Winning Signature Result

The everyday holiday home

A sports-mad Canterbury family are enjoying a house that meets all of their goals, thanks to the speedy, skilled team at Signature Homes.

First and foremost, Marianne and Mike wanted a home that felt like they were on holiday everyday. No easy task. But Signature Homes, they say, helped them achieve that and more – it took them from consent stage to completion in little over four months. They’d always enjoyed living in the the Marshland area of Christchurch, but wanted the chance to design and build a new home in the same suburb. Then they found a 1038 sqm site bordering Waitikiri Golf Club.

The Brief

Marianne was keen on timber floors, a designer kitchen, a “girls-only toilet” and plenty of adults paces, including a bar area. “We also knew we wanted a pool and a big space for the kids to play sport.”

Planning

Signature Homes had built a house down the road. The couple loved the home and connected with the construction team. When it came to planning their own place, she says,the Signature team listened, were patient and had great ideas.

“Signature helped us make good decisions around cost saving.”

Design

The design had to incorporate views of the golf course. “You can see it as soon as you come through the front door, giving the illusion of more space and providing an impressive backdrop of well-established native trees and lush green lawns,” Marianne says. Wood is a design feature inside and out– the staircase has a timber feature wall, as does the main bedroom. The couple thought about their growing boys and wanted them to have their own space as teenagers. “We also have an extra bedroom, which we use as a gym,” she adds.

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.

Layout

Marianne and Mike started with a plan from another Signature build and created their own,with plenty of separate adult and kids’ spaces they were keen on. Case in point: “We can watch the kids play in the pool, with a gin in hand, from our ‘adults’ lounge’ and not get soaked from the bombs into the pool,” explains Mike.

Interiors

Inside, the home is predominantly white with colours in spaces, such as the bedrooms and the “girls’ toilet”. “In a house full of high-energy boys, I needed a space that was for me, even if it’s the toilet,” Marianne says. In the living area, there are “green things”, which complement the golf course. Timber floors link spaces and skylights welcome light in. The Millbrook Kitchen has Gracestone granite and marble.

Exterior

The couple wanted a cedar look and Abodo Tundra was an attractive, cost-effective and sustainable option. “I feel like we have a kind of European feel, especially with our little trees at the front,” says Marianne. Other homes in the subdivision also gave them ideas:“We loved the variety of homes in Preston’s.Everyone has their own flair, which provided us with lots of inspiration for our house design”, says Marianne.

Further visual appeal was achieved with Resene’s Rockcote Integra, which helps to balance out the timber. The big, flat lawn is a boon for this sporty family of four. “There is a sports ball in the garden for every occasion. They spend as much time outdoors as possible, hence the need for the larger section. Our house is big, but it doesn’t dominate the space, which we love.

The Build

Marianne and Mike describe the Signature Homes North Christchurch team as great listeners. As a result, the planning and building process was a smooth and speedy one. When

it comes to interior design, Marianne advises going with your gut feeling, although she says having someone who could give advice helped. “I had a friend who has excellent home taste and if I wasn’t sure I would ask her.”

The couple’s sprawling home also bears testimony to the crew’s skills and efficiency. You don’t get a beautiful home of this size in four months without a high level of expertise.

“We love our Signature Home”, say Mike and Marianne. “We intend to stay in it for a longtime.”

And with all the space they need and all the bells and whistles, including a swimming pool, why would they go anywhere else?