A TREE HOUSE IS THE ULTIMATE CHILDHOOD FANTASY MADE REAL, BUT WHAT IF YOUR LOVE OF FAIRY-TALE ROMANCE NEVER LEAVES YOU AND YOU WANT TO CREATE THIS STYLE FOR GROWN-UPS? WHAT WOULD YOU BUILD THEN? 'GRAND DESIGNS' THEME MUSIC CAPTIONS BY ABLE. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2015 TUI CALLS UPLIFTING MUSIC STEVE AND CHRISSY SYGROVE HAVE SPENT 20 YEARS LIVING IN AUCKLAND CITY, WHERE THEY HAVE RAISED THREE CHILDREN. STEVE'S A FIFTH-GENERATION BUILDER, AND CHRISSY IS A NURSE. TOGETHER THEY HAVE BUILT OR RENOVATED A SUCCESSION OF FAMILY HOMES. LOVELY OLD CHIMNEY. YEAH, NO, IT'S REALLY SWEET. LIKE MANY NZERS, THEY HAVE A LOVE AFFAIR WITH RESTORING OLD VILLAS. THIS IS THE HOUSE I MEANT. YEAH. WHAT DO YOU RECKON? ISN'T IT LOVELY? ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. WE USED TO WANDER ROUND CHRISTCHURCH WHEN WE FIRST MET AND SNEAK UP DRIVEWAYS AND PEER AT OLD HOUSES. WE LOVE RUINS. YEAH. THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY ATTRACTIVE ABOUT RUINS. FOR US IT'S HISTORY AND IT'S ROMANTIC, I THINK. IN ALL, STEVE HAS RENOVATED UP TO 50 HISTORIC CITY VILLAS. BUT ONCE THEIR CHILDREN LEFT HOME, STEVE AND CHRISSY DECIDED THEY'D HAD ENOUGH OF URBAN LIFE. UPBEAT MUSIC SO THREE YEARS AGO THEY MOVED TO THE WAITAKERE RANGES ON AUCKLAND'S CITY FRINGE, JUST LOVELY HERE, ISN'T IT? YOU SAY... AND IT'S HERE THAT THEY PLAN TO BUILD A FAIRY-TALE HOME DEEP IN THE BUSH. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH THE REAL ESTATE SECTION, IT'S ALWAYS THE VILLAS THAT SMILE AT YOU, BUT THEY'RE NOT SUCH FUNCTIONAL HOUSES. SO WE'VE GONE BACK A FEW PAGES TO WHERE THAT INFLUENCE CAME FROM, AND IT DID COME FROM AMERICA, UM, AND THE SLIGHTLY EARLIER HOUSES TO THAT WERE, I GUESS, REALLY FLAMBOYANT, BEAUTIFUL, ROMANTIC, FAIRY-TALE HOUSES. COME ON. UM, SO WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO SOMETHING THAT HASN'T REALLY BEEN DONE FOR, WELL, 150 YEARS. STEVE AND CHRISSY HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO BUILD A HOUSE LIKE THIS ONE. HIGHWIC HOUSE IN AUCKLAND IS ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES IN NZ OF AMERICAN GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE, A 19TH-CENTURY STYLE THEY WANT TO EMULATE IN A 21ST-CENTURY HOME. I'D FORGOTTEN HOW LOVELY THIS BUILDING IS. WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT... I MEAN, IT'S DECORATED AND IT'S ROMANTIC. IT'S FANCIFUL. IT'S UNASHAMEDLY FANCIFUL. ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT YOU'RE GOING TO RECREATE THIS BUILDING? NO. (LAUGHS) IS THAT`? I DON'T THINK OUR POCKETS ARE AS DEEP AS THE MAN WHO PAID FOR THIS. NO ONE BUILDS HOUSES LIKE THIS ANY MORE. MOST AMERICAN GOTHIC HOMES WERE BUILT IN THE 1800S. THEY LOOK LIKE TRADITIONAL GOTHIC HOUSES OR CHURCHES BUT, INSTEAD OF STONE, ARE MADE OF WOOD. SO WHAT KIND OF DETAILS ON THIS BUILDING ARE THE KINDS OF DETAILS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE USING IN YOUR HOUSE? WELL, YOU'LL SEE ON THIS BUILDING THERE ARE WHAT WE CALL QUATREFOILS AND TREFOILS, WHICH MEANS FOUR LEAVES AND THREE LEAVES, WHICH CAN BE USED IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS IN DECORATION. BUT APART FROM THAT, THERE'S THE TALL WINDOWS, RATHER THAN WIDE WINDOWS. THERE'S ALL THE THIN VERTICAL LINES, THE STEEP ROOFS. BUT I LOVE THE LITTLE FRILLY BITS UNDERNEATH COS IT'S LIKE A PETTICOAT. RIGHT. INITIALLY, STEVE AND CHRISSY'S HOUSE WILL LOOK LIKE YOUR AVERAGE THREE-STOREY WOODEN HOME. BUT ON THE THIRD FLOOR, THINGS GO DECIDEDLY GOTHIC, WITH ATTIC ROOMS AND A STEEP-PITCHED GABLE ROOF. STEVE WILL THEN HANDCRAFT ELABORATE AND PICTURESQUE GOTHIC FRILLS, ORNATE VERGEBOARDS DECORATED WITH PRETTY SPANDRELS, HEAVY DRIP MOULDINGS CURVING LIKE EYEBROWS OVER WINDOWS, A LITTLE PORCH DECORATED WITH LACEWORK VALANCES, A HORSESHOE WINDOW. OFF THE MASTER BEDROOM, THERE'S A JULIET BALCONY WITH ANTIQUE CAST-IRON BALUSTER PANELS. AND OFF THE DECK, A DAINTY GAZEBO. IF THEY CAN AFFORD IT, THEY HOPE TO CLAD THE ROOF IN AUTHENTIC SLATE TILES. STEVE AND CHRISSY ARE DEBATING TRADITIONAL COLOUR PALETTES, BRIGHT, SOMETIMES GAUDY ENSEMBLES THAT ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE AMERICAN GOTHIC STYLE. A ROMANTIC HOME THAT IS THE PRODUCT OF A LIFELONG LOVE OF THE ORNATE. IS THIS YOUR ULTIMATE ROMANTIC GESTURE TO CHRISSY? WELL, YES, I THINK IT IS. DEFINITELY THERE'S SOME TRUTH IN THAT. I WOULDN'T DO IT IF CHRISSY WASN'T THERE. I THINK I'M VERY LUCKY THAT STEVE IS ABLE TO DO IT, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH SKILLS TO DESIGN AND BUILD SOMETHING THAT IS VERY ROMANTIC AND VERY, YOU KNOW, FAIRY-TALE-ISH. THE SITE FOR STEVE AND CHRISSY'S AMERICAN GOTHIC HOME IS A 1200M2 BUSH-CLAD ELEVATED SECTION. BUT GETTING COUNCIL CONSENT TO BUILD HAS BEEN NO FAIRY TALE. I'M CERTAIN THIS IS` ALMOST CERTAIN... (LAUGHS) THAT THIS IS MY LAST BUILD BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL'S RESTRICTIONS ARE SO DRACONIAN AND SO AWFUL TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO IMAGINATIVE THINGS THAT I WOULDN'T WANNA PUT MYSELF THROUGH IT AGAIN. IT'S TAKEN TWO YEARS OF BATTLING TO GET THEIR BUILDING CONSENT. IN THE MEANTIME, THEY'VE BEEN LIVING LIKE GNOMES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GARDEN. GOSH, WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE? OH, WELL, THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. IN THIS AREA WE'RE ALLOWED TO LIVE ON SITE WHILST BUILDING. WE'VE GOT, UM, A VERY AL FRESCO ARRANGEMENT WITH LITTLE BUILDINGS HERE AND THERE FOR US TO SLEEP IN, WASH IN, COOK IN. INITIALLY WE HAD A CARAVAN. STEVE AND I WERE IN A CARAVAN WITH THE