Spouting Colour

Beautiful in Black

17 May, 2019 by

Ben and Tess Annabell found their 2.5 acres of paradise in Taranaki back in 2008. The location was ideal; Hawera had great schools, a vibrant community, lots of nearby family and friends, excellent hunting and fishing, plus the added attraction of a beach only a salt spray away.

On site was a 1914 villa, which they would have loved to renovate but unfortunately it was well past its use by date. So, it was a case of starting from scratch.

We had a good idea of what we wanted in a home. So, we took our rough design to Location Homes in New Plymouth and they did the rest.

Made to fit right in

The choice of building materials was influenced by the surrounding buildings. Batten and board was chosen so that the house blended in with Ben’s workshop and helped connect the buildings. ColorSteel^® was used as a cladding and roofing because it’s a material that’s right at home in a rural setting yet at the same time provided a contrast to the warmth of the cedar.

The cedar cladding gives a soft, natural, earthy feel to the place which was exactly what we wanted.

Wind? What wind?

Rumour has it that it can blow a bit on the Taranaki coast, so Ben and Tess built with that in mind. The house has entertaining areas on both sides of the house, so they are protected from the most common westerly and northerly winds. Large verandas also provide protection from the sun and rain as well as substantially increasing the usable living space.

Inside the house double glazing and an extremely efficient wood burner, which heats water as well as the air, keeps the comfort levels well into the cosy range.

All black, almost

It’s pretty obvious, we’re keen on black. We looked at lots of magazines for inspiration and we were always drawn to the darker colours.

From the Ebony ColorSteel^® on the roof, to the Resene Pitch Black stain on the verandas, the black oxide on the driveway to the Black Marley Stratus Design Series^® spouting and downpipes, the colour black is very prominent. It has the visual effect of making the house sit down in the landscape. It blends in rather than shouts out.

PVC – a plumber’s pick

Ben runs Evergreen Plumbing and he’s been using Marley product for many years. He chose the Stratus Design Series^® in the Typhoon^® profile for a number of reasons. Its’ smooth profile, 15-year guarantee, UV resistance, and suitability for the collection of drinking water were all factors to consider, but the number one reason is that it’s made from tough uPVC and won’t rust with all the salt spray.

We’re only 700 metres from the surf so salt spray is a real issue. That’s why Marley PVC was the only way to go. And we love it!

The black looks really stunning with matching RP80 ^® 80mm round downpipes.

So, from both a practical and design viewpoint the Black Stratus Design Series^® was ideally suited to the location and added a very stylish finishing touch to the home.

A brilliant mix of old and new

The timber from the original villa didn’t go to waste. The kitchen and bathroom benchtops are all made from Rimu salvaged from the old home and the library shelving is using the old Matai floorboards.

The lovely native timber was just too good to use as firewood.

On trend metallic touches were used throughout the home with copper lampshades in the lounge and dining area working beautifully with the exposed brick.

Despite their clear love of black, the odd splash of colour has been used around the home, like the gorgeous Studio Edward Van Vliet wallpaper (Design number 48957) on the lounge wall, coupled with a classic camel leather couch.

Ben and Tess are suitably in love with their new home and we agree it’s truly beautiful in black!

A Complete Transformation

16 May, 2019 by

What was once an ugly duckling of a property is now unrecognisable. Back in 2013 when Michael and Jude Anselmi discovered this sprawling rural property in Patumahoe, just South of Auckland, there was only a Skyline garage and an old hay barn with a dirt floor.

Fortunately, they could see the potential of the site and had the experience to tackle the fairly major renovation. They had over the years developed a number of houses for themselves and clients, so they possessed a keen eye for design as well as having a team of trusted tradesmen to call upon.

Firstly, the garage was converted into living accommodation, then the barn was upgraded to act as a workshop and farm shed.

Looks great from any angle

The renovation made the most of what was there to begin with. A new living area and main bedroom suite was neatly joined to an accommodation wing by a wide interior walkway and the angles of the two buildings created a sheltered, sun-drenched courtyard. Wrap-around Kwila decking also helped to make the two buildings work as one.

Interiors are a highlight

Large picture windows let the outside in. The views are stunning, yet the double glazing ensures that the temperature is moderated all year round. The high vaulted ceilings create a wonderful sense of space, yet the large wood burner keeps everything cosy no matter what’s happening outside.

