Designed by Jann Hurley Architects, this Pukekohe home brings natural timber finishes to the fore with cedar cladding and extensive use of Plytech ply for interior walls, ceilings and cabinetry. The natural material selection plays an important role in creating flow between indoor and outdoor entertaining areas.

The home features an expansive kitchen, dining and living area which leads out to a patio complete with barbecue, pool and access to a private section of native bush. For the walls and high raking ceilings of the living areas Plytech’s uncoated Birch Elite 12mm ply was chosen to provide a cohesive look between interior and exterior spaces. “The whole exterior is cedar and the ply complements that,” explains builder Harry Van der Putten, Van der Putten Construction. “The two products really work well together.”

The uncoated ply product helped the construction team deliver the clean look required. “We wanted to be able to fix the ply in place prior to coatings, rather than using prefinished,” explains Harry. “This gave us the opportunity to fill any mechanical fastener holes.” The result is meticulous, with the clean lines of the ply only interrupted by subtle recessed lighting.

The natural aesthetic of Birch Elite has been extended into other areas of the home. A striking ply wall in the corridor provides a visual connection between spaces, while in the bedrooms select walls in ply add a touch of warmth alongside plasterboard linings.

To ensure a consistent look throughout the home, Plytech’s Birch Elite ply was also used for cabinetry in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry — this time in pre-finished 18mm panels. The choice to use both pre-finished and uncoated ply presented a unique challenge. “It was important that the two mediums flow together,” explains Harry. “We needed a similar coating to get a similar sheen and colour. Plytech advised on the products that would match their pre-finished result.”

Extra care was taken when selecting the ply panels to provide consistency. “The guys at Plytech went the extra mile and hand-picked the ply to make sure we had a good matching batch,” explains Harry. “The plywood was very consistent in its texture and colour.”

The Birch Elite ply is complemented by selective use of white pre-finished ply. The stunning effect this creates is most evident in the kitchen designed by Carlielle Kitchens where Futura HPL white cabinetry for lower cabinets brightens the space and provides a fresh contrast with the Birch Elite used for upper cabinets.

The natural look and feel of Plytech’s ply has contributed to a stunning home which blends beautifully into its rural surroundings. "We love the accuracy and detail that can be attained using this product, are we are really enjoying the harmony of the interior and exterior timbers used throughout the home," says homeowner Jason.

“It looks really good on the piece of land it’s sitting on,” adds Harry. “The clients have moved in and are loving every minute. It exceeded their expectations.”