ANIMALS. YEAH` WITH THE ANIMALS? YEAH. (LAUGHS) WELL, WE ONLY HAD ONE DOG THEN. ONE DOG AND TWO CATS` THREE CATS. SO, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BUILDERS ARE FRUSTRATED AND HAVE TO WAIT FOR BITS OF PAPER. YOU JUST KEEP BUILDING THINGS. AND THIS IS WHAT WE'VE GOT. TREE HUT. WHEN HE'S NOT BUILDING HOUSES, STEVE CREATES THESE MOVABLE SHEPHERD HUTS TO SELL. FOR STEVE AND CHRISSY, TO LIVE IN THEM WAS ONLY MEANT TO BE A BRIEF STOP GAP, AND I'M WONDERING IF STEVE'S OLD-SCHOOL WAYS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE BUILD DELAYS. SO, I DO ALL HAND-DRAWN STUFF. I'VE NEVER LEARNT HOW TO DO IT ON COMPUTER, AND I DON'T WANT TO. I LIKE THE SMELL OF PAPER AND INK. THEY'RE REALLY SPECIAL. I MEAN, PEOPLE JUST DON'T DO THAT KIND OF DRAWING THESE DAYS. BUT, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, COUNCILS MAY NOT LIKE IT QUITE AS MUCH AS I DO. AS WELL AS COSTING THEM VALUABLE TIME, THE TWO-YEAR WAIT TO GET CONSENT HAS PUT THEM ON THE BUDGET BACK FOOT. WE THOUGHT WE'D PROBABLY DO IT FOR A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND, BUT I THINK REALISTICALLY IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE MORE LIKE 400,000. UM, IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE I'LL HAVE TO SPEND TIME IN THIS VERY SHED MAKING THINGS TO SELL, UM, TO HELP FUND IT. FOR YOU, CHRISSY, WHAT WOULD BE THE BOTTOM LINE IN TERMS OF HOW LONG YOU'D BE PREPARED TO WAIT? IT'D BE NICE TO BE IN BY CHRISTMAS, BUT IF IT'S NEXT` BEFORE NEXT WINTER. YOU KNOW, ONE MORE WINTER IN THE SHEPHERD HUT, BUT ANOTHER WINTER, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE JUST PUSHING IT. I DON'T BLAME CHRISSY. WHILE THESE SHEPHERD HUTS ARE GORGEOUS, TWO YEARS OF LIVING IN THEM WOULD TEST MY PATIENCE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, I SUSPECT STEVE'S ONE-YEAR BUILD DEADLINE IS A LITTLE OPTIMISTIC. THE DEVIL IN AMERICAN GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE IS IN THE DETAIL, AND STEVE PLANS TO CRAFT EVERY BIT OF THIS BUILD HIMSELF. THAT'S ONE HELL OF A JOB. UPBEAT STRINGS MUSIC BIRDS CALL IT TAKES ALMOST FOUR MONTHS FOR THE FRAMEWORK ON STEVE AND CHRISSY'S HOUSE TO GO UP, AND SO FAR THE HOUSE LOOKS DECEPTIVELY ORDINARY. BASICALLY, IF YOU SAW OLD VILLAS OR ANY OF THOSE EARLIER BUILDINGS THAT WE KIND OF ADMIRE IF WE'RE A LITTLE BIT ROMANTIC, THEY WOULD LOOK FAIRLY CONVENTIONAL AT THE FRAMING STAGE. IT'S THE` UM, IT'S THE FINISHING, THE MATERIALS, THE STYLE, THE SIZE OF THE MATERIALS, THE DIGNITY THAT BIG WINDOWSILLS HAVE, ALL THE REST OF IT WHICH MODERN HOUSES HAVE TRADED AWAY FROM WHICH THIS HOUSE WILL HAVE. IT'S LOVELY HERE. YOU'RE UP AMONGST ALL THE TREETOPS. BUT OTHER BUILDERS MIGHT LOOK AT THIS AND THINK, 'OOH, THAT TOOK THEM A WHILE. FOUR MONTHS. WE HAD THE FRAME UP IN A WEEK.' BUT THIS HAS ALL BEEN MADE ON SITE, RIGHT HERE. WE HAD TO DRAG EVERY STICK UP THE HILL. I'M RELIEVED TO SEE STEVE HAS TAKEN ON AN APPRENTICE TO HELP HIM WITH HIS BUILD. HENRY MEADS IS A FORMER LAW STUDENT WHO SHARES STEVE'S LOVE OF CRAFTSMANSHIP. IT WAS NEVER GONNA PAN OUT FOR ME IN AN OFFICE. I LIKE BEING OUTSIDE, AND I ALSO LIKE TO SEE WHAT I'VE DONE, SO BUILDING JUST COMES NATURALLY, REALLY. BEFORE I WORKED WITH STEVIE, I WORKED ON COMMERCIAL SITES, BUT THIS IS MY FIRST RESIDENTIAL NEW BUILD, AND IT'S EXCITING. AND I REALLY LIKE THE GOTHIC STYLE. JUST LOOKS COOLER. JUST LOOKS MORE LIKE A CASTLE, AND I LIKE CASTLES. PROBABLY THE MOST CHALLENGING THING I'VE SET HENRY TO DO THUS FAR ON THIS BUILDING IS TO BUILD THIS DORMER STRUCTURE. I GOT THREE-QUARTERS THROUGH THIS PLAN HERE LAID OUT IN COLOUR AND REMEMBERED THAT HENRY WAS COLOUR-BLIND. (LAUGHS) AND, UM, SO, YEAH, THIS IS AN EXERCISE FOR AN APPRENTICE, AND, UH, HE DID BRILLIANTLY WELL. I JUST KEPT A LITTLE BIT OF AN EYE ON FROM A DISTANCE. SO THERE YOU GO ` HENRY'S DORMER. IT'S ALL EXACTLY PERFECT. SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS. NO. STEVE AND CHRISSY'S TIGHT BUDGET RELIES ON SOURCING LOTS OF SECOND-HAND MATERIALS FOR THE BUILD, AND KEY TO ACHIEVING THE AMERICAN GOTHIC STYLE IS FINDING AFFORDABLE SLATE FOR THE ROOF. IF THEY CAN'T, THEY'LL BE FORCED TO SETTLE FOR MODERN STEEL. NOW, WE PUT THE PLANS IN FOR CORRUGATED IRON. HOW DIFFICULT WOULD IT BE IF WE FOUND SLATE TO CHANGE IT? WE WOULD HAVE TO RUN IT PAST THE ENGINEER. IF BY ANY CHANCE WE CAME ACROSS SLATE THAT WAS AFFORDABLE FOR US, SLATE WOULD MAKE LOVELY ROOF. WE NEED 3000, 4000 PIECES. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT'LL BE REALLY REALLY EXPENSIVE TO PUT A SLATE ROOF ON? YEAH, UNLESS WE CAN GET IT FOR, LIKE, UNDER $2. ARE THEY? BUT THE SLATE IS NOT THE ONLY AUTHENTIC ELEMENT THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO COMPROMISE ON. THE COLOUR SCHEME IS AN ONGOING BONE OF CONTENTION. LOOK AT THIS COLOUR SCHEME. WHICH ONE? WHICH ONE? (LAUGHS) OH, THE PINK ONE? (LAUGHS) 'WHICH ONE?' IT'S LOVELY, ISN'T IT, DARLING? I LOVE IT. I WANT TO TRY IT. CAN YOU LET ME TRY THAT OUT? NO. WHY NOT? YOU CAN. WE COULD MAKE A LETTERBOX, PERHAPS. NO, LOOK AT IT. ISN'T IT GORGEOUS? WELL, IT'S KIND OF LOVELY, BUT` IT'S CALLED THE SUGARPLUM COTTAGE. I LIKE PINK. (LAUGHS) I'VE GOT A PINK FRIDGE, A PINK DISHWASHER THAT GOES IN. YOU CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING PINK. NO, IT WON'T BE ALL PINK. AND CREAM. IT WON'T BE ALL PINK, AND IT WON'T BE ALL CREAM. IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. NO, NO, NO, AND FRENCH BLUE ` LET'S NOT FORGET THAT. OH YEAH, FRENCH BLUE. YES. LOOK AT THIS. WELL, THAT'S PRETTY` I CAN'T DO THAT, SORRY, DARLING. I THINK IT'S NOTRE DAME OR SOMETHING. NO, IT IS, UM... YEAH, IS