The kitchen features a stunning combination of gloss black, satin white and timber. The splashback is an eye-catching yet subtle fork print in black and white. A butler’s pantry also helps to minimise the space required in the main kitchen for everyday items, which adds to the simplistic and tidy approach of the space.

The ensuite bathroom is clean and simple with white marble tiles and black accessories and tapware. The wet room style shower is very generous on space, future proofing for the potential of growing old in the amazing home – an important consideration when building. The Veil Intelligent Wall Hung Toilet by Kohler, automatically opens when you approach!

Michael and Jude have gorgeous touches of personality throughout their home. And, the small bathroom is a great example of this. The wallpaper adds a tropical and playful burst of colour to a usually bland bathroom space.

A farmyard in the backyard

This was not to be a toy farm. It had to be a working farm and pay its way, fattening and finishing cattle as well as breeding lambs. So, a lot of effort was put into improving the pasture, fencing and water reticulation on the farm before rushing in and designing the additions to the house.

Having time to live on the site and carefully consider the design of the house was a huge advantage.

Michael and Jude knew they wanted a comfortable home that had everything that they need now and into the future. A swimming pool was installed as a touch of glamour, and it works in beautifully with the rural surroundings; adding a splash of blue to the sprawling green pastures.

Has its own night life, too

Look to the North and you’ll see the city lights. Look straight up and you’ll see an amazing light show of stars, which is too good to miss out on. The outdoor shower is a bit of light-hearted luxury that also makes the most of its stunning surroundings.

It’s wonderful and private (the road is 700 metres away) yet all the big city amenities are within easy reach.

Easy maintenance was a must-have

ColorSteel^™ roofing, board and batten cladding, and Marley^® spouting are all materials that fit the low maintenance brief. And the natural colour palette; Flaxpod for the roof, San Sebastian on the cladding, and Marley Stratus Design Series^® Ironsand^® for the spouting and downpipes combine to create an elegant impression that’s perfectly apt for its rural setting.

No detail overlooked

The Amselmi’s were very mindful of the role that spouting plays in the finished look of their home. They chose Marley Stratus Design Series^® Typhoon spouting and RP80^® downpipes to crisply frame the house.

Because of the nearby trees in the central part of the home, they installed four Marley Curve^TMLeaf Diverters to keep debris out of their drinking water.

Having external brackets on the spouting also made for easy cleaning and a great aesthetic. Marley Stratus has the added advantage of being easy to customise so that even tricky joins cause no problems. The tight corner below was custom made by Marley to suit the plans.

We went for the Typhoon half round spouting profile because it can carry more water, which means we could use fewer downpipes. And that’s great from a design viewpoint.

Horse heaven in South Auckland

5 April, 2018 by

It’s not often you see a person’s passion intertwine perfectly with where they live. But at Pintala in the South Auckland area of Waiau Pa, Nick Bates has achieved exactly that.

After spending some years in the States where he developed a great admiration for Pinto horses, Nick sought to build a home on a property that allowed him to indulge his passion for the breed while still working in real estate in Pukekohe.

No detail overlooked

Nick spent 3 months searching for the perfect spot and his perseverance paid off. Pintala is on a beautiful site in rural South Auckland with views over the Manukau Harbour, out to Awhitu Peninsula, the Waitakere Ranges and even the city lights in the distance.

I just love living here. The views, the sunrise and sunset are stunning. I even have ROW access to the water for beach rides. And I’m close to work. We couldn’t be happier.

Cape cod on the Manukau

The only thing on site when Nick bought it was an old stock shelter, so he pretty much had a blank canvas to begin with. Nick had firm ideas on what he wanted; a rustic-contemporary look, lots of black with white highlights to capture a Cape Cod feel, and most importantly he wanted to live in a home surrounded by equestrian facilities.

I wanted it to be simple in design and to function effortlessly. I didn’t want a glitzy show home, I wanted a working, practical home that also looked good.

Marley Stratus Design Series^® in Ironsand^® was an obvious choice when Nick was deciding on a complimentary spouting system.

Keeping it local

Nick made a point of using local tradespeople and they didn’t let him down. Sam Crisp had a particular knowledge for building lifestyle buildings and Customkit were a key part of the team. Their close working relationship with Nick and excellent communication kept the stress levels to a minimum.

