A hallmark of distinction

Perched on a corner section in the sought-after Paton Rise subdivision, this mid-century modern home commands attention. It’s the first show home for David Reid Homes Nelson & Tasman. Director of Operations Dan McIvor led the build, with New Homes Consultant Bridget McIvor’s design vision carried through to the finished home. “We’re proud to showcase a selection of outstanding products, and even prouder that this marks the first of many David Reid Homes Nelson show homes,” Dan says.

The design is the work of Bridget McIvor and Samantha Sturkenboom of SJ Design, with architectural design by Premier Services. “Our approach to this home was guided by a desire to both establish the David Reid Homes brand in Nelson and push the boundaries of our own design ethos,” Bridget says.

She and Samantha set out to make it feel authentic and welcoming, the kind of home prospective clients could picture themselves living in. “At the same time, we were intentional about integrating a wide range of design features, demonstrating what a typical home could achieve without the space ever feeling like a show home. The goal was a home that balances inspiration with liveability. Aspirational yet deeply personal and real,” she adds.

The exterior uses three claddings. Brick runs across the street face and continues inside onto the chimney, giving the front of the house a solid, textured base. A section of vertical timber, in a narrow profile and stained a soft grey, runs up the street-facing gable and around the northeast gable end, lifting the eye and adding a lighter note against the brick. On the south side, a low-maintenance weatherboard sits quietly behind the other two. The vertical lines and muted colours were chosen to suit the home’s modern form and its setting, and the three materials are used together across the elevations rather than kept to separate blocks. The effect shifts through the day as the light moves across the different textures.

The roof is a ribbed steel profile, chosen for durability and low maintenance, with the spouting run in the same colour for a clean line. Timber framing and steel beams carry the raking ceilings over the main living areas. Outside, Sherlock Landscaping completed the landscaping, using native planting and natural stone around the house, with plants selected to suit the local conditions and keep ongoing maintenance low. The planting softens the edges of the build and helps it settle onto its section.

Inside, the raking ceilings continue across the living areas and the master bedroom, which gives those rooms height and a sense of space. Skylights over the living area, the entry and the ensuite bring in extra daylight, so the interior stays bright well after the sun has come off the front of the house. The layout is open and easy to move through, with the living, dining and kitchen sharing one connected space. The finishes include smooth plaster in the entry and master bedroom, with grooved timber linings and brushed-concrete panels adding texture in other areas. The colour palette is neutral and warm, in keeping with the exterior and the landscape around it.

The kitchen sits at the centre of that shared space. It has a curved rangehood and a porcelain benchtop that continues into the splashback as a single surface, with generous bench space and storage for everyday use. It opens onto the living and dining areas, making it easy to cook and entertain at the same time, and large sliding doors connect the living space to the outdoors for easy indoor-outdoor flow in the warmer months. A pendant light hangs over the dining table, and a brick fireplace sits between the living space and the exterior wall, finished in the same brick as the façade so the material carries through from outside to in.

There are three bedrooms, set away from the main living areas for a bit of quiet. The master suite has the raking ceiling and plaster walls, and works as a calm space at one end of the home. The flooring was supplied by Flooring Xtra, with wool carpet in the bedrooms and harder-wearing flooring in the areas that see more moisture and traffic.

A separate study and family room complete the layout, both positioned for daylight and privacy, and give the home flexibility in how a family might use it. The interior joinery and glazing were chosen to balance warmth and natural light.

Both bathrooms are finished to the same standard. The ensuite has large-format travertine tiles for a clean, calm look, and the main bathroom uses a deep brown tile for a warmer feel. The floors in the bathrooms, laundry and WC are hard-wearing and easy to clean.

Much of the specification is not visible in the finished rooms. Insulation and thermal breaks through the steel framing keep the home warm and dry through a Nelson winter, and the carpets and hard floors add to a comfortable, healthy interior. It is the sort of detail you feel more than notice, and it is what keeps the home efficient to run over time.

David Reid Homes worked with a regular team of trades on the build. Entire Electrical, which has wired more than 2,600 homes, completed the electrical work, and Total Decorating Nelson did the painting inside and out. Both are trades the company uses regularly, and that continuity shows in the consistency of the finish.

For David Reid Homes Nelson & Tasman this is a first, and a confident one. The exterior is sophisticated and the interior comfortable, and the home sits easily in its region while showing what the company can do. Built on trusted suppliers and a boutique, clientfocused approach, it is a clear marker of what David Reid Homes sets out to build in Nelson. “We’re proud to showcase a selection of outstanding products, and even prouder that this marks the first of many David Reid Homes Nelson show homes,” Dan says.