The Vision

The Hydes knew exactly how they wanted to live before they ever broke ground.They weren't after a standard plan with a few tweaks. They wanted a home designed around their life. The way they cook, entertain, move through their mornings, and wind down at the end of the day. Every room had a purpose. Every detail had a reason.They were detail-oriented, all-in on the process, and not afraid to push for what they wanted. Honestly? That's our favourite kind of client to work with 🙌

The Site

Sitting right on the Waikato river, the views demanded a home that felt open, light-filled, and connected to the outdoors at every turn. That shaped everything from the over-height windows to the indoor-outdoor flow through the zoned living areas.

The Build

High stud ceilings and over-height windows throughout, this place is flooded with light no matter where you stand. Raked ceilings add drama and height to the living spaces, and curved detailing throughout gives the whole home a softness that feels considered, not accidental. Then there's the double-sided fireplace sitting at the heart of it all. An epic feature that anchors the living areas and looks just as good from both sides.

The kitchen is something else. The Hydes didn't want barstools cluttering the island they wanted it to be a statement. So the team was meticulous about selecting the marble slabs, making sure that the bench read as a genuine piece of art. Clean lines, integrated storage, everything hidden away but still totally functional.

The wine room was one of the most rewarding spaces for the team. The brief was to create something that felt like a completely different world to the rest of the home; darker, moodier, a total contrast to the light and bright feel everywhere else. A lot of moving parts to get right, and honestly, it turned out better than anyone imagined 👌

Booth seating in the dining area was locked in from day one and has become the hub of the whole home, exactly what the Hydes wanted and exactly what great design should do. The zoned living areas tie it all together, seamless indoor-outdoor flow right out to the Waikato River. 4 bedrooms, a dedicated office, two living areas, a rumpus/kids room, and a home that genuinely works for a family that loves to live and entertain.

This is the kind of build that shows what's possible when a client is all-in on the process and a team brings everything they've got 🏡

The Team

This one took a village and the team wouldn't have it any other way. The Hydes said it themselves, “There's no way they would've got a result of this calibre without her involvement. Big ups to project manager Nathan for keeping everything on track and staying right alongside the Hydes through every decision. And to every subbie and supplier who brought their A-game to this one — you know who you are 🤙"

"I didn't want lots of things on display — we hid this away but made it so that it could be open, but it was quite a feature." Abbie Hyde 

"I just envisioned it being quite a different vibe to the rest of the house — I think this was the most technically difficult room in the planning process." Abbie Hyde

The Result

Walking through this home at the end, it just hits different. Every decision is made with intention. Every space is doing exactly what it was designed to do. A family that loves entertaining, loves the flow, and hasn't found a single thing they'd change. That's the dream right there.

"I Love living here, I love the flow - there's nothing I'd change. It's a real case in point for why design and build is better than choosing a standard plan." Abbie Hyde

Awards & Recognition

2025 Master Builders House of the Year — Gold
2025 Master Builders House of the Year — Regional Category Winner
2025 Master Builders — Bathroom Lifestyle Award
2025 Master Builders — Interior Design Lifestyle Award
2025 Master Builders House of the Year — Top 100