Hawke's Bay home basks in gold

A new home featuring an outdoor bath, swimming pool, and morning and afternoon sun decks with a view stretching out across Hawke Bay, has been acclaimed for its brilliant design and construction.

Gee Builders won gold in the PlaceMakers Supreme Award and East Coast Registered Master Builders 2012 House of the Year on Saturday night, while Ainsworth and Collinson won gold in a corresponding award for Renovation of the Year, for the renovation of a Havelock North home originally built in the 1880s.

Designed by the son of its new owners, the $600,000-$1million Napier home takes advantage of sunny weather and spectacular views, while landscaping screens it from harsh winds typical of its location in Eskridge Drive.

Gee Builders owner David Gee said the designer had done a "fantastic job".

"The challenge was to make it blend in," he said.

"The developer wanted homes in that hill to blend into the natural surroundings and it does that perfectly.

"The way it's designed with AM and PM decks, it doesn't matter where the sun is, you've always got somewhere to take advantage of it.

"But the afternoon deck has got the swimming pool beside it, which is just a terrific arrangement.

"It just works so well."

The home took about 18 months to complete after taking into account landscaping and other extras.

The kitchen was given special praise from both the judges and Mr Gee.

"A lot of thought has gone into the kitchen," he said. "The owner spent many hours with the design company to get it exactly how she wanted it."

The home used Hinuera stone for its exterior which gave it a "clean, rural feel", the judges said.