The new home of Jack and Tash Kelleher of John Ross Architectural Builders doubles as the company show home, balancing an ultra-modern aesthetic with a hint of 1970s style and finished to the exceptional standard the company is renowned for.

WORDS Anna Scaife PHOTOGRAPHY sarah rowlands

The home that John Ross Architectural Builder’s director Jack Kelleher and family are now enjoying was originally on the market as a house and land package, featuring a stunning design conceived by Tobin Smith of Common Architecture. The property was very nearly sold when the couple realised they were about to make a mistake if they didn’t purchase it for themselves.

“It was a gut feeling really,” says Tash. “It’s an amazing site. Close to town, two minutes to the school and mostly flat! So, we sold our home and took on this one.”

With two young children at home, one of the biggest drivers behind the move was creating spaces that worked for a family.

a hint of a 1970s vibe

Jack says, “We’ve got kids, as do all of our friends; we set it up so that we can always have eyes on them. They can do full loops around the property, and they love the fort with climbing wall and slide that the landscapers built.”

The couple collaborated with architect Tobin Smith of Common Architecture to tweak his original design to their specific needs.

“Common Architecture does the large majority of our design work,” says Jack. They are really passionate, and they bring energy to every project. I’ll find the sites, and we collaborate to design the home which works brilliantly. We like to do the unexpected.”

Architect Tobin Smith says the main challenges for him were the topography of the site and the geometry of the site boundaries. The land is triangular, wedging northward toward an existing vehicle right of way at the lower slope of the section.

“The critical move was to physically separate the house and garage (which goes against the grain of many contemporary houses). This unlocked a multitude of possibilities. Because the views focus north back over the garage, we sat the garage at a lower level and planted the roof to preserve the view over the top from both levels of the house, minimising excavation and inefficient vehicle driveway space. A grand pedestrian staircase leads guests past the garage to the main entry,” he says.

CLEAR VIEWS The windows from Rylock Canterbury make the most of the views from this stunning hillside home.

The 325 square metre home comprises generous living areas on the ground floor where all living areas are visible from the kitchen, creating a sociable hub connected to the outdoors. The bedrooms are upstairs, including the master with ensuite, plus a large family bathroom. The floorplan also includes a study, laundry, and downstairs powder room. The seamlessness of the floor plan left plenty of room for the wow factor, which they set about adding, with a 1970s vibe in mind.

HANDCRAFTED VANITY Handcrafted Himacs acrylic vanity by Benchtop Concepts.

“Details always build the bigger picture - so we invested in all the touches that would take it to the next level. We spent a lot of time on creating the grand entranceway and curved stairwell. We brought the exterior brick into the interior throughout the ground floor as a nod to an earlier era and used a rough mortar to add a bit of grit,” says Jack.

“The tiler from M2 Flooring is an absolute craftsman. We worked together on-site to make sure all the grout lines were set out perfectly, and he’s mitred all the edges and recesses to avoid having to add trim. This approach takes a much higher level of skill, and patience, but it’s worth it for the result,” says Jack.

DARK LUXURY The cool oak cabinetry contrasts with the dark Neolith benchtop and splashback from Benchtop Concepts.

Lighting was a significant factor in elevating the design of the space. Jack and Tash worked collaboratively with Le Comte Electrical and Switch Lighting on the design, supply and install of the lighting. As Switch are a Nelson owned company, all the stock was on hand which was great during the pandemic. “LeComte are so smooth to deal with - they draw up the lighting plan as its being discussed, and since they supply and install, any changes are really straightforward,” says Jack.

Jack says the home doesn’t appear as if there is a lot of engineering required, but the generous open living spaces required significant structural strengthening. With the floors and framing constructed off-site and craned in, the walls and flooring were completed in five days, and the house was ready to roof.

“That was the most fun we had in the whole process. We craned in these huge floors in the middle of the night. Everyone was there watching; it was pretty surreal,” says Jack.

Working with an interior designer on the fit-out and colours, Jack and Tash said at times they felt nervous as the design decisions pushed them outside their comfort zone.

Tash says, “We liked a lot about our last home. That was clean, classic, and timeless, while this space is more dramatic. With the black veneer and the brass in this house, we sometimes wondered if we were overdoing it, but when it came together, we just thought WOW!”

Bringing together an exceptional project like this one takes a collaborative spirit and an extraordinary eye for detail, something John Ross Architectural Builders is known for.

“Our subcontractors know I’m fussy, and honestly, I can’t fault anything with the house. It really felt like everyone was invested in getting it right. Between the architect, the builders, the interior design and all the trades, it was a big challenge, and they put everything into it,” says Tash.

Having just moved in recently, the family plans to stay put this Christmas and enjoy their home and the freedom and peace of mind that the well-designed outdoor spaces give their young family. The couple is delighted with the results.

Tash says, “The staircase is my favourite thing about the house. Also, the freestanding pedestal basin in the powder room; I love that.”

“The team did a fantastic job bringing the house together. We are stoked with the results and looking forward to the summer enjoying it with family and friends,” says Jack.

Note: The show home is available to view by appointment.