Sun Seeker

This beautiful, yet robust, family home in Nelson is built for maximum sun, catching rays all day long from its lofty spot.

- Bea Taylor

Brooke and Andrew Strang’s home is maximised for sunlight. They do live in Nelson after all, a city renowned for being one of the sunniest places in New Zealand – and the house is sure to catch every last ray with its decks positioned for the morning and afternoon sun, and large windows in every room.

But it’s not just the sunshine they were aiming to capture; it was also the view. Sitting high up on a hill in Britannia Heights, the Strangs’ sleek new home enjoys an incredible outlook across Nelson and out to the sea. Only a 15-minute walk away from the beach and a five-minute drive to town, the site was a dream location for Brooke and Andrew.

THE BUILD

The build started in January last year and the couple and their three children moved in just in time for Christmas. They used Potius Building Systems, a company which constructs floor, roof and wall panels off site. “It all came in on cranes and within a couple of days all the walls were up and we could see our house,” says Brooke.

The section was steep, so they built the house 25 metres down the hill and constructed a retaining wall at the top to create space for a big front lawn, driveway and garage.

Now they have a lawn for the kids to play on and, once the trees along the roadside have grown, there’ll be some privacy, too. “It’s the best of both worlds,” says Brooke. “We’ve got amazing views on one side of the house and we’ll have a little private oasis on the other.”

THE STYLE

Brooke, who describes her style as “a bit of a mix”, wanted warm, welcoming and functional spaces with clean lines and a modern, contemporary look.

The rich naturals and whites she chose allow the rooms to breathe, creating the calm feel she was after and providing a great background for the pastel accents in the decor.