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Grand Designs NZ (2026) S10E06
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00:00Creating a home is a bit like a piece of music coming to life.
00:06The main builder is the conductor.
00:09The carpenters are the percussion, setting the rhythm with hammer and nail.
00:16The electricians are the strings weaving current through the walls like melodies.
00:25The block layers, bold as brass, bringing volume and power.
00:32But no matter how talented your construction orchestra is, the key part belongs to the composer.
00:41The composer, musical or architectural, has the power to set style, narrative, invite admiration.
00:49But just like architecture, music is subjective.
00:53This composition might not beat everybody's tastes.
00:57But perhaps you might just find it magical.
01:27.
01:28Martinborough, in the South Wairarapa, an hour's drive north of Wellington, is a small town with a big reputation.
01:34Famous for fine wine, boutique village vibes and sartorial elegance.
01:42Hey, what do you think about my shirt?
01:44I think it's really cool.
01:45I think I chose that one, didn't I?
01:47Probably.
01:49Tim and Sally Roach have lived throughout the Wellington region since arriving from the UK in the early 2000s.
01:55But I'm now settled for good in Martinborough.
01:59I think it's the old buildings.
02:01I think it's just the character of the place.
02:04It's amazing.
02:05It is.
02:06It's lovely.
02:08The couple met at church in West Sussex, in the south of England.
02:12But romance took its time, with Tim taking things at a very slow pace.
02:19We were just friends, really.
02:21And then what clinched it was the cricket trousers.
02:26Oh, my goodness.
02:27So when a young man asks you to go and help him choose cricket trousers, I mean, that's a sign,
02:34isn't it?
02:35You know, and I said, look, you know, what do you think?
02:39Do you want to, you know, should we go out on a date or whatever?
02:43And he was like, no, I don't think so.
02:46And I was like, okay.
02:48I obviously read the cricket trousers all wrong.
02:50Sally's timing was only slightly off, though.
02:54And she and Tim went on to get married, have two sons, and forge successful IT careers.
02:59They also shared a passion for real estate.
03:02And now Martinborough's home, they're planning their ultimate property adventure.
03:08I never dreamt that we'd live in such a beautiful place.
03:12Combining their love of wine with a house amongst the vines that they can share with family and friends.
03:19I cannot believe that we are about to plant a vineyard.
03:24And here we are, we're going to be growing our own Chardonnay, which is just, yeah, just crazy, really.
03:31Sure, there's a little knowledge gap.
03:34We don't know a lot about viticulture, but we are learning.
03:38And with a blend of confidence and conviviality, they're expecting vintage times ahead.
03:46We're now in a position where we're able to build a home that will reflect who we are.
03:52Something that we can really, really enjoy.
03:55Cheers.
04:02Tim and Sally's dream will need an exceptional block of land.
04:06And it looks like they've found it.
04:10This scene is almost perfect, isn't it?
04:12It is, it is, yes.
04:13And you're going to improve on it?
04:14I hope so, and we're going to certainly enjoy it anyway.
04:17Yeah.
04:18So what is the plan?
04:19What are you going to do here?
04:20We are building a hopefully beautiful house over there, taking in full advantage of all
04:27the views.
04:28We're going to put a barn here and some visitor accommodation over here to make the most of
04:36the site.
04:36Well, that sounds like more than one project.
04:39I mean, what is this?
04:39This is a whole complex of projects.
04:41It is a little bit.
04:43It is a whole complex.
04:44Actually, what Sally's also not mentioned is that we're going to plant out the region
04:47with vines as well.
04:48True.
04:48We love the idea of living amongst the vines.
04:52Tim and Sally have plenty of plans for their big empty site, but let's consider the house
04:57itself.
04:58The garage adjoins a long entranceway, leading down to the oversized front door.
05:04A patio and deck are positioned here for afternoon sun, while the low charred timber ceiling runs
05:09from outside in and opens right up into the vaulted living area.
05:14Relax in the retro style sunken lounge, around an open fire with a chimney breast clad in
05:19a armory stone, a material that's also used for wall linings.
05:23Multiple windows frame the views, also enjoyed from the dining table and the kitchen, featuring
05:29walnut joinery and a separate scullery.
05:32There's a guest bedroom with a deck, a floating timber staircase, laundry, bathroom, another
05:39bedroom, and the master bedroom with en suite.
05:42Sheltered in the middle is a large courtyard with a louvered roof, an artificial turf lawn,
05:48spa and swimming pool.
