Home Tours

This couple’s first build is an absolute blinder

Project managing their new Christchurch home while waiting for their baby to arrive was a wild ride for this couple

Lynelle and Josh Olson had always dreamed of travelling through the South Island, so when the opportunity to adopt a dilapidated caravan came along, they couldn’t believe their luck

Designed with the doll’s houses of yesteryear in mind, this pretty home is some kind of wonderful

When two creative minds collided, the result was this colourful Dunedin home

A 1970s home renovation took this old and run down building and turned it into a modern family retreat

United by Instagram, a graphic designer and an interior expert found themselves on a joint mission to transform a 1990s home.

An Auckland architect’s home is all about sun, family life and views of the zoo.

One of the oldest homesteads in Matamata gets a contemporary New York loft-style update Polished concrete floors, black steel kitchen cabinetry, black wood and smoked walnut ply on the ceiling combine to create a stylish industrial vibe. Home profile Meet & greet: Chris and Kevin Norris (owners of Stonewood Homes Tauranga franchise), with Jackson, 17, […]

Setting sail for Aotearoa was both a homecoming and an uncharted adventure for this returning Kiwi couple and their rural new build.

How one architect sustainably built his dream home with a kitchen to match.

Design duo Bonnie and Neil turned their hands to their own home with the same exuberance and passion they bestow on all their projects.

This Manawatū home embraces slow living and a bond with the natural world Home profile Meet & greet: Michelle (interior designer), Brad Webb (construction project manager) and their children Lachlan, Oliver, and Ruby. The property: Rural family home in Awahuri with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a spacious living area. Michelle Webb loves to stand […]

A small renovation project turned into a year-long makeover that gave this Titirangi family time for much meditation and design contemplation

Though Brits by birth, this Invercargill couple demonstrated a can-do Kiwi attitude in the DIY-heavy creation of this rural paradise.

Keen to care for the planet, a savvy designer revamped a harbourside home destined for demo with a light touch – no bulldozers required

A couple move cities to embrace a new lease of life, not just for themselves but for a 1920s home as well

An extensive Mount Eden renovation, 10 years after the first one, has transformed this bungalow into an open-plan oasis

In an edited extract from her new book, Aussie interior designer and photographer Ingrid Weir visits designer blogger Victoria Smith’s California coastal cottage Home profile Meet & greet: Victoria Smith (San Francisco Girl By Bay blogger) and rescue dog Frances. The property: Rented 1929 Spanish revival cottage, Laguna Beach, California. Ingrid Weir’s New Coastal: Inspiration […]

This artistic enclave on Waiheke Island embodies a Mediterranean sense of warmth and welcome The wind wall blocks breezes while still allowing beautiful views of Church Bay. The pitched roof was designed as an accent to break up the wall and looked so much like a bell tower when finished that they had to find […]

A large modern barn style home was exactly what a young family wanted – and got – when they built on their Manawatū farm.

They call it The Can House – a compact family home built inside a ’can’ or shipping container lined with warm plywood, clever storage and ingenious ideas

This new-build makes a bold statement on the outside, but inside it’s warm, welcoming and designed to create the ultimate Kiwi childhood.

Help from friends and family and treasured heirlooms added heart and character to this Havelock North bungalow makeover.

Drawing on countless international influences, this multifaceted farmhouse renovation is the perfect fit for GlobeWest’s Stephen Mendel and his wife, Tanya

Let there be light.

Thinking outside the box worked for this creative couple who went door-knocking in search of their new home

Connection was the goal of this Wellington renovation, which now has room for the whole tribe.

A small family who missed Mount Maunganui beach life had big plans for a rundown little bach.

In dire need of a major renovation, a 1930s bungalow in Nelson became a bigger, better version of itself

Entering a new life chapter inspired a family’s move to a simpler, less laborious way of living in a cedar-clad black houseThe 1990s home was extensively renovated and reclad in black-stained cedar. Home Profile Meet & greet: Maree (founder of skincare company Evre) and Brad Glading (research and insight manager), children Frankie, 14, and Louie, […]

Time-tested elements are harmoniously matched with light-handed hints of modernity in this renovation of a Wellington villa.

