This beautiful home in the heart of Wanganui was designed in 2020 for a family that enjoys entertaining, and has since won awards for its stunning kitchen design. 

Du Bois Designer Kitchens and Interiors were responsible for the interior, and Natalie Du Bois received Designer of the Year 2022 for this kitchen. 

Looking around, you can see why.  Attention to detail is key.  All fixtures have been placed in a way that lends to being serviceable and aesthetically pleasing.  She made the ordinary extraordinary.  The vast Caesarstone island benchtop contains a gas hob, a disappearing range head and a sink.  The island is wrapped in layers of concrete, making it unique and, to quote the judges, yes magnificent.  Another example is the kitchen’s lighting.  Pendants are quirky enough to evoke discussion, yet they seamlessly connect with the rest of the fixtures, allowing the island to keep centre stage.

By selecting a monochrome palette throughout the home, the home exudes sophistication and earthiness, and no contrasting colours detract from the architectural character of the house.

Set back from the road, the location of the house on the property ensures privacy, with the Rotokawau/Virginia Lake Reserve behind it.

The stately drive, flanked by hedges and staked standards, leads to a drive-through portico and sets the tone of what to expect within the house. It has a ground floor of 377m2 and an upper floor of 185m2.  It includes seven bedrooms, various living areas, a gym and a triple garage. 

The exterior look of the home was inspired by famous Amercian Architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s style. The exterior walls are clad in EZ Panel, and the roof is Espan 340, Coloursteel Maxx.  

You’re met at the entranceway with large double doors.  The wrought iron balustrade invites the eye to look upwards.  The lighting, suspended from the high ceiling, is art in itself, and the clear glass ensures this area is bright and welcoming. 

The dining room, kitchen and living are open-plan, with the lounge separated by classy Barn New Yorker doors.  These provide solitude when needed, whilst the glass inlays ensure the rooms remain airy and bright.

Gas fires keep rooms cosy and warm in winter.  There is a Rinnai ember gas fire in the upper living room and a Kalfire G120 gas fire in the main living room.  The Unex Arena balustrade and the garage doors are powder-coated in Ironsand to match the roof.

The informal living room, with its raked ceiling, fireplace flanked with windows, comfortable seating and large wet bar provides ambience and space for entertainment.

Careful use of natural colours and textures exudes luxury.  Wood is found throughout the house and is a focal point in bathrooms, which each feature multiple Plumbline fixtures.  The timeless subway tile is also used in the bathrooms but they are black and laid vertically.  This gives a modern twist to the classic white horizontal tile and continues with the monochrome palette.  White has not been omitted.  White bathroom fixtures ingeniously placed in the room, with contrasting tap wear, ensure the rooms look bright and fresh.

When leaving the house, the circular driveway limits car congestion, but we are sure all who enter this home are reluctant to depart.

Thanks go to the professionals and suppliers involved in this project.  This is a home that will be a haven for years to come.  

To start designing your dream home, contact the Arcline Team today.