This clever couple have built their dream home in Northland by balancing cost effective materials with architectural style. We get the details on their new-build tips
How a Northland family achieved architectural style on a budget
Best lessons learned?
Don’t sweat the small stuff – some of the things I freaked out about during construction I don’t even notice now. Oh, and newly painted walls and small people are not compatible – we learned that the first time around!
What would you never do again?
Have my hubby build our house while we’re both working full time, and with young kids. That is way too stressful to repeat.
Any DIY disasters?
Definitely lots of thorough problem solving, but no disasters.
One thing you would change about your home if you could?
Louvre openings on our west-facing bedroom window.
Most memorable experience you have had in your home?
Our first Christmas spent here with our family was pretty special, as was sharing the house with the lovely team from YH&G!
Budget
+ The build cost was around $550K, excluding cost of land, external works and landscaping.
+ Kitchen: $28,000
+ Bathrooms: $10,000 each
+ Annwen Thorne: “We saved a lot because Kane worked full time on the build for six months and after that at weekends/evenings. We spent our contingency but haven’t had to go back to the bank yet!”
BUDGET
TOTAL $550K
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New-build tips
- Be open-minded to the process and ready for change. There will be issues you didn’t foresee and you and your builder will have to problem-solve; it’s not a perfect process.
- Involve your kitchen designer before walls and windows go in.
- Plan out where you intend to hang artwork, mirrors etc, and have your builder add extra nogs (horizontal wooden bracing between the vertical studs) in those locations.
- Get good at visual communication. If you haven’t got Pinterest, get it! Collect images of things you want (or don’t want) and show them to your contractors so they have a visual understanding of what you’re after.
- We saved money by mixing a cost-effective cladding with feature areas of cedar for an architectural look on our budget. In the bathrooms we splurged on the vanities, but chose acrylic shower bases with tiled walls instead of fully tiled showers. We got standard hallway cupboard doors then added custom timber handles. We bought good-quality light fittings and hardware, but saved on painting costs by painting the interior all one colour.
Contacts
- Engineering Pipe & Tube
- Kyle Kake
- Grub from McKenzie Bobcats
- Wayne Jecentho Electrical
- Light Plan
- Mr Ralph
- The Kitchen Hub
- Make Furniture
- Ico Traders
- Kath Giles at Curtain & Things
- Urban Sales for our Ikea wardrobes and office furniture
Annwen Thorne, spatial and interior designer, Kane Thorne, builder and project manager
“Whangarei Harbour and the coastline have always been part of our lives,” says Annwen. “Kane is a keen surfer and has spent a lot of his life on the water, sailing, fishing and surfing. We were already living in Parua Bay, in the first house we built together, when we started looking for another section in the area where we could build our next house.”
Afternoon light floods the living room, making it the perfect spot for Annwen’s latest vintage find – a 1970s cane lounge chair, which she has layered with cushions and throws from Wallace Cotton and Father Rabbit.
“I’ve always been drawn to casual, relaxed and practical spaces, and I like my home to feel comfortable and easy to live in”
Add colour and warmth to a neutral interior with vintage rugs in warm shades and natural textures.
The second level consists of a main living area running from the northern side (where the kitchen splashback window looks out over a terraced grass area) to the southwest side, where a more formal living room gazes across the harbour.
Annwen has designed bespoke pieces for her home, including a built-in plywood headboard in the main bedroom which creates a ledge for displaying artwork and objects.
Hang a length of dowel from two ceiling hooks then drape a length of fabric over it for an instant bed canopy.
The bathroom tiles are laid in an unexpected ‘stack’ pattern, rather than the traditional offset style, creating a distinctly modern feel.
Counter the boxy feel of a small space with round accessories, tapware and basins.
The family moved in at the end of last year and have been putting the finishing touches to their home. Now, it feels complete and Annwen, Kane, Bella, Pippi and Lennox are enjoying the result of their three-and-a-half-year journey from breaking ground to ‘all done’.
Create a functional outdoor room by adding festoon lights, cosy textiles and inviting occasional furniture.
Words by: Tina Stephen. Photography by: Helen Bankers.
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