IT A FULFILMENT OF A LIFELONG DREAM? YES, IT IS. YEAH, IT IS. UM, BUT I'D SAY ONE THING. I'D SAY WE DON'T BUILD THIS HOUSE IN ORDER TO BECOME HAPPY; WE'RE BUILDING THIS HOUSE BECAUSE WE ARE HAPPY. (LAUGHS) TRYING TO REPLICATE A HISTORIC BUILDING STYLE IS ROMANTIC, BUT IT REQUIRES A COMMITMENT TO AUTHENTICITY. I HOPE THAT STEVE AND CHRISSY DON'T COMPROMISE ON THE COLOUR SCHEME OR THE SLATE ROOF, OTHERWISE THIS HOUSE MAY BE ALL GOTHIC STYLE AND NO SUBSTANCE. LAID-BACK MUSIC IN TITIRANGI, WEST AUCKLAND, STEVE AND CHRISSY'S DREAM OF A FAIRY-TALE HOME IS CONSTRAINED BY THE REALITY OF A TIGHT BUDGET. BUT AFTER MONTHS OF SEARCHING FOR AFFORDABLE SECOND-HAND BUILDING PRODUCTS, ONE OF THEIR WISHES HAS COME TRUE. THEY'VE MANAGED TO FIND SOME BARGAIN SLATE FOR THE ROOF. NOW THEY WON'T HAVE TO COMPROMISE THEIR AMERICAN GOTHIC HOME WITH AN INAUTHENTIC CORRUGATED IRON ROOF. SO, WHERE DID YOU SOURCE THIS MATERIAL? WELL, IT'S REALLY LUCKY. IT WAS MY BRIGHT-EYED WIFE WHO SAW THIS ADVERTISED ON THE NET. TURNED OUT IT HAD BEEN ON SOMEONE'S ROOF FOR ONLY 15 YEARS AND THEY DECIDED TO PUT COPPER SHINGLES ON INSTEAD. WE'D PRICED THE CORRUGATED IRON ROOF, UM, AND IT WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT 6000 ` A LITTLE OVER 6000 FOR MATERIALS. HOWEVER, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO GET THIS SLATE AT A REALLY MODEST PRICE, AND IT'S GOING TO COST US A LITTLE OVER HALF THAT. IT MIGHT SOUND LIKE A BARGAIN, BUT THERE'S A CATCH. STEVE AND HENRY HAVE A PAINSTAKING JOB AHEAD ATTACHING 3000 TILES ONE AT A TIME. SO, HOW MANY WEEKS IS THAT GONNA TAKE, STEVE? I DON'T KNOW. IF IT'S FINISHED IN THREE WEEKS, I'LL BE PRETTY HAPPY. THREE WEEKS SOUNDS OPTIMISTIC TO ME, ESPECIALLY ONCE I LEARN FIRST-HAND HOW FRAGILE SECOND-HAND SLATE CAN BE. TO ATTACH THE TILES, STEVE'S USING EXPENSIVE COPPER NAILS, WHICH ARE SOFTER AND LESS LIKELY TO CRACK THESE DELICATE SHARDS OF ROCK. NICE LITTLE NAILS, EH? THEY'RE GREAT. DESPITE TAKING PRECAUTIONS, THERE'S STILL A VERY HIGH MORTALITY RATE FOR SECOND-HAND SLATE. ALL OF WHICH ADDS TO THE VERY REAL RISK OF WINTER ARRIVING BEFORE THE ROOF IS FINISHED AND DERAILING THE SCHEDULE COMPLETELY. LIGHT MUSIC A MONTH LATER, AND A WET WINTER IS TESTING EVERYONE'S RESILIENCE. STEVE'S DEADLINE TO FINISH THE ROOF HAS COME AND GONE, LEAVING THE HOUSE OPEN AND VULNERABLE TO THE RELENTLESS RAIN. ON THE ELEVATED SITE, MUD IS ANOTHER HAZARD SLOWING DOWN THE BUILD. EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO BE DELIVERED ON SITE HAS TO BE WALKED UP THERE THROUGH THE MUD. FROM CINDER BLOCK TO SLATE TO... EVERY SINGLE THING YOU SEE ` IT'S ALL BEING CARRIED UP THAT HILL. IT'S BEEN REALLY WET. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF HORRIBLE WEATHER. WE'VE HAD A BIG STORM. I THOUGHT WE'D HAVE THE ROOF ON BY NOW; AND IN FACT WE'VE GOT ABOUT HALF THE ROOF ON. DAMPNESS IS ALL-PERVASIVE. IT GETS INTO YOUR CLOTHES, INTO EVERYTHING. AND YOU LIVE IN LITTLE HUTS. IT'S HARD TO GET A DRY LIVING ENVIRONMENT. SO IT'S A BIT HARD ON MY DEAR WIFE WHO HAS TO MAINTAIN AN ORDINARY LIFE AND GO OUT TO WORK. (SIGHS) UM, IT'S BEEN WET. IT'S THE THIRD WINTER. I CAN'T REMEMBER IT BEING THIS BAD LAST WINTER. WE'VE HAD POWER OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES, WHICH WE NEVER HAD LAST WINTER, AND ALSO THE PHONE'S OUT TODAY. YEAH, SO I'M FINDING THE RAIN HARD. IF WE END UP SPENDING ANOTHER WINTER HERE, I` YEAH. UM, I'D BE SURPRISED. THE RAIN HAS PUT A STOP TO WORK ON THE ROOF, SO STEVE'S TURNING HIS ATTENTION TO THE DECORATIVE DETAILS FOR HIS AMERICAN GOTHIC HOUSE. UPBEAT MUSIC AND FINDING USES FOR THE TREASURES IN HIS WOOD LIBRARY. COME OVER HERE TO MY VARIOUS PILES OF TIMBER IN A WELL-RUMMAGED CONDITION. WHAT A COLLECTION. THE AMBIENCE IN THIS PLACE IS WONDERFUL. IT IS JUST... (SNIFFS) YOU BREATHE IT IN, YOU CAN SMELL IT, ALL THESE DIFFERENT TIMBERS. IT'S MAGICAL. HERE'S A PIECE THAT SHOULD DO THE TRICK. OH THAT LOOKS GOOD. YEP, GREAT. LET'S TAKE IT OVER. TODAY HE'S FASHIONING A DECORATIVE FINIAL FOR THE HOUSE. WE GET A BIG MOTHER GAUGE, AND WE HOPE FOR THE BEST. CLACKS SO ANYONE WITH THE SURNAME TURNER, THIS IS WHAT THEIR GREAT-GREAT GREAT-GREAT GRANDPAPPIES USED TO DO. WELL, WHAT I HAD IN MIND, JUST FOR A VERY TRADITIONAL, SIMPLE SORT OF THING. STEVE COULD BUY REPLICA HERITAGE DETAILS READY-MADE, BUT BECAUSE HE CAN DO THIS HIMSELF, HE DOES. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WHIMSY IS THE WHOLE THING, REALLY. THEN I GUESS WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS DIMENSION EACH OF THESE STEPS ROUGHLY... THAT'S RIGHT. OK. LET'S GO. WHAT'S YOUR WEAPON OF CHOICE? WELL, THAT FINE ONE THAT WE HAD. HE COMES FROM A UNIQUE FAMILY OF CRAFTSMEN WHO ARE GIFTED IN EVERYTHING FROM DESIGN, TO JOINERY AND MAKING FURNITURE. A LOVE OF TIMBER AND CRAFTSMANSHIP IS IN HIS BLOOD. GETTING CLOSE NOW. YOU CAN TELL, CAN'T YOU? YOU'VE GOT BETTER EYESIGHT THAN ME. YEP. OH, YEAH, WE'RE NOT FAR OFF. I THINK WHAT'S REALLY NICE ABOUT IT IS THAT YOU'VE GOT THE BASIC PROPORTIONS OF THAT NEGATIVE DETAIL AT THE BOTTOM, AND THEN THIS IS QUITE A NICE ELEGANT BEAD. YEAH, I'M PLEASED THAT I CAN ACTUALLY DO IT, BECAUSE I HARDLY DO TURNING FROM ONE DECADE TO ANOTHER. AND I'M NOT GOOD AT IT. A TURNER WILL BE WATCHING THIS AND THINKING, 'OH MY GOD.' TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FINIALS. WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE REALLY JUST FOR DECORATION SO THAT THE HOUSE FINISHES AGAINST THE SKY WITH SOMETHING SOFTER THAN JUST SHARP EDGES. WE'RE ALL A BIT MORE WORRIED ABOUT BUILDINGS FALLING DOWN HILLS IN NZ, BUT HOW THEY DANCE AGAINST THE SKY IS IMPORTANT. LOVELY. THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXCEPTIONALLY PERSONAL BUILD, AND STEVE GETS GREAT SATISFACTION FROM CRAFTING THE DETAILS. BUT WITH THE HOUSE STILL EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS, I'M WONDERING IF HE'S GOT HIS PRIORITIES RIGHT. JAUNTY MUSIC BY THE START OF SPRING, STEVE AND CHRISSY'S SLATE ROOF IS STILL NOT FINISHED. 