05:50Upstairs, there's a bedroom-cum office, plus a second lounge with adjoining deck.
05:56The exterior of Japanese-style charred timber and pristine white huamaru stone completes a
06:03finely crafted, full-bodied home, alongside its own vineyard, worth raising a glass to.
06:10This project isn't discreet, it's many things, so it feels like you're at the beginning of
06:16a really long story here.
06:19The biggest challenge will be budget.
06:20Yeah.
06:21Okay.
06:21We have a changing scene, increasing construction costs, it's difficult to know where things
06:26are going to finish.
06:27So what are the figures at this stage?
06:29How much did you pay for the land?
06:31So the land was half a million.
06:34The house, it started two years ago at under two million.
06:41Yeah.
06:42We think about two and a half now.
06:43Right, 300 square metre house, two and a half million.
06:48Yeah, okay, all right.
06:50A bespoke architectural house, the figures are high for those things.
06:54But there's other things, there's a barn, there's a...
06:56So the barn and the visitor accommodation and the vineyard, they come separately.
07:03There will be an element of business finance, I think, we'll have to come into that.
07:08And we'll have to be creative in the way in which we approach that.
07:12And then you can sit back and relax.
07:15Indeed.
07:15That's the plan.
07:16Okay, sometime in 2035.
07:19We'd say Christmas, wouldn't we?
07:20But Christmas next year.
07:22Christmas 24.
07:28Every now and again, you come across a situation where, if you think about it quietly, it's mind-boggling.
07:34I thought I was going to come here and muse about the complexities of building a house.
07:39Whereas actually, this is a multi-plot extravaganza.
07:45What Tim and Sally are about to embark upon is a complex few years.
07:49And I think what will be critical will be their ability to focus on what's important
07:53and prioritise amongst the myriad of decisions and demands that this will surely place upon them.
07:59If they get that right, this life will be magnificent.
08:11In the face of such an all-encompassing ambition, it may seem churlish to inject a note of caution.
08:18However, things are rarely so black and white.
08:24One thing that strikes me, and will no doubt strike you, is this high-contrast pairing of exterior materials.
08:30Moody, dark, black, charred timber, and super-bright white, or armoury stone.
08:36Quite a combination.
08:38Maybe that's the idea, to be striking, to have high visual impact.
08:43And that's what we also see here at the Art Centre in Christchurch.
08:47The architecture of these buildings may be from a very different era,
08:50but they've got that same high-impact, high-contrast aesthetic.
08:57In this case, there's a finely composed combination of grey volcanic basalt
09:03and the same armoury stone that Tim and Sally are using.
09:06In fact, it's from the very same quarry.
09:09And that creates this really distinctive combination.
09:13A really memorable rendition of Gothic revival architecture.
09:21Now, the approach in why a wrapper will be a modern house using a material
09:26typically associated with heritage grand buildings.
09:32How will that translate, I wonder?
09:37Well, take away the arches and ornamentation,
09:40and you're left with flush-cut stone highlighting the proportions of the building.
09:45And so, that balance between white and black is going to have to be flawless.
09:51There's nowhere to hide.
09:55And even though this house may appear to be simple and understated,
09:59the ambition is anything but.
10:06By September, seven months since my first visit,
10:10the barn is up on Tim and Sally's property,
10:12and work has begun on the foundations of the house.
10:16Is it exciting? Is it exciting? What's happening?
10:20What are they doing to your garden?
10:24During construction, the couple was intending to stay living in their Martinborough house.
10:29But those plans have changed.
10:32They're moving into the barn.
10:36So, this is going to be our home for the next 15 months.
10:40I know.
10:41Here's a bedroom.
10:44Temporary bedroom.
10:45Temporary bedroom.
10:47A sharp increase in the cost of the new build means the house in town now has to be sold.
10:54We first saw this land just over two and a half years ago,
10:57and since then, cost prices have skyrocketed.
11:01I'm going to estimate and say that probably our total build costs will be in excess of a million dollars,
11:08more than what we were planning, and that's just at this stage.
11:11Seven months ago, Tim told me that he thought the house would cost $2.5 million.
11:17Now, the estimate is $3 million plus, a revelation that's prompting some reflection.
11:24I think if we'd done things differently,
11:28then I would have been talking to the architect about designing something that was simpler.
11:37But, despite the big hit, the couple aren't planning any major changes to the build.
11:41They're experienced in property, they have options, and they remain confident.
11:47It's going to be worth it in the end, so I'll just have to work till I'm 70 or something.
