Diane and Tony’s stunning home in Ōpōtiki, built by Landmark Homes Eastern Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, has won the prestigious Registered Master Builders House of the Year Gold Award. Their dream home boasts incredible craftsmanship, breathtaking views, and unique personal touches like cathedral-style windows and a bold red front door.
Winning a Gold Award in the Registered Master Builders House of the Year is no small feat. It requires a home to exemplify excellence in workmanship, design, style, and functionality, standing out among numerous high-calibre entries.
Diane and Tony’s stunning home in Ōpōtiki perfectly embodies these qualities. When they chose Landmark Homes Eastern Bay of Plenty and Rotorua to build it, they were delighted with the result. The House of the Year judges shared their sentiment, recognising the home's superior craftsmanship and thoughtful features by awarding it the prestigious Regional Gold Award.
We caught up with Diane and Tony to learn more about the inspiration behind their dream home and their journey with Landmark Homes.
Ready to build their dream home in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, Diane and Tony found the ideal location nestled among mature trees and offering breathtaking views out to the East Cape, Waiotahe Beach, Ōpōtiki, and Whakaari Island.
With their site secured, it was time to find the right builder. "We visited a number of Showhomes built by various group home building companies around the country," Tony says. "But we noticed that when we walked into those built by Landmark Homes, they had a very different feel about them. They just felt like a different level of quality – we knew Landmark Homes were the right fit for us.”
After viewing numerous Showhomes and plans, Diane and Tony decided to base their new home on Landmark Homes Coromandel Ready to Build plan. “We saw the plan brought to life in the Showhome, and we loved the layout and style,” says Tony.
To help the plan fit seamlessly with their site and maximise the panoramic views and Tony worked with the Landmark team to make some adjustments. “We changed one of the bedrooms into an office, shifted the laundry, and made a few other small tweaks,” he says.
Overlooking the rolling hills and the water beyond, Diane’s favourite spot is the kitchen. With cathedral-style windows, a high gabled ceiling, and wide opening sliders leading out to the large, covered deck, it’s easy to see why. “It’s a beautiful space – I love how functional it is, and the views are breathtaking.”
A standout feature is the letterbox window, offering a picture-perfect view and serving as a unique splashback.
Another highlight for Diane is the striking red front door she had always envisioned having, adding a bold, welcoming touch to the home.
Tony's favourite spot is the media room, featuring a recessed cedar ceiling and hidden LED lighting, creating a great place to unwind. The large three-bay garage was another must-have for Tony, offering plenty of storage and parking space.
When it came to the interior design, Diane and Tony teamed up with Landmark’s Interior Designer, Rosie Blockley. "Working with Rosie was fantastic," says Diane. "She really understood our vision and helped bring it to life."
Together, they selected all the interior elements, from colours to tiles and floor coverings. The home also cleverly incorporates Diane’s rimu bedroom suite into the walk-in wardrobe. "We used the cabinetry from the suite and had all the shelving done to match around it," explains Tony.
A laundry, with hooks for coats and bench seating for taking off shoes, is conveniently located off the entrance hall with a side door to the garden. The panelled ceiling over the sitting area provides a snug corner in front of the cosy wood burner.
With large decks for outdoor living, a spacious layout that offers stunning views from all rooms, and meticulously crafted details, Diane and Tony's home truly reflects their vision and Landmark Homes' exceptional craftsmanship.
Tony and Diane were keen on involving local tradespeople in their home build, and Landmark Homes made this process seamless. "We really wanted to support local tradies and contractors and have people who knew the area working on our home," Tony says.
The local builders and their teams did an outstanding job. "The team was fantastic," he says. "They were dedicated and took great care in their work. We were really happy with the results, and it’s clear the House of the Year judges were too!"
Landmark Homes expertly managed the entire project, coordinating the efforts of all the local tradespeople and ensuring everything came together smoothly.
"Landmark’s project management was top-notch," Tony says. "They organised all the trades and kept everything on track, making it easy for us to use local contractors without any hassle."
Of course, building a home comes with its share of challenges, and this project was no exception. The build took place soon after the pandemic which meant considerable shortages of building materials due to shipping delays. Thankfully, Landmark Homes had taken a proactive approach and ordered well in advance, which meant the build was able to progress without significant disruption.
Diane and Tony are thrilled with their new home, describing it as everything they dreamed of and more! They’ve created a beautiful, functional space that they absolutely love, and their satisfaction speaks volumes about the quality and craftsmanship that Landmark Homes delivered.
The House of the Year Regional Gold award was the cherry on top, a wonderful recognition of all the hard work and dedication that went into their home.
Inspired to plan your own dream home? Contact your local Landmark Homes team today and let’s go for gold!
