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Meet and greet: Doug Longdill (community volunteer).
The property: Three-bedroom, two-bathroom modern farmhouse set in 44ha native bush and farmland in Waihi.
When Doug and Judi Longdill bought a 44-hectare farm in Waihi, they had visions of enjoying their quieter years contemplating the beauty of the landscape and a slower life. They’d both been raised on farms and had a deep connection to the land.
“We’ve had the bach at Waihi for years. Judi part-owned it when we got married, then in 1981, we bought her mother out. It was wonderful being there for school holidays with the kids, we always spent time at the beach, the kids did surf lifesaving and we had a good base there.”
They leased the farmland and lived, worked and raised their kids in Mellon’s Bay, Auckland. With their children now adults, they thought it was time to realise their dream and build on their land almost 30 years later.
However, life brings unexpected and at times devastating turns. In 2020, Judi passed away. A few months later, Doug decided to press on – determined to see their shared vision come to life. “We’d planned to build here when we retired and I felt I should continue with the plan. Being on my own unexpectedly, I needed to call on others for the skills I didn’t have,” says Doug.
Working with architect Stephen Orchard of Orcan Design, Doug sketched a basic design that blended his fondness for farm buildings with Judi’s love of expansive views of the ocean. Stephen did the rest.
“It’s a relatively simple home, I just wanted to have a home I could invite people to for a cup of tea,” says Doug. “For the design, I had always been really fond of old farm buildings, wool sheds, and barns, and I wanted that nod to agricultural buildings – simple and unpretentious.”
Judi was a big fan of lots of glass, says Doug. “To allow us to enjoy the sun and expansive views beyond the farmland. She loved the ocean and wanted to capture as much of the views as possible.”
Sense of community
From the outset, Doug wanted to work with local craftsmanship and enlisted local builder Byron Clothier of CB Homes to bring his vision to fruition. “The builder had worked with the architect previously and it was really important to me that their relationship was sound.”
He particularly valued the local element of the build enlisting local plumbers and electricians. “I liked the fact the subbies were local fellas, not out-of-towners which the group housing often uses. They were all fine young guys, great to have on the project.”
Simple and sophisticated
For the interior, Doug sought expert advice from Mount Maunganui interior designer Lucy Leppard.
The result was a modern farmhouse that seamlessly blends simplicity with sophistication. At 269sqm big with expansive windows to showcase the views, the farmhouse has three main bedrooms, an office and a library that doubles as a fourth bedroom. Polished concrete floors, cosy carpets in the bedrooms and underfloor heating in the bathrooms has maximised the comfort and warmth factor.
It was Lucy’s first major project as an interior designer. “Doug had a modern but understated and relaxed farmhouse in mind. He wanted a masculine feel and for the stunning nature surrounding to be the focus. He really wanted it to be a home his kids could visit and enjoy. Having Judi’s memory honoured through artwork and other design decisions was integral to this project,” says Lucy.
The open-plan kitchen, dining and living space has expansive 180-degree views showcasing the surrounding area’s native bush, Orokawa Bay and Mayor (Tuhua) Island, as well as views of Waihi Beach below. Exposed white-washed spruce trusses in the main living/dining and kitchen area work well with the oak kitchen. Initially, Doug had wanted a bold black kitchen, but took Lucy’s advice about a softer timber palette with black elements being less overpowering.
A porcelain benchtop with a rustic textured finish set off the oak cabinetry. That same finish carried up into the splashback as well – it’s beautiful and practical. “It’s really hard-wearing, you can put a hot pan on it and it won’t mark.”
Having Lucy’s designer eye across the project helped to streamline everything. She encouraged him to explore design options he wouldn’t have typically considered – such as his green bedroom.
“I have to admit, Lucy had to convince me with the green colour. But she has a good eye for colour, and I thought ‘Why engage these professionals if you don’t listen to them?’”
Style with tiles
The bathrooms are practical, stylish and neutral. The floor tiles were originally a little bit wild for Doug and also took a bit of convincing. “Lucy had to take me to her mother’s house to see them in situ. That’s how she won me over on that decision. Once I saw them I really liked them. It makes it more interesting rather than simply having one colour all the way through.”
The walls are tiled in a large white tile, while the floor is tiled with three large surface matte tiles in differing shades of grey, creating interest without being overbearing.
The wet room was a no-brainer for Doug who spends a lot of time in the bush. It comes complete with a separate entrance and is home to the laundry, a shower and a toilet with tiled floors. “It’s just great. If I have been out weed spraying or trapping, I can go in there to clean off without traipsing through the house,” Doug says.
One of the farmhouse’s most striking features is the integration of indoor and outdoor spaces. An extended deck serves as the perfect venue for gatherings. It’s where Doug can open his home to friends, neighbours and community members. It’s a place where he can “invite people for a cup of tea” and exchange stories of working with organisations such as the Waihi Beach Predator Free Group and the ECHO Walking Festival Group.
He’s particularly fond of his work every Wednesday with local Waihi College kids who are trying to get their driver’s licences. “I love it. I met some kids who come from low-income single parent families. They aren’t necessarily well suited to school but are awesome at trades. Builders offered a couple apprenticeships, but because they didn’t have their licence, they couldn’t get to the site so they had to stay at school, or worse drop out. Helping them get their licence is an important practical skill for opportunities.”
Doug really is as committed to helping out in the community as he is to the stewardship and sustainability of the house and the land, which has both grazeable fields and native bush. To preserve it as a sanctuary for birdlife, he’s often found trapping possums and rats and also removes wilding pines.
It’s a home Doug feels sure Judi would have loved. “Judi’s brothers often come down and spend time here with me and help with a project, here or there. They often say, ‘Judi would have loved it’.” With her input on the vision all those years ago, and Doug’s hard work bringing it to life, it was always destined to be a team effort.
Home truths
Best advice?
Work with a designer who understands your brief and has a good eye for detail. [Designer] Lucy has a good eye for detail, is a really great person to engage with, listens to you and has a nice way of offering alternative options. Ninety-nine percent of things she recommended I have gone with.
Your favourite room?
The lounge area. I like the glass all the way around, there is always something happening. The main lounge area is deliberately very simple. I didn’t want any distracting artwork because, as the builder said, “The artwork is outside, mate.” I have beautiful curtains floor to ceiling, but I don’t use them. I’m on a farm, which is private. I go to bed when it’s dark and wake up with the sun.
Any fails?
Not really. The only thing is because there so much glass, we didn’t leave any real wall space for the TV so I have a small one in the corner. I’m not a big TV person anyway, but if I had thought more about it I would have made more wall space to put a TV up. I short-changed myself there.
Favourite memory during the build?
Our builder felt so committed to this project. We were building during a time of significant shortage of building suppliers, there was a serious delay in Gib and cladding. We decided to use Abode cladding, which the architect specified and builder had used before, but the delays of supply mean that we had to look at alternatives.
The builder, Byron, really wanted to use the right material for the project. He went the extra mile to get sufficient dimensions as he was determined we wouldn’t have any joins. He travelled a lot to source the product, once as far away as Whangārei.
Shop Doug’s Waihi farmhouse-style
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