Planned Perfection

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As avid readers of Homestyle, Paul and Aly Timmings devoured countless copies before they built, to source ideas for their substantial new Hamilton home.

As featured in Homestyle Magazine

Words: Soraya Nicholas
Photography: Kelvin Teixeira

A few years back when Aly Timmings was having coffee with a friend, she heard that the section next door to her friend's house was for sale. Although she had never had her heart set on purchasing in the immediate area, Aly looked over at the old cottage and the impressive parcel of land it sat on, and made an impulsive decision that she wanted to purchase it.

After dragging her husband, Paul, back to the house early the next morning, he thankfully shared her enthusiasm and later that day the contract had been signed.

They did not start building straight away, but what the Timmings did do was start flicking through magazines and gathering concepts, with homestyle one of their favourite titles from which to source ideas. "Paul was determined not to have any 'muddy' colours in the home, and this included the exterior," says Aly.

"I was looking through a copy of Homestyle one day and I saw a house that was exactly the colour I wanted with the perfect joinery, and thankfully it noted what materials and colours had been used." It was an instant decision to use the same tones for their home, with Resene Napa on the external walls, alongside aluminium joinery in colour Silver Pearl.

With a clear idea in mind of the home they wanted to build, Paul and Aly turned to Signature Homes Waikato. "We had always liked their standard plans, because they were different architecturally and the standard seemed very high," explains Aly. "They created a personalised plan for us, to incorporate the T-shape Paul liked, with the long part of the T facing north to capture the sun."

The design also incorporated a high doubleheight ceiling in the main living room, with the upstairs landing over-looking the large area below.

The exterior of the house is very modern, with smooth plaster walls and large windows and doors. The roof enhances the external design, with a simple corrugated iron profile creating a seamless finish. Manufactured and supplied by Dimond Waikato, the roof is contemporary in this setting, despite having been used and proven as a material for many years.

All Dimond corrugate roof profiles come with a full 30- year product guarantee, which appealed to Paul and Aly for future peace of mind. There is also a full 18-year guarantee against colour fading. For this roof, colour Ironsand was the shade of choice.

While many new two-storey homes feature only a basic staircase, designed to link the two floors, Paul and Aly wanted to make a statement. Their staircase is unique and custom-made, looking more like a piece of art within the home than a practical item. Made by Torington Stairways, the stairs are formed from Rosewood, which was chosen by the Timmings. This timber shares many visual characteristics of Rimu, however it is from the Teak family, which means it is a stable hardwood that is realistically priced.

The team at Torrington Stairways mapped out the design on the floor to ensure it met Paul and Aly's requirements, before building it in their factory, along with the big bull-nosed timber feature posts.

To enhance the staircase visually, and to make it safe, Paul and Ally commissioned Artform Steelworks Ltd to create a custom-designed wrought iron balustrade. They had an idea of what they wanted in their home, and after discussing their concept and wishes with Artform Steelworks Ltd, a unique style was created.

The wrought iron is all imported from Italy, with the final design manufactured in Hamilton. The staircase is often what visitors to the home first comment on, providing a dramatic feature in the main entranceway. The wrought iron balustrade was also used in the landing area over-looking the downstairs living room, to provide continuity.

Another high-impact part of the home is the kitchen. "I absolutely love our kitchen," says Aly. "The granite benchtop looks amazing, the gas hob is great to cook on, and the scullery is a fantastic part of the design." Designed and made by Kitchen FX Ltd, the kitchen is both contemporary and practical, with a user-friendly flow and large spaces to work within.

The doors and panels are all formed from Aborform in a Designer White Satin finish, which creates a stylish lacquer look that is infinitely more durable. Stainless steel was incorporated on the rear wall of the kitchen, allowing the black granite centre-island in colour Kahlua to take centre stage.

Kitchen FX Ltd also completed the design and manufacture of the laundry cabinetry and the wardrobes for the home. "We had a definite plan in mind of what we wanted before we built," says Aly, "and the final style and design is exactly what we'd hoped for. We have a wonderful spot here, and the house is great."

They love not only the style of their home, but the proportions of the spaces, the materials used, and of course the exceptional level of finishing exhibited throughout. Paul and Aly were also clever enough to future proof their home, with a downstairs master suite in case they ever need it, so they have no plans of leaving any time soon.

Our Place
with Paul & Aly Timmings

Favourite room?
Ally: The kitchen/dining/living space. We spend most of our time in there, and in summer we have the doors opened right back. Paul especially loves the high ceiling.

What would you change?
Ally: I would probably make the laundry bigger, because it is quite small, and maybe make the upstairs open-library area smaller. We don't have much furniture in there, so we might feel differently once it has been fully furnished.

Best buy?
Two years before we started building, we purchased Italian lights from Lighthouse in Hamilton. They now hang above the centre-island in the kitchen. As a great cost-saving alternative, we went to Lighting Direct and purchased large hanging lights for the entranceway, and hung them at different heights to create impact. They cost a total of $200 and they look incredible.

What do friends and family like? When we were in the process of building, friends and family commented that the house looked too big and open, but now that it's finished they love the style. Many visitors comment on the staircase when they first walk into the house, because it's such a special feature.

Advice to others preparing to build?
Be realistic about your budget – add 10-15% on top of your quote just to be safe.