Constructed by Havelock North Construction for Melanie and Hylton Jones, this home is a project that exemplifies luxury living and exudes both style and premium quality.
We spoke to Rob Liddle of Havelock North Construction about constructing the Havelock North home. We discussed the approach to building the home and the crucial role of a strong relationship between builder and homeowner in the construction process.
The kitchen was designed to bring its own corner of timeless luxury to the home.
The Home
The home’s design was planned with the unique terrain of Central Otago in mind, a shared admiration between Melanie and Hylton. It features stained tulipwood cladding, a stunning Euro tray roof, and a grand Oamaru stone entrance and chimneys. With four bedrooms and two bathrooms, the home was constructed with the future in mind, ensuring enough room for their grandchildren and future generations.
From the front door, a gallery extends past two outdoor living areas, offering various seating options depending on the weather or time of day. The front entrance features a standout crittle steel joinery door and frame. Another crittle door is located at the entrance to the main living area, and the ensuite bathroom includes a crittle shower screen. The living area and hallway boast wooden oak floors by Forté, which are not only easy to maintain but also contribute to the desired country aesthetic.
The kitchen, or the heart of the home, was filled with top-of-the-line appliances and bespoke crittle joinery, bringing elegance and sophistication to the room. The kitchen is a space of its own, unexposed to the living area, and it brings its own sense of luxury to the home through French oak veneer doors and bench tops built from hard-wearing porcelain.
The exterior of the home is clad in tulipwood, imported from the USA and a sustainable, thermally treated, and pre-stained cladding option. The design also includes a beautiful patio, featuring a stand-alone covered area filled with sofas and a roaring fireplace as the focal point—the perfect place to enjoy a night under the stars all year round and, of course, toast marshmallows with the grandchildren.
The roaring flame of the open fireplace is the perfect place to host family and friends, taking in the surrounding terrain of Havelock North.
"We really enjoyed working with Rob Liddle and his team. Rob used his building experience to solve any issues that came up during the build, and the quality of the team’s workmanship has been excellent." - Melanie & Hylton Jones
The Importance of Collaboration
A strong relationship between a homeowner and a builder is crucial for the success of any construction project. Effective communication and mutual trust ensure that the homeowner’s vision and expectations are clearly understood and met by the builder. This relationship fosters a collaborative environment where potential issues can be addressed promptly, leading to fewer misunderstandings and costly delays.
"Building always has challenges that arise during the process. It’s crucial to be able to sit down with your client, work through any issues and reassure them. The industry is quite complex, and often, clients aren’t aware of how things work in reality. Hylton and Melanie have in-depth knowledge from building so many houses, so it was a real team approach," explains Rob Liddle, owner of Havelock North Construction.
A good rapport also allows for flexibility and smoother handling of changes or unexpected challenges that may arise during the project. This positive dynamic contributes to the overall quality, satisfaction, and timely completion of the construction, benefiting both the homeowner and the builder.
“We love to get to know our clients, so we know we have similar expectations for the build. There is a lot of discussion before the commencement, often including the architect. We are all on the same team!”
“When both client and builder have an open, transparent relationship, the whole process is much more enjoyable. We want the best outcome for our clients and for them to actually enjoy the process.”
