The end of the year is coming fast! And even though December feels like a mad rush to the finish line, we wanted to take a minute to pause and take a look back at the past year and reflect on what we’ve been up to in 2025. So to do this, we thought we’d look back and recap our five most popular blogs from the year, and highlight some of the key achievements, ideas, and expert advice that struck a chord with Kiwis looking to build their dream home with Sentinel.
We kicked off the year by talking with Architectural Designer and Sentinel Homes Taranaki Franchise Owner Andrew Kuriger about maximising space in your home, including some advice on how to increase storage and some tips on making your place feel bigger.
Andrew advised that smart planning early on can ensure people don’t have to settle for less. The key, he explained, is designing around how you actually live. “When you're designing a home from scratch, that's when you can build a place that really works for you. It’s one thing when it comes to designing that I think needs to be thought through more properly. That’s why for us, we look at logical places for people to keep things that help easily save on clutter.”
He also advised that design choices can make smaller homes feel more spacious, such as higher stud heights, light shafts, and enlarged glazing which create a sense of openness and connection to the outdoors, all of which shape a room’s sense of volume.
Finishing up, Andrew talked about how the whole Sentinel team is always keeping an eye on new developments that can help maximise space in their builds. “We’re keen to stay at the forefront of design and build, so we make sure we’re learning from people doing really well, visiting the newest showhomes, and bouncing ideas around with each other. Just trying to continually grow, understand what's new and exciting, and look at how we offer better solutions.”
In March, we took a trip down River Road to check out Sentinel’s new Hamilton showhome and have a chat with Nate Alley, the Owner of Sentinel Homes Waikato, about the motivation behind the build and what the team wanted to achieve.
Built on a compact site, this entertainer’s dream home demonstrates how smart design can create a huge impact. Of particular note were the pillar-less internal corners, a raked ceiling, and seamless integrated appliances. There’s even a bathroom hidden behind a secret door!
Nate described the project as heaps of fun, explaining that the team pulled together their favourite ideas, using everything they’d learned over 10 years and put them into one home. Given this, he also noted that instead of going over the top, the goal was to create something aspirational and attainable. “It was really important for us that we built a nice home that was still attainable for most people… showing people how you can do design well so that you get the best bang for your buck.”
The reaction to the showhome has been amazing. “The general reaction from people when they first walk in the door is that they look up the stairs, there's a raking ceiling, there's skylights, and they’re just like ‘whoa, this is cool’,” Nate said. “People love the main bedroom and the en suite, they love the outdoor area, they love the media room. There's actually something in this house to suit everyone.”
One of our more popular blogs covered our conversation with Sentinel Homes Counties Franklin Managing Director, Will Batts, who broke down the home building process and shared why the journey doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, especially when you have the right partner guiding you from day one.
Will explained that the difference between a successful process and an unsuccessful one is the quality of the information you have up front. “It's a combination of having the relationships with suppliers and consultants to get good data, and also having the experience to know how to ask the right questions, understanding the site, understanding the client's needs, and understanding how to give them maximum value.”
Before construction begins, Will says that clients work closely with Sentinel’s design consultants to make all their selections, from colours through to tapware. Although he says many are eager to get on with breaking ground, Will explains this stage is crucial. “We slow clients down because we don't want any surprises. It's all about making sure they know what they're getting so once we’re on site everything runs smoothly and they're not feeling frustrated.” Thanks to this upfront detail, the build phase itself becomes pretty straightforward, with any obstacles already anticipated and discussed.
Ultimately, Will sees the strength of a build journey based on the strength of the partnership they’ve established. “We're not actually selling finished buildings, we're selling a process,” he explained. “Where Sentinel Homes adds value is the quality of service, the way that we take clients on a journey where they know exactly what they're getting, exactly what's happening at each stage and what success looks like.”
With a growing interest in knockdown and rebuild projects, we chatted with Hayden Rau, Managing Director of Sentinel Homes Wellington & Kapiti, who explained the benefits and challenges of these projects, and how Sentinel supports clients every step of the way.
Hayden said part of the appeal is the ability to unlock value while staying local through subdividing to increase equity, explaining that “It might cost $100,000 to create that section, but it’ll probably be worth several hundred thousand dollars.” Others see a knockdown and rebuild as a way to create the custom home they’ve always wanted while remaining in a great school zone, close to town, or near family, giving them a blank canvas tailored to their individual preferences and circumstances.
While these projects may be complex, Hayden emphasised how Sentinel works to simplify the journey, explaining that they provide easy access to the experts needed. “We're a one-stop shop for people and that's what makes it attractive for people,” he explained. “It means they can deal with one company or even one person the whole way through.”
Hayden said that ultimately the reason clients choose Sentinel for their knock down and rebuild projects is they provide the confidence needed for what is generally a lengthy and complex process. “Something might come up that a client may be worried about but we know we can say, hey, look, it's all good, we've got this. We take the stress out of the situation for people because we have the experience and we know the process.”
Of course one of the highlights every year is when we’re recognised at the the House of the Year awards, and 2025 was no exception! So in our August blog we took a closer look at our newly awarded homes and what helped them take out some of the top prizes in 2025.
Auckland North & West led the pack with two Gold Awards and a Top 100 placement, including a charity build praised as “thoughtful, beautiful and restful,” with profits donated to Parenting Place. Their Belmont residence also impressed with its architectural flair and meticulous detailing.
Waikato took home multiple Top 100s, Golds, regional categories, and lifestyle awards. Their sustainable Rukuhia home was called “a masterclass in design,” while their budget-friendly 137sqm Hamilton build showcased how you can fit a lot of home into a small footprint.
Auckland Central South & East earned Gold for a Mellons Bay clifftop home. Of particular note was how it cleverly shaped around stunning sea views with skilful architecture and seemingly effortless indoor-outdoor connection.
Taranaki continued their winning streak with another Gold for a beautifully detailed home that combined a stunning design with a laser focus on every detail, making for a beautiful home that suits the young family that lives there perfectly.
And Counties & Franklin rounded out the wins with a Silver for their stylish Karaka multi-unit development. This showcase of thoughtful design delivered on a budget, proving you can work on a budget without sacrificing style or liveability.
These award-winning homes are not only great examples of the craftsmanship and design you can expect from Sentinel Homes, but also of the care and attention our teams put into every single build.
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As 2025 comes to an end, we want to thank everyone who’s shared their thoughts and advice with us this year and helped improve our understanding of how to get the most out of your build and your partnership with Sentinel Homes. Bring on 2026!
Let’s get together for a free, no-pressure meeting with one of our team, at your place or ours.
We can't wait to hear your ideas!
