Modern Classic

Modern Classic is a reimagining of classic European elegance, balancing timeless architectural symmetry with more approachable detailing. It softens grandeur with warmth, outdoor connection, and quiet opulence, all crafted for today’s functional, flexible, and multigenerational lifestyle.

Prioritising tranquility and ease, Modern Classic weaves minimalist outlines with seamless indoor-outdoor connection. Textured materials bring soft, practical elegance to classical forms. Designs seamlessly connect shared, private and outdoor spaces to support both harmonious multigenerational living. Smooth connections from indoors to outdoor spaces, such as terraces or a pool area, combined with integrated biophilic elements enhance emotional wellbeing. Accessible and intentional layouts prioritise movement, ease, and enjoyment across all life stages.

A serene palette of muted creams, botanic greens, and grounding earth tones establishes a warm, resort-like elegance with enduring appeal. Tactile surfaces create visual depth, while traditional forms such as arches and trims are re-envisioned with calm, contemporary colours. The result is seamless living spaces that foster both shared connections and privacy, allowing different generations to live together comfortably.

Style Evolution

Modern Classic is growing in 2026, evolving from elegant, warm, and whimsical forms. The design extends its timeless elegance through functional simplicity and purposeful layouts, balancing classic European symmetry with more approachable detailing. It expands indoor-outdoor flow to create more harmonious spaces that foster both shared connections and personal solace for multigenerational living.

About the Trend

Design Features

Contemporary apertures: Doorways and windows in black steel add sculptural interest to textured exterior walls. These elements reimagine classical forms with a minimalist, contemporary edge.
Neutral colours: A palette of muted creams, botanic greens, and grounding earth tones creates a warm, resort-like atmosphere. Two-tone schemes enhance the calm, timeless appeal.
Integrated biophilia: Potted plants, hedging, and green walls are thoughtfully integrated into terraces, patios, and balconies. These elements enhance wellbeing and connect the home to its surroundings.
Indoor outdoor connection: Outdoor spaces feature expansive courtyards, terraces, pools and patios. Accessible and intentional layouts ensure enjoyment and ease, perfect for entertaining all year round.
Interiors: Interiors feature curvatures, natural light, neutral coloured and textured materials and simple shapes. Interiors feature soft curves, natural light, and tactile materials in neutral tones. Seamless transitions and accessible layouts support comfort, movement, and multigenerational living.

Recommended products

Axon™ Brushed Concrete

Axon™ Panel Brushed Concrete: The embedded textured finish gives renovations and extensions a modern, minimalist aesthetic to delicately contrast the heritage building
 

Axon™ Panel Smooth with a textured paint finish

Axon™ Panel Smooth, with a paint finish: A panel with a shiplap vertical joint. It can be finished with a site applied roll on textured acrylic paint for that rendered look, or you can paint it smooth

Stria™ Cladding 325mm horizontal

Stria™ Cladding: For added interest include a horizontal groove feature. Stria™ Cladding 325mm or 405mm installed horizontally creates a modern masonry look.

Axon™ Panel rendered finish

Axon™ Panel Smooth, with a rendered finish: A panel with a shiplap vertical joint. It can be finished with a full mesh textured coat system for a lightweight plaster finish.

Options in select areas:

Hardie™ Groove Lining:  Use for feature interior walls and ceilings

Axon™ Panel Brushed Concrete:  Use for feature interior walls

Recommended paint colours

Exterior

Dulux
Mt Aspiring Quarter
Dulux
Mason Bay Quarter
Dulux
Ōpononi
Dulux
Darfield
Dulux
Mt Stevens
Dulux
Te Kuiti

Interior

Dulux
Mt Aspiring Quarter
Dulux
Mason Bay Quarter
Dulux
Ōpononi
Dulux
Waiheke
Dulux
Wainui Beach
Dulux
Five Fingers Peninsula Quarter
Dulux
Darfield
Dulux
Mt Stevens
Dulux
Te Kuiti
Standard greentag
Standard healthrate

Global GreenTag™ GreenRate™ Level A and Product Health Declaration™ PHD Platinum Health mean our products have passed the world's toughest standards for health, eco performance and safety.

