Marlborough Magazine August Edition | Page 27

HOME & GARDEN BLENDING WITH THE LANDSCAPE Wither Hills create perfect backdrop for luxury family home. STORY: KAT DUGGAN PHOTOS: DAVID JAMES W hen Nadine and Richard Norton settled on the site for their home, they took a step away from traditional selling points. Typically selected on its ability to catch the sun, the couple instead opted for a section with stunning views, despite those views being positioned to the south east. “We had a narrow north-facing site, and our vision was the views needed to be captured from as many areas within the home as possible as they were what really sold us on the section,” Nadine says. “We knew from the start that it wasn’t going to be built traditionally for all day sun.” Positioned at the end of a cul-de-sac, careful planning went into ensuring the home cashed in on as much of the sun as possible, while also maximising its surroundings. As a result, the formal lounge basks in the sun for most of the day, while the kitchen, living and dining rooms capture the morning sun. Set in one of Marlborough’s newest subdivisions, Boulevard Park on Taylor, the views which sold the couple on the site were of the stunning Wither Hills. Here, they’ve established a stunning Garapa wood decking, where a three- piece outdoor lounge suite creates a private oasis beneath the hills. “You feel like you’re in the country, we don’t have any immediate neighbours on our boundaries, so you actually feel like it’s a holiday when you come home. You’ve got the views, it’s really nice and quiet, and it’s a really friendly neighbourhood.” Made up of a mixture of plaster and cedar, the exterior of the home has been 27