11:53Frankly, though, this doesn't sound like the retirement Tim and Sally were planning.
11:57With the main house only just begun, I'm wondering will they ever get to relax there,
12:02let alone toast it with a glass of their own wine.
12:18By the end of 2023, at Tim and Sally Roach's property in Martinborough,
12:22a raft of steel portal frames are up, along with timber trusses and wall framing.
12:27And it's becoming very clear just how big their new house is.
12:32Just looking forward to sitting on that deck there, having a wine, watching the sunset go down.
12:38A glass of our own wine.
12:39Oh, yes.
12:42Tim and Sally are planning a lot on their land.
12:45Not just the main house, but its spiralling cost means they have to set very clear priorities.
12:52Tim has definitely been more grumpy than usual.
12:56Anything that we spend now on the barn, on the glamping area, on the vines,
13:01is going to have a direct impact on what we do on the main house.
13:06So we're just trying to keep cost under control is a big one.
13:10And that's one of the hardest things for the project management.
13:13One of the big budget items is the Awamaru stone, sourced here at Parkside Quarry,
13:18well over 700 kilometres from Martinborough,
13:21but clearly worth the transportation cost to Tim and Sally.
13:25That is a cliff and a half, isn't it?
13:27Is this active?
13:29So, yeah, this was like the original quarry, so from when it first started here, like 100 odd years ago.
13:36Those marks and stuff are just from the older techniques of how it used to be quarried,
13:40drilled and blasted and just big chunks got blown off.
13:45Very soft looking, right?
13:46All of this, even the ground here is covered in dust from the stain.
13:51It's definitely softer when it comes out of the ground because it's full of water.
13:55Yeah, look, see, I can just do that.
13:58But it'll harden up as it dries out and then it will just, yeah, get a bit tougher.
14:05Parkside Quarry produces standard-sized blocks,
14:08but also cuts the stone to clients' bespoke requirements.
14:12Typically, variation means complication, here and on the build.
14:16And Tim and Sally's stone design is surprisingly complex.
14:23They want a different pattern and they want a different thickness,
14:27and so they're also, with their internal stone,
14:29will be another thickness of stone as well,
14:31and the lengths will be randomised.
14:34So that sounds like that would be expensive.
14:36Yeah, yeah.
14:41Wamaru stone may well provide the quality and elegance Tim and Sally desire,
14:45but the process will demand time, precision and patience
14:49from both the stonemasons and the owners.
14:52In a project already stretched tight,
14:55using the stone is not just a leap of faith,
14:58it's a leap into the unknown.
15:10Into the new year,
15:12and about ten months since I first met Tim and Sally
15:15on their beautiful block of land.
15:19Well, now, I like this.
15:21Long-spam glulam beams, big grunty steels,
15:24very different from the tightly framed smaller rooms.
15:28I think this has the makings of a baronial hall.
15:32Very good.
15:33Although one with a sunken lounge,
15:36which is different.
15:38I mean, that's a sort of modernist 60s, 70s idea.
15:42Very cool, though.
15:46An intricate design like this
15:48has its challenges coming together,
15:50but I understand the builders here
15:52are testing out new technology
15:54that could well be a game-changer.
15:57The pre-nailers have done a 3D planning software
16:01that has allowed us to get a real good understanding
16:04of how everything goes together.
16:06So this app will give us where everything is,
16:09where the lintels sit, where the rafters sit,
16:11and that has really sped up how fast
16:14we've managed to put it together.
16:15This is your whole building?
16:16Yep, in 3D.
16:17Mapped out, all the framing?
16:19All the frames together.
16:20I can look at that connection over there
16:21before I've built it.
16:22So rather than me going through screeds and screeds
16:24of two-dimensional cross-sections,
16:26I can just look at this in 3D and go,
16:28ah, that goes there.
16:29It's a lot easier.
16:30So this is how we should be building.
16:36The builders have also largely finished the barn,
16:39so Tim and Sally have moved in.
16:41And now have a grandstand view of their new house
16:44being built across the paddock.
16:46And with builder Mal using encouraging words
16:48like speed and efficiency,
16:50you'd think they'd be happy.
16:52But not entirely.
16:55The quicker they go, the quicker I have to pay the bills.
16:58Right.
16:58And we will need to release some finance
17:01with the sale of some property.
17:03The market's a little bit slow at the moment.
17:06So we're trying to balance the sale of property
17:09with the speed at which some of those big builders
17:12are coming through.
17:13Sure.
