Sometimes, one weekend away can shift the course of your home life. For Steve and his wife Lizzy, a short break in a remote Hypedome in Collingwood, New Zealand, turned into something much more – a new way of living right in their own garden.
Q: Steve, how did this all begin? What made you decide to create a garden bedroom with a Hypedome?
Steve: We booked a stay in Samadhi Hypedome in Collingwood, here in New Zealand, on Airbnb – it’s about an hour and a half from us. We stayed there for the weekend, just my wife Lizzy and I. We had the most fantastic time.
Lizzy’s originally from that part of the world, and we just love it there. We had this incredible experience, and when we came back, we looked at the spare bit of land on the side of our house and thought, “You know what? This would be the perfect spot.” So, we took the plunge and ordered a Hypedome. And we did that entirely off the back of that weekend – it sold us.
Q: Tell me about the building process - what was it like to put the dome together yourselves?
Steve: Steven, the guy who owned the Airbnb dome, had said, “It’s not that difficult to build.” And he was right – it wasn’t complicated. There were just the two of us – Lizzy was on the outside, I was on the inside – and we kind of got into a rhythm.
We started with building the deck, then moved on to the dome. Lizzy studied the plans thoroughly, she was very organized. We watched a few YouTube video tutorials, had all the panels stacked up in order, and just took our time with it. We even put the Port Door on, which was a good decision. And the Hype.Wall Panels went on smoothly. It all required patience, but everything came together nicely. And the best part – we didn’t argue once during the whole build. Not once! (laughs)
Q: And now that it’s up - how are you using your Hypedome?
Steve: It became our garden bedroom. We spend most weekends in it – not in our house, but in the dome. We’ve made it super cozy. There’s a lovely comfy bed, an Eames chair, a mid-century armchair, and the Wood Stove we ordered from you. We live in a beautiful part of New Zealand and the dome just fits in perfectly.
It’s become a kind of decompression space for us. We both have really busy jobs, always on the go, and when we step into the dome, it’s just calm. No devices – just reading, relaxing, enjoying the quiet. We built it last July and have just gone through a full cycle of seasons with it. Winter’s especially lovely – we light the fire and it’s just a beautiful, warm experience.
Q: Do your family or friends ever stay in it, or is it more of a personal retreat?
Steve: Well, they love it. All our friends and family who’ve visited think it’s fantastic. We’ve had a couple of friends stay in it, but we’re quite selfish (laughs). Usually, we sleep in the dome and they get our place! It just has this unique feel to it.
We’ve probably slept in it every night through summer – down here in the Southern Hemisphere, that’s December, January, and February… a good 11 or 12 weeks. People ask, “Did you really sleep in it the whole summer?” And the answer’s yes. We just loved it so much. Plus, cats can’t get in there – so we’ve had some of the best sleep we’ve had in years!
Q: Would you say the dome works as a year-round garden bedroom? How has it handled different weather conditions?
Steve: We live on the coast, and we’ve had some big storms blow through – northwesterly winds coming right off the sea. The dome has been rock solid and proved it can withstand strong winds. We ordered it with a heavy-duty anchoring, and it hasn’t moved an inch. And with three windows in our Hypedome M, the natural ventilation has been really effective – the interior stayed comfortable even during the summer months. Though we’re now considering adding a small air conditioning unit, just for the extra comfort on very hot days, the dome has already proven to be a cozy and resilient space all year round.
Q: Do you have any future plans for your bedroom dome?
Steve: We’ve just had an electrician give us a quote to run power to the dome. Long-term, we plan to list it on Airbnb once we retire. Right now, we don’t need the income – we’ve both got full-time jobs – but it’ll be a great income stream later.
We’ve built the dome on an eight-by-eight metre deck, raised it off the ground, with steps leading up. Around it, we’ve planted trees and shrubs that will grow up and soften the look. It’s got a modern touch, but once the greenery grows in, it’ll look like a garden bedroom nestled in the forest.
Q: What was the ordering and delivery process like, especially being all the way in New Zealand?
Steve: I have to say, from absolute start to finish, the whole process – the communication, the people we dealt with – it was just as superb as it gets. The Hypedome team told me, “It’ll be with you in two weeks.” And sure enough, on the exact day, I got a call from our local transport contractor: “I’ve got two pallets for you.” It came all the way from around the world and landed exactly when you said it would. I was just blown away by that kind of service.
Q: Looking back, would you make the same choice and go for the Hypedome again?
Steve: Absolutely. It’s been great fun. Our house isn’t big – it’s a tiny home setup, really – but this has given us a whole extra living and sleeping space. I think it was a really worthwhile investment. We couldn’t have built a room of that size, shape, and quality for the price we paid for the Hypedome. Honestly, it’s really, really good.
Q: What would you say to someone who’s still on the fence about getting a Hypedome?
Steve: I’d absolutely recommend it. The whole experience – from ordering to delivery – was really smooth, and the service stood out in the best way. We live on the other side of the world, and everything arrived exactly when you said it would. That gave us real confidence in the process. I actually work in a large customer-facing business, and I’ve even used Hypedome as an example when talking to colleagues and clients – showing what’s possible when great service and smart logistics come together.
But beyond that, it’s changed the way we use our outdoor space. The dome gave us a whole new living area right in our garden – something we didn’t have before. Now it’s where we go to relax, unwind, and spend quality time together. It’s added so much to our home life. So yes – definitely a thumbs up from me.
A Garden Bedroom Built with Heart
For Steve and Lizzy, the Hypedome has become a practical and personal extension of their home – something they built together and now use almost every day. It’s added space, comfort, and a new way to enjoy where they live. As Steve puts it: “We live in a really cool, really nice part of New Zealand – and now we’ve got a space that lets us enjoy it even more.”
Want to read more real-life journeys like Steve’s? Explore other inspiring Hypedome Stories and see how people around the world are redefining their outdoor living.