Taking in magnificent views of Lake Taupō, the 302m² home was built as a holiday home for the Hawke’s Bay couple who enjoy the peaceful, relaxed pace the lakeside township has to offer. “We both work long hours in demanding roles, so being able to take time out for rest and recuperation is vital,” says Wayne.

Making a bold statement in style, the architecturally designed home impresses from every angle, with eye-catching vertical cedar and black Linea weatherboards. But it’s not only the Kirks who are impressed with their new build. The home cleaned up at the 2021 Registered Master Builders House of the Year awards taking Gold Reserve status with a TOP 100 Award as well as Regional Category Winner, Regional Gold Award, and Regional Kitchen Excellence. And it’s easy to see why.

Landmark Homes Taupō and Hawkes Bay franchise co-owner Steven Painter says the Kirk’s vision for their home was a spacious, stylish retreat that captured the beautiful lake vista and provided options for time out and time together with friends and family.

To achieve this, the plans were based on a modular design that created flexible living zones. “The expansive floorplan incorporates plenty of breathing space between rooms and living areas to give the homeowners their own space when needed, as well as providing multiple options for easy entertaining, which is something they love to do.”

With four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and 230m² of timber decking wrapped around the house there’s plenty of room for guests. And when it’s just the two of them, the clever layout means they can close off the extra bedrooms and bathrooms and enjoy the home on a scale that suits them as a couple.

To make the most of their time away from work, the home includes a bar which is handy to the outdoor living and dining space and can be cleverly tucked away behind a set of bifold doors, plus a media room which opens outside providing an enviable spot to enjoy big game nights or a great movie.

The home’s interior design reflects the sophisticated exterior aesthetic with accents of black complemented by a classic palette of white, grey, and timber. A blackened steel fireplace anchors the main living space, creating a dramatic but cosy effect and an extra-large glass sliding door maximises that remarkable vista. In fact, large view-capturing glazing is featured throughout the home, drawing in the sublime views from multiple angles and infusing the home with sunlight and tranquillity.

Having a seamless flow to the outdoors was high on the list of priorities for the Kirks. The wraparound deck design creates a variety of outdoor living zones, from a sun-soaked lounging area overlooking the lake at the front of the house, to a covered dining area alongside the kitchen. There’s even a private space to enjoy stargazing in an outdoor bathtub. And for those end-of-day drinks, a concrete outdoor fireplace is backdropped by rolling green hills and lush countryside. While the fire looks quite at home, taking pride of place on the north side of the deck, it presented a few logistical challenges during the build. “We ended up having the fireplace lifted onto the site by an Iroquois helicopter, which isn’t a regular occurrence on a building site!” says Wayne.

And it wasn’t the only challenge the Landmark Homes team managed. “We discovered a very big boulder in the ground where the garage was going to be built. If we removed it the whole bank would fall away, so we had to change the foundation design which was a huge scope of work. It’s just one of those things that you can’t always predict and just have to manage. That’s where the skill and experience of a team like ours really counts. We knew what had to be done and got it sorted.”

While Wayne and Anna couldn’t be happier with the finished product, it wasn’t what they planned for at the start. “Initially my idea was for a very different home over two levels. When I talked it through with the Landmark Homes team it quickly became obvious it wasn’t going to work on the site we wanted,” he says.

Steven explains, “Because the site is shaped like a wedge, we had to think quite creatively. We went through a very productive process with the Kirks of working with the designer, bouncing ideas off each other, and evolving the plans from something quite ordinary and unworkable, to something that is modern, sleek, and that fits beautifully with the site. The shape of the home is unique with curves and angles that add distinction as well as offering the functionality that was important to the Kirks.”

Wayne says the final plans were not something he would have ever thought of. “We’re thrilled with the result – the home suits our lifestyle perfectly.”

Wayne and Anna both agree that working with Landmark Homes Taupō and Rotorua on their dream holiday home has been a positive and rewarding experience. “I can’t speak highly enough of the Landmark Homes team,” says Wayne. “The team are all very experienced, professional, and passionate about delivering exceptional results.

“They helped us take a concept that was quite generic and average and turn into something that was unique and personalised. They tapped into what we were really looking for and made that happen.”

If you’re thinking about building your dream home, contact the Landmark Homes Taupō team.