Building a home with Tom Wilson Builders

Pulling inspiration from years in the industry will naturally curate a design that bursts knowledge of the trade and, with a trained eye on the details, would utilise some of the best materials on the market. 

As we explore the realm of residential building and how we can approach it for ourselves, we dive into conversation with Tom Wilson, owner of Tom Wilson Builders, about his journey through curating his own home. Through discussions of how he approached material choices and floor planning, as well as how the process differed from his day-to-day work, we can look to his beautiful Ōwhiro Bay home for a little inspiration.

Located in the picturesque hills of Ōwhiro Bay, Tom’s modern-style home and his very own passion project is perfectly perched. The house came with cladding issues, driving Tom’s priorities through its soon-to-be design and refurbishment journey. 

“We lived in it for about three or four years before we got around to starting the project, so we were given a chance to figure out what we wanted to change to incorporate our taste and also correct the things we didn't like,” said Tom. “We went through the whole design process with Architect David Auer from Raven Architecture, with whom I've worked closely with over the years. We got our building consent, and then construction started in October 2022. We only just finished in January 2024, so it was a massive job.”

“I changed some details as I went through the project to get it exactly how I wanted it. I also moved the bathroom to where the wardrobe was. Once we started demolishing the place, we better understood whether we should do this or that. We also extended my daughter's room, which boxed the house out a bit better. We did want to increase the size of the bedrooms and also really wanted to lighten the place up. Because we lived in the house for a few years before we started the project, we grasped a good understanding of what our priorities were and what parts we needed to change to make it more functional.”

A suburb nestled within Wellington’s rugged terrain, Ōwhiro Bay was the perfect place for Tom to plant his roots. Drawing inspiration from many projects across his career, Tom crafted a home perfectly sized for his growing family, all whilst reflecting his and his family's preferred aesthetic.

 “A lot of inspiration came from previous projects I've worked on, and I combined designs I liked the most out of all the projects I've worked on and incorporated that into my own.”

The interior style boasts warm lighting and a cosy atmosphere, creating a sense of utopia - exactly how a home should feel. 

“I chose an American Oak parquet floor, which we crafted ourselves - there are about 2500 pieces of American Oak. I got this design from my brother's house. I incorporated Victorian-style skirtings and architraves on the inside to add character to the inside of the home - it's modern on the outside, but the inside is a little more flared and boasts more character.”

Tom chose a modern exterior by incorporating trapezoidal dark metal cladding, paired perfectly with the aesthetically pleasing cedar wood used for the horizontal weatherboards. A juxtaposition of shades brings an architectural flair to the building, and the schist seamlessly blends the home into its biophilic background. 

“For the cladding, we used a profile metal called Metcom 7 and placed it alongside cedar wood for the weatherboards. I love cedar, and it looks incredible.”

The Ōwhiro Bay home was not only a personal project but an overall testament to the craftsmanship Tom practices on a daily basis, allowing him to tap into the creative side of the job and embrace his style sense into his very own walls.

“Building my own home allowed me to make decisions based on what I think is best from all these years of trade experience. It gave me a chance to be a lot more creative, and there were no design restrictions, so it was a lot more satisfying.”

“The best part about being a builder is when you actually get to do your own house, you can just do what you want and go crazy. It's really rewarding.”

Tom has entered his house into the Master Builders House of the Year 2024 Competition in the Builders Own Home over $1 million category. Additionally, he has submitted a client's new build, the 'Aro Valley' project, into the New Home $750,000 - $1 million category.

Learn more about Tom Wilson Builders on ArchiPro.