James Hardie

A couple downsized to an acre paradise and built a house with everything they need in South Auckland Meet & greet Virginia and Alan Henderson, Ruby the Labrador and Lulu the Birman. 1 The design When Virginia and Alan Henderson spotted a farm that had been subdivided in Pukekohe East five years ago, they fell […]

When a couple traded their busy city life for a country idyll, they also seized upon the chance to build a new home Meet & greet Alistair Niven (business development manager for Nugreen Solutions) and Carol Palmer (grower board director for Trevelyans) and Storm the Labrador. 1 Background Alistair Niven and Carol Palmer were living […]

A couple in the building industry liked a semi-rural location so much, they bought and built in the area twice Meet & greet Hayden (builder) and Ashleigh Dam (nurse educator), George, three, and Dani the cat. 1 The Design Given Hayden and Ashleigh Dam own a building company, they have a tendency to spend only […]

A couple finds the joy in indoor-outdoor living with a new build framed amongst rolling farm hills Meet & greet: Greta Martin and Andrew Morgan (co-owners of Cafe Coffee & Bakery Systems) and their four cats and dogs. The Design With the kids all grown up, it was time for a change of scene for […]

A young family built a home in Christchurch that is a red-hot favourite with them Meet & Greet Myles Laing (managing director, Laing Properties), Lucinda Laing (dental assistant), and Mackenzie, eight months. The Design Myles Laing is no stranger to building houses. As the managing director of construction company Laing Properties it is his job. […]

Building their dream home ensured this couple got everything they wanted, from Passive House certification to an enviable view across Dunedin The design As intrepid DIYers with plenty of renovations under their belt, Ilona and Mark Weekley wanted to start with a blank slate that wasn’t constrained by existing structures when they built their Dunedin […]

   A young couple left life on deck in the Med and got on board with building their future in Kerikeri Meet & greet Amanda Cooper, (photographer), Ben Gavin-Young (landscaper), and Isabella, two. Ben Gavin-Young and Amanda Cooper say their Scandinavian-inspired house in Kerikeri is “the house that Pinterest and YouTube built”. When the couple […]

Knocking down the bach and building a permanent home in its place has resulted in the perfect mix of style and comfort for this Raumati couple Meet + Greet Bryan Gundersen, 70 (semi-retired barrister), Jan Gundersen, 67 (part-time legal secretary) Living at the bach permanently is a dream for many city-dwellers, but when it comes […]

A lifetime of travel, laughter and love was channelled into this new home, which was the realisation of a lifelong dream for a busy city dweller When chartered accountant Cherise Barrie decided to build herself a weekend home in Matakana, north of Auckland, she knew exactly what she wanted – a home that would reflect […]

Building their first home and a show home all in one was a huge challenge, but this clever Oamaru couple knocked it out of the park Meet + Greet Mike Lowe, 34 (co-owner McBrimar Homes), Kristina Levings, 33 (graphic designer and co-owner McBrimar Homes) Most owners of new-build homes would agree – you’re never going […]

On an idyllic outcrop with stunning views of Lake Taupo, this couple built a bespoke home perfect for their way of life. Get inspired with real-life tips for your own home journey with our downloadable new-build worksheet below   We’ve all experienced that feeling of arriving at the top of a hill only to have […]

The renovated home of a sea captain and an interior designer in Nelson has the answer to bold, black cladding that won’t warp in the sun Meet + Greet Johnny Stevenson, 59 (sea captain), Ana Stevenson, 50 (interior stylist/home-stager), Mia, 20, Gabe, 17, and Lennox, 10, plus miniature bulldogs Pablo and Frida, and ‘Miradoll’ cat […]

Surrounded by native forest, this new-build in the Waitakeres maintains a ‘modern beach house’ edge while blending easily into its habitat Meet and greet Alastair Gair, qualified builder, Briohny Hooper-Gair, university student, and Ollie, 6. Challenge The home needed to fit in with the native bush landscape to keep things looking natural. A dark exterior […]

This Orewa family used clever budgeting and plenty of planning to build a bespoke beachside house for the price of a standard design How this family gave their new-build luxury style on a budget Kirsty Walters, product manager at Mighty Ape, Tim Walters, renovation design and build consultant at Refresh Renovations, Eva, 8, and Isabella, […]