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Customkit Building of the Month |SeptemberAdvertorialA

DV

2015

In 1993, what was to become Customkit

was a one-trick pony, a company that

specialised in timber, delivering wood

to those who would then create

buildings.

Enter Michael Anselmi, an established

carpenter who liked the look of the operation

and, as a long time Franklin resident, its

Pukekohe location. He saw the opportunity

to add value to the pure timber range on

offer.

The business began to specialise in barns,

sheds and other lifestyle buildings, and barns

with accommodation.

There are a number of elements that make

Customkit a special and unique business.

One is that it uses quality materials, sourced

and manufactured from renewable resources

throughout New Zealand. Michael says he

is proud the company is New Zealand-

Twenty two years ago, builder Michael Anselmi bought a business. The rest is history, and still a bright, unfolding story.

BIRTHDAYS & BUILDING MILESTONES

owned and ‘made’.

The depth of knowledge within the

business is impressive too, with the

Customkit team collectively having over 150

year’s industry experience.

“The challenge for us was to become a

company that people would feel at home

coming to talk to about houses.

“Some said this was a big move for a

small business in Pukekohe, but we knew

we were up to the task. Twenty three years

on we’ve become a nationwide building

company that, as evidence shows, owns

the lifestyle housing space and niche

in the marketplace.”

“Customkit creates buildings that can

be internally finished and completed

exactly how the customer wants. Clients

are attracted to the large, open spans of

the buildings that can be achieved by

the use of LVL portal beams.

“People say we start with an open mind

and have a skill for listening, meaning a

Customkit home can truly reflect their

unique taste, personality, and lifestyle,

not ours.”

Building One was an implement and

‘large scale’ garden shed developed for

Wrights Water World in Patumahoe, not far

from Pukekohe, a scenic attraction of

ponds, plantings and pathways created

around a waterfall and an old quarry.

Building 1000 is a project being developed

by long-time Customkit fans, builder Robin

Verhoef and his partner Casey Costello from

R&S Builders 1987 Limited.

Their first engagement with Customkit

was their own slice of ‘Americana’, a

beautiful traditional barn with a quality

workshop, a large storage facility and

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OPPOSITE PAGE: Robin Verhoef (right) and Casey Costello are working with Customkit on this subdivision project.CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The 1000th building will sit behind this Customkit barn; the Verhoef barn in Waiua Pa, the ultimate toy box; the home of Matakana Botanicals; Michael Anselmi riding high on business success; Customkit create beautiful work and living areas.

subsidiary dwelling in Waiua Pa, south-west

of Auckland.

The positive feedback for their barn

(pictured at right) sparked the idea of using

the design concept in their current project, a

subdivision on the south side of the Bombay

Hills says Robin.

“Our focus for the subdivision is quality

of life and providing a property that offers

a home that will deliver that. We couldn’t go

past Customkit for this project.”

Customkit will supply the next three

homes, the first due for completion in

September.

“We keep coming back to Customkit

because of the great service, open-

mindedness, and quality of the finished

materials that get delivered to site,” says

Robin. “We’ve never had any problems

dealing with them and have the peace of

mind knowing that things will go smoothly.

Believe me, this is invaluable on any building

project, but particularly when the ‘scale’

increases and you have to balance a whole

bunch of variables.”

Casey says she loves the grandeur and

openness of the designs, but what most

impresses her is the flexibility that working

with Customkit offers.

“It’s a really exciting time in the building

world, with so many different options to

create really different environments. Rather

than everything looking the same, you can

really do amazing things with flooring,

lighting, and creating spaces that give you a

home that works with your lifestyle and

complements your surroundings.”