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Designed by: Dave Chilton, Chilton + Mayne
Photography by: Dennis Radermacher from Lightforge
Project description – brief
This project was a close collaboration with our homeowners to transform a tired, weathered home into a refined modern country residence – one that complements their lifestyle and embraces its park-like surroundings.
Originally designed by an architect in the mid-1990s, the home had good bones but lacked natural light, spatial flow, and contemporary presence.
Our approach sought to modernise its form while respecting its architectural origins.
We reimagined the scale, composition, and functionality of key areas, including the entry, kitchen, dining, and living spaces.
A critical focus was on enhancing transitions between these zones to create a seamless, intuitive flow throughout the home.
Beyond aesthetics, the project required a delicate balance between preservation and transformation.
We addressed historic weather-tightness issues while maximising the potential of the existing structure.
The result is a warm, contemporary family home – one that offers intimate spaces for daily life yet effortlessly expands for entertaining, redefining the modern country residence.
Design features and creative solutions
The interior design prioritises warmth, comfort, and calm.
Rooted in a contemporary country aesthetic, the house expresses a refined yet restrained palette – offering a quiet refuge from the bustle of daily life.
The layout flows openly and intuitively, with reconfigured zones that better support family living.
Large windows in the central living spaces allow natural light to pour in, drawing attention to the rich timber flooring and subtle country finishes.
T&G raking ceilings, level changes, and varied ceiling treatments reinforce a sense of volume and spatial rhythm, giving each space its own identity while maintaining cohesion throughout.
A subdued material palette unifies the interiors, while select moments of colour, texture, or material shift create focal points, define zones, and evoke mood.
These layers – soft furnishings, panelling, and textural surfaces – contribute to a harmonious and restful environment, adaptable to the changing dynamics of family life.
The result is a home that supports both communal gatherings and personal retreat.
Outdoor living spaces extend the interior experience through continuity in materials and detailing.
Sheltered dining areas, an outdoor fire, a pool and pool house, and a private courtyard off the games room foster relaxed entertaining and family connection.
Stonework provides a subtle yet tactile contrast to hardwood decks and white-painted surfaces, grounding the outdoor experience in the same calm sophistication as the interior.
The master suite has been completely reimagined.
An extended ensuite and walk-in robe deliver improved function, while new timber doors introduce generous natural light and lead to a private hardwood deck.
The pairing of internal wall panelling, soft furnishings, and filtered light transforms this area into a serene and luxurious retreat.
Sustainability
Given the project’s scale, we evaluated the feasibility of a new build against the environmental value of a substantial renovation.
A core driver of the design was the retention of the existing structure and its embodied carbon, which became central to our sustainability strategy.
To enhance durability and energy performance, we reroofed and re-insulated the home.
The exterior was fully reclad in H3.2 timber weatherboards over a 70mm PIR board super-insulated warm wall system, significantly improving thermal performance and long-term resilience.
We also replaced all windows and doors with new timber-framed, double-glazed units – enhancing insulation while maintaining a consistent, carbon-conscious material palette.
Internally, sustainability was further prioritised through the use of reclaimed timber flooring to match existing materials.
Where feasible, existing joinery units were reused and repositioned to suit the new layout – preserving character while improving function.
