100 | HOUSE OF THE YEAR Ohlson & Whitelaw Versatile Homes Pukekohe Talk to us about your next project. Commercial & Residential Flooring Specialists With an extensive range to suit any project, we are your Waikato flooring experts. CARPET VINYL LAMINATE TIMBER FLOORING P. 07 850 1639 www.lk�ooringdirect.co.nz info@lk�ooringdirect.co.nz Proud to be supporting Versatile Homes - Pukekohe m 027 438 0283 k randtdrainage@xtra.co.nz For all your residential drainage requirements, Sewerage treatment systems • Water Tanks • Septic Tanks Homes for every lifestyle The home is designed to make the most of natural light and warmth. T T Karen Phelps Designer home wins Gold number three T T Anne Boswell With ten House of the Year awards secured in just nine years, Versatile Pukekohe is the most award-winning Versatile in New Zealand, says Wenny Lubbers who owns Versatile Pukekohe with his wife Arean. The latest recognition came at the Registered Master Builders House of the Year Auckland/Northland/Coromandel regional awards where the team took home a Silver Award in the Bunnings New Home $1 million–$1.5 million category for a sophisticated new build in Te Kauwhata. The 305sqm four-bedroom home design was the brainchild of the clients, one of whom is an architect, meaning attention to detail was paramount. “The clients had a very precise vision so it was a big responsibility to turn their ideas into reality,” says Wenny. Clad in brick and oiled cedar, the home is designed to make the most of natural light and warmth. At its heart is an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area from which three wings fan out. One wing incorporates a media room and guest bedroom suite, and another contains a study nook and three bedrooms including the main suite with its walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. For Ohlson & Whitelaw, entering the Master Builders House of the Year competition is about more than winning an award – it is about the recognition of a special project on which the stars have aligned. Established in 2005, the Whitianga-based building company has only entered the competition a handful of times. “We don’t enter every house we build,” says owner, Craig Ohlson, who runs the business alongside wife, Kelly. “We’ve only ever entered three times, and each time we have received a Gold award. We enter when we feel a house is special; when everyone has collaborated well.” That approach paid off again in 2026, with Ohlson & Whitelaw’s latest entry taking Gold in the Auckland, Northland and Coromandel Region Master Builders House of the Year awards, in the New Home category over $4 million. The home was also selected among the competition’s Top 100. Located in Pauanui Waterways, the three-level home is a confident architectural response to its coastal setting, designed to maximise light, views and connection to the outdoors. The lower canal level includes a generous rumpus room with pool table, while the garage has been cleverly re-imagined as a multifunctional overflow bedroom with Murphy bunk beds and a bathroom. Integrated storage adds further functionality. At the heart of the middle level, dedicated to living and entertaining, is a designer kitchen, complemented by two distinct living areas and a dedicated media room. Seamless indoor-outdoor flow extends to the water’s edge, while three bedrooms and “We’ve only ever entered three times, and each time we have received a Gold award. We enter when we feel a house is special; when everyone has collaborated well.” Connecting the two is a morning deck, with multiple entries from the bedrooms and living spaces. A separate wing accommodates the double garage, laundry and bathroom and an afternoon deck is accessed from the opposite side of the central living zone. The pale and neutral interior palette allows the owners to add their own personality and natural light highlights features including the marbled kitchen peninsula and splashback. A generous scullery provides additional storage and appliance space. Polished concrete flooring adds both style and thermal storage, acting as a heat bank alongside hydronic ducted systems and radiators. “It is a beautiful home, and we couldn’t be prouder to hand it over to the owners,” says Wenny. In 2025 Versatile Pukekohe achieved Gold in the GIB Show Home category at the same regional awards for a 215sqm home designed around style, sustainability and comfortable modern living. Low-carbon concrete floors, full insulation and hydronic heating were among its features. The Versatile Pukekohe team builds homes, garages, farm buildings, sleepouts, carports and transportable buildings for both residential and light commercial clients, combining extensive experience with a focus on making the building process enjoyable for clients. bathrooms are positioned to provide privacy and comfort. The result is a refined waterfront home that combines architectural clarity, modern comfort and a strong connection to place. Craig says the finished product reflects the contribution of everyone involved. “We must thank our amazing clients and the design team,” he says, acknowledging Albert van Vliet Architectural, Catherine Huckerby of Blanc Design, and Kira Grey of Fyfe Kitchens, along with Ohlson & Whitelaw’s team and subcontractors. “It really takes a team of amazing people to create such a beautiful home.” The project also gained recognition beyond the Master Builders awards, with Fyfe Kitchens’ Kira Grey winning the Supreme Kitchen Design Award at the 2025 NKBA awards for the home’s kitchen. While architectural homes are a specialist area for Ohlson & Whitelaw, the company’s work spans new residential builds, renovations, project management and consultancy. Most clients are building permanent or holiday homes throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, including Pauanui, Tairua, Whitianga, Opito Bay, Matarangi, Whangapoua and Thames, although Ohlson & Whitelaw does take on projects outside of the area on request.
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