DESKTOP
MOBILE
Designed by: Design Builders Taupō
Photography by: Amanda Aitken
This showhome, located in Nga Roto Estate, captivates from first glance with its distinctive architectural form and refined detailing.
The asymmetrical gable, wrapped in full-height vertical timber slats, immediately sets a tone of confident sophistication.
The exterior’s dark and earthy palette creates a moody yet natural aesthetic that anchors the home within its landscape, while the bold form ensures a strong street presence.
Sense of scale
On entry, visitors are met with a striking sense of scale.
A grand hallway and custom-designed staircase lead the eye upwards to an integrated mezzanine, which overlooks the home’s heart – a light-filled living space defined by soaring double-height ceilings and an expansive feature window.
This window frames the surrounding native bush and the majestic silhouette of Tauhara Maunga beyond.
Inside, the homebalances luxurious materials with relaxed liveability.
Natural textures, layered lighting, and rich tones combine to create warmth and depth.
Every element has been considered, from the feature lighting in the living area to the sculptural powder room vanity and the beautifully detailed ensuite.
The seamless connection between the open-plan living zone and the covered outdoor entertainment area enhances the home’s flow and encourages year-round enjoyment, complete with a statement outdoor fireplace for gathering and relaxation.
Owner brief
The brief was to create a showhome that would not only demonstrate Design Builders’ craftsmanship and design expertise but also evoke emotion through texture, tone, and atmosphere.
The vision was clear: a dark, moody, and tactile palette that exudes calmness and sophistication, while maintaining functional, everyday comfort.
Achieving balance was key, both in proportion and material contrast.
The design team carefully curated the interplay of dark versus light, ensuring the home felt inviting rather than heavy.
Ambient and feature lighting were instrumental in achieving this equilibrium, with particular attention paid to the positioning and scale of the living area pendants, a detail that required precise co-ordination between designers, builders, and suppliers.
Among the many highlights are the kitchen’s custom splashback shelf, the luxurious ensuite benchtop and lighting, and the powder room’s half-wall art feature – all contributing to the home’s signature personality and emotional resonance.
Challenges
Delivering a design of this complexity within a defined budget presented its own challenges.
The compact site demanded careful spatial planning to accommodate three bedrooms and two living areas without compromise.
Custom staircase exercise in technical precision
The installation of the custom staircase and outdoor fireplace also required technical precision and collaboration across trades.
“Above all, the home needed to make an immediate impact as a showhome, standing apart from others while remaining approachable and achievable,” says Matt Corleison, DEsign Builders, Taupo.
Solutions
To meet these goals, the team employed a thoughtful design approach that celebrated craftsmanship and proportion.
Bespoke detailing, layered textures, and cohesive material selection delivered the desired moody aesthetic without exceeding budget.
Mezzanine brings architectural drama
The mezzanine was designed to add architectural drama and functional flexibility, while the outdoor living area was seamlessly integrated to extend usable space.
The result is a showhome that embodies both design confidence and liveable elegance.
Find more design ideas and inspiration at trendsideas.com
Credit List
Group home builderDesign Builders Taupō | Kitchen designerAmuri Kitchens |
Interior designerDonna Hydes Design | CladdingPre-cladding system: James Hardie; RAB Exterior cladding: Hermpac - Western Red Cedar CP835 Driftwood – Acoya 44x44 battens over plywood; Resene Pitch Black, James Hardie Vertical Stria – Flaxpod |
RoofMultideck, Flaxpod, from Roofing Industries | Window/door joineryExterior joinery – Apex Flaxpod |
Kitchen benchtopsUniquartz Concrete Storm Leathered | Kitchen mixerBuddy 3 Hole Mixer - Aged Brass, from Plumbline |
Main flooringTimber/hardfloor – Forte Moda Como | Bedroom flooringCarpet – Whenua Stoney Pebbles by Feltex |
BathOasis 1800 – Sandstone, from Plumbline | Bathroom tilesNavona Bone (1200mmx1200mm); feature Vogue White Arrow, from Tile Shed Taupō – installed by Stiled |
Feature wall lingsForte – Tactile Ebony, Muros-Concrete Roughcast; feature ceiling linings: Hardie Groove ceiling linings – Resene Bokara Grey; master bedroom feature wall: Forte Tactile Ebony | Paint/wallsResene Half Napa |
General heatingCentral heating/aircon: Daiken airconditioning; underfloor heating: Warmup Undertile | FireplaceFeature wood fire – Pyro mini |
Feature light fittingsInterior lighting and design: Mr Ralph, Donna Hydes Design | AwardsTrends International Design Awards (TIDA) Homes – Runner Up |
This showhome, located in Nga Roto Estate, captivates from first glance with its distinctive architectural form and refined detailing.