Find more design ideas and inspiration at trendsideas.com
Credit List
Building designer / renovatorDave Chilton, Chilton + Mayne | Structural engineerTM Consultants |
BuilderMcintosh Construction | Kitchen designerCarol Riley Interiors in conjunction with Modern Age Kitchens and Joinery |
Kitchen manufacturerModern Age Kitchens and Joinery | InteriorsCarol Riley Interiors |
LandscapeChilton + Mayne | Pool designJim Gaul – Mayfair Pools |
CladdingTimber | RoofMetalcraft Espan |
ShuttersWoodlore Plus from Santa Fe | Wood/door joineryWoodlore Plus from Santa Fe |
Main flooringWooden floors are by Vida Space – Venture Plank Quadro Oil 180 x 13mm Herringbone Engineered Timber, supplied and installed by The Flooring Centre | Bedroom flooringCarpet supplied and installed by Carpet Court; Karastan Soft Eloquence Smart Strand Silk, colour is Overcast – over Dreamwalk Rhino Platinum 12mm 125kg density foam underlay |
RugsRhapsody 100% Tibetan Wool by Catherine Martin, from Designer Rugs; Bremworth Ripples Wool with matching binding rug in colour Ohau, custom cut and supplied by The Flooring Centre; Shaggy Floor Wool Rug by Wilson and Dorest | Bathroom tilesMaster bathroom: shower seat – Dekton by Cosentino, installed by CBA Tiling; walls – Touch Bianco Gloss 75 x 300, from Metro Tiles; walls – Touch Bianco Gloss 75 x 300, from Metro Tiles; floor – Ardesia Cenere Matt 600 x 600 from Nextdoor |
Wallcoverings/wallpaperGames Room Fire Place – Phillip Jeffries Chevron Chic 2 (softly coloured paper yarns woven to create a chevron flame stitch wallcovering – crafted in Japan) | PaintDulux (Treble Cone Half, Okarito, Rawene; Mt Aspiring Half, Mt Aspiring, Manorburn half; Lyttelton, Lyttleton Half, Lyttelton double; Lyttelton quarter, Franz Joesph); lounge – Porters Coast Eggshell Finish; games room – Porters Half Strength, Woodsmoke Eggshell Finish; kitchen Island – Resene Trout |
General heatingGames room – Hydronic In Slab | OfficeOffice, lounge and games room – Escea Gas, surround custom in Dekton by CBA Tiling, surrounds by Craftbuilt; living room – Firenzo Topaz Rural, custom Oamaru stone surround crafted by Peter Dunn. |
Feature light fittingsLiving room – Midnight Pendant by Resident, from Simon James; lounge – Nuage Pendants by Herve Langlais Design, from Diva International; kitchen table – Tasman Triple Pendant by Night Works Studio; all other lights including a Heracleum and The W Pendant by ECC | Living area furnitureAlanda Smoke Glass Coffee Table and Redondo Quilted Sofas and Chairs by Matisee |
Dining table/chairsAntique table from JS Stephens; chairs and barstools by Harrows NZ | Control systemsYamaha Music system; Air Touch Air Conditioning and heating; security is Insite Gold, SuperCam and SmartPlus Garden; watering is Hyrdawise and Hunter |
AwardsTrends International Design Awards (TIDA) Homes – Winner |
Project description – brief
This project was a close collaboration with our homeowners to transform a tired, weathered home into a refined modern country residence – one that complements their lifestyle and embraces its park-like surroundings.
Originally designed by an architect in the mid-1990s, the home had good bones but lacked natural light, spatial flow, and contemporary presence.
Our approach sought to modernise its form while respecting its architectural origins.
We reimagined the scale, composition, and functionality of key areas, including the entry, kitchen, dining, and living spaces.
A critical focus was on enhancing transitions between these zones to create a seamless, intuitive flow throughout the home.
Beyond aesthetics, the project required a delicate balance between preservation and transformation.
We addressed historic weather-tightness issues while maximising the potential of the existing structure.
The result is a warm, contemporary family home – one that offers intimate spaces for daily life yet effortlessly expands for entertaining, redefining the modern country residence.
Design features and creative solutions
The interior design prioritises warmth, comfort, and calm.
Rooted in a contemporary country aesthetic, the house expresses a refined yet restrained palette – offering a quiet refuge from the bustle of daily life.
The layout flows openly and intuitively, with reconfigured zones that better support family living.
Large windows in the central living spaces allow natural light to pour in, drawing attention to the rich timber flooring and subtle country finishes.
T&G raking ceilings, level changes, and varied ceiling treatments reinforce a sense of volume and spatial rhythm, giving each space its own identity while maintaining cohesion throughout.
A subdued material palette unifies the interiors, while select moments of colour, texture, or material shift create focal points, define zones, and evoke mood.
These layers – soft furnishings, panelling, and textural surfaces – contribute to a harmonious and restful environment, adaptable to the changing dynamics of family life.
The result is a home that supports both communal gatherings and personal retreat.
Outdoor living spaces extend the interior experience through continuity in materials and detailing.
Sheltered dining areas, an outdoor fire, a pool and pool house, and a private courtyard off the games room foster relaxed entertaining and family connection.
Stonework provides a subtle yet tactile contrast to hardwood decks and white-painted surfaces, grounding the outdoor experience in the same calm sophistication as the interior.
The master suite has been completely reimagined.
