Client Story

Where luxury meets lifestyle: Te Puna living

5 min read

A view worth building for: Cris & Geoff’s dream home

Cris, Geoff and their son Luca were ready for a change. Swapping their compact terraced home in Mount Maunganui for space, serenity, and a sweeping view, they set their sights on building something special in the semi-rural beauty of Te Puna. With their perfect site secured, they chose Signature Homes’ Design & Build service to help turn their vision into reality.

Signature Homes custom house design on large section with swimming pool
Signature Homes Seavill house plans

The brief: a space to slow down & soak it in

The family was after a relaxed lifestyle and a home that made the most of its surroundings. They had a clear vision - open-plan living, timeless materials, and of course, room for a pool with a view. With a backdrop like theirs, who wouldn’t?

The plan: inspired by the view

Using Signature’s Seaview plan as a starting point, Cris and Geoff made thoughtful tweaks to create a home that worked perfectly for their lifestyle. The layout was refined to suit their section, with generous living areas and full access to the outdoors, including a large pool that looks out over the water and rolling hills.

The look: natural style, effortless flow

Cris and Geoff chose a material palette that was both practical and beautiful. Deep-stained cedar paired with Celcrete cladding gave the home a rich, warm feel—while helping to keep the build cost-effective.

open plan living connected to covered outdoor area with fireplace

Inside, the home is all about flow. Real wood flooring in an antique oak finish connects every space, while high ceilings and large sliders make it feel bright and open. From the kitchen to the deck, it’s a home that invites you to slow down and enjoy the moment.

It’s hard to miss the show-stopper: hardwood floors that lead you through the heart of the home, tying together the entryway, living, dining and kitchen spaces. With level entry to the outdoor living and pool area, the indoor-outdoor flow is simply effortless- ideal for sunny afternoons and evening gatherings.

Interiors

“We went for a black and white theme,” Cris says.

The Signature Homes interior design team was also on hand to help them narrow down colour and fabric choices. The uniting theme for the expansive open-plan living space was created using vintage oak flooring,which softens the monochromatic theme.When it came to furnishings and decor everything had to earn its place. This is especially evident in the kitchen.

Black and white kitchen design with glass splashback and scullery
A monochrome colour theme is punctuated with carefully chosen furnishings; cedar provides a rich contrast in the outdoors room; the kitchen is a sleek, clutter-free space where small appliances are tucked away.
Architectural house design with mixed cladding features

Exteriors

Timber cladding was the non-negotiable for Cris and Geoff. They opted for a cedar feature wall richly stained in Resene Bushtrack to perfectly contrast with the Celcrete cladding in Resene Half Rice Cake elsewhere and further push the monochromatic envelope of both the interior and exterior.

The build

When deciding who would build their home,the couple was impressed by Signature Homes from the outset.

“The Signature team was absolutely fabulous.”

Both enjoyed the building process, although Cris liked the interior design part of the project most and Geoff delighted in being onsite and watching the progress.

Happy Signature homes customer enjoying their new Signature home in their covered outdoor area
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