A REMARKABLE VIEW MOUNTAIN VISTAS and frosty nights are all part and parcel of living in Queenstown Words Soraya Nicholas PHOTGRAPHY MARINA MATTHEWS For Nick and Rhonda Perkins, everything moved at a very fast pace when it came to moving. After purchasing a section in Queenstown and deciding to build, they had no idea how fast their home in Arrowtown would sell. So with now three and a half year old daughter Sophie in tow they had to build, and fast! Fortunate to be able to live with Nick s parents, they worked with speed to have their new home conceptualised and built a process that took around seven months from when they chose their plan. The Perkins were determined to maximise the view that makes their section so special, and to capitalise on all-day sun. Their home faces out to the Remarkables, and to the north Coronet Peak, both of which are spectacular, especially when sprinkled with snow. In Arrowtown, where they previously lived, sun was not a constant, but here they can look out at the cold frosty conditions and still feel warm. Part of this is due to the internal gas heating system, but the sun flooding the home in winter from nine thirty in the morning until just after four in the afternoon certainly helps too. Despite being anxious to embark upon building, Nick and Rhonda did not choose a building company in haste. The specs Queenstown $200 000 - $300 000 180 Sq m 2 3 2 homestyle 85
Instead, they did their research and asked around, but it was almost out of the blue that they found John Mansfield from K. Fowler Homes (Southern Lakes) Ltd. Nick was talking to John at kindergarten one day about the type of home we wanted, and he mentioned that they had a plan that might suit us, explains Rhonda. The next thing John was visiting the section, plan in hand, and they had found the perfect home design. We used a standard Fowler Homes plan and adjusted it to suit their needs, explains John. This ensured they got the home they wanted. The sun was immediately taken into consideration, more specifically the north aspect of the property, and other needs of the family were of course acutely considered. To work with the Perkins in the creation of the modified plan, Merv Cronin of Cronin Design became involved. Merv completes all the design work for Fowler Homes (Southern Lakes), liaising directly with clients to create homes to suit individual lifestyles. It was he who designed the original standard plan, so he was aware of the existing design parameters he had to work within. It is a family home of generous proportions, with clean modern lines, offering sunny open-plan living at an affordable price, says Merv. Since the early 1990s, Merv has worked closely with Fowler Homes, designing thousands of houses New Zealand wide. For this home, as with all others he works on, his goal is to help clients and families achieve their dream home, within their given budget, all the while trying to make the process as enjoyable as possible. This is also all part of the Fowler Homes vision. As a largescale residential building company, they are dedicated to affordability and great design, with a close-knit group of subcontractors working alongside them, chosen for their similar outlook about building. As a completed home, the Perkins are pleased with the exterior aesthetics of the dwelling. The corrugate profile is certainly a favourite, especially the way it co-exists with the smooth plaster look. All external plastering was completed by Ward Plastering Ltd, with the well-respected Insulclad plaster system selected for use. This specific system has been developed exclusively to meet the harsh requirements of the New Zealand climate, and so was ideal for selection in Queenstown, where summers are hot and winters extremely cold and severe. The Insulclad plaster system is also BRANZ approved, with a fully drained cavity system featuring full window flashings. This makes it a popular choice amongst future conscious homeowners. For this home, a 40mm polystyrene was installed over the cavity system, with plaster being used as the final exterior finishing product. Complementing the smooth plaster finish, aluminium joinery from Rylock Aluminium was chosen. Also ideal for harsh weather conditions, well fitted aluminium stands the test of time, eliminating water coming into the house, and providing excellent levels of energy efficiency when paired with double glazed glass. As Nick and Rhonda have discovered, double glazed glass keeps the heat in due to its excellent insulation qualities, with no draughts letting cool air in, or hot air out. The Perkins selected all aluminium windows and doors for the home, as well as sliding doors, to enhance overall indoor/outdoor flow. The aluminium was powder-coated to colour Silver Pearl, a standard colour choice for modern new homes. The matt silver profile is stunning, paired against the corrugate and plaster finish of the exterior. The other main exterior materials choice was the roof profile, which was supplied and installed by Queenstown Roofing Ltd. Colorsteel was the product of choice, with 86 homestyle
