Belco Homes recieved the Master Builders Silver Award 2016
Silver Award Winner 2016
It says a lot about trust and understanding between Mike Bell and his clients, when he’s asked to construct a fourth home for a family, this time in rural Joyce Road near Tauranga. As with earlier builds this project reflects the family’s changing dynamics. Now their children are grown, this is a home for entertaining, for family and for enjoying the beautiful rural location. Indoor-outdoor living is easy and accessible on both sides of the spacious open plan kitchen/ dining/living room. Tall glass sliding doors which open to paved areas for dining or relaxing, present uninterrupted views right through the living area in either direction. The exterior is clad in white aluminium and charcoal coloured brick – a palette reflected in the interior colour scheme. Imported tiles cover are the flooring in the living and service areas, with carpet in the lounge alcove off the kitchen, and bedrooms. An impressive granite breakfast bar is a feature of the kitchen which includes a restaurant-sized oven and concealed butler’s scullery/pantry with sink, appliance bench, large fridge and ample storage. A suspended indoor clothes line in the well-appointed laundry takes advantage of the home’s high stud. The dining table is illuminated with attractive modern hanging lights while the rest of the room is lit by ceiling lights. At the far end of the living area is a large recess designed to accommodate a favourite piece of furniture. To the left of the kitchen is a study which looks out onto the rear outdoor area, and the master bedroom, with a tiled ensuite, double wet shower and dressing room. Two bedroom in the other wing of the house lead from a hallway with generous storage cupboards and a bathroom with another wet shower and separate toilet. A feature of this part of the house is the exercise room with floor to ceiling windows forming one inside and one external wall. The large double garage has internal entry but the site also includes an outdoor shed complex. The water supply, from a bore, is augmented with rain captured from the roof and stored in a large onsite tank. Plans for the future include provision for a lap pool just off the lounge. The home is very high tech, wired for sound and security, with a heat exchanger to provide under-floor heating. Thermal performance has been maximised, the walls, both inside and out are double insulated, the concrete floor has extra insulation in the form of R2.8 Climafoam and the windows all doubled glazed, ensuring the home is cool in summer and cosy in winter. Natural light is a feature of this home, enhanced by carefully placed solar-tubes above the pantry and in the shower rooms. The subtle colour scheme and high stud add to the feeling of space and lightness. This is a very sophisticated, welcoming home, ideal for the family now and well into the future.