Built for high wind and coastal conditions, Phil and Kim’s home is designed to perform for a lifetime. The home exceeds New Zealand insulation standards with R6.0 ceilings, R4.1 walls, and R3.0 underfloor, supported by an extra-thick 140mm timber wall framing. High-performance UPVC thermally broken joinery was selected throughout, enhancing energy efficiency, reducing condensation, and providing superior sound insulation. This ensures a warm, dry, and quiet interior environment year round. Paired with a Mitsubishi smart heat pump and timber ceiling fan, the home balances warmth in winter with cool, breezy comfort in summer. Colorsteel Maxam 6-rib trapezoidal roofing and wall cladding in Ironsand were paired with locally sourced Lawson Cyprus timber from a family-run mill. The timber is finished in Cutek CD50, the market’s most reputable stain for longevity, ensuring the facade will remain beautiful and resilient for years to come.

Phil and Kim wanted a home that felt spacious, bright, and comfortable. Reconfiguring the traditional layout, we relocated the bathroom to the end of the home, transforming it into a luxurious ensuite while freeing up valuable living space. The bathroom features a full-width 1200mm shower with sliding door, a custom laundry cupboard, and a front-lit arched mirror, in wall toilet system and wall mounted tap ware delivering a hotel-like experience. In the bedroom, oversized wardrobe doors conceal his-and-hers towers, while mirrored panels create the illusion of space. Three-way light switches on either side of the bed ensure convenience, a comfortable seat located in the corner and electric blinds throughout the home provide effortless comfort and privacy. At the heart of the home, an open-plan living area connects seamlessly to the outdoors. Large sliding doors designed to flow out onto their future deck and 6m Louvre system, extending the living space. The generous U-shaped kitchen doubles as both a dining and social hub, providing a natural gathering point for entertaining friends and family.

For Phil and Kim, quality wasn’t optional, it was essential. Every aspect of the build reflects care, precision, and a commitment to long-lasting performance. The entire front elevation is clad in Lawson Cyprus, sourced from a local family-run sawmill. Each board was secured with stainless steel rose head nails, carefully aligned to create both strength and a subtle visual rhythm. This natural timber frontage pairs with Colorsteel Maxam cladding and flashings in Ironsand, chosen for their proven resilience in coastal conditions. Oversized square-profile gutters and crisply executed timber window surrounds elevate the look while ensuring durability. Inside, craftsmanship is evident in every junction. Grooved wall linings flow into negative-detail ceiling linings to create crisp continuity. A custom timber slatted wall panel in the lounge balances warmth and acoustic softness. The joinery was given the same level of care. UPVC thermally broken windows and doors were colour-matched in Ironsand on the exterior to unify performance and aesthetics. The custom kitchen by Motueka Joinery was built to full residential standards: pelmets extend cabinetry to the ceiling, mitred stone bench tops run seamlessly into the butler’s sink window reveal, and glass-fronted overhead cabinets align perfectly with the rhythm of the joinery. Even the corner cupboard on the lounge side doubles as a concealed liquor cabinet, a thoughtful detail designed for entertaining. Finishes were chosen with longevity in mind: Greens chrome tap ware and shower fittings with long warranties, a butler’s sink that ties back to the kitchen joinery, recessed LED task lighting, and integrated power points tucked into cupboards to preserve clean lines.

The kitchen is the heart of the home designed to support Kim’s love of cooking and to serve as a social hub. Stone bench tops are paired with timber-look Laminex surfaces to balance durability and warmth, with the stone bench top extending into the window sill behind the butler’s sink. Glass-fronted cabinetry adds storage with lightness, while recessed LED lighting under the range hood cabinetry and seating area creates subtle ambiance. Storage is maximised through clever solutions: an Enko smart corner mechanism, pull-out pantry drawers, a slim vertical pull-out for condiments, and pelmets that allow cabinetry to reach the ceiling. For entertaining, barstool seating is integrated into the U-shaped layout, and a corner cupboard opens onto the lounge side to create a discreet liquor cabinet. The lounge features a timber slatted wall behind the television for warmth and character, while a timber ceiling fan provides gentle cooling during Kaiteriteri’s warm summers. Large tinted UPVC thermally broken windows frame the treescape outlook, ensuring the living space is always filled with light while maintaining year-round comfort.

Phil and Kim’s English heritage influenced the home’s character, blending timeless country charm with a modern coastal aesthetic. The Lawson Cyprus façade gives natural warmth, while ironsand steel cladding provides contrast and depth. Stylish exterior up/down lights highlight the form in the evenings, while black exterior power points blend discreetly with the darker tones. The UPVC thermally broken joinery's ecterior was colour-matched in Ironsand to complement the steel cladding, ensuring a cohesive, architectural finish without sacrificing performance. Whilst the interior framing was kept in white to tie in with the lighter wall colours. Large oversized windows and doors with generous glazing maximise natural light and reinforce the sense of openness, while maintaining privacy and insulation. Inside, grooved wall linings, negative-detail ceilings, and chrome fittings reference English country style, while the timber ceiling fan and slatted feature wall reinterpret that tradition for a coastal New Zealand context. Pendant lights over the kitchen island, carefully matched vanity joinery, and oversized wardrobe doors tie the aesthetic together, ensuring consistency and elegance throughout.

Phil and Kim’s home is a balance of heritage and lifestyle inspired by their years of hosting in an English-style lodge, yet reimagined for a new chapter by the beach. It is compact yet generous, traditional yet modern, and crafted with care to reflect who they are. We loved working alongside them to bring this vision to life taking their style, their history, and their needs, and weaving them into a home that is beautiful, practical, and distinctly theirs.

Chris Pyemont, Andy Burridge, Florian Angerer, Bays Engineering, Motueka Plumbing, Worx Electrical, The Sellers Room, Totally Timber Mill, Placemakers Motueka, Ben Snowden Flooring, Guthrie Bowran Motueka and JC Painting