A couple who commissioned their architect to design “a box with a pool” have ended up with one of Nelson’s most talked about homes.
After 30 years and five homes on the same street, Sue and Neil Chesterman, were blown away by the house architecture firm Jerram Tocker Barren presented to them in 2021.
They weren't the only ones impressed by the three-bedroom stunner at 228 Collingwood Street. The house won the NZIA Nelson/Marlborough Architecture Award in 2021 and was a finalist in the Designers Institute of New Zealand awards the same year.
The Chestermans have reluctantly put the house on the market sale, as they head off into retirement, but they were happy to share with OneRoof how they ended up with such an unusual home.
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The couple had already lived much of their adult lives on Collingwood Street, when a tight 330sqm section came up for sale at number 228.
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“We were quite lucky to come across it and very lucky to be able to build on it,” Sue told OneRoof. “It was quite small and the title was ancient, so we asked Jerram Tocker Barron what they could design. The result is this rather amazing three-storey architectural home with pool. It’s lock-up and leave. It’s in the green belt, just under the Grampians and we have a lot of walking."
The couple knew they would be happy at the address, having already rented or owned five homes on the street. They kicked off their adventure on Collingwood Street as tenants at number 188 Collingwood, then moved on to renovate a 100-year-old cottage at number 205.
After that, they built a brand-new home at number 234 and bought number 230 to guarantee the view.
Sue, who admits to being a nervous driver, found the driveway at 234 to be unnerving. “But we owned an asphalt company, so we used to build driveways. My husband flattened the driveway up and reshaped it a bit.”
The vendors are proud of their deck and will miss the views it offers. Photo / Supplied
The kitchen won a National Kitchen & Bathroom Association NZ Top of the South award. Photo / Supplied
The couple weren’t there long before the land at 228 came up. While their current home was being built, they rented a neighbouring home down the hill, which fronted onto Collingwood, although its letterbox was in Brougham Street.
Neil told OneRoof: “We have a neighbourhood group with six nationalities and people from all sorts of different backgrounds. Our favourite would be Jamaican Dave [David Phillips], who’s is a well-known character in Nelson. He makes a lot of spicy rubs, and he’s the distributor of Black Spot Rum, which is superb. Dave also has Jamaican ginger beer. It's 4.5 fortified alcohol, which is fabulous with your Jamaican rum and a squeeze of lime. He’s a very good neighbour to have.”
As well as their neighbours and their pool, the Chestermans will miss their three-sided deck and the native birdlife. “We have native birds for Africa,” said Neil. “And we have a beautiful view of Tasman Bay.”
The house comes with a pool the owners adore. “I get up in the morning and throw myself in the pool. That gives me so much joy.” Photo / Supplied
One of the more unusual design features of their three-level home is the northern façade, which is a folded, perforated screen. It provides shading and privacy and doubles as a fall-protection barrier. It means the Chestermans can open the full-length doors on that northern side and not fall out.
The kitchen, which is also notable, won a National Kitchen & Bathroom Association NZ Top of the South award. However, what really brings Sue to life are two light fittings designed by James Russ.
Sue had seen Russ’s work on one season of The Block and was willing to break her rule of only using local, to commission the lights from the Auckland-based designer. “The funny thing is that when we hunted down this lovely young man, we found out that he was born in Brightwater, which is just out of Nelson.”
The couple are also fond of their lift, which takes them from the garage up to the other floors of the home.
The Chestermans, who have six children between them, have decided to downsize to free up capital for retirement. They want to be able to visit their children, who are scattered across New Zealand and Australia.
They are looking at moving to a high-end apartment or townhouse. “But I will miss my pool,” said Sue. “I get up in the morning and throw myself in the pool. That gives me so much joy.”
- 228 Collingwood Street, in Nelson South, Nelson, is for sale by negotiation
