A natural fit
The owner of Naturally Tiles knew she wanted to work with Simplexity Builders for the creation of her striking new family home in Christchurch.
WORDS Kathy Catton PHOTOGRAPHY Ellen Cayford
After many years of searching, it was a mountain bike ride that ultimately led to the discovery of Heather and her husband Greg’s future home. Greg had been exploring the hills around Ōtautahi when he came across the Kennedy’s Bush development in 2021, and he knew straight away it ticked all their boxes.
“We loved the fact that it was tucked down the hillside, and couldn’t be built out from all sides,” says Heather. “And with only three sections on this part of the development, 1500sqm felt spacious enough for us.” The design part of the build came naturally to Heather. As owner of boutique tile company Naturally Tiles, she’s familiar with the process of house-building and has spent more than 22 years working closely with customers to bring their homes to life with beautiful Italian porcelain tiles. “So I knew what I liked for my own home, and had pretty much drawn up the plans for the layout myself,” she says.
Top on the list of priorities for the home was an open-plan living space with a high timber ceiling, a sense of flow and easy living. “Greg wanted a garage and plenty of entertaining space, and it was important to both of us that every room led out onto the deck to soak up the views of the city and the Southern Alps in the distance,” says Heather.
Heather’s eye for design and passion for quality materials is evident the moment you set foot on
this property, turning it into a showcase of style and functionality. The exterior of the home boasts a contemporary yet timeless design blending gently into its surroundings. The wide full-height windows on either side of the front door bring a welcoming feel. “I often breathe a big, long exhale when I come home and step through the front door,” says Heather. “It just feels so relaxing here.”
Heather’s unique perspective played a pivotal role in shaping the aesthetic of this home. Large, luxurious floor tile feature throughout much of the home. Carefully handpicked by Heather, the terrazzo tile in the living and dining spaces creates a cohesive and elegant look in this space.
“I love the different flecks of colour,” says Heather, “It’s got that warmth and earthiness about it but also works really well in this contemporary design.”
As owner of Naturally Tiles, Heather had the pick of the bunch. She chose the stunning Terrazzo in colour Calce Mini tiles for the entry, living and dining floor areas, and colour Beton Mini in the laundry. The colourful and textured tiles on the powder room wall are from the Multiforme 1741 collection, while the bathroom wall features the Panaria Blossom Silk tiles – all sourced from Italy.
The exquisite painting of this home was flawlessly completed by Hansen Decorating Limited. The precision painting beautifully enhances the home’s walls.
Heather’s expertise continues through the bathrooms and kitchen. Each choice tells a story, from the colourful powder room tile to the patterned and textured travertine-look tiles in the main bathroom and splashback in the kitchen. The result is an effortless space for relaxing in.
But the story doesn’t end with Heather’s artistic vision. The success of this project owes much to the collaboration with an equally innovative builder. Jarrod Southon of Simplexity Builders brought a wealth of experience and forward-thinking solutions to the table. “From the very start, Jarrod came up with alternatives that meant the home could be finished on time and to a set budget,” says Heather.
Jarrod and his team’s commitment to efficiency and cost-effectiveness became evident throughout the construction process.
“For example, we knew we could save Heather some money by using an unweathered Corten steel cladding,” says Jarrod. “It’s significantly cheaper, and the couple get to enjoy the natural weathering of the product before their own eyes, instead of purchasing the rust-coloured finished product.”
Jarrod also bought materials early on in the project, and locked in prices with his trusted suppliers. “And because we are efficient in how we work, we save on wastage and mistakes. My foreman Tristan is always thinking several steps ahead and really takes pride in what he is creating.”
In addition to these efficient construction techniques and cost-saving measures, Jarrod was able to leverage his network of suppliers to streamline the build process, ensuring everyone knew what was happening and when. “We’ve got Alana, our project coordinator, to thank for that.”
One example of the attention to detail is the tapware. Heather wanted brushed nickel, but among suppliers there is much variation in the actual colour and texture. A shower fitting, towel rail, door stop or tap can all look quite different. “We were able to do all the research in the background, and present all the workable options to Heather so that she could make her final decision,” says Jarrod.
When asked how he sees the secret to his success, Jarrod chalks it down to three key ingredients. “Efficiency, organisation and communication,” he says. Communication was the biggest of these three for Heather, with a sense of collaboration being one of the aspects she enjoyed most about the build. “It was part of the pleasure that they didn’t charge ahead when they had a query,” says Heather. “They consulted with me and that always led to a positive experience.”
Challenges on this project were minimal. The large steel frames required for a construction of this size slowed down the process slightly, but otherwise, it was a joy to build. “When everyone knows what is happening and when, it shows in the finished form,” adds Jarrod.
The result? A home that not only exceeds expectations in terms of aesthetic appeal but also serves as a testament to the harmonious collaboration between a visionary homeowner and an innovative builder.
As a Christchurch supplier and installer of Corten steel, Metalwork and Design specialises in creating architectural metalwork, signage and powder coating solutions. The team also completed the exterior stairs on this home.
Combining pragmatic engineering principles with innovative ideas, Fifth Dimension Consulting Engineers provided the structural engineering expertise on this home. A structural steel system with specifically designed cross bracing and foundations enabled efficient buildability on site. This system is seamless yet essential to provide an earthquake resilient sub-floor.
Dramatic moods
This kitchen design came about as a result of Heather falling in love with the showroom display at Palazzo Kitchens Christchurch. She worked with the team at Palazzo Kitchens and added her own spin by taking the Nero Oak joinery a step darker, and the Dekton Laurent benchtop a level moodier. The dramatic browns and striking veins of gold in the benchtop create a bold and luxurious feel, in contrast to her light-flooded open plan living.
Involved in this project
BUILDER
Simplexity Builders
03 323 5178
simplexitybuilders.co.nz
TILES
Naturally Tiles
03 343 0933
naturallytiles.co.nz
ENGINEER
Fifth Dimension Consulting Engineers
027 534 6657
5dce.co.nz
KITCHEN, INTERIOR JOINERY & TAPWARE
Palazzo Kitchens Christchurch
03 365 0751
palazzokitchenschristchurch.nz
WINDOW FURNISHINGS
Frobisher
03 355 2628
frobisher.co.nz
PAINTING & DECORATING
Hansen Decorating Limited
022 098 8081
ARCHITECTURAL METALWORK & DESIGN
Metalwork and Design
021 082 99320
metalworkanddesign.co.nz
