My Houzz: A Peaceful Retreat Perched in the Wilderness
A couple of chocolatiers find a secluded sanctuary near Puhoi to build the home of their dreams
Mark Scowen
11 August 2015
Houzz Australia Contributor. Photographer at Intense Photography
Perched on a hill near picturesque Puhoi in New Zealand is the home of Steve and Donna McClean. The couple run Chocolate Brown, their bustling boutique chocolate factory and cafe, nearby in Warkworth and wanted their home to be “peaceful, away from everything and where we could totally relax,” says Donna. They found a secluded plot of land, which had its engineering challenges, having been positioned on a steep ridge. However, with the help of family and dedication to the project, they managed to create their very own sanctuary in the wilderness.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Steve and Donna McClean with their daughters, Maddy, 19, and Jess, 21
Location: Puhoi, New Zealand
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Steve and Donna McClean with their daughters, Maddy, 19, and Jess, 21
Location: Puhoi, New Zealand
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
When Steve and Donna were searching for land to build their new home on, they came across a site near Puhoi that had been on the market for over three years and overlooked by all other buyers because of its engineering challenges. One of the main challenges was that the site was located on a ridge with a building platform just 14 metres wide and surrounded by steep banks cloaked in covenanted bush that could not be cut down. However, when the couple saw the outlook from the site, they knew it was the ideal spot and began investigating their options.
After researching the engineering of building on the site, Donna and Steve decided it wasn’t insurmountable. They worked out what it would cost and added that to the price of the section before deciding to purchase the land.
After researching the engineering of building on the site, Donna and Steve decided it wasn’t insurmountable. They worked out what it would cost and added that to the price of the section before deciding to purchase the land.
The house was designed by Donna with the help from a local draughtsman, and was project managed by Steve’s dad, who’s a qualified builder.
The exterior is clad in Colorsteel Ironsand. Its simplicity and muted tones means it fits in well with its surrounds. The way in which the couple designed the house was to provide a sense of shelter to visitors, like a hut in the hills; a place you look forward to arriving to at the end of the day.
The exterior is clad in Colorsteel Ironsand. Its simplicity and muted tones means it fits in well with its surrounds. The way in which the couple designed the house was to provide a sense of shelter to visitors, like a hut in the hills; a place you look forward to arriving to at the end of the day.
One notable characteristic of the home is its industrial style. It starts at the entrance with a rusty 20-millimetre rebar door handle that is set into rustic band sawn timber entrance doors.
Once you pass through the entrance, macrocarpa stairs with hot rolled steel risers lead down to the open-plan kitchen and dining area, where Steve and Donna love to cook and entertain. With its rich, golden colour and beautiful grain, Steve says macrocarpa is his timber of choice, which is why it can be found throughout the home.
With two bakers/chefs/chocolatiers in the house, the kitchen has to work hard. Steve and Donna equipped it with a double-wall oven, a huge fridge and plenty of bench space so they can prepare meals together. A dinner invite to their place is a real treat, especially if you like desserts.
The sliding-door pantry is another industrial-style element the couple added to the home.
Steve and Donna enjoy upcycling and say their style is shabby chic. They love going on road trips and scouring through secondhand stores to find treasures to take home. When they can’t find what they’re looking for, on the weekend, Steve gets the tools out to make something for the house. One of his creations includes this large eight-seater dining table. Steve built it around some old legs from a smaller table he found online and locally milled macrocarpa, finishing it with osmo oil.
At the rear of the living room is a compact laundry and trough that leads out to a well-appointed balcony.
Donna loves to paint and most of the artwork hanging on the walls is her own.
So Donna would have a place to be creative in, Steve made a cleverly concealed studio behind the bookcase in the living room, which doubles as an at-home office.
More hot rolled steel has been used behind the fireplace as a cheaper alternative to corten. The fireplace chimney runs through the first storey for added warmth in Maddy and Jess’ bedrooms.
Behind the fireplace is the main lounge area. It’s where the family come together after a long day and relax by watching a movie and chatting about each other’s day.
Sofa: Freedom
Sofa: Freedom
Back up the stairs on the first floor is where the bedrooms are located.
The master bedroom cantilevers 3 metres over the native bush below, allowing the green canopy beyond the window to take centre stage.
The couple found this secondhand chair on Trade Me and decided it would be the perfect accessory for their bedroom.
This bathroom is located next to the master bedroom on the first floor. There is a second bathroom on the upper floor for the girls and also a small powder room located on the lower level.
Jess’ bedroom is a cosy place kept warm by the heat from the fireplace downstairs.
She collects her favourite things, including inspirational quotes, wedding and birthday invites and bible verses, and pins them to her bedhead to personalise her bedroom.
She collects her favourite things, including inspirational quotes, wedding and birthday invites and bible verses, and pins them to her bedhead to personalise her bedroom.
Maddy is currently studying business at university, and the small nook in her bedroom helps her stay on top of her studies.
Being surrounded by nature is what the family love most about the home. “You can’t hear traffic or neighbours,” says Donna. Instead, they listen to nature’s soundtrack, which includes noise from native tui birds, wood pigeons and pheasants during the day, while at night it’s the sound of moreporks. They also have visits from the occasional wild pig, goat and possum, which Steve says makes having a vegetable garden impossible.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
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This house will never go out of style, there is nothing gimmicky about it.
LOVE the exterior of the house, especially the front doors - wow!
Seeing this has given me a terminal case of house envy! Absolute comfort in location, design and furnishing. My fave houzz showpiece!