It was inevitable that Tony and Terena Anderson would end up in the construction business, owning architectural design and build company Maddren Homes. Back when they had three young sons and Tony was a fireman, the couple were constantly building homes.

“We moved every nine months for six years when the kids were little. During Tony’s days off, we would build a home, move in, complete it, sell it, rent and do it all over again,” recalls Terena.

Today, it’s a family affair with their sons – two qualified builders and one electrician – now involved as shareholders. With experience building their own homes and their business, which sees an average of 32 homes built each year, they had a good idea of what they wanted when it came to planning their home in Kumeu.

“You always say, ‘Oh, I should have done that,’ but not so much here,” says Tony, the company’s director.

The couple were so satisfied with their 378sqm four-bedroom home, that for the first time ever, they entered the Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards and came away with the national award for “Builder’s Own Home” in 2020. Says Tony, “That was something we were very proud of.”

Tony’s favourite part of the house is being able to look out of the Vantage Residential Series windows and sliding doors across to the pine forest. Working very closely with the team at Vantage Windows North Shore, the aim was to maximise light and views from the open plan kitchen, living and dining areas. Tony insisted on large raked windows in the living area to open up the space to the view.

All this careful planning has paid off.  According to Tony, “The house is really performing well so far as indoor-outdoor living. Looking out to the bush is just fabulous.”

The H-shaped house opens up to the covered portico and on to the swimming pool through Vantage Residential Series sliding doors in Matt Black powdercoat.

Says Terena “These windows have finer lines so you’re not closing the views and there are so many colours. We chose the black profile. It’s really popular at the moment and has given the exterior a bit of a zap.”

Both Terena and Tony are fans of Vantage. “Tony is big on loyalty and Vantage has been very good to us over the years. Their products are beautiful. I don’t think you’d find better products.”

The Taranaki pine weatherboard and black paint-stained vertical cedar home was meant to be their last build, but with their sons moving away from the area, they’re not so sure now.

However, if they do decide to build again, it would be similar to this award-winning home with the bedrooms in one wing, a covered portico and living in the other, a stud of 4.2 metres and generous use of windows and sliding doors throughout.