In keeping with the rustic look and keeping in mind the coastal location Nick wanted wood wherever possible. Board and batten exteriors are used on the cottage, implement shed, and horse barn, all coated in Resene Blackjack CoolColour, which will softly weather and give a permanence to the buildings. The roof is Colorsteel^® Endura Corrugated Iron in Thunder Grey.

Everyone who visits is in awe of the detail, layout and facilities. All of which really do complement the amazing location.

Building for the long term

Pintala is one of those properties that will continue to get better with age. Building with sustainable timber, installing LED lighting and energy saving double glazing all help minimise the property’s impact on the environment. A great deal of planting has also been done, this includes grasses and ground cover, and numerous native plants especially chosen to cope with the coastal location.

The nearby beach was a factor in the choice of spouting and downpipes as well. The Marley Stratus Design Series^® was suggested by Customkit because of the fact that it doesn’t rust, is UV resistant, carries a 15-year guarantee and has a great range of colours.

The Typhoon^® spouting profile, in Ironsand^®, was picked by Nick because it suited the board and battern exterior. The external brackets suit the traditional style of the house and also make the spouting very easy to clean.

When asked what he would change if he was to do it all again. Nick replied: “Not a thing!”

That’s a sure sign of a job well done!

A big thank you to Customkit for the editorial information and to John Mailley for the photography.

Villa magic in Sandringham

14 February, 2018 by

After six months of searching, property developers Daniel and Kate found exactly what they were looking for; a 1900’s Villa with good bones on a flat section in a great location in Sandringham.

The Villa was looking it’s age yet was in a family friendly street that had instant appeal to the parents of 5 year old Kourtney and 18 month Justin.

“It’s in a safe, quiet street. There are lots of kids about and it has a lovely old Kiwi feel where everyone is relaxed and friendly. The neighbourhood is also home to several good restaurants and bars so we don’t have to go far for the occasional night out!” says Daniel.

From modest beginnings

The initial plan was to simply add a 4 metre lean-to extension to the rear of the house but that soon changed. Daniel and Kate did a major on it. Half of the existing house was removed and what remained was completely gutted.

They ended up keeping what they liked; the high ceilings and the central hallway, and redesigning the rest so that it fitted with the needs of modern family living.

“We’ve ended up with a spacious 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom Villa with open plan kitchen/dining/living at the rear of the house. From the street it’s still a Villa, but inside it’s very much a 21^st century home.”

To accommodate the extra space Daniel and Kate built a massive 7 metre x 9 metre extension to the rear of the house. And rather than having a traditional flat lean-to roof they opted to fabricate new trusses which enabled them to retain an A frame style roof and generous 3.1metre height ceilings.

Tradition with a twist

One of the downsides to owning a Villa can be the lack of interior light. So we made sure that we maximised natural light and added energy efficient LED lighting where possible.

To enhance the light and freshness of the interior, Dulux Te Apiti paint was used on all walls apart from the children’s rooms.

Dulux Waimanga Valley was used in Kourtney’s room. Coupled with a pink chandelier and striped wallpaper, this is truly a space fit for a princess.

And Dulux Hari Hari for Justin’s room – it’s calm and soothing which is just what you need for a 2-year old sometimes!

The master bedroom is stylishly decorated in light tones, and being the room at the front of the house, it has a beautiful bay window which drenches the space in light.

The bathroom is tiled in a light grey marble with a gorgeous freestanding bath that sits under the traditional sash window.

All the rooms are meticulously finished and the styling is modern yet respects all the traditional features of the home. Perhaps you’d call it modern classic!

In keeping with tradition Daniel and Kate chose a dark grey and white exterior colour scheme with Dulux Maraetai for the weatherboards and Dulux Classic Vivid White for the frames and trim.

Colorsteel^® Grey Friars roofing and matching Marley Typhoon^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes completed the picture stylishly.

We went with Marley because of their wide range of styles and colours. We particularly liked the fact that Marley Typhoon^® gives you the option of internal brackets. They not only look great but also suit the character of the Villa.

Daniel and Kate are also early adopters of the innovative new rain harvesting product, Marley Twist^®. It’s a compact rainwater diverter that turns your downpipe into a free source of water for watering the garden, topping up the pool, general cleaning or emergency use.