Closed and Opened Design Books

The Design Book

BUILD YOUR MODERN LIFE

The Hardie™ Cladding Collection has a wide variety of products to select from, creating design versatility, in which It’s Possible™ to Make Modern™ like never before. It’s a movement that’s reshaping perceptions and changing the way New Zealand builds. Whether you are planning a renovation, new build, or extension, this forecast will be an invaluable tool on your journey. Welcome to the James Hardie Design Handbook. It's time to Build Your Modern Life.

Where

To buy our products

Get

The James Hardie Product Guide

See

James Hardie's Modern Design Forecast

Find your nearest Showhome

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  • 1237 Howard Street, Parkvale, Hastings
  • 9 McGarry Drive, Kaiapoi
  • 30 Hallmark Drive, Richmond
  • 8 Homestead Drive, Rangiora
  • 11 Rose Manor Drive, Springlands, Blenheim
  • 43 Belgrove Place, Parklands, Christchurch, Canterbury
  • 10 Homestead Drive, Rangiora
  • 4 Homestead Dr, Rangiora
  • 21 Homestead Drive, Bellgrove, Rangiora
  • 40B Johns Rd, Belfast, Christchurch
  • 50, Lochridge Drive, Kinloch, 3300, Waikato
  • 145 Kaniere Road, Kaniere, Hokitika
  • 19 Clydesdale Drive, Holmes Hill, Oamaru
  • 52, Summersfield Boulevard, Appleby, 7081, Tasman
  • 74 Pelorus Avenue, Poraiti, Napier
  • 163 Brookside Road, Rolleston
  • 37 Meadowstone Street, Gleniti, Timaru
  • 21 Skibbereen Drive, Halswell, Christchurch
  • 80, Benashet Drive, Lincoln, 7672, Canterbury
  • 32 Nikau Drive, Redwoodtown, Blenheim
  • 19 Finstock Way, Springston
  • 16 Camberley Road, Richmond
  • 119 Carters Road, Amberley
  • 72 Hitchen Road, Pōkeno
  • 27 Finstock Way, Springston
  • 7 Oakbridge Boulevard, Marshland, Christchurch
  • 13 Oakbridge Boulevard, Marshland, Christchurch
  • 46 Arbuckle Road, Frimley, Hastings
  • 9 Montiicola Drive, Papamoa Beach, Papamoa
  • 1, Flounder Drive, Ōmokoroa
  • 7, Tūhua Close, Wharewaka, Taupō, 3378, Waikato
  • 2, Walsh Road, 2110, Auckland
  • Rotorua Grove, Aotea, Porirua, 5024, Wellington
  • 2, Buddle Road, Paerata, 2676, Auckland
  • 11, Highland Drive, Acacia Bay, Taupō, 3385, Waikato
  • Kahukaka Road, One Tree Point, 0118, Northland
  • Pampas Drive, 0992, Auckland
  • 29, Kimbrae Drive, Hamilton, 3210, Waikato
  • 50, Hitchens Road, Pokeno, 2402, Waikato
  • Jonah Lomu Drive, Paerata, 2676, Auckland
  • Flaxfield Lane, Beachlands, 2571, Auckland
  • 1, Manutewhau Road, Massey, 0614, Auckland
  • 10, Ripeka Lane, Whenuapai, 0618, Auckland
  • 12, Harriet Johnston Drive, Pokeno, 2472, Waikato
  • Podgora Avenue, Kumeu, 0891, Auckland
  • Kapia Road, Massey, 0614, Auckland
  • 17, Brown Street, Inglewood, 4330, Taranaki
  • 109, Wairau Drive, Tikipunga, Whangarei, 0112, Northland
  • 60, Stace Hopper Drive, Whangarei, 0118, Northland
  • 1, Kukuwai Avenue, Red Beach, 0932, Auckland
  • 25, Jonah Lomu Drive, Pukekohe, 2676, Auckland
  • 190 Matua Road, Huapai
  • 47 Main Street, Greytown
1237 Howard Street, Parkvale, Hastings