Monica & Justin's Casa Del Sol

You could be forgiven for thinking that Casa del Sol was located on the Mediterranean coastline, being set into the land and surrounded by water and flora. Built upon Italian, Spanish and Moroccan traditions, the modern Mediterranean style is rooted in slow living and embraces minimalism through simple lines, natural materials and soft, earthy colour schemes – ideals that are congruent with the Raglan lifestyle. Characterised by sweeping arches both inside and out, bespoke niche walls and earthy handmade tiles in warm terracotta, Monica and Justin Grimshaw’s home is unlike anything else on the market. Monica has combined organic forms with natural elements and restraint in finishes and colour, resulting in a home of relaxed, zen sensibilities. The rendered Venetian plastered walls in Istinto by Giorgio Graesan, offer textural interest and almost stand as pieces of art in of themselves. Anchoring the scheme is warm honey toned timber flooring, carried throughout the home.
Casa del Sol homeowners Monica (beauty therapist and co-founder of an eco-yoga mat company), husband Justin (sales manager for a sustainable insulation company) and their two daughters Kalani, six, and Luna, four, have leant into the Raglan way of life and community, making the most of the micro-climate offered by the West Coast town. Escaping for a wave wherever possible and hosting long lunches for friends in their new home that seamlessly blends indoor with outdoor living, the young family have perfected the ideals of a holiday at home.

What was your journey to building your home?
We purchased the section over 5 years ago. It’s situated on the Rangitahi Peninsula - a new community in Raglan. We instantly fell in love with the section, which is set on the water’s edge and has beautiful views of Mount Karioi and the estuary which reaches out to the Tasman Sea. Covenants require builds within the new Rangitahi Peninsula to prioritise a high calibre of design and building quality as well as sustainability and energy-efficiency. We designed our home almost 3 years ago and the build took about 15 months to complete.
What was your vision for your home?
I have always been inspired by Mediterranean architecture, so our vision was to incorporate the traditional Mediterranean aesthetic into our new build. We used terracotta tiles, venetian plaster, brass and arches throughout to make our home feel really authentic as if we had been transported back to a European villa.

What was important for your flooring choice?
We searched for a long time to find the perfect flooring for our home, we wanted a warm, honey tone for our flooring and quality was also very important to us. We came across the Quick-Step Massimo Engineered Timber in Cappuccino Blonde Oak from Flooring Xtra, which was the perfect match for our home. The colour tone was exactly what we had been searching for and we loved the extra wide and long boards that made our home feel spacious. Opting for one flooring type throughout our home gives it a unified feeling and uninterrupted flow between spaces.

'We used terracotta tiles, venetian plaster, brass and arches throughout to make our home feel really authentic as if we had been transported back to a European villa.'

Were there any considerations that you needed to pay when choosing your flooring?
Our house is north facing which is why we wanted a hard flooring solution that would retain the sun’s heat during the evenings in winter.
For those that are embarking on a build, what are your top tips?
Our advice would be to invest your time in research and create a clear vision for your home. Also, with so many delays in the building industry at present, make decisions and place orders well in advance. Follow up on orders and tradespeople to ensure their timelines are met.
What were your non-negotiables?
Maximising water views, thermally efficient and quality flooring were non-negotiables for our home build. The use of venetian plaster throughout our home was essential in creating the Mediterranean aesthetic.

Do you have a favourite room or area of your home?
My favourite room in our home would have to be the living area. Naturally it’s the space we spend the most time as a family, so I put a lot of thought into its design. As well as having water views from every window, the living area incorporates rendered walls, arched doorways, niches and a curved terracotta tiled kitchen island to complete the Mediterranean feel. The niches, arched doorways and the curved hallway wall were out of the ordinary requests for our builder and required a lot of time and attention to perfect, but these are the elements that step the design up in authenticity.

Is there anything left to finish off to complete your home?
We are currently completing the exterior of our home with plans for a pergola and an Italian style patio garden area to be completed this Spring/Summer.