Days in the sun

It's for good reason that indoor and outdoor connections are a favourite line of conversation for those involved in real estate. An easy flow between inside and out is a great way to maximise your lifestyle.

Located on a corner site in Harrowglen Albany, this large, Tuscan-inspired house features numerous patio areas that offer access to the sun at different times of the day. A Jalcon Homes project, it is comprised of four bedrooms and large open-plan living and dining areas, says Ingrid van Leeuwen, the company's sales and marketing manager.

"Jalcon Homes has a varied palette of building styles. This large family home emphasises classic country styling and quality finishes, including textured plaster, stone veneer, and a Monier tile roof."

The attention to quality is obvious from the full-height cedar front door that opens into a lobby with exposed second floor balustrading.

"Timber flooring flows through the entry foyer, dining, family and kitchen areas, adding charm and character. The kitchen has a homely, rustic ambience and includes a stone bench with a butler's sink. The open-plan family and dining room flow out to a covered patio, extending from there to a well-maintained garden."

The formal lounge provides a separate entertaining space, and the ambience here is enhanced by the gas fireplace, a 2.7m-high ceiling, and ornate, solid plaster cornices.

The commitment to comfort extends to the bedrooms and bathrooms. The master suite has a spacious walk-in wardrobe and extensive cabinetry, and the ensuite is one of three bathrooms in the home. Each features floor-to-ceiling tiling, oak vanities and frameless glass shower stalls.

For more details, contact Jalcon Homes, phone 0800 Jalcon (52 52 66). Email: sales@jalcon.co.nz. Website: www.jalcon.co.nz.

Visual warmth and vitality are the hallmarks of wooden floors, and at Harrowglen, Jalcon Homes specified pre-finished teak floors to provide these qualities.

The floor supplier, The Wooden Floor Company, specialises in a range of solid wood and Kahrs pre-finished floors. More than 90 different sustainable species, which are precisely milled and manufactured in Sweden, are available in the Kahrs range.

"All Kahrs floors are created by nature and crafted using the latest technology, with total respect for the environment," says the company's managing director Peter Watts.

Jalcon Homes often specifies pre-finished floors because of their aesthetic appeal, and as they are easy to install, they offer time-saving benefits. Also easy to maintain, they carry a 30-year guarantee on materials and workmanship.

To complement a new floor, the company offers a range of accessories, such as mouldings in matching species, and installation, maintenance and repair kits.

For further information, contact The Wooden Floor Company, 74 Sale Street, Auckland, phone 0800 484 949. Email: info@woodenfloors.co.nz. Website: www.woodenfloors.co.nz.

It is the choice of joinery in a home that can enhance the ease of the connection between indoors and out. At Harrowglen, Summit Aluminium provided Vantage joinery in a Titania finish, says director Robert Brown.

"The family living and kitchen areas show the benefits of Vantage joinery, with two sets of slider doors installed at right angles making a wide expanse of the living area open to the covered patio," he says.

Bifold doors in the lounge and French doors in the family room and master suite were also custom-manufactured by Summit, as were a range of windows that include two feature arched windows. These were specifically chosen to complement the home's Tuscan styling. All window and door latches and handles are colour-matched to the joinery for a consistent aesthetic.

"Warm and healthy interiors are a prerequisite for any modern home, and they can be achieved by incorporating the recognised thermal qualities of aluminium joinery into the design," says Brown.

For more details, contact Summit Aluminium, 252A Roscommon Rd, Wiri, PO Box 97-435, SAMC, Wiri, phone (09) 268 1661, fax (09) 268 2661. Email: sherilyn@summit-aluminium.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas