TEMPLETON HOME >

We’d known John from twenty years ago, when he arranged the colours and designs for the interior of our restaurant in Wellington (Serrano’s). In the years since, we’d seen more of his great work pop up. It was an easy decision to trust John with conceptualising our extension dreams. We loved the way he approached our thinking and helped with the visualisation of our ideas.Although a flat-ish section, it was an awkward shape and we added in a few curveballs to challenge the design further. The design process was well documented and we were given plenty of opportunity to pick at details and revise our thinking.  There was also room for flexibility throughout the building process, especially around some of the finishing touches. The end result is everything we wanted it to be: light, fresh, bold and subtle at the same time, with some lovely unique features and colours that makes it very much ours. We love it! – M. Templeton

ATHFIELD RENOVATION >

Going into the renovation and extension of our Ian Athfield home, we knew we wanted to respect what was built in the past but we also wanted to make the house ours – not a pastiche of what Athfield designed at the time. John walked us through this process sensitively and helped coach us through the whole experience. We particularly enjoyed how he took time to get to know us, how we like to live, and the things we like to do and have in our lives. This initial investment in getting to know us translated into a design proposal that was 95% there in its first iteration and only needed small tweaks to get us to 100% and proceed with the build. John kept up enough creative challenge to ensure that we got a quality product that fitted within our budget, but did not compromise when investment in details would make the renovation really succeed and standout. The end product has transformed the house, but more importantly our lives living in it. We return home every night eager to enjoy the new and old spaces that John’s vision helped create. – Nick & Fiona

MT VICTORIA HOME >

Our Mount Victoria home is the culmination of four years of enjoyable work led by John. From the initial discussion determining what we wanted, through the resource and building consent stages, and on to the construction, John guided the team through to the final completion of our renovated house, which has become the wonderful home that we love. Original ideas were complemented by ideas that we developed together as we went through the process. All people involved worked well together, and John should be immensely proud of what he has been able to achieve for our family. – R. Owen

TUI HOME >

We had a great site with a 270 degree vista, located in the hills of Melrose in the eastern suburbs of Wellington. But one of us was a stripped-back modernist, while the other was a woody, whimsical romantic. What to do? We interviewed several architects without gelling…. but in-depth conversations with John Mills resulted in a design that reconciled our mutual desires. Inventive deployment of form and colour, in combination with honest materials and sensitive spatial dynamics, resulted in a zingy design which has continued to excite us both with the opening of our space to the surrounding birdsong and bush. Our building partnership with Planit Construction was a match made in heaven: as clients we felt cared for and respected, and this extended to the courteous treatment of our neighbours who were necessarily impacted by our build. Five years on, we still love to come home to our sun-drenched, lived-in ‘Tui house’. Our grand-daughter was born right here on site, and we’ve lost count of our many visitors and lodgers during the last few years. – S. Ramage

EPUNI ST HOME >

Working with John is like collaborating with your best friend who knows everything about you, what you like and what you don’t. He will nudge you in the right direction if you seem to be getting too far away from exquisite taste. Your best friend loves to spend time with you, is kind, and always wants the best outcome for you, right? That’s John. He’s honest and unafraid to express an opinion because in this arena, he has a lot of wonderful ideas to share. You never feel like a dick with John even if you did say how much you love the colour grey… just a wee slip up that a best friend overlooks. He’s professional and commands respect from other collaborators. You feel relieved that he’s got it sorted and proud that its him you picked when the admirers turn up to gasp at the finished project. I’ll never want another Architect while John’s around. He listens and turns your wishes into reality – and you feel like a million dollars without actually having to have spent that much.It was a renovation for a Guesthouse, and working with John and his team was a seamless experience. – Francesca & Kate

BEACH ROAD HOME >

We first viewed the home at an open home. Owned and lived in by one family for 50 years, the property was untouched since its build, incorporating many small rooms and corridors, unusable downstairs areas. Even the furniture was original. We spoke to John Mills, our question being; can we retain the integrity of this classic 60s dwelling whilst creating a modern family home? In Tauranga, homes like this are generally demolished making way for multi dwellings, over size homes, or renovated to look contemporary with no link back to the original design, no ‘soul’. John Mills came up with a concept of a bach-style home, using the same foot print, but with a full revamp to create a modern and functional home inspiring relaxation and joy. This is a great home to live in. It’s a pleasure coming up the driveway seeing the house bathed in all day sun, and the inviting deck. While many might not have seen how this property could be adapted to a unique living environment, John had that vision and we are reaping the benefits. This home is not replaceable; it more than a home to us, it is now our lifestyle. – David