This Lake Rotoiti bach has been in the same family since the 1930s, and the renovation was as much an act of preservation as it was of modernisation. The builders undertook a full restoration of the original home, adding a new garage, bunkhouse and extensive landscaping — all while staying true to the spirit and aesthetic of the past. A 26.5sqm extension has been carefully integrated into the existing layout, with the original proportions and style retained throughout. The main bach and new structures echo the architecture of the 1930s, with native timber and handcrafted elements — including custom built rimu furniture — defining the interiors.

Indeed, the level of detailing is remarkable: solid rimu flooring and wall linings, hand-built vanities and doors, UK-sourced fittings and 60mm rimu benchtops in the kitchen, laundry and scullery. Solid timber windows feature rimu jambs, and bathrooms include handmade tiles and solid brass fittings. The garage showcases exposed engineered trusses and a tongue-and-groove ceiling, while the new bunkhouse features vaulted ceilings and full-height grooved ply. Set across a long, fully grassed section framed by punga fern fencing, this lakeside retreat feels more like a private resort. It’s a deeply personal project — one that honours the past while supporting generations to come.