Business South November 2021

64 | BUILDING Tasman: Mike Greer Homes Nelson and Marlborough Unique Curio Bay haven garners top award Russell Fredric Next step for Nelson from page 62 Mike Greer Homes Nelson has won a gold medal every time it has entered House of the Year. Trevor says all Mike Greer Homes are de- signed from scratch to suit the sections and the clients’ requirements, and all are built to show home standard. “People can walk into our show home and know what they can expect in their own home.” Mike Greer Homes Nelson has won a gold medal every time it has entered House of the Year, and Ben and Trevor are determined to keep hitting this benchmark. “At Mike Greer Homes, we believe more is more and that is evident in our homes,” Trevor says. “We have a strong focus on design, with 17 designers in our Christchurch office and more technicians underneath them, so there is a real focus on making our houses look differ- ent and providing good resale value. “A house built by Mike Greer Homes always resell very well, because they look different, and they have great street appeal.” A dedicated team effort has resulted in G J Gardner Southland scooping the 2021 House of the Year Southern Gold and Regional Category Winner awards. These were awarded for an architecturally designed house built at Curio Bay, Catlins – re- nowned as a home for Hectors Dolphins – as a holiday haven for its Te Anau owners; G J Gardner Southland is owned and run by Simon Culhane and his partner Lisa Vaughan. When the client first contacted Simon and Lisa they already had the plans in hand and worked with them to finalise the interior details. The main section of the two bedroom house is an asymmetric U-shape with the garage offset from this. It is clad with vertical Alaskan yellow cedar weatherboard, prized for its good looks and exceptional durability. Construction included 140x40mm wall framing to allow for a higher level of, Terra Lana wool-based, insulation. The main living area and kitchen features almost wall to wall glazing to draw in the idyllic view of the beach and panorama beyond. Along the same frontage, the master bedroom ensuite features a huge full-height window to maximise the enjoyment of soaking to a sunrise, sunset or star studded sky. Inside, the owners worked with Lisa to create a minimalistic design with white ceilings and walls which don’t compete for the atten- tion of the panorama. The main living area has a vaulted ceiling, increasing the sense of spaciousness, and is heated by a wood-burner backed by feature steel with a full-height wood box alongside. The steel is also incorporated as the kitchen splashback, creating an understated cohesion between the two areas, while the custom-de- signed kitchen creates maximum appeal with a stone bench, stone island and high-quality appliances. Quality throughout, including of the fixtures and fittings was important to the client. Lisa says a lot of hard work went into the house by everyone involved. “There was great attention to detail from the client through to the builders, roofers and sub-contractors. We are very proud and I think the trade contractors and suppliers are as well.” Simon is also “rapt” for the clients who encouraged the submission to be made to the House of the Year award. Like other building company’s, G J Gardner Southland are facing challenges with the supply of materials in an extremely strong construction climate, however good forward planning and the support of G J Gardner as one of New Zealand’s largest home building franchises has helped streamline processes. To ensure it is sufficiently resourced for builders long-term, the franchise has commit- ted to employing and training apprentices as part of its building team. The current hot real estate market means building new, including for first home owners, is a good option for some compared to buying an existing house, Simon says. “Interest rates are low and young people are really keen to get involved in property and they see building as a genuine option and it’s really nice to be a part of the making of their dreams.” Southland: GJ Gardner Homes Southland By the end of 2022, Mike Greer Homes Nelson will be building in its own subdivision, thanks to this a partnership with Wakatu Incorporation. It’s a first for Mike Greer Homes Nelson, which has bought sections in prior Wakatu Incorporation subdivisions and nurtured a relationship for several years. “It’s a huge step for us, but with land so hard to get in Nelson, we had to do something to secure our future. “We have the backing and support of Mike Greer Homes national, who are supporting us through the development process, and we are looking forward to bringing this new offering to our valued clients.” “A house built by Mike Greer Homes always resell very well, because they look different, and they have great street appeal.” “There was great attention to detail from the client through to the builders, roofers and sub-contractors. We are very proud and I think the trade contractors and suppliers are as well.” Drainage & Excavation Wastewater / Excavation Fair Dinkum Sheds & Buildings ConcreteWork Ph: 03 579 2284 Fax: 03 579 2285 www.findlaterconstruction.co.nz RH Plumbing & Gas Ltd Regan Harvey Certifying Plumber Gas tter and Drainlayer P 03 213 1667 M 027 5454 059 E RHPLUMBINGANDGAS@gmail.com