10 MONTHS IN, THE BUILD IS BADLY BEHIND SCHEDULE. TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME, STEVE NEEDS MORE HANDS ON DECK, SO A VISIT FROM HIS BROTHER MARTY QUICKLY TURNS INTO AN ARTISAN WORKING BEE. WE USED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A FAMILY WITH OUR DAD. WE ALL HAD COMPLEMENTARY SKILLS. YEAH. SO I ACTUALLY STILL MISS THAT 30 YEARS ON. YEAH. YEAH. WE LIKE ROMANTIC HOUSES, EH, MARTY? YES, WE DO. WHY WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE? HARD TO SAY. IT'S GOT TO HAVE YOUR HEART IN IT, DOESN'T IT? YEAH, EXACTLY. DON'T GET TAKEN BY STEVE'S MODESTY. HE'S A GENIUS, AND IT'S DESIGN, THE WHOLE SHOW, VISUALISATION AND THE WHOLE COMPLETION OF IT. AND STEVE'S GOT A VERY GOOD WIFE WORKING AWAY FINANCING ALL OF THIS. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH! US DREAMERS DO NEED A GOOD WOMAN. YES WE DO. WE NEED ONE SENSIBLE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY INTERFACES WITH THE WORLD OUT THERE AND BRINGS HOME SOME MONEY. IT TAKES FOUR MONTHS TO FINALLY COMPLETE THE SLATE ROOF ` 13 WEEKS LONGER THAN STEVE ANTICIPATED. YES, I'M PLEASED WITH IT. IT'S SUCH A RELIEF TO HAVE IT DONE. CHOOSING THIS ROOF HAS COST STEVE AND CHRISSY DEARLY. BUT TO SEE IT FINISHED WITH THE SLATE TILES NEATLY LAYERED LIKE FISH SCALES, I'M CONVINCED IT'S BEEN MONEY AND TIME WELL SPENT. YOU KNOW, AS REGARDS TO THE TIME IT TAKES AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE BUDGET, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH ` WELL, WE WON'T KNOW TILL FURTHER DOWN THE TRACK, AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T REGRET SPENDING SO MUCH TIME ON THE ROOF. BUT IT'S DONE NOW. STEVE AND HENRY ARE NOW TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO THE JOINERY ` HANDCRAFTING THE TALL DISTINCTIVE WINDOWS SO CHARACTERISTIC OF THE AMERICAN GOTHIC STYLE. I'M TRYING TO LIFT THE WHOLE SCAFFOLD. SO FAR SO GOOD. OH BOY! YES, SIR. I THINK EVERY APPRENTICE IN THE WORLD WOULD KILL FOR THIS JOB. YOU GET TO LEARN EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW? MOST CHIPPIES DON'T GET TO LEARN HOW TO BUILD WINDOWS OR LEARN HOW TO DO CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE JOB THAT WOULD JUST BE SUB-CONTRACTED OUT. WORKING FOR STEVE I GET TO LEARN EVERYTHING. HENRY'S BEEN EXCELLENT ` VERY DEDICATED TO THE JOB, AS HAVE I. I THINK WE COULD DO WITH A THIRD PERSON, UH... AFFORDING A THIRD PERSON IS ANOTHER MATTER. A YEAR INTO THE BUILD, THE LAYS HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL ON STEVE AND CHRISSY'S BUDGET. EVER-PRESENT DOG. (BARKS) AND TODAY, STEVE AND CHRISSY ARE TAKING DRASTIC MEASURES TO RAISE SOME MUCH-NEEDED CASH. THEY'RE SELLING THE SHEPHERD HUT THEY'VE BEEN LIVING IN FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. I'M GOING TO SELL IT BECAUSE, AS IS ALWAYS THE CASE, THINGS COST MORE. IT'LL BRING SOME MONEY TO GET THE HOUSE AND US THROUGH CHRISTMAS. HE REALLY FEELS THE FINANCIAL PRESSURE, BUT HE'S ALSO REALLY PRAGMATIC AND REALLY BELIEVES DON'T CUT CORNERS TO MEET YOUR BUDGET. YOU FIND EXTRA MONEY TO DO WHAT YOU WANT. I FEEL SAD ABOUT IT GOING BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY LIVED IN IT, AND IT WAS BUILT FOR US TO LIVE IN. YEAH, USE THE FAT ONES OF THAT, AND USE THE THIN ONES OF THOSE AT THE FRONT IF NEED BE. ALTHOUGH THE QUICK SALE IS 5 GRAND SHORT OF THEIR ASKING PRICE, THE $20,000 PAID IS A MUCH-NEEDED CASH INJECTION, AND THEY DO HAVE SOMEWHERE ELSE TO SLEEP. THIS LITTLE COTTAGE, WE CALL IT MARYBELL'S COTTAGE. WE BUILT THIS FOR OUR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WHEN SHE WAS A STUDENT, AND WE'LL MOVE INTO HERE, COS MARYBELL'S MOVED BACK INTO THE CITY, AND WE'LL BE ONE SHEPHERD HUT LESS. SHE MAY BE PUTTING ON A BRAVE FACE, BUT WITH CHRISTMAS NOW JUST WEEKS AWAY, CHRISSY'S HOPES THAT THE BUILD WOULD BE FINISHED IN A YEAR NOW LOOK IMPOSSIBLE. INITIALLY WE THOUGHT THAT WE'D LIVE IN CARAVANS AND SHEPHERDS' HUTS NO MORE THAN A YEAR, AND IT'S BEEN OVER THREE YEARS NOW, SO, UM, YEAH... I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT. I THINK WE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT IF WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO TAKE THAT LONG. IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE STEVE AND CHRISSY DECIDED TO PURSUE THEIR DREAM OF CRAFTING AN AMERICAN GOTHIC HOME. BUT CONSTANT DELAYS HAVE TAKEN THE ROMANCE OUT OF THE BUILD FOR CHRISSY. AND NOW THEY'RE STRAPPED FOR CASH, SO STEVE'S TAKING TIME OUT FROM THE HOUSE BUILD, TURNING TO HIS SIDE-LINE BUSINESS OF MAKING SHEPHERD HUTS TO SELL. I'M WORRIED THEIR FAIRY-TALE HOUSE HAS BECOME A BURDEN. LOVELY TO SEE YOU. BEEN A WHILE, HASN'T IT? IT HAS. WE'VE DONE A FEW THINGS SINCE YOU WERE HERE LAST. JUST A LITTLE BIT. THIS LOOKS ABSOLUTELY CHARMING, STEVE. YOU'RE VERY SWEET. AND STARTING TO SEE THE WHOLE LANGUAGE OF THE AMERICAN GOTHIC COMING OUT? VERY GOOD. WELL SAID. YEAH, IT'S... I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT, COS THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO. YEAH, NO, IT'S VERY CLEAR. IT'S VERY CLEAR TO ME. SO STEVE, LET'S CUT TO THE CHASE. WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT YOU'RE HAVING TO BUILD TO MAKE MONEY TO PAY