An extended ensuite and walk-in robe deliver improved function, while new timber doors introduce generous natural light and lead to a private hardwood deck.
The pairing of internal wall panelling, soft furnishings, and filtered light transforms this area into a serene and luxurious retreat.
Sustainability
Given the project’s scale, we evaluated the feasibility of a new build against the environmental value of a substantial renovation.
A core driver of the design was the retention of the existing structure and its embodied carbon, which became central to our sustainability strategy.
To enhance durability and energy performance, we reroofed and re-insulated the home.
The exterior was fully reclad in H3.2 timber weatherboards over a 70mm PIR board super-insulated warm wall system, significantly improving thermal performance and long-term resilience.
We also replaced all windows and doors with new timber-framed, double-glazed units – enhancing insulation while maintaining a consistent, carbon-conscious material palette.
Internally, sustainability was further prioritised through the use of reclaimed timber flooring to match existing materials.
Where feasible, existing joinery units were reused and repositioned to suit the new layout – preserving character while improving function.
Find more design ideas and inspiration at trendsideas.com
[clean_tags]
Credit List
Building designer / renovatorDave Chilton, Chilton + Mayne | Structural engineerTM Consultants |
BuilderMcintosh Construction | Kitchen designerCarol Riley Interiors in conjunction with Modern Age Kitchens and Joinery |
Kitchen manufacturerModern Age Kitchens and Joinery | InteriorsCarol Riley Interiors |
LandscapeChilton + Mayne | Pool designJim Gaul – Mayfair Pools |
CladdingTimber | RoofMetalcraft Espan |
ShuttersWoodlore Plus from Santa Fe | Wood/door joineryWoodlore Plus from Santa Fe |
Main flooringWooden floors are by Vida Space – Venture Plank Quadro Oil 180 x 13mm Herringbone Engineered Timber, supplied and installed by The Flooring Centre | Bedroom flooringCarpet supplied and installed by Carpet Court; Karastan Soft Eloquence Smart Strand Silk, colour is Overcast – over Dreamwalk Rhino Platinum 12mm 125kg density foam underlay |
RugsRhapsody 100% Tibetan Wool by Catherine Martin, from Designer Rugs; Bremworth Ripples Wool with matching binding rug in colour Ohau, custom cut and supplied by The Flooring Centre; Shaggy Floor Wool Rug by Wilson and Dorest | Bathroom tilesMaster bathroom: shower seat – Dekton by Cosentino, installed by CBA Tiling; walls – Touch Bianco Gloss 75 x 300, from Metro Tiles; walls – Touch Bianco Gloss 75 x 300, from Metro Tiles; floor – Ardesia Cenere Matt 600 x 600 from Nextdoor |
Wallcoverings/wallpaperGames Room Fire Place – Phillip Jeffries Chevron Chic 2 (softly coloured paper yarns woven to create a chevron flame stitch wallcovering – crafted in Japan) | PaintDulux (Treble Cone Half, Okarito, Rawene; Mt Aspiring Half, Mt Aspiring, Manorburn half; Lyttelton, Lyttleton Half, Lyttelton double; Lyttelton quarter, Franz Joesph); lounge – Porters Coast Eggshell Finish; games room – Porters Half Strength, Woodsmoke Eggshell Finish; kitchen Island – Resene Trout |
General heatingGames room – Hydronic In Slab | OfficeOffice, lounge and games room – Escea Gas, surround custom in Dekton by CBA Tiling, surrounds by Craftbuilt; living room – Firenzo Topaz Rural, custom Oamaru stone surround crafted by Peter Dunn. |
Feature light fittingsLiving room – Midnight Pendant by Resident, from Simon James; lounge – Nuage Pendants by Herve Langlais Design, from Diva International; kitchen table – Tasman Triple Pendant by Night Works Studio; all other lights including a Heracleum and The W Pendant by ECC | Living area furnitureAlanda Smoke Glass Coffee Table and Redondo Quilted Sofas and Chairs by Matisee |
Dining table/chairsAntique table from JS Stephens; chairs and barstools by Harrows NZ | Control systemsYamaha Music system; Air Touch Air Conditioning and heating; security is Insite Gold, SuperCam and SmartPlus Garden; watering is Hyrdawise and Hunter |
AwardsTrends International Design Awards (TIDA) Homes – Winner |
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