Words Vicki Ravlich-Horan Images Ashlee DeCaires
Over the last few years, Kirsty Johnson from Downey Designer Homes has shown me around a few of their fabulous builds. After each tour, I leave with my head spinning with so many beautiful details and fabulous ideas. It’s these designer differences the Downey team help their clients with that transform house plans into beautiful homes.
The latest house Kirsty is giving me a tour of is a little different, as it is hers. She, along with fiancé Chris and Kirsty’s teenage daughters Addy and Quinn moved in just three months ago. And while the landscaping is still to begin, they are loving their new home, designed just for them.
As you would expect, Kirsty had a few ideas before they started. She was not alone, with Chris immersing himself in the details of the project as well. “I think Chris could become a salesperson for some of the products we used,” Kirsty says, laughing.
“Like Dekton,” Chris adds with enthusiasm as he leads me to the family bathroom where this innovative, versatile and beautiful product clads the walls, floor, vanity sink and shower base. “We got to go to the factory where it is made,” enthuses Chris, who admits he really enjoyed the details and discovering different products during the build process.
Back before bathroom choices were considered, the build started with a site visit where the view captivated Kirsty and Chris and their architect. “It was like looking at a painting,” Kirsty says. The outlook thus became the focal point of the house with a gorgeous window in the open plan lounge created to make the most of the view that can never be built out.
Small details transform this window from beautiful to magnificent. Glenn Soper the supervisor on their build, along with Scott the builder, suggested cedar used on the interior of the house be used instead of Gib to line the framing of the window.
This detail is also behind the custom-made steel window seat that runs the length of the window and begs to be sat on as you soak in the scenery.
While the wonderful window was inspired by the site, other priorities for the house design were influenced by how the family lived. “We’re foodies,” admits Kirsty as we stand in the beautiful black kitchen ogling over details like the Neff ovens, where doors slide away, and the tap that produces not just boiling water but cold sparkling water too.
It turns out one kitchen is not enough for these foodies, with an epic setup outside. Running adjacent to the interior kitchen is an entertainer’s dream, with matching black bench complete with built in BBQ, kitchen sink, fridge and drawers for all your barbecuing needs.
Chris, a big barbecuer, also had built a flexible outdoor fireplace that could cook a pizza, suckling pig or simply heat the space. The fireplace is framed on either side with handy wood boxes and above is a giant TV. You can see why this is their favourite place to be. And with half the space enclosed and the second half with louvres, this is a space the family use all year around. “The outdoor living was more important to us than a second lounge,” explains Kirsty.
Late in the design process, the family added on a games room off the garage but cleverly made the glass doors the same size as a garage door, so someone could convert the space into a third garage.
The home is neutral with unique textural touches that make it warm and give it a fabulous bespoke feel. The exposed brick and black beams have an industrial feel which is softened by the outlook, seen through the large windows everywhere.
The imperfection of these structural elements add character to a brand-new house, something Kirsty and Chris have done throughout the home.
In the powder room is a hand pressed concrete tub made by an artisan in Raglan. This room, the only bathroom not using Chris’s favourite Dekton, is lined with cedar, including the ceiling. This was another suggestion from the builder Scott, and as Kirsty points out, one of the advantages of having a team on the build with attention to detail and innovative ideas.
Chris says, “Glenn was great at trouble shooting,” which, Kirsty adds, “made the process more pleasurable with no dramas”.
Adding to the warmth of the house interior is the wide band sawn American oak flooring, paired with the gorgeous sage green Bremworth wool carpet. At first this carpet feels like a risk, but the beautiful warm green connects the interior to the rural setting, such a crucial element in this home’s story.
Lighting, Kirsty admits, is something they had not done much research on or thought too much about until they had too. A late addition was the strip lighting in the kitchen/lounge space which adds more ambience and proved a good choice with them using it more than the downlights.
Planning such elements like lighting is often left off people’s to do list when building and why Kirsty believes having now been through the process, she is better at her job. “Building with Downey is a very personal process as we walk clients through the whole build and now, I’ve been through it too.”
The family love living in Matangi. “Bootleg Brewery is our local,” Chris says, smiling, “and we get free range eggs delivered to our door.” Sounds like the dream!
