24 STYLE | home “When it comes to architecture, bigger is not necessarily better, it’s just bigger.” – Nick Officer, First Light Studio Matt and Kim love spending time outdoors. So we designed them a home that maximises their indoor-outdoor flow. Start your own story 03 348 1994 | www.peterrayhomes.co.nz
STYLE | home 25 There is nothing more exciting then stepping inside a home that proudly sits at 180m², only to be confronted with a sense of space. For designer Nick Officer, of First Light Studio, efficient floor plans are something he is particularly passionate about, with his journey in architecture beginning with the international success of a compact one-bedroom 70m² home. “180m² is on the bigger side of what we design,” he shares. “When it comes to architecture, bigger is not necessarily better, it’s just bigger.” For homeowners robyn and Peter smith the intention was to build a townhouse that they could “lock-up and leave”. despite having undertaken a number of renovations in the past, this was the first time the couple had built. Faced with a rebuild in the wake of the Canterbury Earthquakes they made the decision to build a home for them on a site that previously had housed a rental property. “It was a typical Christchurch bungalow, which unfortunately had to be demolished, providing an opportunity to modernise what was a rather tired suburban section,” explains Nick.. “The brief was to create a building in keeping with its surroundings and neighbourhood context, that was respectful of its predecessor but with its own sleek, chic personality,” he continues. “An injection of something new, with something old.” Maximising the site, the result is a light, openplan, rectilinear townhouse, which exceeded Peter and robyn’s expectations. “We really loved what they came up with.” Translating the design into its striking physical form was Peter and robyn’s son, Jeremy. Passionate about his craft, Jeremy’s business is aptly named The Woodsmith and is building a reputation for beautiful bespoke detailing. In the case of his parent’s home, this is found in the staircase. “We love the whole place,” enthuse the couple, “but without doubt the best part is the staircase: it doesn’t even touch the ground.” More closely resembling a piece of art than a functional aspect of the home, the floating staircase is made of solid wood and was built on-site. Forming part of the staircase are vertical solid wood beams, which create a connection between the west-facing gallery and the rest of the home. A series of three metre by one metre windows, the west-facing gallery is a balance of architectural detail and functionality. Adding interest to the western wall, both internally and externally and boasting double height ceilings, it also brings natural light and garden views into the home. “The house has a minimal approach to detail,” explains Nick. “The design is expressed in the form, which extends inside with architectural elements, such as the staircase and the west gallery adding to the success of the space.” As an interior designer, robyn was all too happy to turn her hand to crafting an interior unique to them. “We travel a bit and one thing we love is hotel design. With this in mind I decided to be a bit more adventurous and bring in some quirky wallpaper ideas in the lounge, cloakroom and landing. “I usually work in a more timeless fashion and really had to push my boundaries with this house, and, of course, found it much harder to do than someone else’s!” The result, however, is beautiful. The vibrant wallpapers sit in perfect harmony against the soft neutrals and natural textures found elsewhere in the home. See HomePlus for all your Home Products AWNINGS & BLINDS, BALUSTRADES, FENCING & GATES, INSECT SCREENS, LOUVRE ROOF, SECURITY SCREENS, SHOWERS, WARDROBES & DOORS Measured, made & installed by our team of experts. 5 year warranty. Custom made for your home. 2015 Franchise Of The Year 88 Gasson St, Sydenham 03 379 3740 www.homeplus.co.nz
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