Light Grey

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!

Mooch Style’s St Albans Cottage

1 July, 2019 by

It’s amazing what a little imagination can do
And when you have lots of imagination, the sky’s the limit. When Shayden and Georgia found their little, 96 square metre cottage among the villas of St Albans, Christchurch, they could see its potential. Even though it had been battered and bruised by the earthquakes it stood out as a survivor. Armed initially with just cleaning and paint brushes, plus lots of energy and ideas, Shayden and Georgia gradually transformed the house into what it is today.

DIY is aok

As they didn’t have a big budget, they made do with heaps of can-do attitude and a creative eye for colour. Shayden and Georgia immediately went to work and made liberal use of Resene Black White throughout. This instantly added freshness and light to the interior. Then for contrast, they added strong coloured feature walls in their bedrooms and living area to create drama and interest.

They discovered ways to recycle what was already there. For instance, the old rimu skirting boards found a new life as shelving in the master bedroom and kitchen. Original features such as the oversized architraves were retained if they added to the character of the house, otherwise the look they were after was simple, elegant and contemporary.

Getting a bigger bang for a buck

The old kitchen was well past its use by date but rather than designing a new one from scratch Shayden and Georgia simply went to Placemakers. Their off-the- shelf kitchen delivers everything they wanted in terms of style and practicality yet saved them considerable money compared to a custom-made kitchen.

The old gem already had Marley Classic^™ spouting and RP80^® downpipes like many of the traditional style homes in the area. Shayden and Georgia were happy about this as it suited the house perfectly, and it was made of uPVC, which meant it would still have many years left of life, and they were able to repair any damaged portions themselves. Whether repairing, or replacing, Marley uPVC spouting is easy to handle, easy to cut, and simply glues together.

Early adopters

Shayden and Georgia have also installed Marley Twist^®, a compact rainwater diverter that turns your downpipe into a free source of water for watering the garden, topping up the pool, general cleaning or emergency use.

Twist^® can be easily installed on existing or new RP80^® uPVC downpipes and can quick connect to a collection tank via any standard garden hose fitting. A simple “twist” on-off control lets you access rainwater from your downpipe as and when you need it. Twist is designed to connect a single downpipe to a small collection tank of up to 1,000 litres.

It’s a work in progress

What Shayden and Georgia have done in just 6 months is truly impressive, but there’s still a way to go. All the new lawns and planting on the 680 square metre section need time to bed in and mature. There’s a new bathroom in the planning stages, and who knows what’s in store for the backyard. To keep an eye on their progress you can check Mooch Style out online anytime: Facebook or Instagram.

Matakana Barn and Marley Magnum

17 May, 2019 by

Just one hour from Auckland and you’re in a different time zone. High on a hillside, nestled among native trees and acres of green fields you’re far removed from the long lines of city day trippers making their way to Matakana.

Peace and quiet reign in this piece of rural paradise on which the Matakana Barn, by SGA architects, takes pride of place. The barn references are evident on the exterior with corrugated iron roofing and cladding, and the carefully spaced rough sawn Totara vertical planks.

Marley Magnum^® commercial spouting and downpipes powerfully frame the utilitarian design and create an eye pleasing separation between iron and timber.

Room with a view

A very clever outdoor room makes the most of the northerly aspect and the spectacular views of the distant hills. Translucent sheeting and Totara ceiling battens let in a beautiful soft light and large, pivoting doors either let you enjoy the full 180 degree view, or shelter you from the prevailing westerlies.

Indoor/outdoor flow

The Matakana Barn takes the much desired indoor/outdoor flow to a new level. You can effortlessly step from the main living area into the outdoor room, a sliding door is all that separates the master bedroom from the lawn, and the ensuite shower almost lets you to bare all to the outdoors.

A wide opening window in the shower cubicle creates the feeling of showering in the great outdoors.

It keeps getting better with age

While the interior of the Matakana Barn is all warm, natural Totara and honey coloured plywood, the exterior timber has weathered and continues to silver and soften with age. The initial investment in polished concrete flooring for thermal mass and solar panels for water heating is already paying dividends and the choice of commercial grade Marley Magnum^® spouting has proved itself time and time again. The large round profile and generous 110mm round downpipes are more than capable of coping with the water flow from the long run roofing.

The Matakana Barn may have elements of rural design in its makeup but the finished product is every inch a sophisticated and elegant family home. It just so happens it’s in the middle of the countryside.

Photo credits to Jackie Meiring

Sentinel Homes, Millwater

17 May, 2019 by

Spouting: Typhoon^® half-round
Colour: Titanium
Bracket Type: Internal
Downpipe: RP80^® 80mm Round Downpipe
Location: 2 Colonial Drive, Millwater

Mixed Metals Design Trends 2018

16 May, 2019 by

Like peanut butter and jam, tables and chairs or rubber and road, some things are just meant to be together. This year, all things shiny are pairing up to create an exciting trend; mixed metals are in for 2018.

A juxtaposition of brass, copper, iron, rose gold and gold gives a modern touch to any home, and it is easy to achieve on any budget. Get inspired with the latest in design trends for kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms and the exterior of your home below.

Make your kitchen shiny like new

Start with the basics. Use your everyday necessities such as your oven, fridge and dishwasher as a base to incorporate this trend into your home. Kitchen accessories can be a great place to start too, create a warm glow with copper vases and pans and gold containers and vessels, like this kitchen below.

