The owners’ brief to the builders was to come up with a house that had a Central Otago vibe. The appealing combination of dark-stained cedar-and-batten, plaster and schist on the exterior of the 300sqm home met their wish list to a tee. It also delivered serious street appeal. Inside, the schist has been carried through to the entrance, where over-height glass-panel doors lead the eye outside to the landscaped entertainment area. In the kitchen, living and lounge areas, exposed rafter ceilings lend a sense of volume and allow light to flood in. The kitchen, slick in wood and white tones, has a glass sliding window above the splashback and a sliding barn door leads into a spacious walk-in pantry. The pantry’s positioning close to the double garage makes unloading groceries easy. With its warm tones and gas fire, the lounge is a cosy place to hunker down and relax. The loft above the garage has an ensuite, walk-in wardrobe and storage, and serves as the owners’ office. On the ground floor are three more bedrooms, including the main suite, a quiet retreat with a walk-in wardrobe and sumptuous ensuite.