Trends New Zealand NZ New Home Trends Vol. 30/7 | Page 59

homes, and resemble an Amish barn. Linked to
the house by a covered walkway, and with the
same elongated windows, each has an entrance
that looks like a barn door, and a hip roof – a
classic barn-like characteristic.
The templated designs on the development
can be tweaked to personal taste. In the house
featured here, the garage has a bunkroom that
sleeps 12 on the second floor, and an expansive
conservatory to the rear that overlooks the lake.
From the exterior, the house appears to have
three storeys; however, the top floor is really for
architectural balance and aesthetics. While in

some houses there is a study on this uppermost
level, in this one it is open to the rooms below
and acts as a windowed cupola, drawing natural light into the interior. This has the added
benefit of creating an airy double-height space
directly over the kitchen, which is the anchor
point of the open-plan spaces, says Soucie.
“In an idyllic setting, a house is much more
about the exterior and surroundings – you don’t
go to the country to sit indoors. That said, easy
interior connections are essential for a relaxing
experience, so the classic Amish exteriors give
way to contemporary open-plan living.”

Facing page: The front entry is
modest, to facilitate a sense of
drama on encountering the large,
open-plan public spaces.
Above: Hickory floorboards, a brick
fire surround, metal bar stools and a
distressed coffee table continue the
rustic aesthetic. A collection of fungi,
collected from the nearby forest, sits
on the tabletop. Used as a getaway
from the cares of the city, this house
includes reminders of the rural
environment at every turn.

search | save | share at my.trendsideas.com

57