FOR, WHAT, MATERIALS, LABOUR? YES, YES, YES. YES WE ARE. OH. SO ONE OF THE IMPLICATIONS COULD BE IS THAT THE BUSINESS IS DOING SO WELL THAT ALL YOUR ENERGY GOES THAT WAY, TO LOOKING AFTER CLIENTS AND RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS, AND NOT FINISHING YOUR HOUSE. YEAH, YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT, THAT COULD BE AN IMPLICATION. I'M A BIT SCARED OF THAT. YEAH, IT'S ALL A CHALLENGE. YEAH. BUT WE'RE DOING IT ANYWAY, COS WE'RE PASSIONATE FOR THIS, AND WE CAN'T BE` I CAN'T BE BOTHERED LIVING IN THIS WORLD WITHOUT DOING WHAT I FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT. YEAH, AND YOU'RE STILL ENJOYING IT. HELL YEAH. I CAN FEEL THAT. YEAH, OF COURSE I AM. I CAN SEE HOW MUCH TIME STEVE'S BEEN PUTTING INTO CRAFTING THE DECORATIVE DETAILS, BUT THE INSIDE REVEALS ANOTHER REASON WHY PROGRESS HAS BEEN SLOW. STEVE'S FRAMING ISN'T AS ORDINARY AS IT FIRST APPEARED. THIS IS A STURDY HOUSE BUILT TO LAST FOR CENTURIES. GOSH, NOT MANY HOUSES BUILT LIKE THIS THESE DAYS, STEVE. YEAH, IF YOU'VE GOT 600 CENTRES, WHICH IS NORMAL, AND YOU BRING IT INTO 400, WELL, MAYBE YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR STICKS OF TIMBER IN THE FLOOR STRUCTURE, WHICH ISN'T` UH, IT'S NOT TOO FAST. PRETTY STRONG. PARTLY THAT'S WHY WE CAN PUT A SLATE ROOF ON THIS HOUSE, COS THE FRAME'S SO STRONG. YOU'RE A REAL TRADITIONALIST, AREN'T YOU, AND YOU'RE IN FOR THE LONG HAUL. I MEAN, THIS BUILD, YOU WANNA BE REALLY PERMANENT, RIGHT? I FEEL IT EVEN, YOU KNOW, LIKE, IN THE FLOOR BOARDS, THESE LOVELY, BIG, WIDE FLOOR BOARDS. WHAT ARE THESE MADE OF? THIS IS AMERICAN OREGON. IT'S DEMOLITION FROM SOME 14 BY 2 BEAMS OUT OF A` I THINK IT WAS OUT OF A FACTORY BUILDING OR A BIG WAREHOUSE IN TAURANGA. AND AT THE END OF SUMMER, BEFORE IT STARTS GETTING DAMP AGAIN, WE'LL, UM, TURN THESE ALL OVER. SO THEY'RE DRYING` THEY'RE DRYING OUT? YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, DRYING OUT. IN` IN THE HOUSE UPSIDE DOWN? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. YEP. IT'S DAD'S OLD TRICK. IT'S HOW THEY USED TO BUILD BACK IN THE '40S AND '50S. THE OTHER THING THAT I REALLY LOVE IS THE WAY` TO GET THE SENSE OF ASYMMETRY. I MEAN, THERE'S A WONDERFUL THING GOING ON SPATIALLY. AND ASYMMETRY, QUITE RIGHT. YES. THE` THIS ROOM COMPARED TO THAT ROOM, THEY'RE SHIFTED SLIGHTLY. YEAH. THEY'RE NOT ALL LINED UP... NO. ...LIKE SOLDIERS. NO. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BIT OF A DANCE... YES. ...IN AMONGST THE TREES, AND IT FEELS WONDERFUL. STEVE'S DEDICATION TO MAINTAINING AND EVEN EXCEEDING BUILDING STANDARDS IS TRULY IMPRESSIVE, WHICH IS WHY I'M STUMPED ABOUT A MATERIAL HE'S USING THAT DEFINITELY DOESN'T FIT WITH THE AMERICAN GOTHIC AESTHETIC. YOU KNOW, I REALLY NOTICED ALL THIS PLYWOOD CLADDING OUTSIDE. WHY? I WAS HOPING YOU WOULDN'T NOTICE THAT. IT'S KIND OF OBVIOUS, ISN'T IT? WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY, IT CAME WITH A BIG STACK OF SOME 40 OR SO SHEETS OF VERY GOOD QUALITY EXTERIOR CLADDING PLY. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT, 'WELL, I'LL JUST CONSIDER IT GOD'S WILL. WE HAVE TO HAVE PLY. 'WE'RE GONNA DO PLY.' BUT ISN'T THAT COMPROMISING THE WHOLE AUTHENTICITY OF THE BUILD? I HOPE NOT, CHRIS. WE'RE JUST USING IT AS AS BACKGROUND BOARD. IT'LL FUNCTIONALLY ACHIEVE WHAT WE NEED OF IT, AND YOU WON'T LOOK AT IT AND SAY, 'OH MY GOD, LOOK AT THAT PLYWOOD HOUSE.' IT WON'T APPEAR TO BE A PLYWOOD HOUSE. IT'LL JUST APPEAR TO BE BOARD AND BATTEN. WE PUT EXTRA PRESERVATIVE ON CUT JOINS, AND WE PAINT EVERYTHING THOROUGHLY ` OIL-BASED PAINT. STEVE, THERE'S SO MUCH EFFORT IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THINGS LOOK GOOD, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S A REALLY DEEP PRAGMATISM THERE TOO. I LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE, AND I THINK HOW BEST TO USE IT AND HOW BEST TO MITIGATE ANY NEGATIVE ASPECTS OR ANY PARTICULAR MATERIAL. THERE IS CONTROL COMPROMISE ALL THE WAY THROUGH BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A LOT TO ACHIEVE. THE TIME ISSUE IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT YOU; IT'S ABOUT CHRISSY. I KNOW. I SHOULD GET BACK TO WORK, THEN, SHOULDN'T I, REALLY? UH, YEAH. (LAUGHS) OH, THE GATE'S DOWN THERE. BOTH LAUGH STEVE HAS CLEARLY THOUGHT THROUGH HIS ONE CONCESSION TO BUDGET OVER AUTHENTICITY. I JUST HOPE HE DOESN'T REGRET IT LATER. TO SAVE MONEY, STEVE AND CHRISSY HAVE SPENT YEARS TREASURE-HUNTING FOR SECOND-HAND FIXTURES AND FITTINGS, AND NOW ONE OF THEIR MOST REMARKABLE FINDS IS GETTING A MAKEOVER. (GRUNTS) GIDDAY, MARK. GIDDAY, STEVE. HOW YOU GOING? PRETTY GOOD. PRETTY GOOD. METAL WORKER MARK GALBRAITH HAS BEEN MAKING IRON AXLES FOR STEVE'S SHEPHERD HUTS FOR YEARS. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT HERE? GOOD OLD CAST-IRONWORK. I KNOW. DON'T YOU LOVE CAST IRON? STEVE HOPES HE CAN RESTORE AN ANTIQUE VICTORIAN BALUSTRADE HE FOUND ON THE INTERNET SO HE CAN USE IT ON HIS JULIET BALCONY. IT'S ALL COMPLETE APART FROM THIS BIT HERE, WHICH GOT BROKEN OUT PROBABLY IN THE 1940S DURING THE WAR. AND, UH, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO PUT IN THERE, THOUGH? GOOD QUESTION. I THINK WE CAN MAKE A REASONABLE JOB. IT WON'T BE TOO OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT TO TRANSFER THIS LITTLE FLOWER MOTIF... YEP. ...AND WELD IT INTO HOPEFULLY THESE THREE POINTS. THREE POINTS THERE, YEP. YEAH. WHICH IS WHERE YOUR EXPERTISE COMES IN. YEAH. SO, THERE'S THIS TOO, MARK. OH, YOU'VE GOT MORE. YEAH, I KNOW, BUT, WAIT, THERE'S MORE. (LAUGHS) AND IT GOES LIKE