Showcasing eco-friendly style
DAVID REID Homes Wellington’s inspiring new show home in Waikanae is as eco-friendly as it is user-friendly. The three-bedroom flagship, at 4 Ferndale Dr, Waikanae, showcases the company’s commitment to sustainability and architectural design.
Stylish and practical, with an emphasis on open plan and indoor/ outdoor living, it references the past, with its subtly rustic yet sophisticated appeal, while combining home comforts with eco-credentials. The pavilion-style, 202-square-metre dwelling has a bandsawn, bevelled back macrocarpa exterior, high levels of Pink Batts in the ceilings and walls, grey-tinted doubleglazing with aluminium joinery, bevelled cork floor tiles to maximise insulation, dual ducted heat pumps, a Watersmart grey water system, and permeable paving that facilitates rainwater’s absorption back to the earth rather than drains.
The house is part of the Ferndale sustainable development and had to meet design covenants and specifications.
‘‘It shows that for a reasonable price, you can have sustainable living, highend design and a quality fit-out,’’ Tim Sunderland, of David Reid Homes Wellington, says.
‘‘One of our hallmarks is being able to bring fixed-price contracts to custombuild homes. Not many companies can offer that in this market, specifically with some of the unique terrain Wellington provides.’’
While the show home is a contemporary take on the New Zealand vernacular, ‘‘we didn’t want it to feel stark’’, Mr Sunderland says.
‘‘We wanted people to feel as though they could live in it straight away.’’
Features include integrated Smeg appliances, a floating composite benchtop/breakfast bar with negative detailing, tiled bathrooms with designer vanities, in-ceiling speakers in the lounge (which also has a grooved ceiling), innovative storage, double garage with rear door, and sliding doors from the living areas and main bedroom to the barbecue courtyard with its gas fireplace.
David Reid Homes has 22 branches nationally, and in the seven years since it opened, ‘‘the Wellington Region office has been our region’s most awarded builder’’, Mr Sunderland says.
In 2010-11 alone, it won 13 House of the Year Awards, including three Gold and two Gold Reserve.
Mr Sunderland estimates 90 per cent of David Reid houses, all of which come with a 10-year Master Builders Guarantee, are architecturally designed and custom-built.
‘‘Some people think we have only standard plans. We do have great standard plans but we generally start from scratch with most of our homes.
‘‘They’re very tailored to what our customers want. They can even come to us with their own plans and we’ll build those, too.
‘‘And because we work very closely with developers, we can also help our clients to find the right section for their dream home.’’