Building new meant this Cambridge couple could relish outdoor living in a completely private setting. See inside their contemporary H-shaped new-build here
Meet + Greet
Nathan Milne, 43 (co-owner of Cambridge ITM), Kerry Milne, 41 (accountant and co-owner of Cambridge ITM), Carter, 11, and Caleb, 6.
Kerry’s decorating tips
Take photos of your space on your phone. When you’re in stores shopping for decor, you can use the pictures to help you put your interior vision together. Works a treat!
Stick to a theme for your interior design and that will ensure a cohesive look throughout the house – ours is ‘urban modern’. Add colour, pattern, texture and warmth through art, cushions and throws and decor items like baskets, vases and plants to provide a soft, comfortable look.
Finish your space with plants. These days you can get some great faux plants that look so real. I mix it up with faux and real plants; they make a room feel complete.
Don’t be afraid to go wild with colour in children’s rooms. Add pops of colour through art, toys, duvets, cushions and throws. Listen to what they like.
Nathan’s new-build tips
Stick to your plan. Don’t change things halfway through, which is what we often see at work. It usually equates to disruption and a massive cost.
Hold off on a landscaping plan until the house is nearly complete. We were going to have a built-in barbecue but, once we’d moved in, we realised how much we enjoyed the atrium garden view, which a barbecue would have blocked.
Add an extra 10 percent to your budget if you are building a contemporary, architectural house to cover any unexpected costs.
[gallery_link num_photos=”12″ media=”https://www.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz//wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/10/CambridgeNewBuild_YHGNov19_BlackCladding.jpg” link=”/real-homes/home-tours/sleek-cambridge-home-black-ceilings” title=”Read more about this home here”]
The extras
- The central heating and air conditioning are split into two zones: one for the children’s wing, which sits at a higher level, and one for the remainder of the house.
- All the glass is tinted for privacy.
- The carpet underlay is 11mm thick, creating a plush, soft feel underfoot.
- The four-metre-long kitchen island benchtop is made of Corian so there are no visible joins.
- A double cupboard under the kitchen island hides a beer and wine fridge, plus glasses, as well as blankets for cool evenings.
- A motorised louvred roof covers the outdoor area and closes automatically if it rains.
- A built-in Bose sound system makes entertaining even better in the main living area.
Total spend
$1.2m-1.4m
See more of the Cambridge new build below





















Words by: Monique Balvert-O’Connor. Photography by: The Virtue.
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