"We took a gamble and it has certainly paid off," says Mike Childs of New Style Homes by Mike Childs Builders, regional winners of the Registered Master Builders 2014 House of the Year, Show Home category.
Mike knew he was taking a risk with the only-purpose built show home in Stratford, however he sees having a show home as very important "as it gives clients ideas as to what you can do and helps inspire them".
As well as being selected as the regional winner for the show home category, the house on Montague Grove also received the Gold Award for excellence in workmanship, creativity and innovation. "It is very humbling to receive this award knowing the homes were judged and not just voted for."
Mike's show home has also been selected as one of the top 100 homes in the House of the Year competition, "this means we are through to the next round of the competition".
There were seven Gold Award winners from the Taranaki region which will now be assessed alongside Gold Award winners from across the country to find the National Gold Reserve finalists, to be announced in early September.