THIS. TA-DA-DA! THAT'S` THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE. IF YOU LOOK AT IT CLOSELY, YOU SEE IT'S GOT A V AND AN R. YEAH. SO WE, UM, PRESUME ` I'M SURE WE'RE RIGHT ` THAT'S VICTORIA REGINA. OH, OK. SO IT'S QUEEN VICTORIA. COOL. SO THIS IS GENUINE VICTORIAN STUFF. THE VICTORIAN PERIOD IS A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS WERE MADE. UM, VERY DELICATE FLORAL CASTING ON THIS. IT'S VERY FEMININE. I LIKE IT A LOT. WOW. BRILLIANT. THERE YOU GO. IT'S ALL BEEN THERE, I'D SAY. YEP. YEAH. IT'S NOT TOO HOT? NO. OH, LOOK AT THAT. LOOK AT THAT. LOOK AT THAT. IT'S LIKE IT NEVER EVEN BROKE. AS ALWAYS, I ENJOY YOUR INTERESTING PROJECTS. LAUGHS: YEAH. AND, UH, CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE. LAUGHS: YEAH. EVEN THOUGH STEVE AND CHRISSY MAY BE SAVING MONEY ON SECOND-HAND SUPPLIES AND FITTINGS, THE COST OF THIS BUILD IS NOW LOOKING WELL OVER CHRISSY'S EARLY ESTIMATE. WE INITIALLY HOPED IT WOULD BE ABOUT 300,000, DIDN'T WE, TO BUILD. TO BUILD THE HOUSE ONCE WE GOT THE SECTION, YEAH. YES. YEAH, YEAH. UM, BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GONNA` IT WILL BE CLOSER` IT WILL BE FIVE, REALLY, WHEN IT'S FINISHED, EH? YEAH, I RECKON WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SPENT FIVE, YEAH. YEAH. AND WE'VE HAD TO BORROW MORE MONEY THAN WE THOUGHT WE WOULD. YEP. AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, GETTING OUR, YOU KNOW, SORT OF COMING INTO OUR` NOT RETIREMENT BUT, YOU KNOW... UH, IT WOULD BE NICER NOT TO HAVE TO BORROW THAT MUCH MONEY, BUT I THINK WE WERE VERY OPTIMISTIC, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE OPTIMISTIC, OTHERWISE YOU DON'T START BUILDING HOUSES. AND YOU CONTINUE TO TRUST IN ME, WHICH IS STUPID, CONSIDERING MY TRACK RECORD. YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS FOOLISHLY AMBITIOUS AND OPTIMISTIC. OPTIMISTIC I THINK IS BETTER. AND I REFUSE TO LEARN MY LESSONS. (LAUGHS) GONNA DO IT ANYWAY. BUGGER IT. STEVE AND CHRISSY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIT UNSURE ABOUT THEIR BUDGET, WHICH IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR A SELF-BUILD. WHAT'S CLEAR IS THAT STEVE NOW NEEDS ALL THE HELP HE CAN GET, AND FAMILY ARE COMING TO THE RESCUE. DAUGHTER MIRABELLE HAS TAKEN TIME OUT FROM HER UNIVERSITY PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE TO LEND A HAND. BEING HERE FULL-TIME MAKES ME REALISE HOW MUCH WORK GOES INTO IT, LIKE EVERY LITTLE THING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND SANDED AND REDONE AND FILLED. AND IT'S NOT AS STRAIGHTFORWARD AS I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, UM, BUT THAT'S ALSO THE WAY DAD DOES THINGS. THAT HELPS, DOESN'T IT? YES. HE LIKES THE` THE BEAUTY IN THINGS. HE LIKES TO DECORATE AND HAVE IT KIND OF BE ROMANTIC AND PLEASING TO THE EYE. DAD'S A BIT MORE OF AN ARTIST THAN A BUILDER. SON REUBEN IS SPENDING HIS SPARE TIME HELPING BUILD THE SHEPHERD HUTS AND GIVING A MUCH-NEEDED BOOST TO MORALE. I HAVE TO HAVE A LOOK TO SEE HOW STRAIGHT THESE ARE TOO. WELL, DAD'S, UM, MOST CREATION, THE HOUSE UP ON THE HILL NEXT TO US HERE, UM, I THINK WILL BE ONE OF HIS FINEST WORKS. UM, THERE'S A LOT ABOUT IT THAT'S DIFFERENT, INTERESTING, AND IT REALLY SCREAMS 'DAD'. IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU'VE BEEN CLIMBING A PYRAMID AND THIS HOUSE IS A PART OF EVERY STEP THAT YOU'VE TAKEN. THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT. AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF ME AND IT'S A LOT OF MUM. IT'S A LOT OF YOU AS WELL. YEAH. AND IT'S GONNA BE SOMEWHERE TO BE ENJOYED BY ALL OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. CAN'T SEE A THING. TO SEE DAD HAS PROGRESSED THROUGH LIFE TO THIS POINT HAS BEEN SOMETHING, UM, THAT I'VE HAD HUGE ADMIRATION FOR. REALLY HAVE. HE'S A VERY CLEVER MAN, AND I'VE LEARNT A LOT FROM HIM. AND I CONTINUE TO LEARN A LOT FROM HIM. UPBEAT MUSIC 17 MONTHS AFTER FIRST LAYING FOUNDATIONS, STEVE AND CHRISSY'S FAIRY-TALE BUILD LIES UNFINISHED AMONGST THE BUSH AND BIRDSONG. LIVING IN HUTS ON SITE WHEN THE BUILD STRETCHES ON AND ON IS NOT EXACTLY THE HAPPY EVER AFTER CHRISSY WAS HOPING FOR. I MEAN, I'M USED TO IT. HAVE TO BE PHILOSOPHICAL, OTHERWISE YOU JUST GO MAD. YOU REALLY GET CROSS WITH IT. IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY ACHIEVE ANYTHING. SO WE'LL SPRAY THIS CREAM. YEAH. AND THEN WE'LL PAINT THESE LITTLE THINGS BY THE LIGHT BULB PINK. TO CHEER HERSELF UP, CHRISSY IS TURNING HER ATTENTION TO THE INTERIORS, AND SHE'S NOT MISSING ANY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HER MARK IN VIBRANT COLOUR. SO, WHAT ABOUT THIS PINK? IS IT TOO PINK? IT'LL GO ALL RIGHT JUST ON THE ROSEBUDS, EH, IF WE JUST DO THAT IN THE FLOWERS? YEAH, IN SMALL DOSES IT'LL BE FINE. SO OVERALL I THINK WE'LL HAVE CREAMS, PINKS, GREENS, FRENCH BLUE... YES. WE'VE GOT THE LIGHTS IN THE KITCHEN THAT MIGHT BE BLUE-ISH. I JUST THINK YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU GROUP THE COLOURS. REMEMBER, YOU WON'T BE LIVING HERE. YEAH, BUT YOU WILL BE. (LAUGHS) YOU'LL BE VISITING. (LAUGHS) PULLING RANK. WHILE CHRISSY DISTRACTS HERSELF WITH THE INTERIORS, STEVE CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON THE EXTERIOR DECORATIVE ELEMENTS. IT'S CLEAR THE APPEAL OF BUILDING FOR HIM IS IN THE CREATIVITY, THE CRAFT AND THE SOLVING OF UNIQUE PROBLEMS. GIDDAY, STEVE. THERE YOU ARE. OH, CHRIS. THOUGHT I SAW YOU COMING ROUND THE CORNER. NICE TO SEE YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU TOO. YOU'VE ARRIVED JUST IN TIME. TODAY'S PUZZLE IS HOW TO ATTACH THE JULIET BALCONY. THE BIG CHALLENGE IS TRYING TO GET ALL THESE CURVES, COS