Home profile
Meet & greet: Trudy Seakins (design and visual communication teacher), Alaric Nicholls ( deputy principal), Reon, 15, and Parker, 13, Cocoa the tiny chihuahua and two cats, Gracie and Firestar.
The property: A spacious 1970s home reinvented for the 2020s.
Seven years ago, Trudy Seakins and Alaric Nicholls were searching for a larger home to accommodate their growing family. On a wet day, after a year of weekend open homes and online searches, they stumbled across a 1970s winner. “The house was surrounded on two sides by kauri forest, and instantly captivated us with its serene location and huge floor area,” says Alaric.
It was certainly going to need quite the overhaul. As they stepped through the front door they felt like they had time-travelled back 50 years. The kitchen was like something out of The Jetsons, with a Frigidaire hob coupled with a Motat-era oven. Original golden brown joinery, a metal shower and a large open-plan main bedroom, which was an odd configuration of three rooms with no doors, rounded off the picture.
The house needed some love and a shot of style to bring it into this century. “Everything was original, dated and dark,” Alaric says. But despite the home’s unpromising interior, the couple loved the location, size and potential and went all-in at the auction.
The project begins
The rose-tinted glasses quickly came off. Some of the family’s immediate setbacks included a flea infestation, a non-functional oven and a leaking toilet, while more major challenges included the need for extensive rewiring and roof replacement.
“To be honest, moving to this house was tough,” says Trudy. “Most of the rooms only had a single hanging light. It was so dark, I hated it.”
Determined to transform their new home, the couple enlisted the help of Trudy’s brother, Jack from Jedi Builders, for major renovations. This included a complete kitchen overhaul, adding skylights, downlights and also a massive stainless-steel kitchen island, which Trudy affectionately calls her “mortuary table”. By installing additional lighting and sizable Velux skylights, and adding HRV and new insulation, they have made the house light, bright, warm and dry.
The exterior was then painted black, a new deck was built and extensive landscaping was undertaken. This has transformed the way the expansive oasis garden is used. Many friends comment that the outside spa area feels like they are on a retreat in Bali – you truly feel like you are at one with nature.
Trudy’s sister and neighbour, who are both architects, provided valuable input during this time of flux, while Trudy and Alaric tackled many projects themselves. Trudy’s big-picture “colourful, arty, crazy” vision combined with Alaric’s practicality and also Jack’s expertise to nail the home they wanted, with a unique blend of ’70s charm and modern functionality.
The layout
The house’s spacious layout is perfect for the family. The ground floor is a haven for the boys, with three bedrooms, a large TV and rec room for Parker’s drumming, Alaric’s DJ-ing and Reon’s modelmaking, along with another space for international homestay students. Each room downstairs has its own door to the boardwalk and garden, and the renovated laundry, with whimsical wallpaper and a large artwork by Shane Hansen, makes doing the washing almost pleasant.
The adult wing is upstairs and includes two further bedrooms and a bathroom. The upstairs lounge, once dark and cluttered with mismatched wallpaper, now boasts floating laminate flooring and bright white walls, creating a light and open space. The forest green velvet couch, an unexpected addition by Alaric, complements the linear exterior weatherboards used to create an interior feature wall. “Alaric bought the green couch when I was in hospital after an operation. He thinks he asked me but I can’t remember saying yes,” says Trudy.
The conversion of the second large lounge into a common computer and gaming room ensures that Trudy and Alaric can monitor online activities. Alaric houses his Star Wars paraphernalia in this space too. With the lightsaber in pride of place, it’s another popular talking point for guests.
The kitchen’s white-on-white paint job, including a pressed tin splashback, provides a clean backdrop for the family’s colourful touches, while custom storage under the kitchen island maximises functionality. “We love the white-on-white because we can then add our unique treasures,” says Trudy. An eight-seater kauri dining table, sourced from the National Library of New Zealand, adds character and history to the space.
