Brent Tuohy has grown up with Lockwood. He took over Tuohy Homes Ltd from his father, together operating the successful Lockwood Wellington region for nearly 5 decades. For Brent and wife Jeanette, there was no better choice than a Lockwood. Low maintenance, robust and able to cope with coastal conditions, combined with high quality and a safely engineered building system, made that decision easy.
After owning a home on the same site for nearly 15 years and living in it themselves for 9, the Tuohy’s subdivided and embarked on their own home building journey. They had good living experience and insight into how the site worked for access, seasonal sun angles, prevailing winds, south and westerly views and required outdoor spaces for their family. Jeanette spent years missing the views and sunsets due to the old kitchen being at the back of the house, usually preparing meals when the sun went down in the evening. Essential then in their planning was for the kitchen to be positioned to capture views and be a warm sunny space well connected to the main living area.
In typical Wellington fashion, the site presented challenges due to its hillside location. It required an engineered block basement to provide stability for the home which was going to be on 3 levels to maximise space on a small footprint. They designed their home with their own Tuohy Homes design guru, Ross Kerry, with all the above factors in mind and over a period of 3 years ended up with 3 different concepts. These were whittled down to a final solution which provided the best views from key living spaces, passive heating gains, site positioning and met their budget allocation. Ross indicated that designing for the owners of the business was a daunting but a very satisfying job – considering how ecstatic everyone is with the outcome!
The Tuohy’s wanted an architectural style for their bespoke design and opted for knot-free timber which was blonded to create crisp clean lines. Jeanette enjoys designing kitchens and bathrooms with their clients and used this skill alongside online and supplier inspiration to curate their modern kitchen, scullery and bathroom spaces.
Jeanette also collaborated with designer Ross to create their stunning entry atrium and stairwell with feature skylights for a grand entrance. The custom-built fireplace in the living room was inspired by Brent as were the effective schist pillars which connect the natural elements of timber and stone together so well.
To future proof their multi storey home, they included a hydraulic lift to the main level which makes getting shopping and firewood to this area a breeze.
Asked what their favourite spots are in the home, Jeanette is quick to respond with “My sunroom! There is a peak of a view but it is the sunniest room in the house especially in winter and my bath in the master en-suite, my kitchen, scullery and an internal access garage – probably in that order”.
There is a wonderful sense of space in this warm home that takes very little to heat with plenty of room for their two teenage children and their friends. The Tuohy’s enjoy sitting at the kitchen island bench and having their meals there, with the added bonus of being able to see incredible sunsets while they do.
Their new home has transformed their quality of life. Being a couple who places great importance in having family and friends over, it’s just the perfect environment for entertaining.
Brent says, “Now we wake up each morning and look directly across Cook Strait to the South Island and the whole family can’t wait to entertain on our sun-soaked decks in the summer”.
The Tuohy’s wanted a home that showcased their vision and ability to design and craft a high quality and contemporary space. They are more passionate and committed to Lockwood than ever before – if that’s even possible! Their new home is a stylish, comfortable and calm environment which fills them with pride every day.
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