Trends 19-12

Tall and spacious despite a tricky riverside site, and with New York loft-inspired, crafted interiors, this dramatic home by Design Builders Waikato celebrates strong, rugged materials for a smart, semi-industrial aesthetic

This strong and surprising architectural home by Wolf Architects responds to the emotional needs of the owner and the sustainable imperatives of our planet

“Working closely with our clients we've created a home ideal for escaping to on the weekend and making memories with family and friends.” – Jason McGirr, managing director, Fowler Homes Queenstown

Not every window makes a rectangle. This feature window echoes and accentuates the gable form of the living room wing it serves

Not sure how to clad your home? One effective way forward is to take local inspiration. This mountain home boasts geometric and angled larch rain screen upper cladding that references the site's many Kanuka trees

Part of a home that celebrates strong simple materials to complement the intimate river views beyond the windows, the Neo-brutalist kitchen at its heart more than follows suit

The kitchen's open timber shelving links to the timber treads fitted to the adjacent concrete stairs, the wine fridge shelving and the bar stool seating

A particularly elegant feature surface sets off this kitchen where everything from the wall panelling, furniture and flooring to the cabinetry and custom handles all contribute to a refined Parisian air. Advanced cabinetry hardware solutions underpin the design

This kitchen offers a wealth of functionality for its bachelor owner while palette choices make it bold, masculine and relaxing

This modest kitchen offers all the drama and function of a much larger space – an antique mirror and good cabinet choices help it grow

This grand entertainer’s kitchen spans the full depth of its mountain home – connecting to alpine views at the front and a large outdoor kitchen at rear

Strong architectural lines and dark surfaces give this kitchen its own personality – one that also chimes with the house architecture and the natural outlooks

Taking its cues from the architecturally designed rural home it forms part of, this clean-lined kitchen reflects personality and modernity, with its extensive functionality downplayed visually

How do you approach designing a kitchen when the clients want it to be completely handleless? See how Akzente Limited solved the problem

With elegant doors opening between bedroom and ensuite and finely detailed elements paired with a minimalist feel, this master suite provides a restful retreat from the children and the bustle of daily life

This transforming renovation by EJ Building optimises space with a tall, wall-hung cabinet. A translucent glass door gives you an idea of the cabinet's contents rather than a clear view, for a more demure aesthetic

For this ensuite by Hither Consulting, the ceiling was removed to reveal the home’s traditional architectural lines, accentuated by uplighting

This bathroom – part of the architect's own home that he also designed – serves as an ensuite, main bathroom and a guest bathroom. Modern and minimalist, it includes a secret entrance when used by guests

This new master ensuite forms a mini-extension to the existing bedroom – hexagonal tiles and a frosted glass window create a quiet space that is still within earshot of the children

Through evocative colours and patterns (and windows), this master ensuite by Dalman Architects in an estuary-side home never lets its occupant forget that he or she is near the waterline

A glassed-off bathroom might not be for the super-modest, but it certainly adds to the style and sense of space in this boutique hotel suite

The interior design brief for this villa makeover was for modern spaces while maintaining refined character villa details and finishes for a warm, sophisticated and luxurious feel. The reinvented bathroom, kitchen and living space have all been transformed

Set on high with stunning beach views, this home reflects a minimal, raw material palette which is echoed in the interior design. Italian and New Zealand signature pieces contribute to the elegant, relaxed ambience

Wow! Clever behind-the-scenes design allows this curvaceous limestone staircase to appear to hang and twist in mid air. Explore the rest of this breathtaking clifftop home

A home office trained on a great river view may not be conducive to putting your head down. Still, maybe that view is worth a failed paper or two...

Congratulations to Armstrong Interiors, winner of TIDA New Zealand Interior Design of the Year. See more of this sophisticated apartment-style interior

A new home by the lake makes a statement but it is the interiors that really respond to the views – the dramatic great room in particular

Organising the space planning in a Y or propeller shape ensured this home met all of the owner’s specific requirements while making the most of the spectacular views

Following on from an upstairs rethink, this renovation opens up the ground floor of the home front-to-back with a deft reworking of the existing rear spaces

This unique space successfully merges indoor and outdoor areas seamlessly to great effect

The rear of this home has been completely transformed, with a thinking outside the box renovation resulting in a lofty, double-height lounge and kitchen area open to the rear garden. Steel bi-folding glazing blurs the boundary between indoors and out

Building up the land in front of the front deck avoided the need to have balustrades on this new home, thus keeping costs down and leaving views uninterrupted. Check out the home's other savvy architectural moves that optimise connections to the land

After years of muddled renovations and ad hoc alterations, Bijl Architecture stepped in to overhaul this inter-war cottage

A classic sandstone cottage is opened up at the rear with a complementary yet contrasting extension in this light-bringing, sustainable renovation by Sanctum Design

Internal glazing at the entrance to this bedroom means that natural light can spill into the adjacent corridor. A curtain can be pulled across when privacy is required in the bedroom

A three storey addition and dramatic rear garden architectural spaces all work well together in this far-sighted and sustainable project

An 1850s heritage sandstone coach-house is given a 21st century makeover that highlights its rugged origins

Love that heritage building but unsure whether it could ever be fit for modern purpose? Constraints can bring out the best in architectural thinking as this elegant cottage transformation reflects

Surrounded by a mix of contemporary and heritage buildings on a tree-lined street, Elwood House certainly stands out