Twist^® can be easily installed on existing or new PVC downpipes and can quick connect to a collection tank via any standard garden hose fitting. A simple “twist” on-off control lets you access rainwater from your downpipe as and when you need it. Twist is designed to connect a single downpipe to a small collection tank of up to 1,000 litres however Daniel and Kate have opted for a handy 300L tank.

Good things take time

Daniel and Kate resisted the temptation to plant an instant garden. Instead they have gone for a range of plantings that while taking time to grow will really suit their location and compliment a 1900’s Villa.

They used Buxus for border hedging and Lily Pillys to add privacy to the backyard where you’ll find the children’s playground and large deck and BBQ area.

Family comes first

Even though Daniel and Kate have laboured for 8 months to build a wonderfully luxurious and almost completely new family home, they’re certainly not precious about it.

The kids are free to use the long hallway as a racetrack on their bikes and roller skates and just be kids.

As Kate says: “It’s a family home and it’s to be lived in. Floors can be sanded, walls can be repainted. Good memories in a loving and warm home will last a lifetime.”

Classic in Te Awamutu

12 September, 2017 by

Located 30kms south of Hamilton, Te Awamutu is often referred to as ‘The Rose Town of New Zealand’ because of its elaborate rose gardens in the centre of town.

Te Awamutu is also home to a brand new house built by Daniel Kraayvanger and the team at DK Designer Homes.

The finished home has a timeless, classic look, with shingle roof, plastered walls, deep window reveals, and copper lighting and spouting. This entertainer’s delight also features a games room and in-ground pool.

A design challenge

The biggest challenge from a design perspective was fitting a 370m² house, plus a separate 34m² games room, on an irregularly shaped, 3,200m² rural section.

The 10m setbacks on all boundaries allowed for a limited building platform.

It helped that the house was able to be positioned on site to maximise the north orientation, with outdoor living areas, the games room and the pool all located to make the most of the sun.

None to done in one

“The owner had a very clear idea of what they wanted from the outset and had done extensive research over a long period of time.” Kraayvangar says.

“It was particularly helpful for the designer and builder that they had had an extensive image library of what they were after.”

Plans were drawn up one year out, and the build was achieved from woe to go in just 6 months, transforming the empty site to a beautiful new home.

When we asked the owner if he would have done anything differently looking back on the process, he told us “No, we wouldn’t. We love it just the way it is.”

Entertainer’s delight

Clever exterior layout and design, using a covered outdoor entertaining area within view of the inviting pool, gives the owners the ultimate flexibility to make the most of their easy-care outdoor areas all year-round.

With the Waikato region offering warm, humid summers and mild winters with prevailing winds from the west and southwest, the siting of the house, planting and fencing, provide protection for the outdoor living areas in most weathers.

The 30m² covered outdoor living area, complete with outdoor gas fire, provides maximum opportunities for outdoor living in all but the most inclement weather, further enhanced by the 20m² covered barbeque area to the Games Room.

Aqua oasis

The undercover paved patio, combined with extensive north-facing tiled areas, maximise comfort no matter the weather.

All the better for enjoying the generous in-ground pool in eye-catching aqua, complemented with the large pale tiles in the same colour as the cladding.

The owner knew the type of pool and shape he wanted, and with the help of building consent drawings from a structural engineer, DK Designer Homes turned the owner’s dreams to reality.

The finishing touch of glass balustrades for the pool fence avoided visually cutting off the pool from the house, adding to the expansive resort feel.

Clean lines

CavityClad, an autoclaved aerated concrete panel cladding system, was used on the exterior, with the plastered finish painted Resene Double Thorndon Cream. Battened plywood soffits to the outdoor living areas were stained.

The roofing is CertainTeed asphalt shingles on a plywood substrate, supplied and installed by Bay Pacific Roofing of Tauranga, in colour Landmark Weathered Wood.

The clean, classic aesthetic was continued indoors, with the interior of the house painted Resene Alabaster, with wallpapered feature walls, and the walls to the interior of the Games Room painted Resene Half Truffle. The ceiling, doors, architraves and trim are Resene Alabaster.

On-trend copper

Stylish copper feature lighting adorns the exterior, with bronze water features and large pots making a design statement against the paler exterior cladding.

Marley Typhoon^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes in Copper, part of Marley’s Stratus Design Series^® range, continues the on-trend copper features of the home.

