Katie & Steve

In October 2018, the Berry family relocated from Auckland to the Bay of Plenty. Having already built off a plan before, Katie and Steve were no strangers to building new. However, deciding to build in Papamoa was by chance!

Katie went to look at an existing property in Papamoa, and when she pulled up to meet the agent, the house had just sold! Over the road was a bare section for sale that had come onto the market that very day - talk about luck! "It felt like it was meant to be," says Katie and just like that, the Berry's decided to build once more; however, this time around, they were going to build their forever home.

View more images of Katie & Steve's home here.

Katie and Steve wanted to build their forever home where their two young boys could grow up and which they could enjoy for many years to come.

Complementing the idyllic beach location was a must, where the Berry’s had the vision of creating a ‘Scandinavian beach home’.

The Berry’s love outdoor living and wanted a home that celebrated this, creating multiple areas that their family can enjoy throughout the seasons.

View more images of Katie & Steve's home here.

Katie and Steve wanted to build their forever home and opted for Signature Homes Design & Build service, where they could design their new home from scratch.

In line with their brief, the plan boasts numerous outdoor living and entertainment areas. The two-story layout maximises the site, allowing for generous decking, plenty of lawn space and a statement swimming pool.

The entire downstairs area seamlessly connects to the outdoor living spaces, where the vibrant pool is visible at every turn, helping to achieve a tranquil feel throughout the home.

View more images of Katie & Steve's home here.

Working with their Signature Homes New Home Consultant, Jason Cook and Cactus Design Architecture, Katie and Steve's vision for a Scandinavian style home came to life with a crisp white exterior and striking blonde wood accents.

The Scandi style creates a lovely feel inside the home, with light-toned features and a connection to nature.

Structural steel framing, rebated sliding doors and glass balustrading around the pool helped achieve a fully integrated indoor-outdoor flow where spaces seem like they have no endpoint.

View more images of Katie & Steve's home here.

"My something special is my blue front door. It’s a pop of colour that welcomes people to our home and hints at the sanctuary that lies within. I find our home a deeply restful and relaxing space that we all feel abundantly comfortable in. It is our happy place - the slice of seaside coastal living we were seeking," says Katie.

Katie also mentions the feature tiles in their ensuite, which have a wave-like effect reminding them that the ocean is nearby.

View more images of Katie & Steve's home here.

Katie and Steve describe their experience as being a mixed bag. Some areas of the build were fantastic, and some were not. It was a long and stressful process with COVID in between. A highlight for the Berry's was working with their New Home Consultant, Jason Cook.

"He remained committed and solutions-focused throughout the entire build", says Steve.

Katie describes how much she enjoyed working with Signature Homes colour consultant, Toni, working with all the different colours to achieve their Scandi style home.

View more images of Katie & Steve's home here.

Look around the companies available and choose wisely. Do your research about what you like and don’t like. Katie and Steve used to drive around, pointing out features on homes they felt drawn to. Find someone you connect with to help you through the process and who is passionate about what you’re trying to achieve.

Don’t be afraid of asking questions several times if necessary. Stick up for yourself – it’s your home and your money, so you’re allowed to ask for explanations. And make your home a space you love inside and out, even if this means bucking the trend.

View more images of Katie & Steve's home here.

To create blonde wood accents use Abodo Sioox Blue door - Blueseye colour by Epic Windows. Feature tiles in ensuite Athena texture gloss white. Kitchen splashback Cubik Bianco.

View more images of Katie & Steve's home here.