With an expanding family in mind, an Ashburton-couple approached David Chilton from Chilton and Mayne Architecture, to design a hearty, family home that would last for many years to come.

WORDS Kathy Catton PHOTOGRAPHY Hazel Redmond

BRICK BY BRICK The striking grey brick columns and cladding were supplied and laid by Bricktech.

There’s something to be said for not rushing. It’s all too easy to go full pelt at a house-build project, just to get the ‘pain’ over and done with, but this architecturally designed home was built with positive intention and an eye for quality and good craftmanship.

Homeowners Amanda and Matt, took their time to think through many of the details of this exquisite 395 square metre Ashburton home. Having spent the last ten years on the land as dairy farmers, the couple was familiar with the intricacies of the land, the position of the rising and falling sun throughout the year, and the prevalence of the nor’west winds on-site.

“With three young children, we were starting to outgrow our first house on the property,” says Amanda. “And we also needed to free up housing for our expanding dairy business, so it made sense to build an upsized home for ourselves.”

This ability to observe the seasons and the weather over the previous decade made the timing less relevant. With the fortune of not being limited on section size or having to be out of an existing dwelling within a set timeframe, the couple could make decisions at their own pace without any external pressures.

After looking at various group build plans, the couple couldn’t find a plan that totally suited them and would work for their requirements. So, they approached Designer David Chilton at Chilton and Mayne Architecture, to design them a pavilion-style home with the brief of having a clear demarcation between the master bedroom and the bulk of the other bedrooms.

“Amanda and Matt were thinking long-term and wanted to be able to have a master bedroom close to the main living space and separate from the other sleeping areas,” says David. “In this way, the home is future-proofed for when the children move out.”

SOLID MATERIALS The high quality, low maintenance brick and Linea Oblique weatherboarding from James Hardie complement the beautiful exterior living space.

The brief was also to design a larger office close to the entry of the home. As dairy farmers, the couple often have industry representatives visiting the house, and they wanted a space that would not be located at the extremes of their abode. The couple wanted to have an office handy to the main living areas, so if evening office work were required, they wouldn’t be too excluded from the main activity of the household.

What David came up with is a beautifully thought-through plan for comfortable, rural family living. The long, north-facing five-bedroom home with a protruding gable is positioned to maximise the stunning views of the Southern Alps and provides for a warm and sunny home with lovely entertaining areas.

“It’s a beautiful clean-line, low-maintenance home,” says David. “We used quite a bit of brick to ensure it remains low-maintenance, and the darker weatherboarding makes it a beautiful-looking place to be.”

Having over 20 years of experience designing rural properties throughout New Zealand, David says he has a good grasp for what his rural clients want and need.

“Of course, the issue on these sites is the blustery nor’west winds,” says David. “But we were lucky enough to be able to use a well-planted hedge close by to provide some protection from the wind and not compromise the views.”

“The clients provided a clear brief, and they were very open to our ideas. It’s totally somewhere I could imagine building for myself,” says David.

A phone call to Sarah Thatcher from Sarah Bennett Design was the start of a great working relationship between the homeowner and the experienced local interior designer.

“I helped the homeowner chose exterior and interior colours, kitchen, indoor and outdoor furniture, flooring, wall coverings and everything in between,” says Sarah. “Because we started early, we had ample time to source textiles and fabrics.”

The interior design theme centres on the Catherine Martin by Mokum wallpaper, La Palma. “Once we found the wallpaper, we worked everything around that,” says Sarah. “I particularly love the big matt black stud features on the couches and bedheads. They are 50 mm in diameter instead of the standard 10 mm studs. They came from Houles in Paris and took five months to arrive!” Without time on their side, this would not have been possible.

A SYMPATHETIC ENVIRONMENT The landscaping by Smithscapes creates stunning areas of interest with an open flow from the home.

Sarah’s contribution was really appreciated by Amanda and Matt, saying, “We would’ve been lost without her.” The gratitude is reciprocated, with Sarah acknowledging her joy from working with clients like these. Having worked for over 20 years in interior design throughout New Zealand, Sarah is delighted with what she has created here.

Builder, Dan Dwyer, shared the couple’s need for a smooth build process and was involved from the very start of the project, with pricing, through to managing all the build and the subcontractors that go with that.

“My main aim was to create a stressless and smooth build process that the clients and their family can enjoy for many years to come,” says Dan. “It’s great to know that the workmanship and the quality of the materials on this build are of the highest level.”

The home certainly has a roomy, elegant feel. With 2.7 metre stud height walls, there is a sense of extra space and volume throughout the home. The bedrooms are spacious and easily accommodate the children’s toys, meaning that the main living space is kept as a clean and tidy comfortable sanctuary.

The extra height is maintained in the alfresco dining area, beneath the gabled pavilion. “This was a bit of a challenge for us due to the extra height in the stud and roof pitch, but the finished result really enhances the view from the dining area out to the Southern Alps,” says Dan.

Locally born and bred, Dan is a leading certified builder in Ashburton and always takes the extra steps to ensure his clients enjoy an open and informative home building experience.

“We do have an emphasis on quality,” says Dan. “And this means clients are happy with the end product: a comfortable, quality home.”

“David and Dan were great to work with,” says the homeowner. “There were no glitches or hiccups on this build. It was all very smooth,” she says.

Homeowners, builder, architectural designer and all the sub-trades can be delighted with this project. Without the mad rush that often surrounds house-building, this home can be savoured for many decades to come.