Home profile
Meet and greet: Charlotte (senior associate lawyer, @charlotteeshome) and Louis Botha (assets and supply manager).
The property: A single-level four-bedroom, one-office new-build in Prebbleton, Christchurch, with a tranquil garden featuring large deck areas and a ponga garden.
New-builds can get a bad rap – they’re sometimes labelled as soulless, cookie-cutter, or just plain boring. But Charlotte and Louis Botha’s home in Prebbleton, Christchurch, is proof that with a bit of clever planning, creative flair, and a shared eye for detail, a new build can be full of character and warmth.
When the couple decided to build, land was scarce and prices were climbing by the week, thanks to the post-Covid property boom. They had tried to get into the Prevelles development earlier. But it was a hot commodity, and sections were being snapped up fast. But then Louis, who had made a hobby out of scouring the internet for sections, spotted one. Listed only five minutes earlier, he leapt on it.
“Prebbleton was lovely – it offered bigger sections than other areas, has a great family vibe, and is close to Christchurch and the hills. It felt like a great place to build a forever home,” says Charlotte.
The section was listed by a building company. The pair chose one of their existing plans and then made thoughtful tweaks to suit how they live. They imagined a home fit for entertaining friends and, eventually, to raise a family in.
“We extended the living area to make sure it didn’t feel cramped, moved internal walls and added personal touches like a built-in bar nook, my make-up table, and skylights,” says Charlotte. “Louis has a great eye for space. He came up with most of the special features.”
From the start, they were clear on what they wanted: a practical layout, generous rooms and lots of storage.
“We focused on creating spaces that worked for us and for future buyers. We went for bigger bathrooms, lots of pantry and kitchen storage, and a flow that felt natural. It had to be functional but also feel special,” says Charlotte.
“We wanted a bit of glamour, too. The bar nook is a favourite – all our pretty glassware is lit up with mirrors and LED lights so that they sparkle. It’s glamorous but also really practical.”
A walk-in wardrobe was a non-negotiable for Charlotte, while Louis wanted a media room and pitched ceilings. They both agreed on plenty of kitchen bench space and a large island for prepping and entertaining. While the design came together beautifully, there were still a few compromises.
“We were working to a budget, so we skipped a few things like extra skylights and a sliding door to the pantry – we wish we’d pushed ahead with those things now.”
Still, what they’ve created is a testament to their sense of style.
“We wanted to make it feel personal. Not like a show home,” says Charlotte.
“We love the engineered timber flooring – we spent ages choosing the perfect tone – and the mix of textures and colours throughout the home. We call our decor style ‘rustic glam’. Gold hardware, natural stone, oak wood, soft lighting – it’s all about warmth and layers.”
The couple visited countless open homes and scrolled endless Pinterest boards for inspiration.
“But we also just know what we like,” Charlotte says. “Luckily, we have similar tastes and bounce off each other when it comes to ideas. We love adding older-looking pieces and curated items to add character to more modern rooms. It’s those things that really jazz up what’s otherwise a large white box.”
Charlotte’s love of trinkets and treasures is clear throughout the home.
“I love shopping and am always hunting for cool finds. Marketplace, op-shops, antique stores; interesting bits and bobs are what really light me up. I love glassware – even juice feels fancy in a pretty glass.”
She’s got an eye for a bargain, happy to wade through Facebook Marketplace and in op-shops for interesting ceramics, art and furniture.
“I’m definitely a fan of a good bargain buy – although I’d love to be rich enough to blow tonnes of money on expensive home decor and furniture, don’t get me wrong. I just love scouring shops for sales and hunting out good finds. Like the Swiss antique dresser with parquet features and a marble top, which was a $30 Facebook Marketplace score. And our Chinese teak benches, which I found on Marketplace and love, and the bar stools which Louis found on Marketplace and picked up from some fancy home in Fendalton.”
The gorgeous art scattered around the home is mostly self-made. Much to the disappointment of guests who often ask where they can buy the same.
“My identical twin Eleanor and I are both artistic and were lucky enough to be exposed to a range of craft classes when we lived in England. Rather than pay tens of thousands for large artworks, we just buy the canvas and create something. We’ve had many a great time at the dining table, having wine and listening to music while we create pieces for our homes,” she says.
“Eleanor did the large soft landscapes in the formal living room, and I painted a moody hills scene for the guest room. I also love the papier-mache bowls in the living area, which my father and I created – his is gold leaf and mine is stripey. I think having creative things around the house makes it look less ordinary and certainly more expensive than blandness.”
What do visitors comment on most? “People say it feels warm and glamorous. New-builds can feel cold, but we’ve used lots of warm lighting, layered textures, and meaningful pieces to give it soul.”
The couple’s favourite spot in the house is the open-plan living space, where they love to host dinners, parties and quiet catch-ups with friends.
“It’s just such a warm, interesting and glamorous space, plus we love the large doors and windows which look out onto the trees and the garden, which we put together with our limited gardening know-how. It’s the most wonderful spot in the home.”
To save money, Charlotte and Louis did most of the grunt work on the landscaping. Using Pinterest and local nurseries for inspiration for plant selection, digging in all the plants (“back-breaking work”). Manhandling large Mediterranean-style pots around the section and adding deck lighting for ambience after dark.
The resulting gardens feature birch trees, maples, grasses and hydrangeas, plus a ponga garden visible from the bathtub.
“We planned the main bathroom so you can lie in the deep bath and see the ponga and ferns and the sky. It’s beautiful.”
In a sea of newly built houses, Charlotte and Louis’ home quietly stands apart. It’s not louder or grander – just thoughtfully designed, lovingly styled and unmistakably theirs.
Home truths
What are you most proud of about or in your home? We’ve turned a white box into a more interesting, warm and wonderful space to live and welcome others to. And the garden is finally growing and looking decent.
What about this house works best for you? The large key areas such as the large main bedroom area. Decent-sized walk-in and ensuite and plenty of room around the bed so you don’t feel cramped, but more luxe. And the same for the kitchen and all the storage that goes with it. The house layout is very practical and spacious.
Best memories in your home? We’ve hosted so many wonderful dinners and birthday parties here and had so many special times and memories. We love nothing more than having friends and family round for a shindig, cooking, baking, setting a pretty tablescape and having a nice time. I think this home is so special because it’s the first home we’ve owned together and our first ever build. We had such a great time designing it, going over all the details. Working in the garden and creating each area to be what it is now.
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