Hillside sleek: Smylie Builders

In completing this stunning SDMC Architecture-designed home on Cannon Hill, Smylie Builders have provided a fabulous outcome for the owners, who faced tribulations in getting back onto their much-loved site post-earthquakes.   “Topography dictated the design, and we were involved in the whole process from design to completed build,” says Smylie Builders Creative Director Chelsea […]

Rattan revival

The appeal of natural fibres in the home refuses to wane, epitomised by the resurgence of rattan, cane and wicker furnishings. Playing into trending aesthetics of modern bohemian, rattan freshens up the mood of any room.   Airy and durable, rattan has been used in furniture design for centuries. The climbing vine, which grows mainly […]

Winning by design: Stephenson and Turner

Dennis Chippindale’s passion for living on hills together with his desire for easy living combine in his own home high above Church Bay, looking across Whakaraupo/Lyttelton Harbour towards Quail Island and the Port Hills.     Having lived on hill sites in Wellington, Dennis loved the views but disliked houses spread over many levels. As […]

Setting the stage: Jaz it up

We’ve long recognised the importance of first impressions and, when it comes to selling your home, those first impressions really do count.     Staging is a way to put your home’s best foot forward, impressing potential buyers and increasing their emotional attachment to the home, so you get the highest possible price and quickest […]

A bit of Italy in Fendalton: Feutz & Goldsmiths

“We thrive on the challenges and demands of building architecturally designed homes. They make us think; they give us the opportunity to show a high level of detailing.”     Craig Feutz of building company Feutz and Goldsmith certainly had all those opportunities and challenges on his hands with his company’s latest build – a […]

Queen of its castle

The exterior, as viewed from Queens Avenue, of this striking black cedar-clad home reveals nothing of the forms within and that’s just the way multi-award winning architect Greg Young of Young Architects likes it. “I like making street facades simple and modest, and the most unusual feature of this design is the lack of ‘look-at-me’ […]

Luxe Lyttelton build: Phil Benton Builders

Phil Benton Builders is very pleased with the end result of this three-level home that works its way up the hill, with its commanding views of Lyttleton Harbour looking down towards Governors Bay. “The work put in by the construction team was outstanding, with patience and quality of finish exceptional,” Director Dave Fraser says.   […]

Architect’s own home entices: Sheppard and Rout

An architect’s owned-designed home becomes an expression of their beliefs and ideals, and this is especially true of the new home of Tim Dagg, Architect at Sheppard and Rout.     Tim and his family lived on site previously and, for Tim, the context of the site and orientation of the home are always key […]

Nestled into the hillside: Hofmans Architect x MWH Construction

The seemingly unsolvable challenges of adjacent sites were the ultimate inspiration for NZIA shortlisted Hofmans Architects, when designing these two striking homes in their home village of Arrowtown.     Suitable for a family of five, each home makes the best of the uplifting views and embodies spatially efficient floor areas, while making a virtue […]

Hillside Haven: Fleetwood Construction

Specialist hill builders Fleetwood Construction receive most of their commissions through word of mouth recommendations, and the newly completed home on Cashmere Hill is no exception. This stunning project came to Sam and Charlotte from a previous client whose Cass Bay home won a Gold Award in the Master Builders House of the Year competition. […]