Masonry showcase at Howick

Get the lowdown on a new property development in Howick offering quality living at a modest price, writes VICKI HOLDER.

Quality doesn't have to mean cost. That's the message Peter Ambler of Ambler Masonry Homes has sought to bring with the Seneca Gardens development at Golflands, Howick.

There is a perception that masonry homes are for those with plenty of money who want big houses, he says. But with more than 10 years' experience of building masonry homes, Peter knows he can deliver a value product with the same construction benefits on a more modest scale.

Many people were enlightened to these benefits after visiting the Firth Masonry showhome he built at Parklands. As well as the attractive plastered look of the showhome, they liked the solid construction and the excellent sound and heat insulation.

With his business partner, Andy Simpson of Simpson & Associates, Peter plans to build 13 three-bedroom homes on sections that average 400 sq m.

The display home has already been sold. Traditional in its design, it features a pitched entry on cedar posts with cedar fascias, copperstone spouting and bronzed window joinery. The exterior is weather protected with Wattyl Granoskin paint in natural off-white tones.

"I'm a believer in sticking to earthy colours," says Peter, "and my wife Gaylene, who is an interior designer, agrees. She has chosen similarly earthy colours for the interior."

The homes are targeted at buyers who want to downsize. To maintain spaciousness, the living area is open-plan. Great for entertaining, there is plenty of room for a large dining suite, as well as several sofas and occasional furniture in the sitting area.

The undulating plaster over the masonry walls is complemented with Gib partition walls painted with Taubmans Burgundy Suede. The carpet over the Ribraft Flooring is a natural wool sisal look-alike for added warmth and texture.

One end of the living area opens though ranchsliders to a landscaped courtyard with deep overhanging soffits, to provide sheltered outdoor living.

Across a Formica breakfast bar, the kitchen combines beech and jarrah look-alike laminate cabinetry. A full-height crockery cupboard and corner pantry are teamed with smaller cupboards and deep drawers. Other features include a Classique stainless-steel dishwasher, hob and wall oven, and heated, tiled floors.

The three bedrooms feature easy-to-maintain, paint-effect wallpaper. Two of the bedrooms have double tongue-and-groove-style wardrobes with fitted shelves, while the main bedroom has a large fitted wardrobe that occupies an entire wall.

The big bathroom, with a separate toilet next door, opens from the passage and the main bedroom as a semi-en suite. The features include quality Hansa tapware, a recessed shower, and a huge mirror above the vanity.

Peter Ambler has achieved what he set out to prove with this competitively priced, single-storey house that offers quality living at a modest price.

Vital statistics

Address: Ambler Masonry Homes showhome, 23 Seneca Gardens, Seneca Court, Golflands, Howick.

Features: Three-bedroom masonry homes with Ribraft Flooring; under-floor heating in tiled areas; concrete-tile roof; interiors include coloured feature walls; Hansa tapware in bathrooms; landscaped.

Size: Floor areas from 154 sq m to 176 sq m, land areas approximately 400 m.

Price: From $315,000 to $325,000.

Agents: Gary Robertson and Tony de Leeuw, The Professionals, R Wilson & Associates. Gary 025 949 959 mob; Tony 025 516 288 mob.