Photography: Babiche Martens
Home profile
Meet & greet: Zeenat (creative director and founder of Sauce Magazine and Sauce Studios) and Luke Wilkinson (director at Sauce & head of operations at Fleet Partners), their daughter Aaliyah, three, baby son Zayn and pug Brooklyn.
The property: Four-bedroom, two-bathroom late ’70s timber house in Auckland.
For Zeenat and Luke Wilkinson it was a spontaneous decision to buy a house at the peak of Auckland’s sky-high housing market.
The ’70s-style timber house was the second house the couple viewed, and it wasn’t exactly in ideal condition. Yet, there was something captivating about the light flooding into this spacious home overlooking a picturesque view of the Kauri Park bushes that lit a spark in the pair.
They moved out of their dark and gloomy CBD rental apartment, and for the first time were able to hammer nails in the walls.
“My wishlist was a house with a pool, but we settled for a house with a chicken coop instead – minus the chickens,” Zeenat says.
Home update
Neither Luke nor Zeenat would say they’re naturals at DIY, so they concentrated on the areas requiring the most significant updates, mainly the bathroom and laundry.
“This Beach Haven home makeover was our first renovation project, and it taught me to approach future endeavours with caution. Renovating the bathroom during my third trimester, while also caring for a toddler at home, was quite the undertaking,” says Zeenat.
They replaced the roof, updated the downstairs carpeting, and gave the bedroom walls a fresh coat of paint. Outside, they introduced native trees, alongside citrus, feijoa and olive trees.
The resulting look is calming and minimal, grounded in good design. “I wanted to keep the interiors as Scandi as possible and stick to natural textures to highlight the openness, the wooden beams and ceilings, as well as the endless green overlooking the reserve and Kauri Park.”
Style forward
In the living room, plush texture reigns supreme. A curved A&C Homestore coffee table sits under a sweeping white Baya rug from Danske Mobler, bordered by a Nood sofa and cream Freedom armchairs.
An existing built-in bookshelf takes centre stage, dividing the living space and the kids’ playroom. It allows Aaliyah and Zayn to have their pick of toys without cluttering day-to-day life. A Little Reef & Friends play kitchen and Danske Mobler boucle armchairs give a world of wonder to the playroom. The bookshelf was formerly burgundy but was given new life through a coat of white paint.
“I truly believe in the transformative power of paint,” says Zeenat. The pair styled the built-in shelf fittingly with pieces that reflected their love of photography, art and objects. “I am drawn to the classics. I love injecting a hint of colour to hard-working classic shapes and neutral tones.”
The dining set by Danske Mobler lends gravitas to the dining area, which is tied together by an artwork from local painter Cindy Leong. “We are all about keeping it subtle and allowing furniture, art and homewares to do most of the heavy lifting.”
Relax, unwind
Their main bedroom is a thing of beauty, stripped back to a retreat of no distractions. There’s no TV or technology, just a clean neutral palette and natural textiles.
“I get bored of things easily if it’s a print or bold colour, so keeping it simple allows me to focus more on it being a space to relax and rewind.” Isle of Omni bedding decks out a Freedom bed, with a wardrobe from The Wardrobe Company tying together the brown tones from a nearby gifted print.
In the kids’ bedrooms, decor choices are again made for their calming abilities. Zayn’s room is very tonal, inspired by the abundance of native bush outside his window. His space is small, so bringing in the outside extends it beyond his four walls, using extensive texture to reinforce the greenery.
Aaliyah’s room is adorned with bunting from Etsy. A Citta standing lamp, with Alphabet bedding from Sage x Clare adding a sweet touch.
Zeenat changes out the bedding each week to keep things fun and fresh.
For the bathroom, the wishlist was a space that was pampering, minimal with lots of storage.
The oval-shaped tub was non-negotiable and was loved by both parents and children alike. The mirrors, vanities and tapware from Newtech add a luxe vibe.
Work and play
Despite all the soothing white paint and cream dressings, it’s clear this is still a family house.
The kids build makeshift forts with sofa cushions, use the large deck for water play, and the living room is often optimised as a dance floor.
“It’s typical to any family home. Lots of toys, mess, laundry everywhere. It’s beautiful and wonderful, all at the same time,” says Zeenat.
There’s plenty to dance about these days; a dream kitchen reno is on the cards, which will provide ample entertaining space for friends and family. “We love sharing our space with the people we love.”
Beach Haven home makeover: shop their style
1. Cubist Fabric Occasional Armchair
$1,274 (usually $1,699) at Freedom Furniture
An occasional chair is a great way to fill an empty corner. This elegant oak and off-white combo is the perfect addition to enhance any Scandi-inspired aesthetic.
2. Houe Click Dining Chair
$459 at Danish Furniture
These award-winning dining chairs are available in three different style options – with armrests, without armrests or with a taller back – and in 13 different colour choices. The perfect addition to add a pop of colour and personality.
4. Mr Big Bare Bulb Pendant
from $149 at Mr. Ralph
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