Long gone are the days when group homes were built to a ‘one-size-fits-all’ set of plans – as shown by this stylish and idiosyncratic house at Richmond, near Nelson.

Custom-designed by a major firm, the home includes an eclectic mix of windows and doors from the Altherm range, including both Residential Series and Metro Series products. 

A stunning Plasma entry door in Mannex Navy Blue sets the scene. Complemented by a Metro Series frame in Matt Black, including sidelights and overlights, the effect is clean, architectural and robust, thanks to the heavy-duty styrofoam core that helps give all Plasma doors their strength and excellent acoustic and thermal qualities.

Throughout the rest of the house, joinery has been deployed in ways that are both attractive and highly practical. One example: a set of wide-opening bi-folds between the dining space and the covered outdoor relaxation zone includes the clever Altherm lay-back feature, meaning they can be folded back rather than project on to the patio. The result is an obstruction-free opening, allowing the owners to ‘clear the decks’ and enjoy those legendary Nelson outdoor summers.

On the outside, the designers went for white fascias around all the windows and doors, creating a sharp contrast with the dark weatherboards and Matt Black frames. Corner soakers and soffits were also painted white for added impact.

One design request the owners insisted on from the start was for a walk-in scullery. Handily, this cosy food preparation area includes a two-panel bi-fold window for easy transfer to the barbeque area immediately outside. Now that’s easy living!