Words: Amy Russ | Photos: Tessa Jaine
A boutique building company with a focus on luxury living, InHaus specialises in creating beautiful bespoke homes with clever construction and meticulous attention to detail. Owners, Russell and Tanya Campbell have been in the building business since 1987, combining their background expertise in joinery and interior design to provide award-winning homes across the Nelson Tasman region.
Known for their consistency, the level of perfection that InHaus delivers on is repeated time and time again, with them achieving numerous local and gold reserve awards in the Registered Master Builders House of the Year since they first entered in 2005. To date, InHaus has won an award for every home they have entered in these prestigious awards, earning them six national awards and an impressive platinum title that only a handful of other building company's nationwide have achieved. “We strive to win, consistently. We focus purely on what we do, and doing it well,” says Russell. “We have an extremely strong team focus and pride ourselves on our ability to train our staff in all aspects of building, to a high degree. Our team are immensely important to us, one thing we really enjoy about the business is being able to bring highly trained, skilled employees to the industry.”
Kakano Lane in Richmond is a development showcasing stunning examples of the ingenuity and high-quality workmanship that the company is renowned for. In 2019 InHaus introduced its newly completed subdivision, to potential home buyers. Fourteen homes were designed and built exclusively by InHaus, each meticulously thought out and expertly considered, allowing privacy, comfort and luxury living. The subdivision is sited near Champion Road, and the name Kakano aptly means ‘new beginnings’. Wanting to build something unique and upmarket with open spaces and ample skylines, Russell says their use of aluminium vertical cladding, cedar and plaster are all materials that they love to work with. Now focused on a new development on Tuia Lane in Richmond, their latest subdivision houses twelve properties ranging from 600m2 to 900m2.
Following in his father's footsteps, Russell and Tanya’s son Shaun is fast learning the master craft, showcasing his skillset within the serene sanctuary of InHaus’s Kakano Lane subdivision. Nestled in the exclusive development, Shaun has built a stunning home within what Russell describes as a complex site. Located at the crest of the lane, on a 520m2 section, using skills instilled in him by his father, Shaun has managed to build a beautifully discreet three-bedroom open-plan home with ample privacy and stunning workmanship. A true testament to his family’s skills. “Given the location of the site, it was actually really quite tricky to design,” says Russell. “But the attention to detail is very high. From the entryway transition to the way in which he has done the lighting and vented the heat pump through underfloor ducting, every aspect of the house has been considered.”
Winning his own award and being named National Apprentice of the Year at the Registered Master Builders Awards in 2015, Shaun says he has had a love for creating ever since he can remember. “I grew up around building and I have always loved it. I was always making things. I understand the industry and through my dad, I have grown up with a strong respect for the trade and its tools. My dad instilled in me a strong discipline and focus and without his guidance I wouldn’t be where I am today. His guidance has sent me in the right direction in life.”
Having been in the industry for ten years, Shaun knew exactly what he wanted before he had even started building the home. “I had always had an idea in my head of how I wanted this build to look. It has been great to see it finally all come together.”
Upon entering, you are met with huge full-height glass window framing the courtyard while the bespoke oak handrail guides you into the heart of the home. Warm, and filled with ample natural light, the open plan dining and kitchen are gently sectioned off with a wall that serves an extremely functional purpose. “With the high rafted exposed ceilings there was no room to place the heat pump duct unit in the ceiling, so I had to figure out a way to incorporate it into the flooring and the wall.”
Another example of his meticulousness is the clever handmade cedar board lighting above the kitchen island that he designed and built in his garage. The use of cedar boards both internally and externally creates a continuity and natural flow throughout the home, enabling it to sit seamlessly within its site. The feature full-height ceiling creates a sense of spaciousness and the home curls comfortingly around the private north-facing courtyard while the west facing gable invites the late afternoon sun and vistas of the regions landscape, offering the perfect space to unwind.
Never compromising on excellent design, Russell says that part of the secret to the success of InHaus is that the business focuses on quality over quantity. Delivering only the highest possible quality workmanship, enabling the business to grow from strength to strength. Building strong relationships and friendships with their clients is a factor the team enjoy on each and every project. With a strong focus on their development work, Russell and Tanya say their style, flair and quality is what sets them apart from others in the industry. “The quality of the awards we have received over the years, are a celebration and reflection of not just one person, but the company as a whole.”
