There are homes that photograph well, and there are homes that change how their owners live. This one does both, and the recognition followed: Regional Supreme Winner and National Category Winner at the 2024 Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards.

We set out to design a central-city home of refined simplicity, where every material earns its place and nothing is there for show. The result is a three-bedroom residence that feels grand and welcoming in the same breath. Soaring Ashin timber raked ceilings draw the eye upward, while carefully positioned skylights and subtle integrated LED lighting fill the interior with a soft, all-day glow.

The heart of the home is the kitchen, crafted by Rowson Kitchens & Joiners with granite benchtops, bespoke cabinetry, integrated appliances, dual wall ovens and an induction cooktop with downdraft extraction. That same granite carries through to the bathrooms, a quiet thread of continuity that ties the whole interior together. Open-plan living spaces flow out to a sheltered louvred courtyard and terraced gardens that, despite their south-facing position, are bathed in sun all day. That is no accident. It is what intelligent orientation makes possible.

Comfort here is engineered, not hoped for. Above-code insulation, premium glazing and a ducted heat pump system hold the home at an even, healthy temperature through every season. We also designed for the long view: wide hallways, discreet handrails and a three-level internal lift future-proof the home without ever compromising its architectural integrity.

The exterior makes its statement in Yakisugi Japanese cedar, charred for exceptional durability and low maintenance, its deep blackened texture set against heritage-style brick boundary detailing. It is a façade that will weather beautifully and ask very little in return.

Built by multi-award-winning team Petersen & Barnes and backed by a 10-year Master Build Guarantee, the home sits on a tightly held street moments from Pukekura Park, the CBD, the Coastal Walkway and the cafés of central New Plymouth.

This is the kind of project we love most: a home where award-winning design, enduring materials, genuine performance and a sense of place all pull in the same direction. If you are imagining something of your own, we would love to talk.