“The client liked the ‘copper look’ without the cost of real copper” Kraayvangar said.

Marley copper uPVC spouting and downpipes also suited the timeless, classic style of the home.

Marley’s Typhoon spouting reduces maintenance while still getting the elegant copper look without the risk of theft of metal copper spouting.

Captivating coastal Northland

20 July, 2017 by

After looking for more than 6 years, Shaun and Margaret finally found ‘the one’. A vacant site in Northland, perched high in stunning Tutukaka, with awe-inspiring, sweeping sea views that stop you in your tracks.

Big plans but no builder

Having built a house in 1997 in nearby Maungakaramea, the news that their trusted builder had since retired meant the hunt began for a housing company.

We approached a few companies with our design, and requested estimates. We chose Jennian Northland as they were the best to deal with throughout that process.

18 months later, and the empty land had been transformed into a welcoming home, built tough to withstand the elements of the elevated coastal site.

Considered positioning was needed for the house to account for the undulating contours of the site, and for protection from the high-wind exposure. Everything indoors and out was designed to make the most of those panoramic views.

Exterior echoing nature

Natural materials were chosen for the exterior, combined with a coastal-inspired colour scheme to blend harmoniously with the location.

Cladding in schist, rendered brick, and hard-wearing Linea weatherboard created a foundation firm enough to weather any storm.

Shaun and Margaret chose Colorsteel’s MAXX Trimline for the roof in the moody grey-blue shade of New Denim.

Marley Typhoon^® spouting in Titanium, with matching RP80^® downpipes, made for a sensible and stylish choice for the finishing touch to the exterior. “We liked the look of the Marley Typhoon spouting” says Shaun.

“Plus our location raised a few concerns for choosing the right spouting. We took into account our long run mono pitch roof design over four sections and levels, the salt-laden air, and long, hot sunny summer days.”

Marley’s uPVC spouting solved it all for us. No concerns about metal corroding, and it could cope with Northland’s heat and high UV at the same time.

A 3kW PV Solar System on the roof takes advantage of Northland’s high sunshine hours for generating power.

Picturesque plantings

With more work in the garden still on their ‘to do’ list, Shaun and Margaret’s clever plant selections so far have achieved a lush feel, an impressive feat given the restrictions of the harsh location.

We chose mainly native plants that could withstand the salt-laden air of the coast.

Unobstructed views

The substantial decking area, constructed from pine with steps edged in reclaimed telephone-pole cross arms, was kept low profile, providing easy indoor-outdoor flow and avoiding the need for balustrades which would otherwise interrupt those breathtaking views.

The ocean indoors

The brand-new, complex, 279sqm home encompasses four bedrooms and two bathrooms, a large kitchen, and two generous living spaces.

With inspiration at-hand through every window, the interior colour scheme was designed to take a backseat to the statement view.

Shaun and Margaret chose Resene Quarter Tea throughout for a cohesive interior colour. Quarter Tea is Resene’s fifth most popular seller, with the muted soft beige providing a warmer base and more complexity than plain white.

The expansive kitchen above is an entertainer’s dream. The luminous turquoise kitchen splash-back in Resene Hullabaloo was sourced from Regal Plus, who also supplied the kitchen, and brings the ocean indoors (for those brief moments you can tear yourself away from the eye-catching views). The granite benchtops are from Stone Warehouse in Auckland.

The bathrooms and master bedroom ensuite perfectly complement the interior colour scheme, with Crema Marfil porcelain print tiles, tapware and mixers from the Methven Aio collection, and Athena bathroom vanities and sinks.

Smartvent and additional ducted air conditioning was added to keep their home cool in summer and warm in winter for year-round comfort.

Favourite things

Now the build is done and they’ve settled in to their new home, Shaun says “It is an extremely liveable house and the living areas have the benefit of the amazing panoramic views.”

When asked what advice he’d give other homeowners trying to achieve a similar look, Shaun said “Don’t rush. Each site has its own advantages and challenges, so spending a lot of time thinking through all aspects of the design is really important prior to the start of construction. Attention to the details is a critical success factor.”

From the big picture to the finer details, like the finishing touch of Marley Typhoon uPVC spouting in Titanium, it’s obvious Shaun and Margaret’s carefully considered attention to detail has really paid off.