Refinement is in the details

When building this home Brendon Stockman, of The Goodbuilder, wanted more than a loose resemblance to a traditional villa – he wanted the home to be so true to the classic villa style that it looked more like a lovingly renovated 120-year-old home. 

The builder approached architectural designer Buildology to design the home down to this level of authenticity.

"The home has the classic wide deck, 3m high stud and bay window but, beyond the basics, we went the extra distance to include all the finials, brackets, and turned teardrop elements. It's these finer details that give the villa its authenticity," says Brendon. 

"On the inside, however, we wanted a contemporary feel with echoes of traditional design details."

A variety of tiles from The Tile Depot were a key part of the interior design with Brendon Stockman making many choices himself.

"I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted from the tilework but guided by Toni and Karen at The Tile Depot, and with them happy for me to take samples home and try them in situ, we ended up with the exact look we wanted throughout the interior."

And Brendon certainly chose the right port of call. The Tile Depot was established in 1995 and has since grown into one of the largest importers and retailers of quality tiles in New Zealand. 

The company sources its ranges directly from manufacturers based in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil and China, gaining much better control over availability, quality and price – 3 key factors appreciated by customers.

One major use of The Tile Depot's tiles is seen in the low upkeep Amber Grey 200x1200mm woodgrain porcelain floor tiles seen on the dining, kitchen, laundry and hallways. The Amber range is an incredibly realistic porcelain replica of timber planks. 

Amber recreates the textures, knots and grains found in real wood while offering all the modern benefits of a stain, water and wear resistant floor.

The fireplace is a focal point of the open-plan interior. This is finished in Casserto Grey tiles in 600x1200mm format. Casserto Grey tiles are part of the Casserto series – a rectified porcelain with a distinct concrete formwork effect, creating a semi-industrial aesthetic.

In the kitchen, Brick Text Black tiles create a dramatic, feature splashback. The Brick Text collection is inspired by heavy woven fabrics, reinterpreting the textures of interior decorating materials. The 90x300mm porcelain tiles are available in three colours, and feature twelve randomly mixed different textures.

The bathrooms in the home are by Elite Bathrooms and also make great use of The Tile Depot's ranges.

In the master ensuite, the walls are finished in 300x600mm Vulcanika Raku Kaptur Nero tiles matched with  600x1200mm Urban Cement White Alyssum tiles. The Vulcanika is a stunning feature wall tile with a raised linear texture and a Raku look glaze while Urban Cement is a beautiful glazed porcelain range available in eight colours, white included. 

The main bathroom also benefits from The Tile Depot's broad product range.  Urban Cement White Alyssum wall tiles are also used in this bathroom, matched with 316x316mm Beton Black Swan Hex Mosaic tiles. Beton Hex Mosaics, made in Italy, have a contemporary matt finish that feels luxe to the touch. These porcelain mosaics consist of 43x38mm chips on 316x316mm sheets.

For the laundry, Brendon chose an imported 100x300mm City White Gloss wall tile.

With the help of the friendly Tile Depot staff and with a staggering range of imported tile options to choose from, Brendon achieved exactly the look he desired for this home's smart, largely contemporary interior. All these tiles are high quality and hard-wearing.

To find out more or find a The Tile Depot store near you, head to the website here

Story by: Trendsideas