My Space - 23 Feburary 2024

If no one notices that a home has been renovated, builder Jimmy Dow, co-owner of Coast NZ, considers that a job well done.

“ at’s the reason I love our renovations,” he says. “Right from the start, we’re looking at the details we need to get perfectly correct to ensure it’s a awless nish. You shouldn’t be able to tell where we’ve been. It just looks as though the house was always like that. is one, in particular, is an absolute showstopper.”

eir clients Matt and Julie were returning from the Middle East and wanted the house they’d purchased in Pyes Pa to be a forever home to raise their children. “It was an ambitious plan so when we were looking for a builder, we were very mindful that we needed someone willing to be on that journey with us, and to be pragmatic with us as rst-time renovators,” says Julie.

“Jimmy stood out from all of the contractors we spoke to. I liked that Jimmy interviewed us as much as we interviewed him. It was clear he also wanted to work with pragmatic clients who hold the same values as him, and who also care equally about his craft and the people involved.”

Footprint extended

“ ey had already rmed up the plans in collaboration with an architect when we came on-board,” says Jimmy. “ ey trusted us and we

really appreciated that because it was a full year reno from start to nish.”

e existing 1990s brick house was dated and ready for a modern facelift. “When we started pulling it apart, we found it was square and wellbuilt so it was easy to add on the square meterage they wanted in the lounge and bedrooms,” says Jimmy. “Extending the footprint meant the roo ine needed to be altered as well.”

“We did have to make changes along the way,” says Julie. “For example, our plans included a large double-sided aquarium built into the wall between the living space and kitchen space, but we couldn’t source the right materials for it at the time.

So we converted the space into a media centre with a huge slider door that doubles as the entrance to the lounge. We were also very keen to source as much as possible from Australasia, including the beautiful blue gum oors, and the custom-made cedar entrance door. I’m also very much a bath person so our ensuite is one of my favourite rooms, with a free-standing stone bath surrounded by windows that overlook the private native fern garden.”

Blend with nature

e couple chose a stunning exterior combination of Celcrete plaster cladding with accents of cedar and silver-quartz coloured engineered stone for an elegant street appeal. “ e exterior is stunning and we are so happy with how it turned out,” says Julie. “We wanted

the house to blend with nature. Small touches such at the rain chains at the entrance are reminiscent of our time living in Turkey”

At the front of the house, massive custom glass doors bring sunshine streaming into the living spaces and draw the eye out to the entertaining deck, complete with built-in barbecue.

“Natural light and connecting to the outdoors is really important to us so all the windows and doors are a key feature,” says Julie.

“ e hallway is extra wide and the cedar front door is custom-made locally. It’s two metres high and about 1.7 metres wide. I found the door handles from a guy who recycles old pipes.”

“No expense was spared on this build and we’ve ensured the workmanship is second to none,” says Jimmy. “ e ve-metre-high stud gives a feeling of space and Matt’s chef background inspired their beautiful industrialstyle kitchen complete with a scullery.”

“We had the rangehood custom made,” says Julie. “ e 3.5-metre long island bench is a slab of granite which waterfalls another metre to the ground. We incorporated stainless steel where

the co ee machine is.” e result? A stunning showcase of meticulous craftsmanship and thoughtful design that is also a family home.

“For us, a renovation focuses on the details that no one should ever notice,” says Jimmy. “From seamless transitions of oor treatments to the incredible bathrooms and the huge barn-style sliding door that transforms the lounge into a media room. Every aspect is carefully considered, creating a home that you can e ortlessly navigate and just enjoy life.”

A partner

Julie’s advice is to remember your builder is a partner with you, not just a contractor. “We really needed trusted experts around us to give us con dence in our decisions. ere were occasions when we told Jimmy to simply do what he thought was best, and we knew we could trust in his decisions – not just because of his experience and skills, but because he treated our renovation like it was his home.

“We would not hesitate to recommend Jimmy and his team and would most certainly use Coast NZ again.”

As soon as you step into the brand-new Arataki home of Mike Ward, the success of his collaboration with his building experts is evident.