Corrugate iron cladding gives the home a semi-industrial look. a 5R.B Colorsteel corrugate profile chosen in colour Ironsand. This attractive roofing material is exceptionally low maintenance, light weight for installation and hardwearing, once again designed and made specifically for the country s climatic conditions. We use 95% New Zealand Colorsteel products for our jobs, as it is made here in New Zealand, offers a great colour choice and has exceptional extended warranties, says a representative from Queenstown Roofing Ltd. The company was also invited to clad the exterior in Rhonda s personal favourite, the corrugate on the exterior walls. Colorsteel Cladding was used, in colour Gull Grey. According to the Perkins, their kitchen is the focal point of the interior, mainly because of its position in the openplan living area. The breakfast bar stools are regularly used, either when friends are over and Rhonda is in the kitchen cooking, or by little Sophie and husband Nick. I love having the galley-style kitchen with the centre island, enthuses Rhonda. To make their kitchen dreams a reality, the design and manufacture services of Sockburn Joinery Ltd in Christchurch were called upon. Kitchen consultant Rachael Koppe liaised with John at Fowler Homes, to create an extremely functional and attractive kitchen space. Amongst its multiple features, the kitchen has a separate pantry for storage, an appliance garage on the rear bench and a number of large drawers. The island unit has an extended breakfast bar, allowing superb flow from the family and dining areas. Melteca was the material of choice to craft the cabinetry from, selected in colour Silver Strata. The benchtop is 50mm thick, in Laminex New Graphite. homestyle 87
Open-plan living works well for a young family and for entertaining. We love having the galley-style kitchen with the centre island. 88 homestyle
A standout feature in the living rooms and kitchen is the stylish lighting overhead. Laser Electrical Queenstown worked hard to achieve a modern, strong lighting plan, starting on the project at the very initial stages of construction to complete a full electrical design. They completed all of the electrical work for the home, utilising the popular Clipsal Switch range with brushed aluminium cover plates. The Perkins individual requirements were taken into consideration, as well as the interior design and layout. The result of their hard work is a well lit home that is energy efficient and largely future proofed. Another sub-trade who is regularly called upon by Fowler Homes (Southern Lakes) is Bob Dennison Plumbing Limited. They completed all of the plumbing for the entire home, from the laying of pipes and drains through to the installation of fixtures and fittings in all the wet areas. Taps, showerheads, waste pipes and general plumbing items were all required, and were fitted in a timely and expert manner. Choosing the right plumber is crucial for any new home, and the Perkins were fortunate that Fowler Homes has such a loyal and committed network of tradespeople available. Bob Dennison Plumbing were on-site in the very beginning working on the plumbing plan, and at the very end installing the high quality fittings throughout. Of the entire building process, Rhonda and Nick remained entirely positive, and the end result is everything they dreamed of. Fowler Homes were really good, they say. There were no hidden costs and we stayed right on budget, so that certainly made the process stress free for us. They are also very pleased with how the design and everything incorporated within it has worked for their lifestyle. We really do love it, says Rhonda with a smile. Coronet Peak and the Remarkables are a postcard perfect backdrop, particularly when covered with snow. homestyle 89
Our Place with Nick & Rhonda Perkins What do you love most about your new home? The way the sun flows in and the open-plan, indoor/outdoor design. The corrugated iron is a favourite too the industrial look is great. What would you change, if anything? If we had a bigger budget, we would have made the house larger! But other than that, there is nothing we would change. Do you have a favourite room? Rhonda: My favourite room is our bedroom. I love the wall colour (Dulux Puysegur Point) and the way sun fills the room. It s a lovely quiet room, and there s nothing better than lying on the bed reading a book in the sun. Nick s favourite would probably be the lounge it s great looking out at the hills and relaxing. What advice would you give to others preparing to build? Do lots of research and look at as many different building companies as you can. If you are on a budget make sure you obtain a fixed price contract, and be confident! You need to be outspoken to get the house you want. What do friends and family like about your home when they come to visit? They often first comment on the wallpaper in the entrance and also the red front door. Most seem to like the open kitchen/ dining area too, and of course the view. 90 homestyle