Home profile
Meet & greet: Meg Gallagher (artist and designer), Matt Smith (artist and business development manager) and Murphy, seven.
The property: A ’70s Dunedin home colourfully updated for modern living.
After 15 years of living abroad on their respective journeys, former university flatmates Meg Gallagher and Matt Smith returned to their hometown of Ōtepoti Dunedin in 2023. The call back home led them to each other, and eventually to their architecturally designed 1970s home in the coastal suburb of St Clair.
They rented for about a year before deciding it was time to put down roots and buy their own home. Top of their wishlist was something with plenty of character, a home they could renovate themselves over time. But they did have secondary criteria. “Matt and my son Murphy are keen surfers, so being able to run down to the beach easily was also high on the priority list,” says Meg.
It didn’t take long before they found “the one” – a solid three-bedroom family home designed during the 1970s by award-winning local architectural firm, Mason & Wales.
Matt says it just felt right. “The first things we loved when we walked in the door were the high beams in the ceiling. They created such a great dramatic feeling. The sun streamed in through the kitchen, and the layout clearly showed that the designers had thought carefully about ensuring the house would get all-day sun.”
It was just what Matt and Meg were looking for – and luckily they were exactly what the sellers were hoping for, too. “A family listed the house privately, selling it on behalf of their beloved mother who had passed away,” says Matt. “They were looking to pass it on to a family who would appreciate it as much as they did.”
With the help of a few tradie friends, it took the couple just six months to renovate much of the home. “We have a similar attitude of ‘just think it, do it’, so it’s easy to keep each other motivated and work with our strengths,” says Meg.
Meg is handy with a paintbrush, while Matt has taken the lead on most of the physical jobs, using his talent for thinking outside the box and building or creating with reclaimed materials.
The couple share an eye for design and had a clear vision for the house from the start. They wanted to honour the structure that Mason & Wales had created 50 years ago while using colour, texture and their art collection to give it a contemporary vibe. “We are both quite picky, but luckily, we have a similar style,” says Meg.
The home’s distinctive look reflects their personalities, experiences as artists and also global adventures. Inspired by their travels through South America and the Middle East, it exudes a blend of mid-century aesthetics and eclectic energy.
With its high ceilings, wooden beams and expansive windows, the open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge are the heart of the house. Meg and Matt have used the walls as a canvas to showcase their creativity. The result is a fun, eclectic area brimming with energy and colour.
The tallest wall has become a collaborative art piece. First Matt painted one of his signature linear patterns directly onto the wall in a rich mustard colour. Then, they hung one of Meg’s earliest nude paintings over the top. “We call it our collab wall,” says Matt. “It gets a lot of comments from guests.”
The previous owners installed the new white-and-woodgrain kitchen, which is uncharacteristically understated but offers modern amenities and provides a blank canvas for the couple’s colourful fixtures and art pieces.
The dedicated coffee area is a testament to one of their shared passions. Matt has worked for many years in the coffee industry. He has quite a collection of coffee equipment and loves to offer up his skills to visitors.
A retro table-and-chair set bought at an auction in Sydney and a kilim from Afghanistan inject a shot of bold turquoise in the dining nook. “The box window in the dining area is such a great place to sit and drink a coffee. There, we just watch the world walk past,” says Matt.
In the lounge, a green velvet corner sofa backs up against a brown vintage leather couch. It’s in the perfect position to enjoy the sunshine and the view. “The back-to-back couch configuration is perfect for creating different zones for socialising and relaxing,” says Meg.
The rest of the house is split-level, ensuring the bedrooms are separate from the living area for privacy and soundproofing. A bonus is that the high ceiling in the stairwell makes it the perfect gallery for displaying art. “We have my landscapes on one side, Meg’s on the other and then a fabric-covered bull’s head created by my aunty hung high,” says Matt, who paints and creates under the name Matt John Smith. A curvaceous Masaomi pendant from Ido Interior Design is a recent addition.
The rich, earthy tones cloak the main bedroom, including textured terracotta-colored bedding that creates a calming retreat. A vintage tapestry, discovered in an antique store, serves as a centrepiece, infusing the room with character. For Meg and Matt, it’s the perfect balance – a sanctuary that sparks joy and ignites the senses.
Downstairs, they transformed the double garage into the ultimate creative space. The walls are once again adorned with Matt’s trademark mustard-coloured squiggles. Home to his art studio and workshop, surf quiver and sports gear, it has become a favourite place for guests to hang out.
Plans for a bathroom renovation are on the horizon for functionality reasons. However, in the meantime, Meg and Matt have enhanced the original features by painting the walls a bold pumpkin orange shade. They have also added a few retro touches of their own.
One of the things they love most about the house’s architecture is its seamless transition between indoors and outdoors. The sliding doors that lead directly to the garden from both of the main bedrooms make an effortless transition. The garden beyond also awaits their creative touch. However, if the house is anything to go by there’s no doubt that it will be a work of art when completed.
very corner of Meg and Matt’s home tells a story. A story of love, adventure and the rewards that come from embracing life’s colourful tapestry. “We are so happy in this home,” says Meg. “It really feels like ours.”
Home truths
What areas of your renovation did you save on? Splurge on?
Meg: We saved on art. Matt and I created many of the pieces, and we collected the others over time on our travels. We splurged on lighting.
Best lessons learned?
Matt: Be open to changing things if the original plan doesn’t work.
What would you never do again?
Meg: Remove 50-year-old wallpaper.
Any renovation or DIY disasters?
Meg: Not yet but I’m sure there will be.
What’s one thing you would change about your home if you could?
Meg: More wardrobe space, although lack of it is helping to control new clothing purchases.
Most memorable experience you’ve had in your home?
Meg: Hosting 20-odd people for Christmas two days after we took possession – and nailing the slow-cooked beef cheeks.
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