KEY POINTS:
2B Dexter Avenue, Mt Eden.
Kalem Traill owes a debt of gratitude to the builders under whom he completed his apprenticeship. From them he learned exactly how important a high level of finish is to building projects. That rule has stayed with him throughout his career as a builder, property developer, project manager and director of his own firm, KPT Builders Limited.
"Finish is crucial," says Kalem. "It's what is visible in the end product, it's what people see."
His company's most recently completed project - a large two-storey townhouse in Mt Eden - has been completed with this philosophy.
Attention has been paid to every small detail in the building process. An over-sized black front door provides a dramatic sense of arrival. Sleek kitchen bench-tops in white composite stone are complemented by a white glass splash-back. And a textured paint finish on the feature wall in the family area was chosen to visually counterbalance the sitting rooms solid plastered, earthy brown, focal point with gas fire and recess for a television.
When he found the site a year ago, it was a typical old-fashioned backyard containing little more than lawn and a clothesline. But Kalem could visualise the possibilities. He wasted no time in briefing architect David Snell of SHA Architecture to come up with the plans for a modern, low maintenance home with easy, open plan living and an entertainer's courtyard.
Kalem says he's worked on lots of projects with David, who can be relied upon to maximise the available space of a compact site and achieve good flow throughout the property. In this home three living areas, four bedrooms (two with walk-in wardrobes), three bathrooms and a powder room have been smoothly configured for contemporary living while maintaining a sense of spaciousness.
Larger areas are made intimate with devices such as the introduction of steps and considered changes in ceiling height, which soars to four-metres in places but is lowered where a degree of enclosure is welcome. Kalem's favourite part of the house is the third living area located on the upper storey. It could be a reading, children's or media zone, and also separates the master suite from the two other bedrooms. The master suite has its own private balcony with elevated western views out to the Waitakere Ranges.
Traditional weatherboards, concrete block and plaster comprise the exterior. Kalem says these materials were chosen because they've been trialled and proven. He's a self-confessed fan of old-school building styles, but there's nothing old-fashioned about this thoroughly up-to-date home.
Thanks to the generous use of tall banks of windows and a strictly pale colour scheme, the over-riding mood is one of lightness and brightness. The bathrooms are uniform, tiled throughout and all pristine visions in pure white; dark-stained wooden vanities on which square basins sit provide the only shots of contrast. All the kitchen appliances are stainless steel and branded Fisher & Paykel.
The downstairs living spaces open to a courtyard framed by a plastered barbecue structure at one end and a dark-stained pergola overhead. Paths are formed by rectangular concrete pavers edged with river stones. Native specimens were chosen to fit with what Kalem describes as "the environmental consciousness of the typical Mt Eden resident". Kalem also lives in Mt Eden and is working on other building projects in the area. He loves the suburb because "it has nice big sections, lots of greenery and the village has a good vibe".
