At Design Builders Bay of Plenty, every home is more than just a project—it’s a personal journey of creation and innovation. Sam Perrin, a driving force behind the company, shares his experiences and the unique approach that sets Design Builders apart.
A journey of passion and creativity
Sam Perrin has been with Design Builders for seven years, a period marked by transformation and achievement. His initial attraction to the company stemmed from a fascination with its unique approach to home building. “Having built Design Builders houses prior to becoming a partner, I had seen the company through a different lens. The lure of developing a company in my own way and creating one-off architectural homes was very exciting,” says Sam.
As the managing director, Sam wears many hats. His role fluctuates between administrative tasks, client interactions, project management, and sometimes even hands-on fixes. “Depending on which way the wind is blowing, I could be doing anything from admin to sales to project management to maintenance,” he explains. It’s this versatility that keeps the company nimble and responsive to the ever-changing needs of their clients and the industry.
Crafting dreams into reality
One of the highlights of Sam’s career is winning Gold at the Master Builders Awards. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication that the Design Builders team pours into every project. But for Sam, the true reward lies in the process of turning a client’s vision into reality. “Being able to create someone’s dream home, turning what can start out as a sketch on a napkin into a stunning family home, is pretty special,” he shares.
Design Builders works with a diverse range of clients, often middle-aged professionals and retirees, each bringing their own vision for a unique and personal home. The common thread among them is a desire for a residence that reflects their individuality and meets their specific needs.
The process begins with understanding a client’s must-haves and wishes then aligning them with their budget. This collaborative approach continues throughout the design and construction phases, with regular updates and on-site interactions ensuring that every detail aligns with the client’s vision.
Initial Sketch
Detailed Plan
Finished House
A commitment to excellence
“Design Builders is renowned for its high-quality craftsmanship. This reputation is built on a refined process developed over 30 years and a dedicated team committed to excellence. From designers and builders to plumbers and painters, everyone plays a crucial role in bringing each home to life,” Sam explains.
Sam emphasises the importance of regular client communication to incorporate feedback effectively. This ensures that each design reflects the client’s unique personality and preferences, leading to a home that is truly one of a kind.
Innovative designs and unique features
Design Builders prides itself on building homes that are unique to each client, with the taglines‘ Every one of a kind’ and ‘A home built around you.’ One memorable project Sam outlined involved designing a home on the edge of a bush area. Bedrooms were oriented to provide views of specific trees, with rooms named Rimu, Matai, and Tawa to reflect the natural surroundings. This thoughtful design creates a seamless connection between the home and its environment, showcasing the innovative and creative solutions that Design Builders is known for.
How long have you been a Design Builders partner?
7 years
What motivated you to become a Design Builders partner?
Having built Design Builders houses prior to becoming a partner, I had seen the company through a different lense. the lure of developing a company in my own way and creating one off architectural homes was very exciting.
Can you describe what your role involves?
As the managing director of a small company, I wear many hats, depending on which was the wind is blowing, from admin to sales to project management to maintenance man.
What are some of the most memorable moments and significant milestones you’ve experienced?
Definitely Winning gold awards in the master builders awards.
What do you find the most enjoyable and rewarding part about your job?
Being able to create someone’s dream home. Having the ability to turn, what can start out as a sketch on a napkin into a stunning family home is pretty special.
Can you tell us about the kinds of clients you tend to work with? Age, background.
There is a variety but generally they tend to be middle aged professionals or retirees.
What kinds of project briefs do you typically receive from your clients? Is there a common theme or specific requests that come up more often?
What is common between all clients is that they want a home that is unique and designed specifically for them. Every client comes with non-negotiables, which are the key to designing unique homes
Can you walk us through the process from receiving a client brief to building and handing over the completed home? How do you reflect each client’s unique personality and preferences?
Breaking it down very simply, from the start we try to understand what a client wants in their home, what they must have, what they would like. From there we understand their budget and start to form alignment between the two.
Through the design phase clients are heavily involved and we constantly reflect on the design brief to make sure we have still have alignment with preferences and budget.
Once construction is underway, we also have a lot of client interaction on site which is also pivotal in making sure we are ticking all the boxes. It is a great way for clients to be involved throughout the process.
Design Builders is known for delivering high-quality products. What steps do you take to ensure this level of quality in your projects? How do elements like the brief, design, process, and crew contribute to the overall success of a project?
The Design Builders process has been developed and refined over 30+ years to what it is today so it has been tried and tested to bring out the best in design and construction.
From here it is having a team that is invested to delivering a product that they can all be proud to be apart of. This is everyone from designers, to builders to plumbers to painters to cleaners and everyone else in between.
What is your approach to incorporating client feedback into the design process?
Regular communication through the design process with a client is essential for the design to properly reflect a clients wants, needs and personality.
Design Builders prides itself on building homes that are unique to each client, with the motto ‘Every one of a kind’ and ‘A home built around you’.
Can you tell us about some distinctive features or designs you have implemented in homes over the years? What are some of the most innovative or creative solutions you’ve developed for a client’s home?
We built for one client whose home is located in a rural setting right on the bush edge. From 3 of the bedrooms, there is direct line of site to the bush where specific trees can be seen. As a result, the rooms were subsequently themed and named, Rimu, Matai & Tawa.