17:14So that's going to be, I think,
17:15the biggest challenge that we face this year.
17:17And I think if we don't sell property,
17:20that's where the pressure point will come.
17:23OK.
17:27Is that a stress?
17:28Is that a big stress?
17:29Ask that question in a few months' time,
17:31and we'll see.
17:32You'll be in the thick of it.
17:33Mm-hmm.
17:34Yeah.
17:35Actually, there's a big transformation to come, isn't it,
17:37when the building changes from this lightweight thing
17:40to a stone-clad building.
17:42Hmm.
17:42It's exciting, but, you know,
17:45it could go horribly wrong as well, I suppose.
17:52As far as building sites go,
17:54it looks pretty harmonious, doesn't it?
17:56Soft brown framing in a soft brown landscape.
18:00But we're also at a cusp, aren't we?
18:02The cusp of a transformation.
18:05The building gets its skin.
18:06The lightest of stone and the darkest of timber
18:09coming together.
18:11Now, will it be good?
18:13It will certainly make a statement.
18:32Late winter in Martinborough,
18:34and all quiet at the region's famous vineyards.
18:38All the pruning's been done,
18:39and the vines are resting ahead of the new-growing season.
18:42At Tim and Sally Roach's property,
18:45they were hoping to have their own grapes in the ground by now.
18:48But that's been delayed by the new build.
18:51The roof is on, though,
18:52and the exterior cladding is next.
18:59Would you be OK to drag a goal?
19:01Would that be OK?
19:03Tim can't do much,
19:04except try to figure out how to pay for it all
19:07and take some time out when he can.
19:10Just over on the far side.
19:12He's the coach of Martinborough Football Club's women's team,
19:16competing in the local Wairarapa League.
19:19So the women's team is a new team for Martinborough.
19:22They've never had a women's team.
19:24And two-thirds of the team
19:25had never kicked a football before.
19:27We're here to go again.
19:33They won their first game a couple of weeks ago,
19:35and the celebration afterwards was amazing.
19:37So it really has been a fantastic distraction for me.
19:44But to keep the new build going,
19:46amid sky-rocketing construction costs,
19:49Tim and Sally are trying to sell their house in town
19:51and other rental properties.
19:53Not easy.
19:55Well done, guys.
19:56That's fantastic.
19:57Well done.
19:57The market is very quiet,
20:00and I've never known a period like this in Martinborough,
20:04so we do face a real prospect
20:06of asking the builders to down tools,
20:09and we really don't want to do that,
20:11so that's the biggest pressure at the moment.
20:21One thing the couple has paid for already
20:23is the burnt timber for the exterior cladding
20:26and internal linings.
20:27It comes from a Waikato company specializing
20:29in the Japanese preservation technique of yakisugi.
20:34This is the production line.
20:36Now, without giving away your trade secrets,
20:38what happens here?
20:40It's basically an open drill.
20:42We use infrared burners.
20:45So the infrared burners give us a much more precise direction of heat,
20:49but also a high intensity.
20:50So it means that we can char up to around 3,000 metres per day
20:54on the timber we're doing for this project.
21:01So you take this great product and then you set it on fire?
21:05Yeah, that's right.
21:07When we're charring it,
21:08what it's doing is burning off carbohydrates in the cell structure of the timber.
21:11It's also causing a slight hardening effect to the surface of the timber,
21:15and those carbohydrates are food sources for bugs and fungi,
21:19so that's making it less advantageous for them to settle on the timber over time.
21:24And when the Japanese started doing this 500 years ago,
21:27that was the concept,
21:28is that the charring would protect the timber,
21:32but also it protects it from UV as well,
21:35because your charcoal is essentially like a 100% UV-proof sunscreen, if you like.
21:40So you're not having to re-oil stain that timber to hold colour every two years,
21:45like you are with other premium timber weatherboards.
21:54Traditionally, yakisugi used Japanese cypress,
21:56a soft wood revered for its durability and weather resistance,
22:00but the technique transforms much humbler wood as well.
22:06So that starts out as standard pine.
22:09Yes, yeah.
22:10And you end up with something entirely different.
22:12I mean, the association with this kind of pine is, unfortunately, leaky homes.
22:16Right.
22:17You're opening up walls and finding soft wood rotting away,
22:21and now you're turning it into an exterior grey piece of cladding.
22:25Yes.
22:26Yeah.
22:26But you don't need to maintain.
22:28I find that remarkable.
22:29Yeah.
22:29It's science, isn't it, really?
