A Minimalist Touch

With its chalet silhouette, shades-of-nature colour palette and two-storey spaciousness, this striking home gathers compliments from everyone who visits.

When interior designer Brandi Becker embarked on a new-build project for herself, she had a specific outcome in mind: a family-sized house in Riverhead that would be right at home in Jack’s Point Queenstown.

Riverhead is a subtropical rural area northwest of Auckland, right at the top of the Waitemata Harbour. It’s known for its historic pub and proximity to Riverhead Forest, a popular hiking and mountain biking destination. Residential development is a mixture of lifestyle blocks and new subdivisions.

Jack’s Point is a much-admired master-planned alpine community with tight design guidelines. To quote the website: “… exceptional architecture delivering bold, simple structures that reflect and blend with the natural surroundings. Natural building materials and earthy, recessive colours reinforce the connection to the environment and create a community that sits naturally within the context of the mountain ranges and lake.”

So with her new-build, Brandi decided to bring Jack’s Point to Riverhead. Working closely with Architype, she chose a minimalist two-story chalet silhouette that reflects these design guidelines.

“I’ve always had my eye on the natural materials used among the houses in Jack’s Point. The cedar and weatherboards really spoke to me, and I wanted to reproduce that style in a more tropical setting.”

The resulting home is a credit to Brandi’s vision and the versatility of James Hardie’s cladding materials. The exterior cladding is a mixture of Oblique™ Weatherboard and cedar. The weatherboards are 300mm wide and painted with Resene Eighth Bison Hide; the cedar is in narrow slats and oiled to enhance its natural hue. Both are installed vertically, to echo the trees of the nearby forest and
elongate the form of the house.

“Within a neighbourhood of new, black cedar homes, I wanted to create something unique, that both complemented the environment and fitted the individual needs of a young family.”

As an interior designer, Brandi couldn’t wait to get busy on the inside of the house. In keeping with the exterior, the theme is natural. Warm hardwood floors are juxtaposed with white walls coated in Resene Sea Fog. There are pops of colour, referencing nature’s bright moments and the landscape beyond.

“The exterior reflects the brightness of the interior. There’s consistency and simplicity, a modern touch within the natural setting.”

Brandi’s family are loving life in Riverhead, assisted by a low-maintenance home that demands little of their time. An annual wash is all the Oblique™ Weatherboard needs to retain their smart appearance. When the family arrive home from adventures in the nearby forest, their house is easy to recognise from a distance.

“On a streetscape of familiar builds, this home stands out. I feel we found the balance of accomplishing a home with a unique flair, without feeling too extravagant.” Oblique™ Weatherboard comes in two widths and can be used in both horizontal and vertical applications enabling you to create a range of different looks and designs.