How these first home buyers added their own design flair to a new build

When Hayden & Amanda started looking for their first home together in New Plymouth, it quickly became obvious that building a new Signature Home could be within their reach, rather than compromising on their must-haves. Even better, it would be designed perfectly to suit their lifestyle and family, which includes their two rescue greyhounds Junior and Bugsy (both 8).

“House prices in Taranaki were quickly increasing and there wasn’t much around within our price range,” says Amanda. “Hayden had always been keen to build and after a bit of research we realised we could get exactly what we wanted for almost the same price as an existing home. It was a no-brainer really!”

The couple made the decision to start looking at existing homes and visiting various showhomes before they were ready to buy, enabling them to gather ideas and keep an eye on the market.

“We received exceptional service from our New Home Consultant right from the moment we met them at the Signature Homes showhome, so when we were ready to build, we both agreed it was an easy choice,” says Hayden.

Signature Homes also had a great selection of sections in the Fernbrook subdivision, which immediately caught the duo’s attention thanks to its great location and superb outlook.

Room to grow

When it came to choosing the layout for their new home, Hayden & Amanda knew they wanted to keep things simple to stick to their budget but also ensure the home had room to grow. They settled on the popular Rosella from the Smart Collection of plans after experiencing it in person at Signature showhome, with some added personal touches.

“Experiencing the layout and seeing the scale of the home in person solidified our thinking and made it easy to see ourselves living in the space. The only thing we changed was turning the fourth bedroom into a second living area, which can be closed off with a barn door in the future if needed,” says Amanda.

Exterior charm

While they were sticking to a first-home buyer’s budget, Hayden & Amanda knew that didn’t mean their home had to be boring. They added design flair to their new build with a stunning dark kitchen and a bright orange front door, plus adding extra colour and style through soft furnishings.

The couple also wanted to break up the brick exterior of their home and add a point of difference with sections of James Hardie Linea Weatherboard. The landscaping and decking is positioned to capture the stunning views across Fernbrook as well as the all-day sun that streams in through the open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas.

Intuitive interiors

Hayden & Amanda both agree that their favourite part of building a new home (except getting the keys and moving in) was the interior design and colour consulting process with local designer Sharne Greig, all included as part of their Signature Homes build package.

“These parts of the process were so exciting as we could visualise what our home would look like and plan our furniture to fit the space,” says Amanda.

Sage advice

Now they’ve moved in, the couple has a few recommendations for those building a new home for the first time. “Look around at other homes to get ideas for what you like including different layouts, different cladding options, and understand what works for you,” they say. “You don’t notice the things you’ve compromised on until you move in!”

Hayden & Amanda love their new home and plan on living there for a long time. “We absolutely love what we’ve created and are in an amazing location with great neighbours.”

You can read more Signature customer stories here.