SAFE AND SOUND

This Clyde Road home stands the test of time, through thick and thin, and remains a refined, modern dwelling with oodles of light and liveable space.

WORDS Joshua Brosnahan PHOTOS Mick Stephenson

BUILDER DJ Hewitt Builders ARCHITECT Bernard Johnston

On the site of a former doctor’s surgery, set back from the main street is a contemporary two-storey abode that has managed to stand solidly for more than fifteen years, all the while keeping the characteristics of a much younger build.

“See those bulbs there? We’ve never had to change them. Not once in fifteen years.” Brett Chambers gestures at the double-height lounge ceiling.

It’s the minor things like this, that signal a classic DJ Hewitt build. This home won first place in six categories in the 2006 Master Builders Awards, including the Future-Proof Building award. The quality is unparalleled.

The pared-back finishes are still sleek; there is seemingly eternal light, and height. It’s simultaneously grand, but also welcoming.

Toby is the family dog. He’s been around as long as the house, and quite rightly, owns the place.

Brett built Clyde Road with his late wife, Helen. Their boys, now finished university, grew up here. And thanks to Leah’s two children, this house is welcoming more family to call it home, and this is a home deserving of family.

Leah works in real estate and loves how safe and solid the house feels.

“I see so many houses in my day-to-day work, and most I come across tend to have a second floor made of timber. With our second floor and mezzanine, we have solid concrete, meaning no creaks, no noise. Nothing.”

As a pre-quake build, there was ‘virtually no damage inside the house’ according to Brett. They all feel safe here.

“This has stood the test of time in terms of structural integrity, and as well of timelessness of the design.”

Brett is semi-retired and has “a bit more choice about workload, and how much I do.”

“I work from home, comfortably. I have more time on my hands, which is why the lawns look so good. I’m sure the dog is thinking, ‘what are you still doing at home?’”

Leah mentions that they share a large extended family.

“Christmas is here, and there’s always enough space for everybody. There’s so many different spaces, inside and outside, it never feels like it’s cramped. There’s people in the kitchen, and people playing pool in the middle of the lounge. It’s great!”

Brett adds that it’s a ‘social house’. “Friends come over, and it all leads to either a game of pool or darts on the deck. The grounds are great for cricket. Everyone who visits loves the spa pool.”

With two connected lounge spaces, one boasting a stand-out fireplace feature, a kitchen and scullery made for hosting parties, and a premium focus on indoor-outdoor flow, you’d agree with Brett that this is a house for socialising all year round.

Light and the way it connected with the home was a key part of the build.

“We lived on-site for a year, to get an idea on where the sun landed on the site, and the best orientation for the house. We added in high windows at the top to capitalise on the north-facing aspects of the build, as we didn’t want to lose any light. The outdoor living means we get the most from the late afternoon sun. Design-wise, this has done everything we’ve wanted it to do. You can’t beat light or warmth. It’s excessively over insulated which works in our favour – it’s cool in the summer but perfect in winter.”

A large master bedroom, one of four, is equipped with floor to ceiling windows, with a great outlook of the backyard. Leah describes it as a haven.

A bedroom and one of the three bathrooms are downstairs, which future-proofs the space, to accommodate a possible change of lifestyle or additional house guests. The rooms have already changed – from music rooms to guest rooms, to the games room and guest lounges. Part of the flexibility of the build allows for spaces to evolve.

The couple is currently tossing up the idea of embarking on a new build, in the coming years.

“This house is perfect, and we’ll definitely take the elements of this build into the next. I mean, after living here for 15 years, how could you not?”