22:31Yeah, absolutely.
22:31The characteristics of that material have changed so much.
22:42With money so tight now, Tim and Sally are no doubt relieved
22:46that they made an early decision to handle the interior design themselves.
22:53We couldn't afford to employ an interior designer.
22:57We thought about it early on and then kind of never really got round to it,
23:01and then it wasn't an option financially.
23:04As well as the furniture materials, the couple have to come up with the interior colour scheme.
23:09And for that, they're taking inspiration from the site itself.
23:15Let's say that we take the floorboards and we start to compare that with some of the background.
23:21Yeah, what's in nature out the window.
23:23There's some browns that are coming in, potentially some green.
23:27And what do you think about blue?
23:30Erm, I'm not sure really.
23:33I mean, you know, obviously the sky is blue,
23:35but I think we're trying, I'm definitely trying to do warmer tones inside.
23:42However, they're not just limiting themselves to what they can see outside.
23:46Their range is truly international.
23:49You had this idea about some funky furniture.
23:53Something with a bit of a Moroccan theme.
23:56I do like the colours in this, the green and the red and the gold.
24:01Those tones really work for me.
24:04Maybe we could have some different colour coming in to the different panels.
24:10Oh, I'm not sure about that. I think that might look a bit weird.
24:13I think it's a great idea, mainly because it's one of mine.
24:18I have to say, the challenge of achieving successful interior design is not easy.
24:23Personal taste is good, yes,
24:25but when the results are so important to a home,
24:28professional experience and judgement can't be underestimated.
24:33It's all well and good to be creative and bold,
24:36but, you know, you've got to think about, you know,
24:38what will other people think about the house?
24:40Will they just think it's all a bit crazy?
24:42We can make mistakes, but if we like it, then we can.
24:48Right then, so to sum up,
24:50we've got a mix of Japanese, European and Moroccan influences.
24:54How's that all going to work?
24:56I guess we'll see.
25:05Into October, 10 months since my last visit to site,
25:09and the charred timber cladding is already making an impact.
25:13For me, though, the real test will be its combination with the white Oamaru stone,
25:19and that's still to come.
25:20In fact, I'd have thought there should have been more progress here than I can see.
25:25I think the big challenge has been the lack of being able to order the future goods.
25:31So we've had to just focus on getting the house watertight
25:35until such a stage that we've sold the rental properties,
25:40which we now sold one, which is fantastic.
25:42So it's all full steam ahead now.
25:44But it has meant that the builder has had to be very focused on just certain areas of the house.
25:57So we're coming up to Christmas 2024,
26:01when Tim and Sally initially told me they'd hoped the house would be finished.
26:05Clearly, that's not going to happen.
26:07But they also have their son's wedding coming up early in the New Year,
26:11with talk of hosting family here from the UK.
26:15That's going to be interesting.
26:16But walking around the house today,
26:19there is plenty to be encouraged by.
26:21Upstairs, for instance, in the second lounge.
26:25This is what it's all about, isn't it?
26:27Great views.
26:28We wondered how much time we'd be spending up here,
26:32but now there's no question that this is a real living area for us.
26:36This is going to be amazing.
26:37That's one of many views here.
26:40They're all different, aren't they?
26:42Yeah, really, really pleased with all the views.
26:47Downstairs, the retro-style sunken lounge is something different stylistically.
26:53I might sit and try and experience this.
26:57Ooh, that's cold.
26:59It's also causing a little bit of head-scratching.
27:03We're just sort of making a few decisions on this.
27:06We're kind of not quite sure whether to have the steps over here
27:09or whether we put them in the middle.
27:11This is the focal point, right, isn't it?
27:13Yeah.
27:13This is the fire.
27:14So if your steps are there,
27:16you miss out on sipping you two in front of the fire.
27:19Welcome to our conundrum.
27:22There is pressure to get it right,
27:25and there are so many decisions,
27:29just a ridiculous number of decisions,
27:31which we're trying to enjoy,
27:33but I'm definitely feeling the pressure.
27:36Well, given all of that,
27:38I feel like I should probably leave you to it.
27:41I'm taking up valuable time.
27:42Keep making decisions.
27:47For Tim and Sally,
27:49the romance of a house amongst the vines
27:51has inevitably been impacted by the demands of the build,
27:55and now they're having to make decisions
27:58that typically would involve professionals
28:00like an architect or interior designer,
28:02and that, to me, is a concern.
28:08To get to this stage,
28:09it all starts out there, doesn't it?
