Statement decor and a love of art have layered this new-build with character aplenty
Simone describes the kitchen as “fairly stock standard, what you’d see in most new-builds.”
Home profile
Meet & greet: Simone (content creator) and Trent Forsyth (sales manager), their sons Asher, two, and Ryder, one, and French bulldog Maddox.
The property: A four-bedroom former show home, personalised by its owners.
A home is what you make it. And though this brand-new build in Auckland wasn’t designed to Simone and Trent Forsyth’s specifications – they bought it already built – what they’ve done to it in the four years since has truly made it their own. From low-key renovations to adored decor choices, the personalities of this young family of four are stamped across every inch of the home.
Once bare timber, the deck is now sheltered by an awning and outdoor blinds. It gets used every day, even if it’s just Simone sitting for a few minutes on the Freedom sofa setting while her boys and dog run around and play.
For the love of new
When it came to searching for their ideal house, Simone and Trent were incredibly practical, entering the housing market with emotions in check and a laser focus on their list of must-have items.
With plans for a family, they wanted a space with good indoor-outdoor flow, where they could stand in the kitchen and watch their future children play on the lawn. They were also determined to choose a new-build over an older home.
The Curl Curl pendant from Zlights in Australia makes a striking statement.
“We’ve both got incredibly busy lives and we didn’t want a home that needed a lot of maintenance or any work done to it. That was number one on our priority list,” says Simone.
For a couple keen on a new-build, the house they eventually settled on was an absolute unicorn. Built by a local construction company, it had been set up as a show home to sell projects in another area and had never been lived in, giving Simone and Trent all the joy of a pristine, fresh-out-of-wrapper home without having to go through the building process.
For organisation addict Simone, having a beautifully ordered walk-in pantry is a joy, with storage solutions from online store Space General.
From chaos to calm
The other item on the couple’s must-have list was stellar storage – an essential ingredient in creating the calm space they were craving. Their previous home, a flat share with seven other young professionals in Mt Eden, had been both a joy and a mild strain for two tidy people.
“Living with that many people comes with its challenges, especially when you are me,” Simone says. She was quite happy being ‘the tidier’ of the flat, but concedes that she reached a point where she yearned for her own space “where, if I leave the house clean,
I know I’m going to come back to it clean”.
The replica Eames chair is the star of the living room and the place everyone fights to sit, but Simone says the piece she’s most in love with is the couch. “It sounds really practical and boring, but having a leather sofa in a dark colour has been a lifesaver, with children.” A Lighting Direct floor lamp arches over the sofa, casting a soft glow.
Now in her own home, Simone has used her impressive organisational skills to create a sense of serenity, even with the addition of two little whirlwinds, small sons Asher and Ryder.
“Some people have fun hobbies; I just really enjoy keeping my house organised,” she quips.
Though she jokes about being obsessed with order, there’s no doubt her cupboards are an Instagram-worthy thing of beauty, while the kids’ toys are neatly corralled in age-appropriate storage, and there’s an overwhelming sense of calm that comes from everything being in its place.
“I think it’s become even more important for me with young kids because they’re chaotic, and having those organisational systems keeps everything in order. Everything has a home, and when you’ve got that system down pat, for me, it’s not that hard to keep on top of it.”
An open space at the top of the stairs works as a multifunctional room. It’s where Simone works with her hair and make-up clients.
Minor adjustments
Though the new-build was almost perfect for this young family, every homeowner knows that there’s always room for improvement. One small project at a time, the couple have chipped away at minor irritations, polished the raw edges and put their personal stamp on the property, turning a house built for no one into the ideal home for their family.
“After we spend money on a new project, my husband’s line is, ‘Surely this will be the last thing.’ And we both agree. And then a few months later, we’re installing something else,” says Simone.
First up was landscaping, turning the bare backyard into a tidy, low-maintenance garden, and transforming the nondescript deck into a proper outdoor room, with a protective awning and automated blinds that can be drawn down to protect against rain and wind.
Trent serenades the family on the piano, and the family plays together in the evenings. “After bathtime, it’s a space where we can get all the toys out,” Simone says. “It’s soft, it’s warm, it’s cosy and we love playing up here.” The flag in the stairwell is by Wairarapa artist Paula Coulthard, bought to mark Asher’s birth.
“It’s a space where we can play with the boys while still being under cover and in the shade,” Simone says. “And we can keep outdoor furniture set up all the time without having to pack it away each time, which we were doing for years. It’s actually made a massive difference to how much we use that area.”
There were also dramatic changes behind the scenes, with a laundry refresh bringing new sparkle to household chores. “The laundry was just a tub and that was it,” says Simone.
Bright, fresh and easy to clean, the family bathroom is just what Simone and Trent would have chosen for themselves.
Hating the look of cleaning equipment and clutter on display, she wanted a room with loads of cupboards, including power points to charge the vacuum cleaner, and laundry hampers in drawers.
“The laundry is one of my favourite rooms in the house – and I know that’s bizarre, but I spend a lot of time in there, so it’s nice to have one that’s practical but also quite pretty.”
Eldest son Asher’s room is bright and fresh, in a palette of calm neutrals and pistachio, with bedlinen from Frankly & Co.
Creative statement
With the couple’s penchant for sleek, modern design and calming neutral tones, the mood of the home is serene, certainly, but far from boring. “We tend to fall in love with individual pieces, and then we create rooms around those pieces,” says Simone. For example, a stock-standard strip light in the kitchen was replaced by an abstract pendant that twists like a kite string over the island bench, doubling as illumination and a guaranteed conversation starter.
More than anything, the couple have brought character to their home through art, with the neutral walls forming the perfect gallery space. Both ardent art buffs, Simone and Trent have curated a quirky collection of pieces, many of which have personal stories attached – such as the pieces bought for each of their boys before they were born to gift them with an heirloom item and hopefully instil a love of art.
Ryder’s nursery features a wall mural by Andrew J Steel, which has been customised to reflect each member of the family and their passions, from Trent’s piano to Simone’s love of skiing. The ball pit is from The Playtime Store.
And then there’s the piece in the nursery that literally tells the story of their family through pictures: a doodle collage by Kiwi contemporary artist Andrew J Steel, which represents their little family of four (plus dog) and their passions. “It’s a snapshot of our family,” says Simone.
For a house with no history, this home already has a whole anthology of stories embedded in – and on – its walls, which Simone and Trent will add to as their wee family grows.
Simone’s tips for a house that feels calm and orderly
Declutter: Get rid of items you no longer need or use. A clutter-free space creates a sense of calm.
Organise: Implement organisational systems for each room. Use solutions such as shelves, cabinets and baskets to keep things in their designated places.
Dial it down: Choose a minimalist approach to decor, focusing on a few well-chosen, meaningful pieces that enhance a space without overwhelming it.
Clean regularly: Develop a routine to keep your home consistently tidy – crucial for a sense of order.
Mindful layout: Arrange furniture and design your space with a sense of flow and purpose. Ensure that each room serves its intended function, and create comfortable, open spaces that promote relaxation.
Text Shelley Tustin Photography Babiche Martins
Read this next: This stunning black house perfectly suits every season
EXPERT PROJECTS
Create the home of your dreams with Shop Your Home and Garden
SHOP NOW
