Six years on, Jazmyne van Gosliga and Ryan O’Kane still can’t believe their luck. When they first viewed the mid-century gem tucked into the bush in Beach Haven, Auckland, they immediately thought it was way out of their reach.
At that first open home, they wandered through the split-level layout in awe, marvelling at the clever 1970s design, the light streaming in through triangular windows, the wood-clad rooms, the pool sparkling through the jasmine.
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Meet & Greet: Ryan O’Kane (actor), Jazmyne van Gosliga (actress, hair and make-up artist, salon owner, artist and influencer) and their children Saachi, five, and Arden, four.
The Property: A 1970s mid-century, architecturally designed gem with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a self-contained studio and Jazmyne’s home salon.
“We felt like we’d stepped into our dream house. It had that special kind of energy – warm, light and full of character – and it had a pool. Ryan and I loved it instantly, but we thought it was too good to be our first home,” says Jazmyne. They left smitten, but realistic.
Two days later, after losing another auction that morning, the agent called. The Beach Haven home was going to auction that night, so she asked if they’d like another look.
Newly pregnant, battling morning sickness and, with Ryan tied up on-set filming for Shortland Street, she viewed the house a second time, alone, still assuming it wasn’t meant for them. From there, she went straight to the auction, parked herself in the corner with her phone and spent the next hour whispering in calls to her parents and hurried updates to Ryan between his scenes. When the former homeowners finally accepted their offer, she burst into tears.
“I honestly don’t know why anyone would sell this house,” she says. “It was meant to be ours.”
Built in the 1970s by an architect, the home sits on a lush 900sqm section, most of which is a native bush reserve. “We have nicknamed it ‘Our tree house’, because that’s how it feels when you’re inside with that view,” she says.
Despite its compact footprint, the thoughtful mid-century layout has an easy, open flow. The main home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and, over time, the pair has added a self-contained studio unit for guests, plus the ultimate salon for Jazmyne (complete with its own bathroom) that sits under the carport.
“Turning the unused storage space into a hair and make-up studio for me was the best bang for our buck by far. After years in TV and film, with long days and lots of travel, being able to work from home – especially with young kids – is such a gift,” she says. “Between the salon and adding the studio, we gained around 60sqm of usable space. It’s completely changed how we live.”
They also extended the deck, creating two outdoor areas, one spills out directly from the salon with built-in box seating and another is tucked around the corner, where a trampoline is set up perfectly for energetic girls to bounce under the pōhutukawa.
Inside, everything feels warm, calm and colourful in the way only lived-in, loved homes do. Rich pine, soft light and a thread of Resene Flax sage green tie the spaces together.
“We adore that colour,” says Jazmyne. “It sits so beautifully next to timber. It’s a warm, natural green that feels calm but still has character. Friends have used the same colour in their homes after seeing it here!”
A self-described “if it feels good, I’ll make it work” decorator, Jazmyne leans into warmth, texture, colour and pattern rather than following decor trends.
“We’re big on creating spaces that feel good, not just look good.” She’s also great at creating impact without a huge budget, too. In the kitchen, she covered dated floral tiles with peel-and-stick ones at a fraction of the cost.
“I did so much research on those because I wanted something that looked realistic and suited the ’70s vibe,” she says. “I can’t believe they’re peel-and-stick, but they’ve honestly been amazing. I did the same with the bathroom, too.
One day, we’ll do a full reno, but until one of us lands a big acting job, this does the trick. I love making small, clever changes that give the same feeling without the huge budget.”
The couple gravitate to pieces with meaning: heirlooms, art, vintage finds and things collected slowly as life happens. Their velvet Freedom sofa was a celebratory purchase after one of Ryan’s acting roles. The Dutch Friesian clock was passed down from Jazmyne’s dad. The collection of 18 Luke Jacomb glass birds and butterflies began as anniversary gifts and is now perched in places around the “tree house”.
Art of all kinds and all sizes is everywhere. Many pieces are Jazmyne’s own. She’s a talented artist in her own right – she’s lost count of the number of people who have expressed love for the hydrangea piece she created in lockdown. Others are by her nan, Faye Baker, or friends in their creative circles. Like the photographic works by actor-photographers Byron Coll and Dean O’Gorman, including one by Dean that features Ryan. “Supporting friends’ creative work feels really special,” says Jazmyne.
A standout is Return of the Pounamu by John Badcock, gifted to Jazmyne for her 30th after it resurfaced unexpectedly at an auction house. “John is one of our best friends’ dads, and he later shared that it had been lost for nearly 20 years,” she says. “My family just happened to walk past the auction. It felt meant to be. It’s full of colour and history – I look at it every day.”
With two kids, two creative careers and plenty of visitors, flexibility at home is key. The split-level layout provides breathing room without ever feeling disconnected.
“It flows beautifully,” says Jazmyne. “Each space has its own energy.”
In summer, they throw open all the French doors downstairs and let the house breathe, jasmine tumbling around the pool and wisteria drifting in the breeze. Kids swim in the pool late into the evening, benefitting from the solar heating the pair installed. Beach Haven’s sunsets are spectacular, filtering golden light through the trees.
The family’s garden, too, has flourished. Thanks to the advice of Ryan’s keen gardener mum, hydrangeas bloom in huge, dramatic clusters – so many that Jazmyne sends clients home from the salon with bunches in summer.
A secondhand playhouse, transformed with paint and thatched roofing, has become the girls’ beloved “tiki house”. Even the astroturf, once debated, has won them over. “I get it now – it’s brilliant through every season.”
Pinterest boards are waiting for a future kitchen and bathroom renovation and a few quirks (like the drainage) they’d love to sort out one day. But selling isn’t on the table – not even in fantasy.
“We always joke that even if we won Lotto, we’d stay – we’d just do a massive reno. We love it here. Owning this home feels huge for us. It’s not always easy as creatives and contractors, but we’ve made it work. And we’ve made something that feels truly ours.”
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