Country comfort

Set on a sub-division on the edge of a rolling rural landscape where cows graze just beyond the property perimeter, this three-bedroom home in Te Awamutu is a smart step into the future for its owners. 

Builder Andrew Rea from APR Building knew better than most what his clients required of their new dwelling – they were his parents. “They lived 300 metres down the road for 30 years in an old, cold two-storey home,” he explains. Guiding them through their first-time build from concept to completion was a chance to overlay personal connection and professional skills for an unbeatable result. 

Working in tandem with Gordon and Rosalie Rea, Andrew was instrumental in aligning the layout to their needs, suggesting materials that would be equal to the task in this high-wind zone. “Everything was discussed,” says Gordon. “He gave us good ideas and good reasons why things would work.” 

Clad in random-laid black weatherboard and pale Abodo, the contrasting palette of the home weaves personality into the form. Raised heel trusses on the exterior walls lend extra heft and height, while the garage tucks around the side, leaving the triangular peaks of the multi-gable design to punch up the street presence.   

Inside, raked ceilings above the kitchen, living and dining expand the spatial experience. From the island, that is silky sleek in engineered stone, the volcanic peak of Mount Pirongia can be seen looming in the distance. The scullery, hidden behind a slider, is a dream come true for Andrew’s mum Rosalie. “It has a sink, benchtops for small appliances and shelving for my glassware. When you close it off, it looks like part of the wooden wall,” she says. 

Similarly, in the main bedroom, a walk-in wardrobe was on her wish-list, and when Gordon requested storage above the garage, Andrew used attic trusses to craft a loft. A playroom for the grandchildren was his suggestion for the bedroom wing, and a separate media room off the lounge for the young and young at heart. “It can be closed off like a proper theatre but with the slider open, you can still look out to the view,” explains Rosalie. 

A green and pleasant outlook floods the internal spaces with calm, and kwila decking that wraps the north and west face of the living pavilion only extends this feeling of being at one with the landscape. The couple may have downsized significantly, but their home fits their lifestyle, offering a far warmer welcome than their old place – a little haven of comfort in the countryside.

Location: Te Awamutu | Waikato

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