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Craft, character and coastal living in this Sumner new build
A Sumner hillside home proves new builds can feel warm, personal and connected to their coastal setting.
AI summary
A new build in Sumner, Christchurch, challenges the "blank canvas" stereotype by creating a warm, personal home connected to its coastal setting. Designed by Urban Function Architecture with interiors by The Home Maker, the house was crafted to feel lived-in from day one.
The design emphasizes natural, tactile materials like Lunawood timber and oak. It incorporates handmade details and custom joinery, plus salvaged bricks from the original earthquake-damaged house, successfully adding history and character to the modern structure.
Exterior views of the home
The back deck, seen in the foreground, extends the main living space of the home. Glazing along both elevations captures the sun from morning to evening, framing views down to the beach below. From this vantage point, the house feels open yet composed, a quiet pause between hillside and sea.
Sarah and Toby Betteridge, pictured with their dog Klaus, at home in Sumner. Designed with Aaron Jones of Urban Function Architecture, Abbie Herniman of The Home Maker and builder SC Projects, the house quickly became their favourite place to be. “It felt like home from the start, even when we’d only just moved in,” says Sarah.
American white oak cabinetry by Modern Age Kitchens & Joinery wraps the kitchen and scullery, its walnut stain pairing with Laminam Ultra Pietra Grey benchtops. Handmade Inax tiles from Material Space bring movement behind the cooktop, while the island with barstools from Freedom Furniture is where the family naturally gathers. Shelves above display favourite pieces and artwork to personalise the space.
In the main living zone, dark-stained oak shelving by Podocarp Cabinetry houses Toby’s vinyl collection and turntables, a nod to evenings spent playing music rather than watching TV. Painted brick from the original house introduces texture and a trace of history, while Forte Moda Altro Capri herringbone flooring lends an easy warmth underfoot.
Emma Hayes River Metallic Weave wallpaper in deep blue soaks the powder room in shimmer and texture. The oak vanity by Podocarp Cabinetry pairs with vintage lighting and mirror details, and a deep Robert Gordon basin, turning the small space into a moment of elegant drama.
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