Thinking outside the box worked for this creative couple who went door-knocking in search of their new home
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Meet & greet: Shay (owner of Idyllic Disruptive Design Studio) and John Starrenburg (construction site manager), their children Hudson, five, Olive, three, and Prince the border collie/Pomeranian cross.
The property: A 1950s New Plymouth house with a self-contained flat underneath. The main house has been extended and completely renovated.
When doors keep closing, sometimes you have to prise one open yourself. For New Plymouth house hunters Shay and John Starrenburg that involved knocking on the door of a house that wasn’t even for sale. In 2013 the young couple was struggling to compete with other buyers for a home they could afford.
The fireplace tiles are from Tile Depot, the sofa from Freedom, the armchairs from Interior Warehouse in Napier and the rug from Miss Amara. The “art” above the fireplace is a Samsung Frame TV and the coffee table is from Farmers. The aubergine-coloured dressers/built-in desks were made by John.
“At the time every open home in our budget range was super busy and it was so disheartening,” explains Shay.
Shay and John took matters into their own hands. “I actually grew up across the road [from the house they now own] and we just knocked on the door and asked if they wanted to sell. The house wasn’t even on the market.” A bonus: a self-contained unit downstairs for rental income in the early years.
Shay’s husband, who works in the construction industry, recognised a good thing when he saw it, too. “John barely even had a look at the house. He knew the era of the home and that any issues wouldn’t be major ones that he couldn’t fix.”
The floral wallpaper is from The Inside and the floor is tiled with a “Good Day” message.
It didn’t hurt that he’d always wanted a house with an outlook and this one came up trumps. “We have an amazing view of the mountain [Mt Taranaki],” says Shay. They snapped up the 225sqm house with three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, plus two more bedrooms and a bathroom in the self-contained unit downstairs.
It is now an ideal home for the couple, their two young children and their dog. It’s also a treasure-filled and colour-soaked haven that reflects the distinctive style and skills of its clever, creative and fun-loving owners.
The kitchen was one of the first projects after moving in and involved taking out two walls and an exterior door to get the cabinet space needed for a busy family.
Fun factory
There’s so much about this property that says Shay and John’s tastes are unapologetically playful. “We are a family with obsessive personalities and can’t partake in hobbies or interests lightly,” Shay admits. And if anyone doubts that, the proof is illuminated in bright lights.
Shay designed a neon ‘Fuel the obsession’ sign, which she then had custom-made.
Resene Dark Knight was chosen for the cupboards and drawers, which Shay is surprised she still likes. “I was sure I would have changed my mind and painted it before now,” she admits.
She also designed the tiled floor entrance with a ‘Good day’ message. “I spent ages mapping out on Photoshop and then we worked together to put it down. It was a long process, but it’s my favourite customisation of the house.”
More evidence of their penchant for playfulness: The couple made headlines in 2019 for their backyard folly. They transformed a Kmart cubby house into a mini tattoo parlour – even though neither parent has been inked. It, like so much of the Starrenburgs’ style, is about enjoyment and, sometimes, whimsy.
The dining table is from Clegg’s Furniture Court, the bench seat was custom-made from Trade Me, and the lights over the table are from Early Settler.
Right on hue
The rich colour is a crucial element of the interior. Shay has instigated a strict “no-white-wall rule”, and the decor has changed a few times over the years. “I’m naturally drawn to colours that have a bit of an art-deco inspiration to them – sort of royal tones,” she says. Sticking to these colours ensured there were no clashes, and she tried to balance masculine and feminine shades.
“I love that there is a different colour everywhere you look in the house.” These include pink walls in the living room, green in the laundry, a shade of blue in Olive’s room and mushroom in the couple’s bedroom.
“I’m actually impressed that I still like my kitchen colour [Resene Dark Night] as I was sure I would have changed my mind and painted it before now. We took out two walls and an exterior door, which I’m so glad we did because it allowed us to get the cabinet space we needed.”
The cabinet was bought secondhand and painted black, the gold lamp is from Willo and the artisan rug was made in India.
Shay’s passion and skill for design are plain to see. It doesn’t hurt that she owns her own studio (idyllic.co.nz), which specialises in branding, web design and digital marketing. You’ll find treasures that catch the eye at every turn – even in the smallest rooms.
“I wanted the toilet to feel like a powder room at a fancy club, hence the dark colours and the wild Gucci wallpaper.” Shay especially loves this space, the tiled entry, floating window and Olive’s room. “It’s a naturally very small and dark room,” she says of the latter, “but when we painted it the dark colour it just feels cosy and magical in there.”
Brass around the window frame in the extension is another part of the house she adores. “I hadn’t actually seen this done anywhere but my love of brass and the idea of framing our beautiful view of the mountain is where that inspiration came from.”
For John, his favourites are the bench seats and skylights.
The Tiger Face print wallpaper in the powder room is by Gucci. Shay has a “no-white-wall” rule at her home and the decor has changed a few times since first moving in.
A decade of diligence
The house is now a visual and practical triumph, but it’s taken blood, sweat and 10 long years, during which almost everything has been altered. The couple took out all the walls to make it all open plan, added an entrance, built an extension, relined all the bedrooms, constructed a deck and retained and levelled the backyard.
“A lot of late nights, more so John than me, but I’ve still done a lifetime’s worth of painting and I’ll never forget John ringing in the new year doing the flooring.”
Even when the initial reno was complete, the couple weren’t entirely happy, so launched into another round of improvements.
“There were three problems with the house after we finished the renovation pre-kids. The living room was a bit small, the laundry was downstairs and there was only one toilet. With the 25sqm extension, we managed to check off all three of these pain points.”
Shay is relaxed about the decade-long time frame, which looks likely to be extended.
The curvy pink chairs are from Kor Home, the Komodo outdoor sofa is by Nardi and the white chairs are from McGreals.
“The garden is still a work in progress. It’s really not our area of expertise, but we have plans for patterned breeze blocks and lots of palms, eventually.”
The couple sees this house as their long-term family home. Shay says she’s not sure their sanity would survive another major project. She jokes that if she’d known the house wouldn’t quite be finished 10 years on, she’d never have moved in.
John always wanted a house with an outlook and this property delivers. “We have an amazing view of the mountain,” says Shay.
Down to business
The property works well in every way. “Running a business and juggling kids means I have a lot of crazy early morning starts. Having the desk in the extension means I can set up and get work done before the others wake up and tuck it away again so that I don’t have to be reminded of work whenever I’m trying to relax,” says Shay, whose business premises are in the city.
It passed the ultimate test last year when the couple hosted Christmas for both of their families and Shay’s work party for her six staff and their partners. “Having the extra room off the deck and the extension just meant it was super easy and relaxing.”
As for visitors, the self-contained unit is ideal for family and friends wanting to stay.
Every box is ticked here, although you get the distinct feeling this is a moveable feast. No matter the iteration, however, colour, charm and the Starrenburgs’ sense of whimsy will be celebrated.
Text Fiona Barber Photography Gina Fabish
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