Through and through

This carefully crafted home by Design Workshop Architecture, Saunders Building and Michelle Lamb Interior Architecture is a showcase of lavish interiors and simple exteriors.

WORDS Kathy Catton PHOTOGRAPHY Visual Spaces Photography / DWA

Debbie Rimmer Landscape Design by Outline Spaces provided landscape design, plant selection and plant supply for this property. The results are the epitome of sophisticated, low-maintenance living.

The global pandemic was the motivation behind this couple’s desire to seek a different way of living. The city-slicker life in Melbourne had run its course for Shaun and Stu, and the pull for more land and more space was strong. Shaun, originally from Ōtautahi Christchurch, set about finding a section and they soon settled on this hillside subdivision at Kennedys Bush, just outside the city.

It didn’t take long after the land purchase for Shaun and Stu to find the winning team of Design Workshop Architecture (DWA), Saunders Building and Michelle Lamb Interior Architecture to create their dream home.

Stu and Shaun were thrilled with Deva Barlow- Smith, director at DWA, saying he created a brief that “elevated our original ideas and included details that others wouldn’t notice”.

Says Deva: “Our brief from Shaun and Stu was to create a home that took advantage of the natural light and to include a large private courtyard, perfect for entertaining.”

Adds Shaun: “We’re delighted with the design of the home. The large entranceway with a 1.4m-wide door commands a strong and inviting impression, and that leads beautifully out onto the courtyard.”

The moment you step foot on the property, you are welcomed in. The entry path leads to the large front door in the middle of the site. It’s almost like you are gently pulled into this home, inviting you to see more. As you walk through the home, the large private courtyard is revealed behind stacked glass.

“All of the main rooms in the house can be accessed via this courtyard,” explains Deva. “This was integral in creating a connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces, forming the heart of the home.”

Often, it’s the kitchen that is the centrepiece, but here, the courtyard adds that connection to the outdoors and to the main living spaces. As Deva says, “It’s a perfect mix between lavish interiors and simple exteriors.”

It was an easy choice to go with Hagley Windows and Doors for this home. As the largest manufacturer of residential aluminium joinery in the South Island, the experienced team made the process easy.

Aalto Bowie was the paint colour for the walls in the media room, expertly applied by Logan from Swanston Painting and Decorating – a company specialising in exterior and interior painting and decorating work.

Given the topography of outer Christchurch and the mature trees on this site, DWA chose a very classic form. “We designed two gabled pavilions running north to south, connected by a contemporary glass-lined central walkway,” says Deva. “The dual pavilion configuration allowed us to organise all of the modern amenities that the clients’ brief required. A slimline bagged brick encases both pavilions, with a timeless standing seam roof in slate.”

The light bag-washed brick gives texture, adding warmth and homeliness to the 301sqm home. Brick cladding is contrasted with vertical cedar weatherboards, placed strategically in easy-to-reach locations for low-maintenance upkeep. Energy-efficient window joinery in the forms of low-E, thermally broken and argon-filled windows are located to take advantage of the northern aspect.

“We knew what we liked, and Deva captured that perfectly,” says Shaun. “The four-bedroom home, with a media room and library nook, makes for a luxury abode, filled with lightness and expansiveness.”

The total design and consenting process took around two years. This timeframe was not due to a complex build, but rather the fact that the team was going through this process mid-Covid-19 and at a time of great uncertainty in New Zealand over building materials and pricing.

Mark Saunders, director at Saunders Building, is proud of the fact that the actual build time was only 12 months, despite these challenges.

“Timings were all over the place due to Covid-19, but we became experts at pre-ordering and storing materials if we did get hold of them early,” he says.

The homeowners were impressed by Saunders Building. “When we found Mark from Saunders Building, we knew we’d found a wonderful human being,” says Shaun. “He was a delight to deal with; he took the pressure off us and respected our desire for a high-quality home.”

