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Meet & greet: Miki (a property paralegal) and her husband Nihad Turcinovic (owner of HNT Builders), their sons Amar, four, and Arian, one, and their groodle, Frankie.
The property: A new-build that draws on European farmhouse style.
A chicken coop isn’t often a deciding factor in real estate purchases, but for Miki and Nihad Turcinovic’s young son Amar, it was the most compelling reason for the family to buy a little 1940s suburban cottage. “We were attracted to the flat block, but Amar was completely smitten with the three chickens that came with it,” recalls Miki.
The plan was to knock down the house and rebuild, using Nihad’s company, HNT Builders, but after buying the property in late 2021, the family lived in the original house for almost a year, while Amar enthusiastically tended to his mostly free-ranging trio of hens.
Having previously built five homes for themselves, Miki and Nihad wanted to create something unique, but with the arrival of baby Arian, the focus fell also on family-friendly inclusions and robust finishes.
“We’ve learnt something new every time we’ve built, and with kids, we’ve found the best designs are a seamless floor plan, front to back, and an open-plan layout overlooking the backyard,” says Miki.
“I love cooking, so the kitchen needed to be beautiful and functional as it’s where I spend most of my time.”
The brief was to establish a distinct street presence with sophisticated form and functionality inside. Construction was completed in seven months.
“We opted for a bold, dark palette and architectural style, inspired by European farmhouses – a nod to our European heritage,” says Miki.
American oak engineered flooring, used throughout the downstairs, is warm-toned and practical.
With its multi-gable roof line and striking exterior, featuring swathes of Dulux Domino tempered with Iron Ash timber, the house commands attention. “We had a lot of people comment that it was a risky colour scheme, but we were confident and loved that it was bold,” Miki says.
The same conviction inspired interior features such as coffered ceilings, mouldings and black steel-framed windows and doors.
With all the work done and the boys growing fast, the family are already planning their next move, to house number seven.
“We don’t get attached to things,” explains Miki. “We’ll be close to a great school. If Amar is involved in the design input, he’ll definitely want to add a chicken coop.”
Read this next: Tour this stunning new Japandi style build in Mt Maunganui
View more images of the farmhouse build below
Warm-toned Iron Ash timber from Woodstock Timber is offset by Dulux Domino, a dramatic dark charcoal with a subtle bluish undertone, leaving the job of adding colour to the grass.
Unlike offices carved out of a spare bedroom or living room nook, the home office was thoroughly considered from the outset. “We located it at the front so it was a private, uninterrupted space that also had direct access to the garden,” says Miki. Bespoke joinery forms the backdrop, with shelves to display sculptural pieces, books and an artwork by Chris Williams titled Dark Outside.
In the main bedroom, textural layers were introduced, with panelling detail and wainscotting punctuating Dulux Natural White walls. “This added a traditional element, but also a touch of contemporary quirkiness, with the Krystal Bradford artwork layered on top,” says Miki. The bed is adorned in linen, with accent throws and cushions.
A window seat in the guest bedroom is upholstered in Warwick Bainbridge Loam, matching the seat in the mud room.
A key inclusion was the mud room, which flows through to the laundry and scullery. “I love that I can come in, dump the groceries, kids’ bags, shoes and rainy-day coats in there and it doesn’t add clutter in the rest of the house,” says Miki. Bench seat upholstered in Warwick Bainbridge Loam. Custom cabinets in Polytec Prime Oak.
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