Luxury lodgings

Whether it’s savouring a glass of fine wine or sinking into a good book on a sumptuous couch, everything seems better when you’re on holiday. So why not bring a little bit of that leisurely feeling back with you?

After a blissful stay at Black Barn Vineyards’ retreat in Hawke’s Bay, Sylvia Smith and husband Robert were inspired to take home that same sense of calm for their gabled new-build. All they needed was a site as tranquil as one between the vines.

They had originally designed their home for a section in Turangi near Lake Taupo, with architect Alan Minty, but following the birth of their first grandchild they decided to build closer to family in Wellington