Houzz Tour: Father and Son's Compact Design for a Family Home
Two generations combine their smarts to make the most of a tight site – and an even tighter budget
Catherine Smith
8 November 2016
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. A design addict from way back, I can't resist looking at other people's houses. And doing a tiny bit of styling and decluttering. Just a tiny bit.
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. A design addict from way back, I can't resist looking... More
When Haden Kose and his wife Elizabeth were ready to move from the city back up to Haden’s hometown, to be closer to his work at his family’s architectural design practice, they wanted to eke out their limited budget with style. Haden collaborated with his dad to design his family’s first house, creating a rectangular structure with very few frills, but a whole lot of flair. Their peers certainly approved: the project won the 2015 award from Architectural Designers New Zealand for houses under 150 square metres.
Photos by Marc Herbulot Photography and Haden Kose
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Haden and Elizabeth Kose with their kids Seb, 3, and Elliot, 1
Location: Warkworth, north of Auckland, New Zealand
Size: 105 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Architectural designer: Bernie Kose, in collaboration with Haden Kose, BK Design
Builder: Stuart Morrison, Morrison Building Consultants
Ever since he was a lad, architectural designer Haden Kose had pottered about in his dad Bernie’s architectural studio, so he reckons it was inevitable he would finish up in the same game. Before he qualified, Haden got practical hands-on experience as a builder’s labourer, experience that would stand him in good stead when it came to figuring out how to put buildings together.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Haden and Elizabeth Kose with their kids Seb, 3, and Elliot, 1
Location: Warkworth, north of Auckland, New Zealand
Size: 105 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Architectural designer: Bernie Kose, in collaboration with Haden Kose, BK Design
Builder: Stuart Morrison, Morrison Building Consultants
Ever since he was a lad, architectural designer Haden Kose had pottered about in his dad Bernie’s architectural studio, so he reckons it was inevitable he would finish up in the same game. Before he qualified, Haden got practical hands-on experience as a builder’s labourer, experience that would stand him in good stead when it came to figuring out how to put buildings together.
“We were extremely lucky,” says Haden of how he found the site of his family’s first home, designed by him and his father. “Houses were out of our price range, so we decided to find a section. When this one popped up, we were keen. It was too much work to relocate an old house, so we estimated a build cost of NZ$1,500 per square metre for new.”
The property, tucked in a suburban site, had established native planting and an elevated outlook. Previous owners had begun building, so there was already a partial foundation with concrete piles in place. Haden and Elizabeth decided to base their first self-built house on this platform, saving considerable site preparation costs.
The property, tucked in a suburban site, had established native planting and an elevated outlook. Previous owners had begun building, so there was already a partial foundation with concrete piles in place. Haden and Elizabeth decided to base their first self-built house on this platform, saving considerable site preparation costs.
Haden and a friendly builder scribbled a quick plan based on the existing rectangle. “On our first go we managed to get it right. It should be ordinary, with a flat roof as that’s easier for the roofer, but then I managed to pretty it up,” Haden says. The house is north facing, with a backyard that could be safely gated off while the boys were small.
Building a rectangle is faster and simpler than a house with extra facets, so Haden needed to add impact in other ways. The floor plan minimises corridors and lines up plumbing in one part of the building to keep pipe runs to a minimum. The house is designed to add a garage with workshop and studio at a later date, extending the corridor by the front entrance to the new pod.
Living is oriented to the north-west facing back of the house, with the large deck acting as an extension of the living rooms. The couple began planting the gully with natives and grasses, but left lots of flat lawn for the boys to play. Recessing the entry and the back facade, and picking them out in a darker stain, provides a strong contrast to the rest of the building, as well as providing summer sun shelter.
Vertical machine coated cedar: Herman Pacific; double-glazed joinery: Composite Joinery
Vertical machine coated cedar: Herman Pacific; double-glazed joinery: Composite Joinery
Inside, Haden created volume in the simple spaces with a raked ceiling. Window and door joinery is expensive, so the couple decided to splurge where it mattered – a big sliding door opening up the back of the house – and used more standard joinery elsewhere. Haden used high slit windows to bring in tree views while minimising openings to the south (and neighbours), and to allow for natural cross-ventilation.
To save space, the TV is wall-hung, with all the electronics hidden in a cupboard in the hallway and built-in joinery to hold the family’s collections.
Joinery: Neil Taylor Cabinetmaker; carpet: Flooring Xtra; lighting: Lighting Direct
To save space, the TV is wall-hung, with all the electronics hidden in a cupboard in the hallway and built-in joinery to hold the family’s collections.
Joinery: Neil Taylor Cabinetmaker; carpet: Flooring Xtra; lighting: Lighting Direct
Where the couple didn’t skimp was on making the house energy efficient. The concrete floors are insulated for passive-solar gain in the winter, but stay cool in the summer. They packed in insulation, chose LED lighting, and opted for a locally designed and made Eco-Energy heat pump water heater.
Haden also cunningly raised the standard windows up to 2200 millimetres in height, to look more balanced with the higher ceiling. The couple wanted to cram in as much storage as they could, including a built-in workstation beside the dining room, built-in bookshelves and a good-sized linen cupboard.