28:11The careful growing of the grapes,
28:13the harvesting, the pressing, the barreling.
28:16With wine, it's a continuous process
28:19that requires expert attention at every stage.
28:23It's a bit like building, isn't it?
28:26Tim and Sally now have this potentially beautiful,
28:29crafted, complex design,
28:32but its success now rests on the decision
28:35of two enthusiastic yet inexperienced interior designers.
28:39And so I wonder,
28:42what will their finishing be like?
28:45Will they end up with a fine wine,
28:49or will it be vinegar?
29:04March in Martinborough,
29:06and at Tim and Sally's build just out of town,
29:09the Oamaru stonework is finally underway.
29:13And while the grapevines to surround the house
29:16are still not even planted,
29:18the vegetable gardens over by the barn are flourishing.
29:23Competition-winning beetroot.
29:27I like to come out here.
29:28It just gives me a little bit of peace and respite
29:32from the stress over at the house build.
29:35We've got the deadline of our son's wedding
29:39and we've got quite a lot of overseas visitors
29:42that we're hosting.
29:43So I want everything to be done before our family arrives.
29:47I want everything to be perfect.
29:54Tim and Sally still have two rental properties for sale
29:57to help finance the new build.
29:59But in the soft property market,
30:02that's taking time.
30:04Time that's weighing heavily on Mal the Builder.
30:07Tim's always looking at what is going to be the next sequence
30:11that he can afford,
30:12whereas I'll be like,
30:13what's the next sequence that I need in the construction process?
30:16And ideally, that isn't probably the most efficient way of doing things.
30:23This is a very precisely detailed design
30:26with streamlined elements that look deceptively simple,
30:29but in fact, are difficult and time-consuming to build.
30:33And although Mal is at the sharp end of that,
30:36he's focused on the final result.
30:38Initially, we're thinking,
30:40oh, this is just a lot of work for not much extra look,
30:44but now it's starting to come together.
30:46You actually start to appreciate what the real vision was.
30:53Now, the progress day-to-day may be slow,
30:56but there's still more than enough to get me down for another visit.
30:59I'm especially keen to see the Oamaru stone being installed.
31:04If ever there was a diagram of the different stages of construction,
31:07this is it.
31:08Cladding still to go on, wires hanging out, stone up.
31:12And this is new, the swimming pool.
31:20The four-man stonemason team has been here for a couple of months now.
31:24Two of the team working full-time on the extensive preparation work
31:27like the stone needs before installation.
31:31We're cleaning off one side,
31:33making sure there's no flaws in it,
31:35squaring it up and then measuring it
31:37so it's all nice and square, ready for the wall.
31:40The stone is being used here as a veneer cladding,
31:43certainly not blocks,
31:44so they won't stand up by themselves.
31:47They're pinned and bracketed in place.
31:49And not only that,
31:50they're juggled or notched where they butt into each other.
31:54And the mind boggles how long that takes.
31:56You've had to cut all of these notches in every,
32:01well, one each side of every single stone.
32:04Every stone.
32:05A lot of thinking involved,
32:06not just throwing a brick on top of a brick.
32:09This is quite, considering it's 590, 370,
32:12then we go to a 215.
32:14Right, 590 there, 370 here, 215.
32:17How many more?
32:18Seven sizes.
32:19Seven sizes all up.
32:20And then as we go up, we repeat.
32:23You have to enjoy your job,
32:24otherwise eight months of doing this.
32:27Yeah, it'll drive you loony.
32:31Eight months.
32:32Wow.
32:33I'm sure that's more than Tim and Sally expected.
32:36On the plus side,
32:38much of the interior stonework has been completed.
32:44Yeah, seriously beautiful stone.
32:48This is a bit confusing.
32:50Look, the house isn't finished, but the sofas are here.
32:53We're still on a construction site.
32:55There's no ceiling here.
32:56The outside's not finished.
32:58Kitchen's arriving.
33:00Feels a bit topsy-turvy.
33:03There's suddenly something a little weird.
33:08It gets stranger, look.
33:11A fully made bed.
33:13What's going on?
33:17It's like a Martinborough version of the mystery of the Mary Celeste.
33:22Where is everybody?
33:24Hi, Tom.
33:25Hi, come on in.
33:26Hello, I'm interrupting.
33:28Come and sit down.
33:28This is Tim's family.
33:30Hello there.
33:31Come and join us.
33:32All right.
33:33Well, I'll come and sit over here.
33:35Yeah, I wasn't expecting this.
