Whakatane Showhome

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Stunning show home tribute to all involved

WHAKATANE'S Signature Homes has a name for quality and service – and the company's show home in Waterways Drive, will add considerably to that reputation.

The three level home's striking exterior is matched by a stunning interior that makes use of the latest materials and a carefully-chosen selection of modern furniture and fittings. The show home brings together the work of a number of designers and suppliers from Whakatane and further afield.

One of the most spectacular rooms in the home is the kitchen, a modern modular design supplied by Creative Kitchens & Laminates of Taupo. Fitted with state-of-the-art appliances, the room has a grey toned wood panel floor which floats on an underlay. There's a huge amount of bench space, with cabinet faces featuring a darker contrasting colour to the benchtops. Interesting touches abound, like the display cabinet in front of the island work bench that has spot lighting to highlight items within it, and the electrically-assisted drawers that glide open and closed at a touch.

Other notable features are the pendant lights over the island bench, and the ultra-modern chandelier hanging over the stairway leading to the living areas, chosen and supplied by Whakatane's Clark Bros Electrical. Appliances include a Fisher & Paykel wall oven with stainless steel extractor, an induction hob and a dishwasher, while the splashback adds an expanse of the same teal colour used to highlight parts of the exterior.

Decorated in cool, sophisticated shades throughout, the home is light and relaxing. Wide stairs lead up to the kitchen and adjoining north-facing dining area with their high, sloping ceilings, while deep windows admit plenty of natural light. Clearly designed as the hub of the home, the area is warm and inviting.

Befitting a home of this quality, the carpeted living room is spacious and comes with a built-in gas fireplace mounted over a floating hearth with shelving for DVDs to one side. Wiring for a flat panel TV is supplied to two different locations and the lighting is soft and unobtrusive, with shade blinds providing privacy.

A hall off the living room provides plenty of storage and also features an eye-catching feature in the form of a two-sided glass display cabinet. On the western side of the home, the master bedroom is enhanced by a sophisticated décor built around a dark toned wallpapered feature wall. A walk-in wardrobe provides an extra touch of luxury.

A luxurious resort-style bathroom is fitted with the biggest and most high tech shower unit you've ever seen, and there's an ultra-modern vanity to match, as well as a toilet. The laundry has a large room of its own and is located near interior access to the double garage.

On the top floor there's a study, which like the remaining bedrooms enjoys a glimpse of the harbour. Both the second and third bedrooms have double built-in wardrobes and enjoy easy access to a large bathroom with a deep corner bath, a modern plinth style hand basin and a heated towel rail. This room and the adjoining toilet also feature a modern and attractive textured wallpaper.

One of the many attributes of this well constructed and beautifully finished home is the fact that its layout is so versatile, with the kitchen/dining area in particular open to all sorts of configurations to suit individual needs. This is clearly the hub of the home and the place where its occupants would be tempted to spend most of their time. In summer it would really come into its own as stacker doors at the front of the room can be opened right up to make the spacious deck a natural extension of the living area.

As well as top quality aluminium joinery, the home uses popular Linea Weatherboard and Titan Board cladding.

Modern design makes most of sunny site

WHEN Signature Homes managing director Graeme Hanlen decided to build a show home that would stand as an example of the company's finest work, he chose a sunny site in Ohope's popular Waterways Drive subdivision. He then asked Whakatane designer Martin Jackson of Martin Jackson Architecture to come and check it out.

"I stood with him on the section and told him I wanted a design that was stunning and outstanding, but nothing like any of the other houses in the area," he says. Mr Jackson answered the brief in a spectacular way, coming up with an ultra-modern home that makes a real statement about the outstanding quality of Signature Homes' work.

Built on three levels, the well-proportioned home features a spectacular mono pitch roof design and large expanses of glass filling the home with light. A large double garage beneath the living areas has a teal-coloured feature wall facing the road and the same colour is picked up in various other areas around the home, providing an injection of colour.

High pillars support the roof overhangs, echoing the Linea Board cladding and high quality aluminium joinery adds an extra element of style. A wide exposed aggregate concrete driveway provides plenty of room for vehicles to turn, and the home has also been expertly landscaped with maintenance free stone gardens that enhance its looks.

Protected from southerly winds by the hill behind it, the home enjoys wide views of the surrounding area, together with glimpses of beautiful Ohiwa Harbour.