Haden and Elizabeth wanted a generous kitchen, with an L-shaped bench and an island for congregating around, plus a walk-in pantry. Flatpack units from a big box store, with an acrylic benchtop, would cost NZ$7,500, uninstalled, while a bespoke kitchen would have cost them NZ$12,000-14,000. Family connections found them a great compromise. Nice Kitchen custom built their cabinets, including the smart drawer fittings and the composite stone waterfall benchtop on the island, for NZ$9,000. The couple couldn’t be more pleased with the quality.
Haden and Elizabeth wanted a generous kitchen, with an L-shaped bench and an island for congregating around, plus a walk-in pantry. Flatpack units from a big box store, with an acrylic benchtop, would cost NZ$7,500, uninstalled, while a bespoke kitchen would have cost them NZ$12,000-14,000. Family connections found them a great compromise. Nice Kitchen custom built their cabinets, including the smart drawer fittings and the composite stone waterfall benchtop on the island, for NZ$9,000. The couple couldn’t be more pleased with the quality.
Integral to the success of the project on such a tight budget was finding the right builder, Haden says. Stuart Morrison was the right guy, and was keen to help rationalise the design, but put in finishes at the quality the Koses wanted, on a labour-only contract. To save costs Haden managed all the sub-contractors himself and sourced the materials. “We were lucky working in the industry,” he admits. “I found the process really easy, but that was down to the people we got on board.”
One of Haden’s favourite cost savings is the concrete floor. The pour was good enough that plans for carpet and vinyl were abandoned. Instead, he used a cost-effective ‘salt and pepper’ concrete grind and a light finish of densifier and sealer (not an epoxy that will need re-coating over time).
One of Haden’s favourite cost savings is the concrete floor. The pour was good enough that plans for carpet and vinyl were abandoned. Instead, he used a cost-effective ‘salt and pepper’ concrete grind and a light finish of densifier and sealer (not an epoxy that will need re-coating over time).
Putting the laundry in a niche beside the big family bathroom (behind the camera) is a creative space-saver, obviating the need for a separate room. The Koses used a mix of 600 x 600-millimetre and 300 x 600-millimetre tiles for floors and walls. Fittings are smart and easy to clean.
Tiles: Tile Warehouse
Tiles: Tile Warehouse
This bedroom for the boys is a warm and friendly space. Haden wanted to squeeze in modest wardrobes in the bedrooms, freeing up floor space for play.
The third bedroom doubles as a study. High windows collect morning sun but keep the room private from the driveway and entrance.
Haden and Elizabeth specified a walk-in wardrobe for their master bedroom, and high windows here also frame views of trees and clouds.
The compact ensuite frees up the family bathroom for kids and visitors.
Vegie gardens in raised beds and a sandpit merge with the new plantings of natives in the sunny, north-facing backyard.
Haden and Elizabeth have created a great backyard for the children, sheltered and sunny with mature trees all around. And best of all, they came in under budget, spending around NZ$235,000 for their build (including permits and the driveway).
“Many low-cost first homes in New Zealand sacrifice form over function. Here we have given equal consideration to both, while working to a strict budget,” Haden says. “It was key that the design be of a minimal nature with maximum use of space.”
“Many low-cost first homes in New Zealand sacrifice form over function. Here we have given equal consideration to both, while working to a strict budget,” Haden says. “It was key that the design be of a minimal nature with maximum use of space.”
TELL US
What do you like about this family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
What do you like about this family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Don't worry, cayugaflash, we don't have reptiles in NZ that would worry a child (the odd charming skink - a tiny lizard - perhaps, but we are completely snake free and no nasties. You might be thinking of Australia?). There is an enormous fenced yard, including trees for the children to play in - we are lucky enough to be very freestyle here with our children's play. The lower level garden is vege plot, the upper area was retained against a neighbouring slope, and the plants in that are native tree ferns and other trees that will grow to quite some size in the almost-sub-tropical climate of that area within a matter of a couple of years.
Hi everyone. Thank you all so much for such great feedback on our family home! We are so very humbled with your lovely responses. We are still absolutely loving living in our little family home and have recently made a few little mods/additions, (which were cost restrictive at the time we built the place) that you might like to hear about.
We have added an opening louvre roof from LouvreSystems to the stacker slider off the living room, creating a covered outdoor area. This allows us to fully maximise the use of the deck area, in all weather conditions.
We've also installed a SmartVent Evolve home ventilation system, with the added summer feature. This provides ventilation to the house all year round and has so far been great at reducing moisture in the house, among other benefits.
Our oldest son Seb has grown since the the house was completed, so has his need for space to play. When we moved in, he was just over 1 year old. We wanted an area where he could play, but still be safe and within our field of view, so it was logical (and cost effective) that we fence off the back of the property. As he has grown, so has his awareness and confidence. We have now fully fenced and gated the entire property. Seb can now safely ride and roam the front and back yards without us having to worry. His younger brother Elliot, however, is a different story :-)
For those of you wondering on the house footprint, it is roughly 13.8m x 8.2m.
Again, thank you so much for the wonderful comments and all the best to you all.
As we are about to launch into our own reno in Aotearoa, I was wondering if that was $185k USD or NZ?