33:36We made a commitment to family when my son was going to get married
33:41that we would give them beds and, well, the beds are ready.
33:45So we fulfilled on that commitment.
33:48Interesting to sleep in a house that has no front door.
33:54The wedding has been moved to another venue close by.
33:57A relief, I'm sure, for Tim and Sally.
34:00And a happy occasion and distraction from the ongoing demands of the build.
34:05I did have a meltdown a couple of weeks ago
34:07because I was really hoping to get the courtyard finished
34:11or at least concreted and not have all this horrible dust and gravel
34:16for people coming over.
34:17But Tim was like, it's not going to happen.
34:21I think that we've done some things in a different order
34:25than we might otherwise have chosen to do.
34:28I'd say.
34:37I've come up here on the hills above Tim and Sally's house
34:40to gaze down on the vision.
34:43But, of course, the weather's not playing ball.
34:46Slightly disappointing.
34:48A bit like wedding guests arriving to be put up in a construction site.
34:53That's not part of the vision.
34:55We're also beginning to get a glimpse of interior design finishes in the house.
35:00Classic materials.
35:02Subtle stone.
35:03Beautiful burnt timber.
35:04And now contrasted with bright green and yellow sofa cushions.
35:08Three types of different wood finishes in the kitchen area.
35:11So that precisely defined vision, that curated dream is beginning to lose a bit of definition for me.
35:19Things are getting rather cloudy.
35:35This all started with Tim and Sally's dream to live amongst the vines.
35:40You know, just your basic beautiful piece of land and a barn and a great house.
35:45Oh, and a vineyard too.
35:47So this is more than just a house reveal, isn't it?
35:50This is the start of a lifestyle.
35:53I wonder what we'll find.
35:58But while I'm imagining rows of luscious grapevines and bountiful harvests to come,
36:03the monochrome house itself is already a statement.
36:07A stark, even startling contrast to its environment.
36:12Even the gateposts, the signage, the three chimneys.
36:18And they have a vineyard.
36:19Well, a baby vineyard.
36:31Yeah, there's clearly a reference to barn architecture here.
36:36But a level of sophistication.
36:38Different volumes, proportions.
36:40Everything's been stretched and moved around.
36:42And this wall.
36:43Well, it's not just white.
36:45We can see color.
36:47There's a bit of tonal change in here.
36:51Ah, the charred timber.
36:53Yeah.
36:53It's really uniform.
36:56Oh, this is great.
36:59These rough-hewn chunks of stain contrasting with those home walls.
37:04Oh, and here we go.
37:05This is how we get in the intercom.
37:08Hi, Tom.
37:09Hey, Tim.
37:10Come on in.
37:15Hey.
37:15Hi there, Tom.
37:16Hey, Tim.
37:17How are you?
37:17Very good.
37:18Hi, Tom.
37:19Good to see you.
37:19Hi, Sally.
37:20That is a seriously impressive way to come into a house.
37:24And then a lovely window in the valley beyond.
37:26I mean, it's very cool.
37:29This house is noticeable.
37:39So, where to start?
37:41I mean, guests down in the pits, right?
37:46Underneath the giant moon.
37:48Well, this is resolved nicely.
37:50Yes, there was some discussion about it on a previous visit, wasn't there?
37:54Yeah, I remember.
37:54I remember.
37:55One thing was, we thought, oh, there's not going to be enough seating and what have you.
37:58And I think we could probably comfortably sit about 12 feet or so.
38:01Amazing.
38:02No problem there.
38:03A football team, maybe.
38:04Well, that's a good idea, Tom.
38:05Yeah.
38:10And then the timber.
38:11So, I wondered about this.
38:13Obviously, you've got the dark, charred timber.
38:16And then you've got a different colour floor.
38:19And a different colour timber here.
38:21It makes sense now.
38:23But the bright yellow and green sofas?
38:25I mean, they are...
38:28They stand out, don't they?
38:29We certainly wanted to bring the outside in.
38:31And that's what we've done with the sofas.
38:32The bright green of the grass and the golden trees that we saw outside.
38:38And it really works.
38:52It's a great island unit.
38:54Yes.
38:55One of one?
38:56Yes.
38:57Yes, I would imagine so, yeah.
38:59I don't think there'll be another one like this, hopefully.
39:02Yeah, it's a really lovely environment to be in.
39:05Yeah, so there's nothing that interrupts your view.
39:08It's just, you can see right through.
39:11And I've just spotted something else.
39:13These handles.
