The design for this distinctive brick. U-shaped house started with the outdoor lounge. Once this space was given centre stage, the big open-plan kitchen/ dining/living zone was designed to connect with it. As a result, you can step out of the house proper, into the outdoor lounge with louvred roof and inbuilt barbecue, and onto an extensive front lawn. It has indoor-outdoor flow in spades and the kids love the easy access to the outdoors. Inside the 350sqm, four-bedroom house you’ll find macrocarpa walls and ceilings in the outdoor lounge and ply ceilings with a 4mm negative detail in the kitchen living area, second lounge and hallways. Wood – there’s macrocarpa on the floor too – and brick around the interior giving it a cosy feel. A living wall in one of two bathrooms ensures nature also has a presence here. Outside, aged red brick is offset with bandsawn macrocarpa, allowing the house to sit naturally in its rural landscape. This house has all you’d expect from a builder’s home – sumptuous bathrooms, a double garage and a main bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. There’s also a warm, relaxing feel, which was the family’s goal. For more of this house go to houseoftheyear.co.nz