Stress-free build for a sunny dream home

This Hamilton new-build is every bit the modern family home the Retallicks envisioned and it was achieved on time and on budget by national top 10 builder Generation Homes

New Zealand rugby union star Brodie Retallick and his wife Niki recently received the keys to a highly customised five bedroom home located in a popular subdivision to the north-west of Hamilton. Brodie gives us the inside scoop on his first homebuilding experience and the final result.

Why did you decide to build a new home as opposed to buying an existing one?

We were living in a property that we owned in Hamilton but we really wanted to build a house that suited our lifestyle. Niki and I love entertaining and we want to spend as much time as we can outdoors over the summer, so having a home where we could relax and enjoy the sun was really important.

What were some of the personal touches you added?

I’m over two metres tall so one of the big things I wanted was a bath that I could fit in – and we got one.

Niki is the main cook in our household and she wanted two ovens with a large island bench and a walk-in scullery with plenty of storage.

We also wanted dual living rooms so we could have a tech-free area. The second living room has an angular roof and two of the walls are made up of glass sliding doors to let the sun in. At the back of the house, we added a concrete outdoor area with a louvered roof. It’s a great year-round space and one of our favourite features.

How did you apply colour in your home?

We worked out pretty quickly that we only wanted to run with two colours. We selected a dark shade on all the outside joinery and roof but the exterior walls are white, and we carried that look inside the house.

In the kitchen all the cabinetry is black and the bench tops are white with laminated timber flooring. We also built an exposed brick feature wall around the gas fireplace. It’s quite raw and adds texture to the space.

What’s your favourite feature of the new house?

The triple-car garage would be high on the list. I have a couple of old cars, a 1957 Studebaker and a 1971 Holden Kingswood, which I enjoy working on.

Did having a young child impact any of your design decisions?

We went for an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area so we can keep an eye on Sienna while we’re cooking. She was also the main reason we wanted a large backyard. We built a rock retaining wall, fenced it in and positioned her playset off to one side. We also separated the bedrooms into two different wings to create a sense of privacy.

What was the most exciting part of the building process?

Probably when the windows and doors went in along with the roof. That’s when you really start to realise the size and scale of your home. We only lived around the corner from our new house, so we came around every second night to check on progress. Seeing the house go up in front of our eyes was really exciting.

Would you partner with Generation Homes again?

Definitely. We were so impressed with the quality and finish of the build. It was exactly what we envisioned. We were really happy with how Generation Homes national operations manager Mark Kopke and Hamilton regional director Alana Savage managed the whole process. It was a really low-stress build.