A Perfect Pairing

With its low-slung, barn-style design, this builders own home enhances its country location.

Nic and Hannah McIndoe know the ins and outs of building a new home, because they’ve been running their own construction business in the Waikato region for 15 years. What’s more, Nic worked for GJ Gardner and Urban Homes before setting up their company, McIndoe Construction. So when it came to conceiving a design and making materials choices for their own home, it’s fair to say that Nic and Hannah were confident with their decisions.

Beginning with a unique triangular section, the McIndoes worked with N K Drafting and Design to draw up plans for a four bedroom barn-style home with feature chimneys, cathedral ceilings and two wings – one for living, one for sleeping.

For the exterior cladding, they were resolute about their choice of Oblique™ Weatherboard by James Hardie complemented by accent areas of natural cedar. The weatherboards are installed vertically to enhance the low-slung design of the house and integrate with the traystyle roof—a practical choice that tied everything together.

The choice of Oblique™ Weatherboard wasn’t driven by aesthetics alone; it was a practical decision. Durable and cost effective, Oblique™ Weatherboard met the couple’s criteria for a product that could withstand the elements and still look good.

To honour the lush green location, Nic and Hannah wanted a mostly black exterior. This wish also influenced their choice of Oblique™ Weatherboard, which can be painted dark colours because it’s made of fibre cement.

“We loved the size of the section and that it had a semi-rural vibe, but we’re still close enough to the city,” says Hannah. “We have wonderful bush and birdlife around us and we’re surrounded by gullies. The black exterior with the green landscape around it is really striking, so it looks beautiful.”

The visual impact of the exterior weatherboards, painted in Resene Ebony, was so impressive that Nic and Hannah decided to bring them inside. As a result, the fireplace in the living area has a stunning backdrop of Oblique™ Weatherboard.

As the second home they’ve built for themselves in the Waikato, this house captures Nic and Hannah’s hopes and dreams. In particular, it provides a wonderful environment for their young daughter to grow up in.

“It changes your perspective about what the home is and what it means now that we have a family,” says Nic. The build took eight months and Nic was often on site seven days a week. But he says he’d do it all again, because the home is so enjoyable to live in.