Thanks to Frampton Construction, a hardworking couple has created a home that seamlessly blends their Indian heritage with the stunning beauty of New Zealand.

WORDS Kathy Catton PHOTOGRAPHY Mick Stephenson

Home is a reflection of our identity, our beliefs and our aspirations. For Nathan and Shuchi, this sentiment resonates strongly within their beautiful new character home in Otautahi Christchurch. Embracing both their Indian heritage and their love for their adopted city, the Miglani family has crafted a unique sanctuary that perfectly blends their Hindu faith and their love of family with the charm of New Zealand.

“I tell my mates I’m Indian by birth and Kiwi by choice,” says Nathan. “We moved to Christchurch from India in 2009, and we’ve immersed ourselves in life here ever since.” Drawn by New Zealand’s beauty and their desire to create a haven for their young family, the couple embarked on an incredible journey. This home is their fifth new build to date. But their intentions are to make this home their forever home.

“When my daughter was born in 2019, we started looking for sections,” says Nathan. “We had built in Wigram previously and wanted somewhere closer to the city but still with a peaceful outlook and plenty of space.”

They found this Mairehau section and knew immediately it was right for them.

“It feels like we’re in the countryside, even though the city is just five minutes away,” says Shuchi.

Exterior joinery: All the windows, sliding doors and exterior joinery in this home were provided by Vistalite Canterbury. This company prides itself on listening to its customers and producing top-quality products.

The pair are no strangers to undertaking big projects. Nathan is the Managing Director of NZ Mortgages, where he and his team of 14 are passionate about helping families make informed decisions about their finances. And Shuchi runs The Amore Italian restaurant in Halswell while also raising their two young children.

Through Nathan’s financial contacts the couple found both Lee Johnstone, the architectural designer, and the builder, John Frampton of Frampton Construction.

Lee’s brief was to create a full concept and architectural drawings for a home that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing. He chose materials based on a number of factors, including durability, sustainability and aesthetic appeal.

“We wanted to make sure that the materials we used would stand the test of time and also be environmentally friendly,” says Lee. “Rockcote Integra was the plaster cladding system with extensive use of polycote moulding shapes designed and digitally manufactured to be installed and plaster finished.”

Lee has completed over 600 builds around Aotearoa.

He is known for developing his initial ideas on the drawing board by hand and then working closely with owners to mature the design to full function and aesthetic beauty. “This home is quite special due to the great working relationship we have,” says Lee. “We were able to work together to design a home well-suited to all their requirements.”

Nathan and Shuchi are delighted with Lee’s design and are grateful for Lee seeking to understand all their needs. For instance, the four-bedroom, two-lounge, one-office home also houses a prayer room and an additional family space at the rear of the home for visiting parents to stay.

“Every morning our family uses the prayer room, and we pray to Lord Ganesha,” says Nathan. “It’s fabulous that we have a dedicated space for this, as our Hindu faith is an important part of our family.”

Thanks to Shuchi’s family in India, who own a hardware and paint store there, the couple was able to source some of the interiors from overseas. “For example, the wallpaper in the prayer room comes from my father’s store, as does the tiling in the kitchen,” says Shuchi. “And some of the artwork comes from India and Thailand.”

To achieve this unique construction, Nathan set about finding a great builder who they could trust and work with. Again, through his work he came across John Frampton of Frampton Construction. “John only builds about four to five homes a year, but they are all of top quality, and I trusted him to build what I was looking for,” says Nathan.

The timing of this construction meant the home was subject to many Covid-induced delays. But John and his team were able to order much of the materials in advance. Sadly the hold on Gib in the country stopped the project for several months. Still, the homeowners took the opportunity to commence work on the landscaping and exteriors of the home. “I would highly recommend getting started early on landscaping,” says Nathan. “Jessica at Goom was fantastic to work with and really understood our family’s day-to-day living needs.”

The interior carpentry detailing is delightfully presented in the home. From the prayer room to the fireplace and ceiling, there are plenty of examples of how the home has been carefully thought through to capture the essence of who this family is.

“We even flew Lee’s father down from Whangarei to complete some of the fireplace surround carpentry, for example,” says Nathan. “He is a retired craftsman joiner, so when it was difficult to find tradesman locally due to Covid, we were happy to rely on him. He’s done a great job.”

This home is a place of harmony, embracing the spiritual essence of who they are as well as fostering a sense of unity and warmth within the family. It’s not just a place to live; it’s a reflection of who this couple are, their values and their love of both India and New Zealand. It’s a symbol of their journey and the blending of these two diverse worlds.