“I had been thinking for years about a threebedroom house with a two-bedroom at downstairs with plenty of carparking for vehicles including my boat and motorhome,” says Mike. “I wanted to keep it as light and airy as possible with lots of outside living spaces.”

e result is a generous 280m2 home on a 440m2 section. Mike had been working on plans himself for several years before he found the right team.

“I know it was important for Mike to nd a builder he clicked with because he had a strong vision for his new home,” says John Hamblin from J Hamblin Carpentry. “I love how light it is. One of Mike’s directions to the architect was to get sun into the house,” says John.

Follow the sun

“It’s given us additional height above the kitchen for extra windows and the use of glass balustrades around the void above the entrance that means when you look back through from the front balcony, it’s just light all the way to the rear. It’s a cool feature.”

e main living spaces are on the upper level with plenty of outside living. “We created decks for any time of the day,” says John. “It invites you to move through the house. I really enjoy that about Mike’s home. You can follow the sun.”

e back section provided a sheltered site to build on but John laughs that it made access tricky for large deliveries. “We have a series of photos of trucks nding the driveway so tight that the drivers had to climb out the windows.”

First in NZ

ere have also been opportunities for better solutions along the way. e stunning oating stairs that greet visitors were originally planned to be open tread steel at an estimated cost of $60,000. rough research, the team found an alternative at a fraction of the price.

“I believe it’s the rst of its kind in New Zealand to use a timber support beam rather than steel,” says John. “It’s a great example of taking our time to research to nd a happy medium that gave the best result.”

Bespoke new builds

Occasionally, John says, what’s drawn on paper doesn’t quite work in real life. at’s when his more than 25 years’ building experience both in his native UK as well as in France, Australia and here in New Zealand is invaluable.

“I spent a lot of time with my apron on doing the carpentry work so you get those great on-site conversations. You’re able to make a lot of decisions which allows the project to ow. You build a rapport with clients and those relationships are important.”

e original windows for the master bedroom looked straight into the house next door and needed to be changed to t with Mike’s speci c request for privacy. “We altered the window design and then found the same problem with the lounge. We didn’t want the eye drawn to the neighbours’ house so we were able to troubleshoot as we went.”

J. Hamblin Carpentry is a

Registered Master Builder, which means clients get 10 years’ guarantee on all their work.

“We were on the same page throughout the whole project. Mike leant on us for ideas and allowed the build to evolve. It’s not built like a spec home that’s o a set plan that can’t be changed. ings pop up that need to be altered and we were able to do that.”

Spa nook at includes the exterior with the spa pool placement changing.

“It was going to be on the top deck, but then we agreed it should be on the ground. We created a spa nook with plenty of screening and John added a gangplank from the deck above, then steps down and nished o underneath so that it looks nice,” says Mike.

“You need exibility and the ability to adapt when needed,” says John. “It can feel frustrating at

the time, but the focus is getting the end result as close to perfect as possible. Sometimes, we get people trying to cut costs rather than get something right, but it’s better to catch it early rather than have a feature irritate you forever.”

“I just love all of it,” says Mike. “ e outside areas are beautiful, and I’ve appreciated how fussy John is as a builder. His attention to detail is outstanding. He’s also great about coming back to make things right if they weren’t 100 per cent.”

Showcase skills

“I am very proud of this project,” says John. “We generally work on renovations and reclad projects, so to do a new build from the ground up was exciting and that it’s not your ‘bog standard’ build was doubly so. All of us trades were able to put our all into it to really showcase our skills. It’s all been great fun with a fantastic client.”

It was the decision to invest in a larger fridge that sparked the idea of a complete kitchen revamp for Ōmokoroa residents

Lori and Ian Howells.

“We needed some structural modi cations to t our new appliance, and replacing the rangehood also required the removal of cabinets,” says Lori.  “ e oven and hot plates had seen better days, but we knew that replacing those would show the rest of the kitchen up, and not in a good way. So, we decided on an entire kitchen upgrade.”

Lori and Ian were impressed by a Kitchen Makeover project at a friends’ home and so they booked an appointment with consultant Danelle Johnston.

