Three Chimneys

When people first see The Three Chimneys, they often notice the architecture.

The house is unapologetically modern, black steel, crisp white walls and strong geometric forms sitting above the vines in Martinborough. It's bold from the outside, but we never wanted the interior to feel clinical.

From the beginning, we knew timber would be the material that gave the house its warmth.

One of the hardest decisions was choosing the flooring. It covers almost every room, so if you get it wrong, you notice it every day.

We eventually settled on VidaSpace's Dawn European Oak flooring, and looking back, it's one of the decisions we've never questioned.

Whether the morning sun is coming through the kitchen or the afternoon light is stretching across the living room, the oak simply looks like it belongs.

Some days it's warm and golden, other days it almost disappears into the architecture. It never dominates the room; it lets everything else breathe. It has become the backdrop to everyday life, connecting each space and giving the house a sense of calm and continuity.

If there's one feature people do notice, it's the kitchen.

We chose Shinnoki Pure Walnut for the cabinetry throughout both the kitchen and adjoining scullery because we wanted these spaces to feel more like finely crafted furniture than traditional kitchen joinery.

Without exception, visitors run their hand across the cabinets. There's something about real timber that people instinctively connect with. Every panel has its own grain and character, and those subtle variations bring warmth and authenticity that manufactured finishes struggle to replicate.

Extending the same walnut veneer into the scullery was one of the best design decisions we made. Although it's a hardworking utility space, it feels like a natural continuation of the kitchen rather than a room hidden behind a door. The consistency of materials gives both spaces a quiet elegance and makes the entire heart of the home feel thoughtfully connected.

It's probably the part of the house where we spend the most time, and years after making the decision, it still feels as special as the day it was installed.

When you're building a house, you're constantly weighing up where to spend money and where to compromise.

Timber isn't the cheapest option, and there were moments when we questioned whether it was worth the investment.

Living here has answered that question.

The oak flooring has become the backdrop to everyday life, while the walnut cabinetry has become the defining feature of the kitchen and scullery, spaces where friends gather, conversations start and the best evenings always seem to end.

Neither feels fashionable or tied to a particular trend. They simply feel timeless.

If I was starting the project again tomorrow, timber would still be one of the first decisions I'd make.

Not because it's a luxury, but because it's the material that people experience every single day. You walk on it, touch it, lean against it and live with it.

At The Three Chimneys, the architecture may catch your eye first, but it's the timber that makes the house feel like home.

- Tim Roach, Owner