It is clear Mark cares deeply about what he builds. He works closely with Deva and other architectural designers. He says this makes for a better result, especially when the builder and designer can work together from early in the process. “Deva and I talk every day. We really trust each other, and he’s recently designed my own home,” says Mark. “When there’s a solid base, like in this case, decisions get made more easily, the homeowners trust us, and the process can move forward smoothly.”

The Labradorite tiles from Brymac Tiles give a luxurious look to the powder room. All tiles in this home were supplied by Brymac Tiles in Christchurch.

The Buddy range from Plumbline was used throughout the home. Of particular note is the basin and tapware in the powder room – it perfectly combines elegance with functionality.

The frosted Soktas wall light in this bathroom is unique and provides the perfect blend of atmospheric lighting and functional lighting. Each light made by Soktas is different to the next, giving customers a truly original piece of functional art.

Interior architect Michelle Lamb, a good friend of the couple, was also introduced early in the build. The homeowners emphasise their absolute trust in Michelle’s decisions and choices for the home.

“It was a win-win,” says Michelle. “At the time, I was just starting my own interior designer company. It was my first time working with Mark Saunders, and now I’ve chosen him – along with Deva to do the design – to build my own home later this year,” says Michelle.

Michelle’s role involved designing the entire interior: joinery, finishes, window treatment, kitchen and bathroom design, lighting and furniture. “The overarching theme for the interiors was to use quality, durable finishes that would withstand the odd party or two,” she says. “We wanted a timeless look, but with a bit of the boys’ personalities, too, so we injected a bit of colour throughout, in the form of jewel-toned greens and blues.”

Nowhere is this more evident than in the media room, the owners’ firm favourite. Described as “a lot of fun to design” by Michelle, the aim for this room was to create a luxurious and moody cinema and bar vibe to contrast with the rest of the home, which is light and airy. “We colour-drenched the whole room in beautiful deep blues,” says Michelle. “The coved ceiling is paired with blue velvet curtains and a blue sofa. We went dark with the cabinetry as well. Lighting was key to this room’s success, in particular in the coved ceiling.”

Every detail has been thought through. For example, the flooring, from the chunky loop pile wool carpet to the blonde timber laminate, is durable enough to withstand when “the wee pup Riley gets the zoomies”.

The oak and green tones are carried throughout, with the fluted textures as an extension of this theme. A large waterfalled island anchors the kitchen in the middle of the living spaces. The spacious bathrooms offer simplicity and luxury with statement-making touches. As Michelle says, “The interior of a home is what we interact with most, so it is important to get every detail right.”

The seamless, cohesive finished result is a beautiful demonstration of the success of a true collaboration between professionals, and has created the best outcomes for the happy homeowners.

The exterior White Emperor bricks by Canterbury Clay Bricks are a bespoke brick from the company’s Create range, creating a unique and timeless home for these homeowners to enjoy.

Involved in this project

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Design Workshop Architecture
03 384 3565
designworkshop.nz

BUILDER
Saunders Building
021 487 788
saundersbuilding.co.nz

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Michelle Lamb Interior Architecture
0272 076 992
michellelamb.co.nz

PAINTING & DECORATING
Swanston Painting & Decorating
027 696 3057
swanstonpainting.co.nz

BRICKS
Canterbury Clay Bricks
03 341 5036
clay-bricks.co.nz

TILES
Brymac Tiles
03 366 8187
brymactiles.co.nz

FLOORING
Nextdore
03 366 9400
nextdore.co.nz

KITCHEN HARDWARE
Blum
03 379 4984
blum.com/nz

WINDOWS & DOORS
Hagley Windows & Doors
0800 424 539
hagley.co.nz

DESIGNER LIGHTING
Soktas
+61 423 909 055
soktas.co

LANDSCAPE DESIGNER
Debbie Rimmer Landscape Design by Outline Spaces
03 337 9950
debbierimmer.co.nz
outlinespaces.co.nz

BATHROOM TAPWARE & FIXTURES
Plumbline
0800 499 411
plumbline.co.nz