Another striking way to incorporate the mixed metal trend is to mix up door handles, lighting and tapware. Take note from this kitchen – its gold tapware looks striking with copper handles and they’ve even added some brushed chrome handles to take the ‘mixing’ to the max.

Bold and brave in the bathroom

Add the mixed metallic trend by opting for stainless steel cabinetry, and gold lighting or mirror frame, to add a little shine to any bathroom space, large or small.

Dare to make a statement with a gold splashback, silver bath tub or metallic furniture for an eye-catching look. Take note from these luxe bathrooms.

Make your bedroom soft and warm

Accessories are the best way to mix metallic in the bedroom. It’s easy to use soft furnishings like pillows, throws and poufs to add extra shine and texture.

Teamed with a simple white palette this bedroom oozes the perfect balance of copper, silver and gold and they all work together seamlessly for the overall look.

Add some bling to your bed and decorate with affordable copper seed or fairy lights to create a dream-worthy bed like this one below.

Shine inside and out

Your spouting and downpipes are another great way to make a statement outside the home. Team aluminium joinery with copper spouting to mix it up. Marley offer the Stratus Design Series^®range in both Copper and Titanium making it easy to get shiny on the exterior of your home.

Stratus Design Series^® Copper doesn’t discolour like traditional copper and it really does stand the test of time in harsh or coastal conditions.

You can also incorporate the metallic trend outdoors with a lick of metallic materials over awnings and sills, add a little bit (or a lot!) of sheen to your cladding or roof like this stunningly modern copper sheet roof.

For anyone on a budget, this luxe trend is set to be a game changer this year!

If you are ready to give it a go for yourself, be sure to order your Stratus Design Series^® spouting and downpipes from your local plumbing and building merchant.

Classic in Te Awamutu

12 September, 2017 by

Located 30kms south of Hamilton, Te Awamutu is often referred to as ‘The Rose Town of New Zealand’ because of its elaborate rose gardens in the centre of town.

Te Awamutu is also home to a brand new house built by Daniel Kraayvanger and the team at DK Designer Homes.

The finished home has a timeless, classic look, with shingle roof, plastered walls, deep window reveals, and copper lighting and spouting. This entertainer’s delight also features a games room and in-ground pool.

A design challenge

The biggest challenge from a design perspective was fitting a 370m² house, plus a separate 34m² games room, on an irregularly shaped, 3,200m² rural section.

The 10m setbacks on all boundaries allowed for a limited building platform.

It helped that the house was able to be positioned on site to maximise the north orientation, with outdoor living areas, the games room and the pool all located to make the most of the sun.

None to done in one

“The owner had a very clear idea of what they wanted from the outset and had done extensive research over a long period of time.” Kraayvangar says.

“It was particularly helpful for the designer and builder that they had had an extensive image library of what they were after.”

Plans were drawn up one year out, and the build was achieved from woe to go in just 6 months, transforming the empty site to a beautiful new home.

When we asked the owner if he would have done anything differently looking back on the process, he told us “No, we wouldn’t. We love it just the way it is.”

Entertainer’s delight

Clever exterior layout and design, using a covered outdoor entertaining area within view of the inviting pool, gives the owners the ultimate flexibility to make the most of their easy-care outdoor areas all year-round.

With the Waikato region offering warm, humid summers and mild winters with prevailing winds from the west and southwest, the siting of the house, planting and fencing, provide protection for the outdoor living areas in most weathers.

The 30m² covered outdoor living area, complete with outdoor gas fire, provides maximum opportunities for outdoor living in all but the most inclement weather, further enhanced by the 20m² covered barbeque area to the Games Room.

Aqua oasis

The undercover paved patio, combined with extensive north-facing tiled areas, maximise comfort no matter the weather.

All the better for enjoying the generous in-ground pool in eye-catching aqua, complemented with the large pale tiles in the same colour as the cladding.

The owner knew the type of pool and shape he wanted, and with the help of building consent drawings from a structural engineer, DK Designer Homes turned the owner’s dreams to reality.

The finishing touch of glass balustrades for the pool fence avoided visually cutting off the pool from the house, adding to the expansive resort feel.

Clean lines

CavityClad, an autoclaved aerated concrete panel cladding system, was used on the exterior, with the plastered finish painted Resene Double Thorndon Cream. Battened plywood soffits to the outdoor living areas were stained.

The roofing is CertainTeed asphalt shingles on a plywood substrate, supplied and installed by Bay Pacific Roofing of Tauranga, in colour Landmark Weathered Wood.

The clean, classic aesthetic was continued indoors, with the interior of the house painted Resene Alabaster, with wallpapered feature walls, and the walls to the interior of the Games Room painted Resene Half Truffle. The ceiling, doors, architraves and trim are Resene Alabaster.

On-trend copper

Stylish copper feature lighting adorns the exterior, with bronze water features and large pots making a design statement against the paler exterior cladding.

Marley Typhoon^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes in Copper, part of Marley’s Stratus Design Series^® range, continues the on-trend copper features of the home.

“The client liked the ‘copper look’ without the cost of real copper” Kraayvangar said.

Marley copper uPVC spouting and downpipes also suited the timeless, classic style of the home.

Marley’s Typhoon spouting reduces maintenance while still getting the elegant copper look without the risk of theft of metal copper spouting.