| 101 Fraemohs Homes Bay of Plenty BUILDING Crafting quality timber solutions since 1991 With over 30 years of expertise, we’re committed to delivering the finest timber products for your projects. From custom cuts to sustainable solutions, we’ve got your needs covered. taurikosawmill.co.nz 07 543 3479 sales@tausaw.nz E A R T H W O R K S WAIKATO & BAY OF PLENTY | RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL EARTHWORKS GETTING YOUR PROJECTS MOVING 027 319 9414 | brett@tracktionearthworks.co.nz | tracktionearthworks.co.nz T T Virginia Wright Homes with enduring appeal These days at least 75% of the Fraemohs houses they’re building in the Bay of Plenty are built using Fraemohs plans. When husband and wife team Simon Hunt and Amy Bourke were offered the opportunity to take the first Fraemohs Homes franchise in the Bay of Plenty they didn’t hesitate. Simon had been building for 20 years and had been running his own company for a couple of years. He liked the idea of being part of something bigger with all the advantages that brings with it, says Amy. “We knew and liked the people, we liked the brand and what Fraemohs stands for in terms of its integrity, its history and the Scandinavian design principles adapted for Kiwi living. But we also wanted to be part of a team of people and to be able to draw on the experience and the systems behind the brand.” Fraemohs was established in 1958 and known in its early years for its kitset, solid timber houses. These days at least 75% of the Fraemohs houses they’re building in the Bay of Plenty are built using Fraemohs plans with conventional New Zealand stick frame construction while making the most of their Scandinavian design principles. “Where possible we use good passive design principles when orienting the home on the site making the most of the natural sunlight throughout the day,” says Amy. “Thermal modelling is then used to help optimise insulation and the placement and performance of the joinery, reducing heat loss in winter and helping prevent overheating in summer. So, it’s not just all about putting in a heat pump and double-glazed windows. It’s about considering how all the different elements of the home work together,” she says As well as running her own successful catering business, Blank Canvas Catering, Amy works with clients on the interior, helping them make design choices at the right price point to achieve the look and feel they’re after. Through the Fraemohs Plan Hub prospective home builders can access more than 50 standard plans which they can play around with online to get a feel for what might work on their site although, as Amy says, no-one ever sticks with standard, they’re always making changes to make it theirs. After a preliminary phone call to work out if they feel like a good fit Amy and Simon offer a free on-site Discovery Meeting. “Simon has an incredible ability to turn up to a site, visualise what the clients are talking about, and understand all of its potential challenges and all the council requirements and what they’re likely to cost,” says Amy. “For Simon building isn’t just a job, it’s a way of life and has been since he was a child. Our clients love working with him because of his problem-solving ability, his attention to detail and his consistency in delivering builds on time and on budget.” By early next year Simon and Amy will be opening their newly built family home to the public as a showhome on the Maungatapu Peninsula in Tauranga. “It’s technically a renovation but it’s more of a full rebuild extending the foundation and completely replacing the top floor. It’s a way to show people what we can do, the products we use, the quality of the finish and our visual aesthetic,” says Amy. Generous use of natural internal timber features using Tasmanian Black Wood and Macrocarpa, both made from family grown and locally milled wood, reflects the beautiful cedar cladding they’ve chosen for the outside. The generous 300sqm home includes a highly functional yet stylish kitchen, swimming pool, pizza oven built by Simon in the al fresco dining area, and plenty of space for family and friends to spread out both inside and out. Amy’s following the build with plenty of posts on Facebook and Instagram and is looking forward to welcoming their friends and their children’s friends. She hopes the house will be something of a community hub as well as their family home and a showhome open to the public by appointment.
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