Lake Ohakuri, Taupo

Built upon a hillside of terraces overlooking Lake Ohakuri (part of the Waikato River system), this modern farmhouse has been designed to capture the breathtaking lake views from almost every room.

The house is comprised of two offset pavilions linked by a hallway. The gabled forms are clad in black Linea weatherboard. Combined with the white-trim windows and reclaimed brick chimney this home takes on the traditional barn/farmhouse look the owners were keen to create.

The bedroom pavilion is set back while the living zone pushes forward to follow the course of the river. The kitchen is located in the middle of the floorplan, close to a covered patio.

The interior styling combines old-fashioned French Country with hard-industrial, featuring modern country-style white cabinetry; exposed white trusses with black-metal brackets and industrial metal pendants over the kitchen island bench. Unique pieces such as the bathroom vanity top (crafted from a huge slab of macrocarpa) add to the charm of this home.

The whole house is geothermally heated from an on-site bore, so there is seldom the need to light a fire.