Designed and Built, For You
Building a home with character that mirrors the homeowner’s own personality and lifestyle is what David Reid Homes Canterbury is all about.
Walking into a David Reid Homes build, you almost feel your body exhale and relax with the sense of space and light that radiates around the rooms. The character of each home is designed to mirror each homeowner’s personality and lifestyle.
Carl Fordyce and Aaron Hooper bought the David Reid Homes Canterbury franchise in 2020. The pair are both generational builders, following their fathers’ footsteps into the industry, and have cut their teeth with their own building companies.
The opportunity to be a part of the David Reid Homes legacy has been an exciting and successful journey for the pair. They won a Gold Award in the 2023 Registered Master Builders House of the Year with their first entry – a 256 sqm mid-century-inspired home, cleverly designed to be built on a challenging section, Carl says.
‘David Reid Homes is known for its flair and design, focusing on high-end builds. We specialise in bespoke, tailored homes that meet the specific needs and desires of each client. We work closely with the client from design to build, to produce that flair within their budget. Our goal is to make it an exciting journey for our clients.’
They aim to match clients with an architect who suits their personality so they can capture the vision inside the client’s mind. The team works closely together to translate that creativity into reality. ‘Aaron and I have decades of experience in the industry, and we have a good reputation. We ensure that all our subcontractors share the same attention to detail. We don’t build hundreds of homes, so it’s all about quality. We are a tight-knit unit, with family members working in the office.’
They embrace trends, catering to people’s needs and desires from environmental solutions to offering low- maintenance materials for busy lifestyles.
The team is currently constructing 18 homes in a Rolleston development, offering a choice of four architecturally designed houses. Each home can be customised to the buyer’s preferences, allowing them to select colours, materials, and cladding that reflect their individual style. This provides greater affordability for architecturally designed homes.
‘We received an exciting brief from the developer to design a boutique boulevard that stands out from the crowd. Traditionally, a David Reid Homes build would not be a first-buyer home, but this makes it more accessible.’
The company is also embracing the opportunity to expand into building rural homes which offer another level of creativity. ‘We design houses to complement the beautiful landscapes and views, frequently incorporating materials from the land,’ Carl says. ‘These homes often serve as working spaces as well so when it comes to design, we consider this aspect. We aim to provide clients with areas in the home where they can switch off from work and enjoy the magical views that come with their rural location.’
One of Carl’s recent favourite projects, which is an entry in the 2024 Registered Master Builders House of the Year, was the design of a replacement home for clients who had been living in their slightly damaged home since the 2011 earthquakes.
They removed the existing home and built a brand-new house designed around a huge oak tree at the front of the section. The clients had an extensive collection of artworks they wanted to display, so the house was designed with ample visibility and functional space to showcase their collection, while keeping it a family home at its core.
The magic of a David Reid Homes build ‘lies in the little details’, concludes Carl. ‘Higher than standard door frames and wider hallways elevate the feeling of space, while larger windows and perfectly placed skylights let natural light pour into the home. We aim to build people the home of their dreams. Regardless of the budget, we ensure our clients get what they are looking for.’
