Space to Grow in the Waikato

Room to grow, space to connect - BJ and Jess's Signature story

When BJ and Jess Watling started their new build project in Tamahere,on the outskirts of Hamilton, they knew one thing for sure: there would be no compromises. The Waikato couple were living in their first Signature Home in The Meadows when they started to consider building again.While they loved the layout of their home, the couple wanted something bigger in which to raise their family. “We didn’t want to compromise on what we wanted and weren’t able to find an existing property that ticked all of our boxes,”says former Black Caps cricketer BJ, who retired last year. “Building gives you the ability to have total control over the look and feel of a place.”

The Brief

First on their wish list was creating areas to accommodate everyone individually, while still having space to come together. “We also value indoor-outdoor flow, so made this a priority.”

Planning

The couple knew they needed to upsize for their growing family, but were happy with the layout and design of their existing house, sobrought elements into the new one.

“Having built with Signature we knew they would deliver a quality home. They have a track record of delivering beautiful, quality homes within a realistic budget.”

Design

One of the most daunting parts of the process for the couple was visualising how everything would come to life and trusting they’d made the right decisions. But this also turned out to be one of their favourite parts of the experience. “It can be challenging to put your ideas onto paper, but it’s exciting to see the concept come together,” says BJ. It helped that Signature Homes was right by their side from start to finish. “They have avast deal of experience and were great at helping uspiece our new home together.”

Layout

The couple opted for two lounge areas, plus a children’s playroom for three-year-old Hudson and his young brother, Miller. The rooms are all off the main living zone, fitting with their philosophy of spending time as a family unit, but also providing everyone with their own space.

Interiors

BJ and Jess wanted to create a rustic vibe inside their new semi-rural home, and bricks and sliding barn-style sliding doors are elements of this. The bricks also provide a link with the exterior.

Exterior

The cladding is a marriage of rustic and new looks. San Selmo clay bricks are complemented by Triclad board and batten painted black. “We wanted something that would stand the test of time,” BJ says. “We’ve always loved the clean look of board and batten and the contrast of black with brick. We opted for new bricks with a slightly recycled look.”

The Build

The decision to go with Signature Homes was made simpler because BJ was friends with one of the Waikato’s franchise partners. “It was an easy choice for us due to our close friendships within Signature Homes.” But there was another important reason:

“Having previously built with Signature Homes, we knew the process would be smooth and enjoyable and that we’d be happy with the result. We love the area and our home and we think the kids will have a wonderful childhood here,” BJ says.