Bay builder nails reno award

Redmond Builders owner Ben Redmond said one of his favourite aspects of the winning renovation was transforming a granny flat into an outdoor living area. Photo / Supplied

Hawke's Bay's Redmond Builders have gained yet another accolade to add to their growing collection after winning the East Coast, Manawatu and Whanganui Registered Master Builders 2017 Supreme Renovation of the Year award at the weekend.

Located in Havelock North, the renovation included the transformation of a granny flat into an outdoor living area and a spacious kitchen which were each recognised at a gala dinner at the Napier Conference Centre on Saturday night.

Judges said the winning renovation, a category valued between $500,000 and $1 million, was a very unassuming 1950s bungalow which had been extensively modernised with a seamless result.

Of note was the creation of outdoor spaces; a feature perfectly tailored to the home owners who loved to entertain, Redmond Builders owner Ben Redmond said.

"As a whole it was a really special renovation as the client wanted to cook and entertain for guests. A really sociable area was created."

The renovation, which spanned seven months and finished about Christmas 2015, also won the Outdoor Living Award and the Heart of the Home Kitchen Award.

Mr Redmond, who knew the clients personally, said the architect who drew up the initial draft "got it right first pop".

"We had it designed properly and kept the bungalow's tradition, wanting people to know when the renovation started and stopped."

He said it was particularly exciting to see the transformation from start to finish.

"It was thrilling because they [the home owners] invited us back for dinner and we got to see how things worked."

Davcon Limited project foreman Adam Bradey, who co-ordinated a new home build which won gold and category for New Home $450-$550,000, said he was pleased to see his team's hard work pay off.

"It was a pretty cool to get the award. You work for so long on the build and to get recognised makes all the bad days, and good days, on site worth it."

Stonewood Homes Hawke's Bay Ltd won gold and category plus silver in New Home $700,000-$1 million, along with silver in New Home up to $450,000.

Upon receiving the awards, director Peter Barnes remarked it was the special touches which set these houses apart.

"A major consideration for the owners of this home was to maximise the beautiful Hawke's Bay summers, so we used large bi-fold doors between the communal areas and a large deck," he said.

Other Hawke's Bay winners were Design Builders (HB) Limited who won gold for New Home $550,000-$700,000, along with Redshaw Homes Limited who won gold in New Home up to $450,000 award and Integral Building Services Limited and Homeworx Design and Build Limited who each won silver.

The 11 Gold Award winners from the East Coast, Manawatu and Whanganui, five of which are from Hawke's Bay, will now be judged against Gold Award winners from around the country to find the National Gold Reserve finalists in November this year.