From Lodge Hosts to Coastal Living: Phil and Kim's English-Inspired Abel

When you've spent years hosting guests in a Dunedin lodge, you develop a keen understanding of what makes a space truly welcoming. Phil and Kim knew exactly what they wanted when they decided to trade the cooler South Island climate for the golden beaches of Kaiteriteri – a home that would capture the warmth and character of their English heritage whilst embracing their new coastal lifestyle.

Their journey to tiny home living began with a practical consideration: after years of managing larger properties, they craved the simplicity and efficiency of a smaller space, but without compromising on the quality and comfort they'd grown accustomed to. The Abel, at 48m², provided the perfect foundation for their vision.

A Kitchen Designed for Passionate Cooks

As serious cooking enthusiasts, Phil and Kim knew their kitchen would be the heart of their new home. Kim's passion for cooking meant this area required particular attention to both functionality and quality. The result is a stunning custom kitchen crafted by Motueka Joinery that rivals those found in much larger homes.

The design thoughtfully combines both stone and timber benchtops, with the stone extending seamlessly into the window sill behind the butler's sink – creating visual depth and a connection to the coastal views beyond. Glass-fronted cabinetry above the cooktop adds both storage and visual lightness, whilst an ingenious Enko smart corner mechanism maximises every centimetre of storage space.

For entertaining, we incorporated bar stool seating along one side with a clever cabinet that opens into the lounge area, creating the perfect drinks station for hosting friends and family.

Phil and Kim are passionate sports fans, so we designed their lounge to accommodate a 55" television with soundbar that can be easily viewed from both the seating area and kitchen. The panelled timber feature wall behind the TV adds visual warmth whilst the central lounge layout creates natural conversation areas.

A timber ceiling fan provides gentle air circulation during Kaiteriteri's warmer months, whilst the combination of architectural windows and carefully planned lighting creates beautiful ambiance for both active days and peaceful evenings.

Maximising Space Through Intelligent Planning

One of the most impressive aspects of Phil and Kim's Abel is how we reimagined the traditional layout to create more generous living spaces. By relocating the bathroom to the end of the building, we transformed it into a luxurious ensuite whilst freeing up valuable square meterage in the main living areas.

The bathroom itself showcases premium thinking: a full-width 1200mm shower, custom laundry joinery unit, and an in-wall toilet system that maximises floor space. The result feels spacious and hotel-like rather than cramped.

Bedroom

In the bedroom, oversized wardrobe doors with full-length mirroring create the illusion of even more space, whilst three-way switches on either side of the bed provide convenient lighting control – small details that make daily living effortless.

Exterior

Customisation Summary

Starting with our standard Abel design, Phil and Kim personalised their home with these thoughtful upgrades:

Exterior & Structure

• UPVC thermally broken joinery throughout

• Lawson Cyprus timber cladding across the full front elevation

• Upgraded wall framing to 140mm with R4.0 insulation

• Enhanced ceiling and underfloor insulation to R6.0

Kitchen (Custom by Motueka Joinery)

• Butler's sink with stone benchtop extending into window sill

• Combination stone and timber benchtops

• Glass-fronted cabinetry above cooktop

• Enko smart corner storage mechanism

• Bar stool seating with integrated drinks cabinet opening to lounge

Living Areas

• Bathroom relocated to end of building, creating ensuite layout

• Central lounge configuration

• Panelled timber feature wall behind TV area

• Timber ceiling fan

• Accommodation for 55" TV with soundbar

Bedroom & Bathroom

• Oversized wardrobe doors with full-length mirror

• Three-way bedroom lighting switches

• Full-width 1200mm shower

• Custom laundry joinery unit

• In-wall toilet system for space maximisation

Your Vision, Perfectly Tailored

Phil and Kim's story illustrates what becomes possible when you work with a team that understands both the technical aspects of tiny home construction and the personal dreams that drive your decisions. Their Abel started as our standard 48m² design but evolved into something uniquely theirs through careful consultation and expert craftsmanship.

Whether you're drawn to English cottage charm, modern minimalism, or something entirely your own, the Abel provides an excellent foundation for customisation. I'd love to discuss how we can adapt our designs to match your lifestyle and create your own perfect tiny home story.

Ready to explore how we can customise an Abel for your lifestyle? I'm here to discuss your vision and share how our tiny home design process works. Give us a call directly – I'd love to hear about your dreams for tiny home living.