High on a hill, and turning a periscope on the passing parade, this fresh-off-the-blocks home already has stories to tell.
Most people think of a new build as a blank canvas. For Sarah and Toby Betteridge, that once meant white walls, clean lines and a house waiting for personality to move in. What they crafted instead was texture, warmth and the comfort of a home that already feels lived in.
An empty section high on the Sumner hillside wasn’t part of their initial plan. After a decade in nearby Redcliffs, the couple was ready for a change, but hadn’t imagined they’d build. Sumner’s coastal setting and easy community spirit had always appealed, yet the idea of starting from scratch felt daunting. “We told ourselves we wouldn’t even look,” says Toby. “It looked amazing, but surely it would be out of reach?” Curiosity got the better of them: once they stood on the site with the sea stretching below, hesitation gave way to excitement. The view sealed it as did the promise of creating something lasting in one of Ōtautahi/Christchurch’s most storied beachside suburbs.
The site once held a mid-century brick house lost to the earthquakes. Its old pool structure (a steel-framed glasshouse along the boundary) still stood, as did an existing garage.
The previous owners had commissioned Aaron Jones of Urban Function Architecture to prepare concept plans, and those drawings immediately resonated. They proposed a simple two-level form that worked with the steep site, oriented toward the sea without dominating it. Rather than starting over, Sarah and Toby chose to carry that idea forward, refining it to fit the needs of their young family. Aaron approached the design as an exercise in connection between old and new, architecture and landscape. “The new two-level pavilion ties the site together, connecting the pool house and garage into a single composition,” he says. Lunawood timber and coloured metal cladding balance warmth and precision, while glazing brings in the sea views and light. The roofline follows the slope of the land so the house feels nestled in its setting.
Designer Abbie Herniman of The Home Maker joined the project early in the process. Her calm, considered approach complemented Aaron’s framework, while the skill of builder SC Projects brought it all together. “Everyone communicated so well,” says Toby. “If a decision came up, it was solved before it became a problem.”
Sarah says working with a designer made the experience easier and far more enjoyable. “There are so many decisions when you build, and it can be overwhelming,” she explains. “Abbie narrowed things down so we could make confident choices. It took away the fatigue and kept it fun.”
From the street, the house sits low against the hillside, composed and unassuming. Step inside and the sense of scale shifts as the view opens to the horizon. The main living level brings together the kitchen, dining and sitting areas, connecting to the coast on one side and a sheltered deck on the other, a serene pocket protected from the easterly. Below, the family’s bedrooms and bathrooms are a quieter space to retreat.
Originally from the UK, Sarah and Toby saw the project as a chance to create something enduring — a home that reflects where they’ve come from and where they’ve chosen to stay.When Abbie visited their previous Redcliffs home, she found rooms filled with vintage furniture, artwork and collected objects. “They had a strong sense of style,” she says. “I wanted this house to feel handcrafted and connected to them, not a new build that could belong to anyone.” She aimed to translate that character into a refined setting, keeping natural materials at the centre, while punctuating the scheme with thoughtful details.
Abbie describes the design language as built on tactility. “We wanted every room to include something handmade,” she says. “A lightfitting, a basin, the way the timber is detailed — those things make a space feel personal from day one.”
Underfoot, oak in a herringbone pattern grounds the home, its sandy tone echoing the hillside and beach below. Walnut-stained oak cabinetry by Modern Age Kitchens & Joinery adds depth, while subtle shifts in texture guide you through the rooms. “When you move through the house, it should feel like reading something familiar, but with new moments as you go,” says Abbie. You sense it in the weight of the materials and the low-key confidence of the joinery.
Some of the most meaningful details came from family. Bricks salvaged from the original house were cleaned and cut by Sarah’s father, Joe Casiello, who helped lay them as slips for reuse. “Dad loved it, even if he wasn’t so sure when we decided to paint them white,” laughs Sarah. Among the pile, a few were stamped ‘JC’ — his initials — an appropriate signature built into the fabric.
Podocarp Cabinetry crafted the bathroom vanities and living-room joinery in solid oak to echo Toby’s love of mid-century design. Every piece bears the touch of the handmade, from custom handles to finely worked surfaces that bring a sense of ease and familiarity.
Colour flows softly through the rooms, a mix of sea-washed blues and earthy hues that mirror the landscape outside.
In the snug, the palette deepens. Painted a moody blue that wraps wall and ceiling alike, it forms a cocoon for reading and movie nights. The atmosphere feels cohesive yet relaxed, each space distinct but linked.
The open-plan living area frames the ocean. “We used extensive glazing teamed with glass balustrades to draw in the panoramic views of Sumner and Pegasus Bay,” explains Aaron. This window on a watery world proved a complete show-stopper. “The first night we moved in, everyone sat at the kitchen bench eating dinner in silence, just looking out,” says Sarah. The feeling hasn’t faded. Morning light floods the hallway and the view changes with the weather. “It’s hard not to feel lucky,” she says.
During the Betteridges’ first summer, a pod of whales passed across the bay one evening, a reminder of how alive this landscape is. Whether it’s watching the sunrise, scanning the tide or taking a glimpse at life on the beach, there’s always something to notice.
Music, not television, fills the living space, where Toby’s vinyl collection sits neatly within custom joinery. A studio beneath the garage now flexes with the family’s rhythm — a workspace, guest retreat or, soon, a teenager’s domain.
With the house complete, life here rolls on. Weekends are spent tending the garden, planning the new pool house and gradually shaping the next chapter for the site.
For Abbie, the project’s success came from shared intention. “We had the aesthetic, the budget and the brief locked in early, so nothing was compromised,” she says. “Every element feels intentional.”
The result proves that building new doesn’t have to begin with a blank slate. Designed with story, craft and care, it’s become something far beyond what they expected — one distinctly out of the box.
Words Alice Lines
Photography Anna McLeod
The post Craft, character and coastal living in this Sumner new build appeared first on homestyle magazine.