Recycling and updating

“We weren’t interested in replacing our kitchen completely,” says Lori. “Recycling and updating was the approach we wanted. We originally thought we’d have to replace the benchtop with a pricey stone version, so we were pleasantly surprised to be introduced to the laminate style.”

Danelle says Lori and Ian felt the kitchen was dark with the Rimu “but the layout

worked and everything was in good condition”. “Our advice is that if your kitchen is from the 1980s or newer, a makeover is likely the way to go. It’s a lot less disruption than a brand-new kitchen and more cost-e ective. It also saves good cabinetry from going to the land ll.”

e Kitchen Makeover team includes co-owner and Danelle’s husband, Lindsay, who is anexperienced joiner and does all the work on-site. Plus their level 4 quali ed furniture sprayers, who expertly cleaned, prepped and lacquered all the doors, panels and drawers at their quality-controlled workshop.

“By choosing a light colour, it instantly brightened and modernised the space and made a nice contrast with the Lockwood walls,” says Danelle. “We use

PPG two-pot acid-cat which gives a smooth and hardwearing surface to kitchen fronts. A new laminate benchtop and stunning sink from Valore completed the look.”

Lori and Ian were kept in the loop as the project progressed.

“Kitchen Makeover were really great at explaining our options and providing samples to make our decisions easier,” says Lori. “Our kitchen was fully functional throughout the process. Inconvenience was kept to an absolute minimum.”

Smart and fresh!

e result? A kitchen that looks smart and fresh.

“ e change of colour from wood to a glacial white has provided a timely uplift without changing the design,” says Lori. “Kitchen Makeover were very professional. ey are lovely people and very easy to communicate with.”

Danelle is also a quali ed interior designer, and her attention to detail is superb.

“We take care of every aspect,” says Danelle. “We arrange every trade and make sure that each stage is completed on schedule. Our clients appreciate the smooth running of their kitchen makeover and they all love their ‘new’ kitchen.”

Entertaining the idea of

Your guide to smart home renovations

A home update can be a great way to add value to your property ahead of going on the market – but it’s important to choose projects that will give you the best return on investment.

Real estate writer Deb Gri ths has interviewed dozens of agents, home stagers, builders and homeowners and has compiled some of their best nuggets of advice.

“Not all home renovation projects are created equal,” says Deb. “Choose projects that are generic enough that potential buyers won’t see them as something they’ll have to do re-do in their own style straight away. You’re e ectively wasting your money.

“[As such] Your aim isn’t to add more of your personality, you’re trying to appeal to the broadest possible number of buyers –so be smart about your spending.”

Functionality and aesthetic

Deb advises to focus on improving your home’s functionality and aesthetic. “Updating the kitchen or bathroom can make your home more immediately liveable and increase its perceived value. It’s also a

and declutter outside as well as in.”

Moreover, it’s important to consider the cost versus the value with a focus on updates that bring your home up to speed. It’s also worth hiring a professional.

“Paying someone to do a more polished job – whether it’s a cleaner,

gardener, water-blaster or a house painter – can ensure that your project is completed to a high standard,” says Deb. “Smart home renovations can help you get the best return on your pre-sale investment and make your home more appealing to potential buyers.”

good idea to make spaces versatile enough to t with a variety of life stages.

“Some buyers need a home o ce, while others may be looking for a guest bedroom or a nursery. Consider innovative design options like foldaway beds that would make several options possible.”

Keeping up with the latest home renovation trends is also key.

“Eco-friendly upgrades will futureproof your home and many modern gadgets appeal to tech-savvy buyers,” says Deb. “However, investing in high-end nishes may not necessarily be worth it if it exceeds the market value of your home and risks alienating some potential buyers. Aim for fresh and clean, while remaining neutral.”

Exterior

She also suggests focussing on the exterior of your home, rst. “Freshening up the roof or the landscaping can improve that all-important curb appeal and therefore, perceived value.

“First impressions count. A well-manicured garden and clean windows can make all the di erence in how favourably buyers view your home. Look for clever screens for rubbish bins, organise the garage to show its full storage capacity