marley Stratus Design Series^® Typhoon^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes in Ironsand^® were specified so rust damage is one less thing to worry about.

The generous sized, open plan living, dining and kitchen area takes up the first floor with large double-glazed sliders open onto a private balcony. Perfect for barbeques or working on your tan.

You’re sure to sleep easy

Because it’s a terrace house there’s one less wall exposed to the elements. And with the double glazing, excellent insulation and efficient in-built panel heaters, it’s so much easier to stay cosy all winter long.

As for the bedrooms and bathrooms, you’ll be spoilt for choice with 4 bedrooms and 4 toilets! The master and guest bedrooms come with luxurious ensuites, there is a generous bathroom for the family, and a guest toilet near the living area.

Relax and enjoy

This home is made for easy living. Little details like the automatic garage door, keyless entry and outdoor sensor lights all make you feel right at home, right away. And you can discover that for yourself because 85E Hobsonville Point Road is on show right now. Go to www.universalhomes.co.nz for details.