IT'S EFFECTIVELY A 3D CURVE, ON TO YOUR FLAT SURFACE OF THE WALL. EXACTLY. YOU'RE RIGHT. SO HOW'D YOU SOLVE IT? THIS IS WHERE MY CUNNING PLAN COMES IN. OVER HERE... IS MY PIECE DE RESISTANCE. SO THAT GOES THERE ROUGHLY, ROUGHLY, ROUGHLY. THIS IS THE BIT THAT THE IRON FITS ON TO. SO THE TAGS ON THE IRON... OK. ...SIT INTO THESE LITTLE NOTCHES. YEP. AT LEAST I BELIEVE THEY WILL. THAT SITS THERE RIGHT ON TOP OF THIS THING LIKE THIS. THEN ONCE THEY'RE ON, THIS MOULDING GOES ON TO COVER IT AND COMPLETE THE DETAIL OF THE WHOLE THING, AND THAT'S MY SOLUTION FOR GOING FROM FLAT TO CURVED. YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY ELEGANT, STEVE. I LOVE THIS. THIS IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL. I'VE NEVER TRIED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. STEVE'S INGENUITY IS NOT SOMETHING EVERY BUILDER HAS AT THEIR DISPOSAL. I HOPE IT FITS. I THINK YOU CAN ONLY MEASURE IT SO FAR. WOW. ALMOST MILLIMETRE PERFECT. THAT'S PRETTY ENCOURAGING. HANG ON TO IT, CHRIS. IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOU NOW. YEP. I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT THESE` I'LL REPLACE THESE WITH BIG BRASS SCREWS. THIS IS THE TRIAL RUN ` MAKE SURE THE WHOLE THING DOES. IS THAT STILL WORKING ON YOUR END? YEP. STILL HAPPY AT MY END. YEAH. KEEP GOING A BIT. STRINGS MUSIC YOU MUST BE VERY HAPPY. YEAH, I THINK I AM. UM, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A BIT OF A SHOCK SEEING IT THERE, ACTUALLY. WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME. PUTTING THIS MUCH EFFORT IN NOT KNOWING IF IT WAS GONNA WORK, IS THAT BRAVE OR STUPID? OR IS IT HALFWAY BETWEEN? OH, IT'S A BIT OF BOTH. YEAH. BOTH LAUGH LILTING MUSIC AS AUTUMN BEGINS TO GIVE WAY TO THE FOURTH WINTER ON SITE, THE HOUSE IS STILL NOT CLOSED IN. AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, STEVE AND HENRY ARE AGAIN WORKING ON DECORATIVE FRILLS RATHER THAN FINISHING THE STRUCTURE OF THE HOUSE. THIS IS, UM, THE VERGEBOARD STRUCTURE. IT'S MAINLY DECORATIVE. IT'S PARTLY FUNCTIONAL. I'VE GOTTA MAKE` WE'VE GOTTA MAKE THREE OTHERS. AND, UM, I WON'T TELL YOU HOW LONG THIS TOOK TO MAKE, BUT WE NEED TO GET QUICKER AT IT. SO WE'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF, UM, THERE'S DESIGNING IT AND THEN DRAW IT ON HERE, CUT IT OUT WITH A JIGSAW ALL THE WAY AROUND ` TOOK QUITE A WHILE ` AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, I TURNED UP SOME LUMPS OF TOTARA TO USE LIKE ROUNDELS IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE FLOWER SHAPES TO GIVE IT MORE DEPTH AND DRAMA. IT'S ALL ABOUT DRAMA, YOU SEE. IT'S ALWAYS A BALANCE, ISN'T IT, BETWEEN` YOU THINK, 'OH, OK, I COULD DO THIS. 'HOW MUCH WORK'S IT GONNA BE? 'WILL MY WIFE TELL ME OFF COS IT'S GONNA MAKE THE HOUSE TAKE THAT MUCH LONGER?' STUFF LIKE THAT, AND YOU'VE GOT TO BALANCE THAT UP BEFORE YOU EMBARK ON IT. STEVE'S OBSESSIONS HAVE GOT THE BETTER OF THE BUILDING SCHEDULE. THE ORIGINAL ONE-YEAR DEADLINE HAS BALLOONED TO 18 MONTHS WHILE THE HOUSE STILL WAITS FOR WINDOWS AND GIB. THAT'S QUITE A WHILE TO BE WORKING ON A HOUSE AND IT NOT BE CLOSED INSTALL, I HAVE TO ADMIT. BUT, UM, WHAT CAN I SAY? I'M OLD... (CHUCKLES) AND WE'RE DOWN A MAN COS REUBEN WAS GONNA WORK HERE, AND HE'S GONE OFF TO DO WHAT HE'S ACTUALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT. AND IT IS A DIFFICULT SITE, REALLY, AND ALSO A COMPLEX HOUSE. STEVE TAKES SUCH PRIDE IN HIS WORK, BUT I'M STARTING TO WONDER IF HE'LL EVER FINISH WHAT SHOULD BE THE CROWNING GLORY OF HIS 40-YEAR CAREER. SO WE PROCEED IN HOPEFULNESS THAT HAVING THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND, UM` AND NOT GIVE WAY TO MEDIOCRITY ON HALF MEASURES, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE OLD CHURCHILL SAID, 'WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER.' (LAUGHS) I` I FEEL THAT WAY, AND SO WE JUST KEEP GOING AND HOPEFULLY HAVE THE GOOD SENSE NOT TO DO IT AGAIN. TRANQUIL PIANO MUSIC IT'S BEEN NEARLY FOUR YEARS SINCE STEVE AND CHRISSY SET OUT TO BUILD AN AMERICAN GOTHIC HOME IN THE TITIRANGI BUSH. LAST TIME I MET WITH STEVE, HE WAS REALLY FUSSING ABOUT THE DETAILS, AND CHRISSY WAS ACTUALLY QUITE DESPONDENT. SO I'M HOPING THAT THEY'VE MADE BIG PROGRESS. TRANQUIL MUSIC COULD THIS ACTUALLY BE A FINISHED HOUSE? MY GOODNESS. THE CURTAIN OF SCAFFOLDING HAS BEEN DRAWN AWAY TO REVEAL STEVE AND CHRISSY'S FAIRY-TALE DREAM COME TRUE, A GINGERBREAD COTTAGE IN THE WOODS. HI, GUYS! HI, CHRIS. OH, LOVELY TO SEE YOU, CHRISSY. GIDDAY, YOUNG CHRIS! COME BACK, HUH? AW, NICE TO SEE YOU. (LAUGHS) LOOK AT THIS. GOOD MAN. I LOVE THE COLOURS. YOU HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT COLOUR COMBINATIONS AND SUCH A LOT OF BATTLES BETWEEN YOU ABOUT 'IS IT GOING TO BE ALL PINK?' OR 'IS IT GOING BE NOT PINK AT ALL?' BOTH LAUGH YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT. SOME OF THE PINK'S CREEPING IN ON THE INSIDE, WHICH IS JUST FINE. COME AND HAVE A LOOK. COME AND HAVE A LOOK. OH, I'D LOVE TO HAVE A LOOK! STEVE HAS PAINTED A PRETTY PICTURE. BUT THIS IS A TALE WITH A TWIST. OH, NO. YEAH. WELL, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING I FORGOT TO MENTION. AW, IT'S SO SAD. NO, IT'S NOT SAD. IT'S... IT'S`IT'S POTENTIAL. POTENTIAL?! ALL LAUGH IT LOOKS AT FIRST AS IF STEVE AND CHRISSY HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT UPSTAIRS, THINGS ARE ABOUT TO TAKE ANOTHER UNEXPECTED TURN. SO COME THROUGH HERE, CHRIS. A BIT MORE COMPLETE. OH! SOME THERE IS A LITTLE BIT FINISHED IN THIS PLACE. THIS IS SURREAL. I FEEL LIKE I'VE STEPPED THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS. I