Updating a beloved homestead comes with a lot of responsibility, especially when it has been in the hands of the same family for generations. These owners didn’t need to worry. Urbo Homes has delivered a result that expertly introduces every modern comfort, while preserving the heart and soul of the treasured Rotorua farmhouse. The owners decided to embark on the renovation and extension project for the benefit of the next generation. The brief: a seamless integration of the old and new, with all the mod cons. The 130sqm addition was designed with country comfort in mind and includes a large laundry, mudroom, gallery hallway, two bedrooms, a butler’s pantry and bathroom. You’d be hard pressed to discern where the old house ends and the extension begins. There’s a lot more to love in the two-bedroom house. Think customised joinery, a bespoke hand-forged front door knob and a wheel from the farm that’s been crafted into a light fitting. Decks and entertaining zones are designed for soaking up wide lake and countryside vistas. Underfloor heating is wood and diesel and runs the radiators, hot water cylinder, towel rails and drying rack.