What started as a story of disappointment and distress concluded with a happy – and stylish –ending, thanks to a mercy mission by Versatile. The original builders, who were offering a land-and- home package, went into liquidation and the owners lost their deposit and their hope for a new home. Enter Versatile, who’d built a house for the couple in the past. The building company cut its margin to help them out and this four-bedroom, two-bathroom beauty in the rural south of Auckland is the result. Pavilion-style and H-shaped, the house appeals from the get-go. Reclaimed bricks and coloured steel are a winning combination, and a long, landscaped path leading to the front door leaves visitors in no doubt this home will be welcoming. Inside the open-plan communal zone, a raked ceiling and polished-concrete floors lend a sense of wide, open space. Two sets of sliders open to vast decking. Sunlight pours in.

The kitchen that anchors the space exudes white-on-white pared-back elegance. A black island is a contrasting masterstroke. Strong, clean lines are a hallmark of the 230sqm build allowing vistas of the green surrounds do the talking. Floor- to-almost-ceiling windows in the bedrooms also usher in views and light. The main-bedroom suite has sliders, inviting the owners to step onto a patio. A double garage, tiled bathrooms and a laundry complete this beautiful rescue package.