CAN SEE LOTS OF PINK. YES, YES. (CHUCKLES) IT FEELS TO ME LIKE A CERTAIN FLOWER IS STARTING TO BLOOM. YES, IT DOES. IT FEELS LOVELY. IT'S YOUR TURN, ISN'T IT, CHRISSY? IT IS MY TURN. AND I DO LOVE IT. I JUST LOOK AT ALL THE COLOURS, AND IT ALL WORKS, AND I CAN JUST SEE THIS AS PROBABLY THE BEST KITCHEN, MAYBE, I'VE HAD. STEVE AND CHRISSY ARE NOW LIVING BETWEEN THE SHEPHERD HUTS AND THE FINISHED ROOMS IN THE HOUSE. NO MORE WINTERS OUTSIDE. NO, WE CAN BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A HOUSE NOW. MAGICAL MUSIC OH MY GOODNESS! THIS FEELS LIKE GRANDMA'S PARLOUR! (LAUGHS) HOW ON EARTH DID YOU FIND ALL THESE EXTRAORDINARY PIECES OF FURNITURE? WELL, THE HUNTRESS IS RIGHT HERE. (LAUGHS) THE HOUSE IS FULL OF CURIOSITIES ` FOUND OR HANDCRAFTED OBJECTS AND FURNITURE. I SUSPECT AMASSING THIS TREASURE TROVE HAS BEEN CHRISSY'S THERAPY WHILE SHE'S BEEN WAITING FOR THE BUILD TO FINISH. AND THE BEDROOM. ANOTHER GEM! THIS WOULD BE LOVELY AND COSY FOR YOU TWO. MM, YES. AND I CAN SEE CHRISSY'S HAVING MORE FUN. ALL LAUGH YES, PINK AGAIN! IN PLACES. ISN'T THAT LOVELY (?) (LAUGHS) ARCHITECTS DON'T OFTEN USE THE WORD 'PRETTY', BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS HOME IS. IN AN ERA WHERE HOUSES ARE OFTEN INDUSTRIAL, STARK AND NEUTRAL, STEVE AND CHRISSY'S IS ONE OUT OF THE CHOCOLATE BOX. IT FEELS TO ME LIKE I'M SITTING, NOW, IN A SLIGHTLY BENT UNIVERSE, YOU KNOW? YOU'VE BENT TIME SUCCESSFULLY, STEVE. YEAH. OH, THAT'S GOOD. I DENIED THE 20TH CENTURY COMPLETELY, AND NOW WE'RE IN THE 21ST. THE 19TH CENTURY IS SUFFICIENTLY FAR AWA TO BE COOL AGAIN. (LAUGHS) THERE'S A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE GENUINE DIMENSION OF THAT. IT'S A VERY AUTHENTIC BUILD. THE HOUSE, FOR ME, ANYWAY, BEST REFLECTS WHAT I REALLY LIKE IN A HOUSE ` ROMANCE, DETAILING THAT SINGS TO ME, ANYWAY ` I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER PEOPLE THINK IT SINGS. IT'S LIKE GOD BUILDS WOMEN. IT'S BUILT BEAUTIFULLY. (LAUGHS) (MOUTHS) IS THAT REALLY TRUE, THOUGH, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THERE'S A DEEP ROBUSTNESS IN THIS PLACE, BOTH IN ITS PROPORTIONS AND IN ITS BUILD QUALITY, AND, ACTUALLY, THAT'S VERY MASCULINE. IT IS. THERE'S A DEEP ROBUSTNESS IN THIS WOMAN HERE. ALL LAUGH SO, CHRISSY, HAS IT BEEN WORTH IT? I LOVE IT. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. AND YES` AT THIS POINT, YES, IT'S WORTH` BEEN WORTH IT. WHERE ARE WE AT, GUYS, IN TERMS OF FINANCES? WE INITIALLY THOUGHT WE MIGHT DO IT FOR ABOUT $300,000. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE CLOSER TO $600,000 AT THE END. OH GOD, REALLY? YEAH. I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE THAT BADLY IN DEBT. YEAH. BOTH LAUGH WHILE THEY'VE BLOWN THEIR BUDGET AND THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF WORK TO DO, GETTING THIS FAR IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION. IS THIS THE FIRST FAMILY MEAL AROUND THE TABLE? THIS IS THE FIRST OF A LOT OF FAMILY MEALS AROUND THE TABLE. YES. ALL LAUGH IS THIS HOUSE REALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER ONES THAT DAD'S BUILT? IT'S AN AMALGAMATION OF ALL THAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE IT. THIS PLACE IS A WONDERLAND, THOUGH, YOU KNOW? REALLY. IT'S JUST A MAGICAL PLACE. I THINK THERE'S A BIT MORE OF MUM IN THIS. YEAH. AND AS THEY'VE BOTH AGED, THEIR TASTES HAVE, SORT OF, ALIGNED A LITTLE BIT MORE. I DO LOVE THIS PLACE. I'M SO PROUD OF THEM BOTH. IT'S TRUE. CHRISSY'S HAD MORE INPUT HERE THAN USUAL. IT FEELS ALMOST MORE LIKE YOU THAN LIKE ME, WHICH IS REALLY LOVELY. HM. YEAH. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT TO GET THIS DONE. THERE'S A BIT TO GO, BUT WE FEEL VERY HAPPY ` VERY HAPPY ` WITH THE RESULT. BUT YOU DIDN'T DO IT ALL ON YOUR OWN, THOUGH, DID YOU? (LAUGHS) NO, I DIDN'T DO IT ON MY OWN AT ALL. MOST OF THIS HOUSE WAS CARRIED UP THE HILL BY HENRY. ALL LAUGH GOOD OLD HENRY. YOU'RE GONNA MISS THIS PROCESS, THOUGH, AREN'T YOU, HENRY? OH, DEFINITELY. I DON'T THINK IT'S EVERY DAY, OR VERY MANY PEOPLE, ACTUALLY, GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD WITH SOMEONE LIKE STEVIE. IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC, AND WHILST I'M NOT RELATED TO ANYONE HERE BY MARRIAGE OR ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, I FEEL PART OF IT, AND I WILL MISS IT. BUT I'M SURE STEVIE'S NOT READY TO RETIRE. ALL LAUGH NO! IT'S GOOD THAT YOU'VE RAISED THAT, HENRY, BECAUSE THAT WAS MY FINAL QUESTION. IS THIS REALLY THE FINAL BUILD? YES, FOR US IT IS THE FINAL BUILD. FOR US, YEAH. 'F' FOR FINAL. BUT WE HAVE DELIGHTFUL CHILDREN, AND I REALLY HOPE THAT I CAN HELP WITH THEIR HOUSES AS TIME GOES BY. SO, THERE'LL BE HELPING GOING ON. YOU MEAN THAT YOU'RE GONNA HELP THEM LIVE IN UNFINISHED HOUSES. OTHERS LAUGH NO... I THINK I'M MORE SENSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER PEOPLE THAN FOR OURSELVES, I'M SORRY TO SAY, DARLING. ALL LAUGH THIS STORY MAY NOT BE OVER YET, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A FOREGONE CONCLUSION THAT STEVE AND HIS FAMILY ARE ALL GOING TO LIVE HERE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. IT'S A FAIRY-TALE HOUSE THAT'S SERIOUSLY WELL-BUILT, WITH LOVE, COMMITMENT AND GOOD OLD-FASHIONED CRAFTSMANSHIP. STEVE HAS CREATED A FAMILY HEIRLOOM, A TREASURE TO BE ENJOYED BY GENERATIONS TO COME. MAGICAL MUSIC CAPTIONS BY ABLE. WOW! LOOK AT THAT VIEW, DARLING. NO, IT'S NOT BAD, IS IT, HONEY? UH, NOT BAD AT ALL. THE VIEW THAT WAY IS NOT TOO BAD, EITHER. (BLOWS KISSES) BOTH LAUGH GOTTA STOP MEETING LIKE THIS. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2015