As a busy single mum, Tabatha was looking for a home that would give her family space and stability and not add extra pressure. It needed to be affordable, warm and spacious, and ready to move into without worries about future repairs or upgrades. 

When she came across Landmark Homes latest House and Land package offering in Wharewaka, it felt like the right opportunity. 

 “It turned out to be a serendipitous moment,” she says. “This property came along at just the right time, and it was just what I was looking for.”

Working alongside New Home Consultant Kristy Portas, the Landmark team also helped structure the project in a way that worked in her favour. Costs were clear from the beginning, and a turnkey approach meant that, aside from a small deposit, she could continue renting while construction moved ahead.

While much of the design work is thoughtfully resolved upfront in a House and Land package, there is still meaningful room to make it your own. The exterior is carefully planned to suit the section and streamline the build process, but interior selections allow for personal preferences and practical adjustments.

For Tabatha, that meant refining the kitchen layout and making a few changes in the ensuite. The underlying plan already delivered the functionality she needed, so those finishing touches were about shaping a space that felt comfortable and familiar from the moment she moved in.

Set across a 566m² section, the home is positioned to make the most of the site without feeling tight. The patio captures full sun for most of the day, extending the main living area outdoors and creating an easy space to gather. Along the side of the garage, room has been left for a boat or caravan, with additional space for raised vegetable beds. From the deck, a subtle glimpse of the lake reinforces the relaxed Taupō setting.

Inside, the layout feels open and straightforward. The 170m² footprint flows easily from one space to the next, lifted by a scissor truss ceiling that runs from the living area through to the master suite. “I love that ceiling,” says Tabatha. “It just makes everything feel lighter and more open.” The added height brings in natural light and gives the central living space a relaxed, airy feel without overcomplicating the design.

Beyond the open living spaces, thoughtful zoning gives the home real versatility. The master suite sits separately from the remaining bedrooms, creating a sense of retreat while still feeling connected to the rest of the house.

That separation has practical advantages. When her children are not staying, Tabatha can close off part of the home and focus on the main living area and master suite. It keeps things simple and easy to manage.

It is a design that suits modern family life, offering privacy, practicality, and comfort within a well-considered footprint.

Tabatha says that choosing finishes on her own could have felt overwhelming, especially when it came to colours and materials. But having Landmark Homes Taupo designer, Tracey, to help with choices made the process a whole lot easier.

“Making all the decisions by yourself can be hard. You’re always a bit unsure – is this the right carpet? Is this the right colour?” she says. “Tracey came to the tile store with me, she came to the kitchen place with me. We’d walk through the house together and plan it all out. And that took a lot of the stress away.”

She says that what stood out most was how personal the guidance felt. “Rather than steering me toward trends or what she felt was design-led, she focused on what was important to me, and my preferences, which was really appreciated.”

Reflecting on her experience with Landmark Homes, Tabatha says she couldn’t have asked for better.

“I’ve never built before, but I definitely would again,” she says. “I would definitely build with Landmark again.

“The standard of the build was exceptional. I know of others who have built homes and had to have the builders back repeatedly to have things sorted. But there’s nothing bad I could say about the build. The quality is fantastic.”

Which makes the next chapter all the more bittersweet.

As much as she loves the home, a change in family circumstances means it is time to think differently about the future. With plans to move into a multi-generational living arrangement so her mother can join them, the layout no longer suits what the next stage requires.

“We would be there forever if we could,” she says.

Instead, this Wharewaka property is ready for someone new to step in and enjoy everything it already offers, a well-built, thoughtfully designed home created for real life.

Whether you are building for the first time or starting again, Landmark Homes offers guidance you can trust and homes designed to last.

Contact your local Landmark Homes team today to get started.