39:14Yeah, they're very cool.
39:15They are.
39:16They're really fun.
39:16Well, if you think those are interesting, you wait.
39:19I'll show you something that you'll like even more in a minute.
39:22Interesting.
39:25So, a little surprise behind this door.
39:27You have to go inside and close the door for the full immersive experience.
39:35Ha-ha!
39:36Yes.
39:37Okay.
39:37Well, I'm suddenly transported to what feels like medieval France.
39:42I'm in a cellar.
39:43I should close this door.
39:45You should.
39:47Yeah.
39:48Yeah.
39:48This, uh, this is definitely one of one.
39:55Down the hallway in the bedroom wing, there's a much more conventional bathroom.
39:59Albeit with its own individual flourishes.
40:04That's amazing.
40:05You've got a laser cut screen, right?
40:07So there's a metal screen.
40:08So that's protecting your modesty.
40:10I love that.
40:11Yeah.
40:11And this tile.
40:13Now that's a strong colour.
40:14It is a strong colour, yes.
40:16It's joyful.
40:21As well as the bathroom, there are a couple of generous guest bedrooms in this wing,
40:25plus a good-sized separate laundry.
40:28And right down the end, the master bedroom and ensuite,
40:32enjoying vineyard and poolside views.
40:36Wow.
40:37I mean, that's an eye-opening room.
40:39A glass on all three sides of your bed pushed up into the middle of it.
40:44So if you want to live amongst the vines, this is the room to be in, isn't it?
40:48And you've got vines.
40:49That's the key thing, right?
40:50It is for us, yes.
40:52Just last week, we had four and a half thousand Chardonnay vines planted.
40:56It's something quite satisfying to look out onto.
40:59Living amongst the vines.
41:00Mm.
41:01Yeah.
41:05For elevated views, it's up the elegant floating staircase with full-height timber balustrade and moon-shaped pendant lights.
41:13To the second lounge, showcasing Tim's sense of fun and Sally's Moroccan theme.
41:19Well, now.
41:20Ha!
41:21What's this?
41:22Tim's funky furniture.
41:23OK.
41:24So how'd you get in?
41:25You're jumping.
41:27You've done that before.
41:29Yeah.
41:30And now you're there for good.
41:32And once you're there, yeah, so this is the stargazing window, isn't it?
41:36Yeah.
41:36I really feel like I should have a go at this.
41:38Yeah.
41:38Sample the view from the funky furniture.
41:41All right, here we go.
41:42Yeah.
41:43It's just a...
41:46Yeah.
41:48Yeah, that's good.
41:58Well, I have to say, this is a really enjoyable house to be in.
42:03Oh, thank you.
42:03There was this very strong vision of yours, a black and white aesthetic.
42:08You know, it's unique, right?
42:10It's all about contrast for me.
42:12In one sense, yes, we wanted to make a statement.
42:15In another, living within the vines, there was that Mediterranean feel.
42:20And certainly the white does that.
42:22It makes you feel like we are transported somewhere else.
42:26I feel like I'm on holiday now.
42:28Yeah, definitely.
42:33It's full of humour and life, you know, not least the bathroom.
42:39And I love that.
42:40You know, we've made some reasonably bold decisions in a few places.
42:44But I would say pretty much everybody that's been around is like,
42:47oh, wow, yeah, that's cool.
42:55When you started, you told us that this house might cost two, two and a half million.
43:01And there was a stage where that became maybe another million more.
43:04Where did you end up?
43:05We ended up close to 3.3.
43:10You feel value in that?
43:12Oh, 100%.
43:12We have an exceptional house.
43:15To my mind, it's just retirement is just going to be a lot further away.
43:19So, but we've got an amazing place to live in the meantime.
43:24Well, you never know.
43:25Your wine could be the next big thing.
43:28Yeah.
43:35I have to say, this house confused me along the way.
43:39And I think I've learnt a lesson.
43:41You see, when you've got a really strong aesthetic and a strong vision and set of ideas,
43:46you've got to let that resolve before forming opinions.
43:50And so that glimpse I got of the unfinished house, the incomplete picture,
43:57well, it unsettled me.
43:58It didn't play to my sensibilities.
44:01But now the vision is complete.
44:04The black and white house now softened with some beautiful interior finishes,
44:09textures and investment in enduring quality.
44:12They now have the foundation for the bigger picture,
44:17their life amongst the vines.
44:20...
44:27...
44:35...
44:36Reactor,
44:38...
44:40All right.
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