When it came to updating the bathroom, they opted for texture with another wall of pressed tin painted crisp white. “We wanted the bathroom to be light, bright and fresh,” says Trudy. A massive baroque-style mirror and a cow wall hanging finish the bathroom in their trademark quirky style.
The style
“Our style is from the heart,” says Trudy. “Each piece has a story and a meaning. We’ve tried to create a colourful home with layers, merging our ’70s house with the taonga of our family and land.”
The couple love the huge painting by Charlie Seakins in the lounge. Their home is also filled with the mahi toi of local artists, including Shane Hansen, Edge City, Painted Pacific Pottery, Misery, Flox and Robyn Kahukiwa. Trudy’s parents, both full-time potters, are also a constant source of inspiration, influencing the home’s gallery-like feel.
“We love collecting and we are now seeing this come through with our children too,” says Trudy. “Reon, an avid diecast collector, has amassed over 500 Hot Wheels cars and also has a vintage bottle collection. He is proving quite the curator. We love it when frequent visitors stop to examine something they have never noticed before.”
The great outdoors
The new deck has revolutionised the family’s outdoor living, featuring a spa and ample space for dining and relaxation. The garden feels like a private oasis, attracting a variety of birds and insects, which also provide endless moments of connection with nature.
“We are surrounded by kauri and natives, such as kawakawa and nīkau, as well as the low flying kererū and the cheeky pīwakawaka,” says Trudy. “The outdoor space is truly incredible and meditative.”
Parker and Alaric enjoy stargazing and looking for satellites from the spa at night, while a semi-enclosed classic 1970s deck is an ideal spot for a morning cuppa, with the rising sun shimmering through the leafy forest canopy and the native birdlife always on show.
The result
The renovation has been a challenge, and the projects continue. However, Trudy and Alaric are thrilled with the result. They cherish the balance of shared and private spaces, the blend of old and new, and also the vibrant, personal style they’ve infused into every corner.
Home truths
What did you save on? Any splurges?
Alaric: Everything was done on a tight budget. We also did as much of the work as we could ourselves and shopped around for materials.
Trudy: Art is one thing I splurge on. It tells a story, connects people and brings joy.
Lessons learned?
Alaric: How to lay flooring. Also, skylights are a game-changer – I wish we had added more.
Trudy: To trust tradespeople – they are the experts.
Anything you’d never do again?
Trudy: Buy a house without checking whether the oven works.
Any DIY disasters?
Alaric: The old bathroom downstairs had been leaking for decades. It turns out the copper pipes had failed, which I didn’t know could happen.
Trudy: When we had the roof off, a huge storm came and the wind ripped the tarp off. That was a major clean-up job.
What’s one thing you would change about your home?
Alaric: Replace all the joinery and also add double glazing.
Trudy: Replace the joinery, replace the downstairs carpet with polished concrete, renovate the upstairs bathroom, replace the stairs, add bi-folds – the list goes on.
Most memorable experience you’ve had in your home?
Trudy: Hosting dinner parties, baby showers and birthdays. Dreams are made of sharing food and laughter with family and friends.
Alaric: When Trudy forgot about a frozen Christmas turkey in the spare freezer in the garage, which ended up defrosting and stinking out the whole house. The stench was so hideous that it made us get rid of the freezer.
Shop this harbourside home renovation style
1. In Bloom Limited Edition Art Print
$190.00 at Agate Rubene
This gorgeous art print beautifully blends a range of colours to create a statement piece suitable for any living space.
3. R2-D2 Lego Set
$219.99 at Lego
Park up on a rainy day, get your fingers busy building this Star Wars Lego set, and then proudly display it in a cabinet, on a desk, or anywhere you have some extra shelf space for everyone to admire.
4. LAV Washable Floor Runner
$249 at Freedom
Maximise comfort and minimise effort with this easy to wash floor runner. Perfect for hallways, the pattern helps to hide imperfections so if life does get in the way, it’s okay to skip a wash or two.
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- A creative duo transformed this tired bungalow into a colour-drenched, Japanese-inspired haven
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