The asymmetrical gable, wrapped in full-height vertical timber slats, immediately sets a tone of confident sophistication.
The exterior’s dark and earthy palette creates a moody yet natural aesthetic that anchors the home within its landscape, while the bold form ensures a strong street presence.
Sense of scale
On entry, visitors are met with a striking sense of scale.
A grand hallway and custom-designed staircase lead the eye upwards to an integrated mezzanine, which overlooks the home’s heart – a light-filled living space defined by soaring double-height ceilings and an expansive feature window.
This window frames the surrounding native bush and the majestic silhouette of Tauhara Maunga beyond.
Inside, the homebalances luxurious materials with relaxed liveability.
Natural textures, layered lighting, and rich tones combine to create warmth and depth.
Every element has been considered, from the feature lighting in the living area to the sculptural powder room vanity and the beautifully detailed ensuite.
The seamless connection between the open-plan living zone and the covered outdoor entertainment area enhances the home’s flow and encourages year-round enjoyment, complete with a statement outdoor fireplace for gathering and relaxation.
Owner brief
The brief was to create a showhome that would not only demonstrate Design Builders’ craftsmanship and design expertise but also evoke emotion through texture, tone, and atmosphere.
The vision was clear: a dark, moody, and tactile palette that exudes calmness and sophistication, while maintaining functional, everyday comfort.
Achieving balance was key, both in proportion and material contrast.
The design team carefully curated the interplay of dark versus light, ensuring the home felt inviting rather than heavy.
Ambient and feature lighting were instrumental in achieving this equilibrium, with particular attention paid to the positioning and scale of the living area pendants, a detail that required precise co-ordination between designers, builders, and suppliers.
Among the many highlights are the kitchen’s custom splashback shelf, the luxurious ensuite benchtop and lighting, and the powder room’s half-wall art feature – all contributing to the home’s signature personality and emotional resonance.
Challenges
Delivering a design of this complexity within a defined budget presented its own challenges.
The compact site demanded careful spatial planning to accommodate three bedrooms and two living areas without compromise.
Custom staircase exercise in technical precision
The installation of the custom staircase and outdoor fireplace also required technical precision and collaboration across trades.
“Above all, the home needed to make an immediate impact as a showhome, standing apart from others while remaining approachable and achievable,” says Matt Corleison, DEsign Builders, Taupo.
Solutions
To meet these goals, the team employed a thoughtful design approach that celebrated craftsmanship and proportion.
Bespoke detailing, layered textures, and cohesive material selection delivered the desired moody aesthetic without exceeding budget.
Mezzanine brings architectural drama
The mezzanine was designed to add architectural drama and functional flexibility, while the outdoor living area was seamlessly integrated to extend usable space.
The result is a showhome that embodies both design confidence and liveable elegance.
Find more design ideas and inspiration at trendsideas.com
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Credit List
Group home builderDesign Builders Taupō | Kitchen designerAmuri Kitchens |
Interior designerDonna Hydes Design | CladdingPre-cladding system: James Hardie; RAB Exterior cladding: Hermpac - Western Red Cedar CP835 Driftwood – Acoya 44x44 battens over plywood; Resene Pitch Black, James Hardie Vertical Stria – Flaxpod |
RoofMultideck, Flaxpod, from Roofing Industries | Window/door joineryExterior joinery – Apex Flaxpod |
Kitchen benchtopsUniquartz Concrete Storm Leathered | Kitchen mixerBuddy 3 Hole Mixer - Aged Brass, from Plumbline |
Main flooringTimber/hardfloor – Forte Moda Como | Bedroom flooringCarpet – Whenua Stoney Pebbles by Feltex |
BathOasis 1800 – Sandstone, from Plumbline | Bathroom tilesNavona Bone (1200mmx1200mm); feature Vogue White Arrow, from Tile Shed Taupō – installed by Stiled |
Feature wall lingsForte – Tactile Ebony, Muros-Concrete Roughcast; feature ceiling linings: Hardie Groove ceiling linings – Resene Bokara Grey; master bedroom feature wall: Forte Tactile Ebony | Paint/wallsResene Half Napa |
General heatingCentral heating/aircon: Daiken airconditioning; underfloor heating: Warmup Undertile | FireplaceFeature wood fire – Pyro mini |
Feature light fittingsInterior lighting and design: Mr Ralph, Donna Hydes Design | AwardsTrends International Design Awards (TIDA) Homes – Runner Up |
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