Showhomes > A return to traditional values

A return to traditional values

A desire to go against the flow and use James Hardie products in a different way to everyone else was the driving force behind the design of this Signature Homes showhome in Albany, just north of Auckland.

Signature Homes principal designer Wendy King and interior designer Jenny Child worked closely together to create a home that combines the styling and detailing of a traditional villa with the comforts and conveniences of a modern home.

With the overall move away from plaster cladding and requests from many clients for a more traditional design, Wendy and Jenny were inspired to show how Linea Weatherboard could be used on a more traditional home.

Wendy says that some of their more mature clients are looking to shift away from the mono-pitch roofs and strong, contemporary lines back to a more familiar design that's reminiscent of the traditional New Zealand villa.

“While our modern designs are still very popular – and always will be – some people were saying that they just couldn't see themselves living in such a modern home,” says Wendy. “So we decided to showcase Linea in a traditional design.”

And the end result has proved incredibly popular.

“We've had a huge response from the open homes,” says Jenny. “It's been our most popular home yet. Many people have commented that when they arrive, they feel like they're coming home.”

The home's exterior is entirely clad in Linea Weatherboard, which is complemented with Linea fascia boards, and traditional detailing such as dentils, boxing and casement windows.

Wendy says maintenance and durability were key factors in the selection of Linea Weatherboard for the exterior. Having seen first-hand on her own home how hard-wearing and long-lasting James Hardie's fibre cement weatherboards are, Wendy is always keen to use Linea on her designs.

“As a product, it won't rot like timber weatherboards can, and if you don't get around to repainting it, the worst you'll encounter is fading. The paint won't bubble and flake off like it does with timber weatherboards that aren't maintained,” she says.

While the two-storey house might incorporate the detailing and styling of a villa, long, draughty hallways and a lack of flow are certainly not part of the design.

Open living spaces, indoor-outdoor flow and provision for easy entertaining are important aspects of this home, which incorporates high-spec finishes to give it a really slick look.

However, the interior also features elements you'd expect in a more traditional design, such as high studs, deep skirtings, wide architraves and large scotias, as well as ceiling roses and a large curving stairway with wrought-iron railings.

Jenny describes the design as ‘classic with a modern twist', and it certainly offers the best of both worlds.

“A lot of thought has gone into every detail,” she says. “The walls in the formal lounge are wallpapered up to a height of 2.7m, and then painted above the dado rail.”

To enhance the classical look, HardieGroove Lining has been used in a number of areas around the house. The walls of the main bathroom, and the downstairs powder room and laundry are finished in HardieGroove up to a height of 1200mm and topped with a dado rail to create an interesting feature and replicate that traditional tongue and groove look. The front of the window seats in the family room and master bedroom are also finished in HardieGroove.

“The kitchen incorporates a butler's pantry with storage and a dishwasher so that when the owners are entertaining they can hide any food-preparation mess behind closed doors,” says Wendy. “We chose to line the entire pantry in HardieGroove, with open shelving in front of it so you can see the HardieGroove behind.”

Because of its resistance to damage from moisture, HardieGroove Lining is ideal for wet areas such as bathrooms, laundries and kitchens. It also creates a decorative and hardwearing lining on hallway and family room walls and any areas that are prone to knocks and impact.

Gavin Hunt, managing director of Signature Homes, values the long and happy association the company has with James Hardie.

“There are many reasons why we enjoy working with James Hardie. The large variety of James Hardie products available allows us to cater to a huge range of tastes and designs, which is what Signature Homes is all about – building Your Home, Your Way.”

Gavin says another important factor that enhances the partnership between the two companies is the quality and durability of James Hardie's products.

“Signature Homes offers comprehensive guarantees for all its homes in terms of construction completion deadlines and product quality. James Hardie is a very dependable supplier, and we feel we can trust that they'll be able to deliver on those guarantees.”