Trends 38-10

White is nice while black is best – and so it goes with these dark-toned homes where their moody cladding and sometimes roofing all contributes to drama or, conversely, quiet harmony in their own way

An intelligent response to a tricky site creates an L-shaped, glass-walled pavilion home – bringing sheltered sea views, strategic privacy and a relaxed lifestyle

Surrounded by exquisite views of Manukau Harbour, David and Brenda Banks’ holiday home in Big Bay, Awhitu is a relaxing, welcoming retreat 

In the desert, water is considered a luxury and in this grand home in Palm Desert, California the sparkling elixir of life can be spied from every room

This home offers main level living with great indoor-outdoor flow – making the most of the sun, a pool and deck take pride of place beside the front entry

A modest frontage belies the space and scenic enjoyment in this energy-conscious holiday home with an upper level that can be sectioned off as an apartment

Sited on a ridge which sweeps gently to a pristine native reserve, this design is an exemplar of how to settle a large home into a bush-clad section

This sustainably minded kitchen offers the best of everything a professional chef needs – including a show-stopping operable benchtop that adjusts to specific needs

A long, linear island and dramatic tones give this kitchen a centre-of-attention presence – with the odd existing negative turned into a positive 

With its wealth of functionality behind closed cabinet doors, this dramatic kitchen presents a clean architectural presence to the wider living spaces

Open to its adjacent entertaining zone and spectacular riverside setting, this kitchen is equally well considered in terms of the joy of cooking 

A sense of luxury and escape combined with a modern, different feel were just two directives that helped shape this dramatic bathroom

Enclosed, cosy and private, or perhaps spacious and open – or various degrees in between – here are some great bathroom designs that cater to the bashful and the bold 

This contemporary family home with attractive, easy-care surfaces and tile selections from The Tile Depot caters to the personalities of the homeowners

Texture and pattern are to the fore in this relaxing bathroom, with a reeded finish on the Corian vanity and a reeded glass shower stall

Bathroom transitions smoothly into dressing room which in turn transitions into bedroom – so it flows, in this playful, restful open-plan parental escape master suite

No room for the bath in the bathroom? A minus becomes a glorious plus in this master suite where the tub is given pride of place in the bedroom

This calming interior draws on the Jersey home's rich and varied landscape with each room evoking a different aspect of the environment

Fun and casual with a feeling of sophistication, this interior has touches of 50s accents, some vintage and some new with a 50s influence

This understated pool, on sunny Waiheke island, responds to its idyllic setting – making the most of solar power and with glass fencing that doesn't impede the spectacular outlooks

From planning to planting, landscaping projects don't have to be as overwhelmingly difficult as they might initially seem. Here we provide some great first steps for first timers

A contemporary two-storey rear addition to a classic bungalow introduces a new double-height kitchen, dining and living space with master suite above

A boldly modern addition contrasts yet respects the inter-war existing home – the extension, with operable rear facade, provides for the family's next generation