This family's new-build in Takapuna was designed to grow with their kids

Article by Your Home and Garden

An efficient home that could easily accommodate the kids’ teenage years was the design brief for this new-build in Takapuna. Take a closer look at how this home will fit its family’s next phase

Loading the player...

Meet and greet

Davina Henderson, commercial property manager, Grant Henderson, managing director at winesofnz.com, Aria, 9, and Lennox, 7, plus Jingles the cat.

These forward thinking parents designed their home for the ‘teenage years’

For most people planning a new home, working out how to make the most of the site, harness the sun and shelter from the prevailing wind can be a puzzle. Not for Davina and Grant Henderson, though – the couple and their two kids lived in a house in Takapuna, Auckland, for nine years before deciding to subdivide and build a new family home on the front section. When it came to drawing up a design, they knew exactly how to make the most of their plot.

The Hendersons wanted to build a house that would cater for their family’s next phase – the teenage years. Their new home was designed to include a separate bathroom for their children, Aria and Lennox, an entertainment and cinema room, internal-access garaging, and an outdoor entertainment area complete with a pool to keep the kids – and their friends – happy throughout summer. Also on the family’s wish list were extra-high ceilings, a butler’s pantry, and privacy – a must, considering they cut their yard space in half when they subdivided.

Gallery | 5 Photos
Read the full story here

Style secrets

Layers of fun
When styling, Davina reckons you should try to keep it simple but fun. “Layering works well for me – a neutral base, then add bursts of colour and texture. It also means you can change the accessories when the mood suits.”

Honesty box

What compromises did you make?
Davina: The bathroom vanities were a compromise. We went with the standard vanities simply because of budget restrictions but, in hindsight, it wouldn’t have killed us to have upgraded these.

1/14

Don’t shy away from using black in an entertaining space – teamed here with parquet flooring, it makes for a very
chic finish.

2/14

“We have always wanted to build efficiently without compromise so we were really excited about starting from scratch”

3/14

One design decision Davina was firm on from the start was parquet flooring for the ground level. “I searched high and low to find something that was durable and within our budget. The end result was exactly what I was after for something a little different.”

4/14

Davina and Grant Henderson and their two kids lived in a house in Takapuna, Auckland, for nine years before deciding to subdivide and build a new family home on the front section. When it came to drawing up a design, they knew exactly how to make the most of their plot.

5/14

Grant was adamant that each bedroom should be made over-sized, giving the kids heaps of space to play in now and grow into later.

6/14

Liven up a neutral kids’ bedroom with a bright colour scheme in bedding, lounge furniture and, of course, toys!

7/14

Layers of fun When styling, Davina reckons you should try to keep it simple but fun.

8/14

Davina and Grant asked for a low-maintenance garden that mirrored the modern lines of the house and reflected their personal style. The star of the outdoors was always going to be the swimming pool, which takes centre stage – the planting just needed to complement it.