108 | Innovative concepts in design and build No design is ever repeated, with concepts often sparked by nature or the section itself. Home Factor T T Kim Bowden BUILDING When Priyanka and Rohit Khanna launched Home Factor back in 2012, the business started out like many others – renovations and small-scale builds. By 2014, though, the couple had pivoted into a niche that’s made their company stand out: they buy a section, design a house, build it, complete the interiors, and then sell the finished home. “It’s a very different model,” says Priyanka, who leads design and marketing. “We really wanted to focus on design and quality control. Managing the entire process allows us to be attentive to detail, use high-quality fixtures and finishing, and for the homes to be really design-led.” That one-stop-shop approach ensures each home is unique. No design is ever repeated, with concepts often sparked by nature or the section itself. “Every section we purchase, we spend a lot of time on it, coming up with a core design inspiration,” Priyanka says. “From there, we create the architectural design and then carry that idea right through into the interiors. It becomes a really cohesive process.” That philosophy paid off in spectacular fashion with a Wānaka project inspired by the fluke of a diving whale. While bold in form, the design is carried through the interiors in subtle, sophisticated ways: a curved kitchen bench in oyster-textured stone, pendant lights named ‘Waterfall’, and a floor tinted to echo the depths of the sea. “It doesn’t scream whale,” Priyanka says, “but it was just done in these subtle ways that we could bring that theme through the house without it being too much in your face.” The build has earned international acclaim. Alongside a Master Builders award, the home’s powder room won Powder Room of the Year at the TIDA International Design Awards, while the kitchen and kids’ bathroom were both named runners-up in their categories. The judges singled out the powder room’s combination of delicate leaf tiles and a lotus-shaped basin, in a space that manages to feel both striking and restrained. The kids’ bathroom, meanwhile, balances playful tiles with timeless finishes – designed to suit two teenagers now, but still feel fresh in years to come. Behind the scenes, Home Factor is a lean, hands-on operation. Rohit manages project delivery, finances, and long-term subcontractor relationships, while Priyanka drives design concepts. They are supported by a junior interior designer and a small administration team, but keep themselves front and centre with clients. “All of our ex-clients are really good friends now,” Priyanka says. “We catch up for dinners every time we go to Wānaka.” Though the company is based in Auckland, the bulk of their builds have been in Wānaka - a town Priyanka describes as inspiring, creative, and community-minded. She also credits the region’s building culture, where using good materials and respecting the alpine environment are seen as the norm, not the exception. “It’s such a joyful place to work. Locals often say it’s going to be the next Aspen, but still quaint. And that suits us perfectly.” RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL NEW BUILD & REPAIRS INTERIOR & EXTERIOR With over twenty years’ experience in residential and commercial tiling, we guarantee your job will be completed to the highest industry standards. Phone. 021 284 5377 | Email. tiling.plus@yahoo.com | www.tilingplus.co.nz Your professional tiling service Plus Tiling WALL & FLOOR TILING
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