This idyllic city residence is the perfect example of quality on every level. Built by Simon Construction Ltd.

WORDS Kathy Catton PHOTOGRAPHY Mick Stephenson

Natural stone beauty

Artisan Stone’s attention to the detail is evident in the final result. Combining specialised technology, and project management with craftsmanship, Artisan Stone has captured the natural beauty of the Charcoal Como Limestone Island and splash-back, along with vanity tops throughout the home.

Artisan Stone
03 348 0680
artisanstone.co.nz

‘Millimetre perfection’ would be an accurate way to describe this home. On arrival at the Merivale abode, you might expect high standards due to its location alone, but it’s more than simply a feast for the eyes. This home pushes the bar high in terms of its fastidious attention to detail and exquisite finishings.

The homeowners were not unfamiliar with the task of home building. With seven new builds already under their belts, they had chalked up plenty of building experience over the years. But this home was different. It was to be their forever home.

“I’m passionate about property,” says the homeowner. “It took us two years to find this section. I wanted to get it right.”

So finally, in July 2021, after a lengthy search, the section was found. The previous owner’s home, rich lister Tracy Gough, was demolished, and a blank canvas allowed for a new lease of life to emerge. What the team has created is nothing short of a masterpiece.

The house consists of a combination of vertical Canadian Cedar, with shiplap weatherboard running horizontally and overlapping, and a Resene Rockcote masonry plaster system with Cerano Grey finish on the upper level, giving it the precast concrete effect. There’s a grandeur about it, but it’s not ostentatious or exuberant.

SEAMLESS STAIRS This stunning floating wooden staircase from D.J. Morrison Ltd is a standout feature in the hallway of the home.

Maybe it’s the stream boundary at the rear of the property that grounds this four-bedroom home firmly in the present moment. Or the northerly aspect, which creates plenty of opportunity for al fresco dining and entertaining, or simply listening to the local wildlife while basking in the sunlight.

“Coming from Canterbury, I was very conscious of the easterly wind, so we made sure in the design that we could create sliding glass screens to protect us from the wind while still enjoying the outside spaces,” says the homeowner.

The outside area also features a pool and dry riverbed effect, an outside fire pit and an outdoor kitchen. Despite the neighbouring property being visible across the stream, the vista is one of calm greenery and sun-drenched serenity.

Porcelain stone

You would think the 60x120cm wall and floor tiles pictured here are natural stone, but Brymac Tiles have supplied a fully glazed “porcelain stoneware tile”: the Stone Valley Cenere. The design incorporates sand, salt crystals, ashes and earthy grains that have been powdered and ground down by time to resemble a unique natural stone.

Brymac Tiles
03 366 8187
brymactiles.co.nz

Inside, the large living zone gives the home an impressive sense of space. The kitchen and living area lead naturally outside, and the entire scheme of dark, earthy materials and natural tones make the home feel remarkably serene. The material and colour palettes cohesively continue throughout the bedrooms and bathrooms, where the vanities have been constructed from the same material as the kitchen benchtop. It’s a seamless result.

The kitchen and scullery have an elegance about them, while also maintaining functionality. The granite stone benchtop and island give depth and solidity to the space, and with self-closing skylights the room is lit up for an easeful dining experience.

Behind such a masterpiece is Master Builder Simon Construction, a Christchurch-based building company with more than 35 years in the industry. The award-winning builder revels in these large-scale residential builds and is well known for its work on a number of high-profile restoration projects across the city following the Christchurch earthquakes.

Company director, Josh Simon, says, “The entire build from foundations to roof was heavily detailed with a sleek design. The first challenge was constructing foundations adjacent to the river with an elevated water table. We met daily with the geotech engineer, and based on all our shared experiences, it became an early success.”

Another success was the build itself, particularly given Covid-19, building restrictions and problems with sourcing and transporting supplies.

“Simon Construction planned ahead, so I had no issue with GIB or cedar supply,” says the homeowner. “It’s thanks to their forward planning that the 18-month build went remarkably well.”

EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING There is always more than one solution, and the team of structural engineers at Pocket sought to find an innovative and sensitive response to the brief.

The entire home is designed with clean, straight, minimalistic lines, from the structural steel, block work and timber framing. There was no room for any variance, and everything was constructed with absolute precision. For example, the exterior windows and interior doors have no standard reveals, and there are no interior door heads, meaning door head clearance margins had to identically match the ceiling linings.

Simon Construction’s construction manager Geoff Atkinson explains more, saying, “For the doors to open and close 180 degrees to within two to three millimetres of the ceiling lining takes an enormous amount of precision. There was no room for any variance.”

Any true tradesman or consultant will recognise and respect this incredible attention to detail and accuracy. Other details continue throughout the home. All the rooms have recessed blinds and curtains, which are controlled by a remote.

OUTDOOR SANCTUARY Outdoor living is maximised by this perfectly positioned swimming pool from Mayfair Pools.

The way the kitchen benchtop has been mitred in place shows off the finessed joinery at play, as well as all the custom-built cabinets. The built-in furniture and diversity of the recessed lighting options both within and outside the home also profile the second-to-none approach to this build.

Now, following an incredible amount of hard work, it’s time for the homeowners to relax, take a breath and enjoy their forever home. “I’ve been surprised at how much time we’ve spent outside,” says the homeowner.

The end result is a functional and prestigious home with exceptional outdoor-indoor living. The combination of both modern and traditional composition provides a timeless and contemporary home, which blends beautifully into the streetscape and streamscape.