What do you do when the kids are leaving home and you no longer need 400sqm of family house – especially an older one requiring maintenance? You subdivide your section and build a smaller, low-maintenance, high-quality dwelling that has an apartment-style feel to it. The sharp lines and square forms in the design of this 225sqm three-bedroom house appealed to the clients. So did the spacious open-plan living and entertaining area, plus the fact the home is designed to work beautifully on the site. One of the challenges was keeping the three-storey property within the height restriction plans. The owners wanted to use quality, durable materials, such as painted shiplap cedar on the exterior and marble tiles and French oak flooring inside. One of the owners lent her skills to the design of the kitchen – her masterpiece. Eleven metres of dark cabinetry behind the island extend into the outdoor area, connecting it with the kitchen. The clients were deeply involved with the build and made it a pleasure to be part of the project.