Statement decor and a love of art have layered this new-build with character aplentySimone 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 […]

This candy-coloured home makes you smile whether you’re inside or out.

For their sixth house, this family opted for a farmhouse build that combines dramatic architectural details with practical, family-friendly living

An interior designer shows how she stamped her mark on a rental property and turned it into home Home Profile: Meet & greet: Mary (self-employed interior designer and artist) and Matt Tapsell (executive chef), and their daughters Rosemary, six, Olive, three, and Daisy, one. The property: Three-bedroom attached rental unit in Bucklands Beach, Auckland. For Mary Tapsell, […]

A sustainable, stylish Lake Taupō house is the perfect escape for two families living side by side

Inspired by Japanese and Scandi design principles, a Bay of Plenty couple create a serene family retreat.

A downsizing move became a more ambitious project than anticipated for a retired Auckland couple and their wider family.

A couple’s decision to buy a Napier home sight unseen turned out to be the right one – and it had a surprising family connection

This farmhouse makeover was all about working through the quirks of an old home.

A little-known medieval mansion sets the scene for writer-director Emerald Fennell’s debaucherously divisive film, Saltburn Saltburn is the hot film on everyone’s lips right now. It’s spawned numerous bathtub-inspired candles, the babygirlification of the mesmerizingly 6 ft 5 Jacob Elordi (a fact that SNL couldn’t resist paying homage to multiple times) and a trending TikTok […]

Advised to bowl this old Auckland house, its new owners opted for a transformation of epic proportions.

A dated Christchurch house is transformed into a stunning modern home

An Auckland couple were inspired by the 'tiny house movement' and began a DIY journey to build a home on wheels.

Settling into her Eastbourne house, Your Home and Garden DIY queen Nikki Kettle shares her mantra for a stress-free festive season.

A New Plymouth home with dark and moody decor gets decked out in festive pinks and golds.

Lifted and shifted from its original position, this renovated heritage home now has a level of sophistication the owners adore.

For Steven Rowe and Yuki Suga, it was the feline-friendly nature of the brand-new property they’d chanced upon that sealed the deal.

Amid the waves of headlines about Kiwis immigrating across the ditch, Sarah and Ben Pickersgill-Brown decided to buck the trend — swapping their home in Melbourne for a quaint Māpua rental home on the Tasman Bay coastline.

A minor staircase change was the first step in a major architectural metamorphosis at this mid-century townhouse.

One family gives new meaning to indoor-outdoor flow with a new home, where they can see the front and back yard from the open-plan living space When the owners of an earthquake-damaged character home in Merivale, Christchurch, approached Daryl Hewitt about repairing and renovating it, he instead suggested a new-build. “I said to them, for […]

A coastal farmhouse-style renovation gave this Taranaki cottage a fresh look to suit its pasture-to-sea outlook Jane loves the textural contrast of the brick fireplace in this white-painted space, but added a new wood burner. The dining suite is from Danske Mobler. “I have always longed for a French farmhouse table and iron cross-back chairs,” […]

The arrival of their first baby had an Auckland couple on a frantic hunt to buy their first home Meet & greet Bridget Hewitt (brand manager), Kane Yee (investor and consultant) and baby Milo (17 months). The property A renovated three-bedroom 1950s stucco home in Birkenhead, Auckland. Bridget Hewitt isn’t usually the type to cut […]

Taking design notes from builds in Arrowtown and Wānaka, this Ngāruawāhia home exudes Southern style Meet & greet Courtney (administrator and event planner) and Brad Turton (co-owner of Turton Builders), and daughters Madelyn, four, and Sienna, two, and bichon/King Charles cavalier cross Bindi. The property A three-bedroom new-build clad in brick, board and batten in […]

Paint and wallpaper transformed a boring beige former rental in Nelson into a true family home Meet & greet Carley (interior designer) and Bryn Lloyd (head coffee roaster and coffee company owner), and children Beau, 11, Lilou, seven, and Felix, five. The property A bach-like 1990s seaside home next to Māpua Wharf on the Tasman […]

Leaving a tiny apartment in Auckland for a big house in Blenheim came with so many blessings.

A forward-thinking couple designed and built their home around the movement of the sun Meet & greet Laura and Shaun Andrews (owners of a solar power company) and their springer spaniel Sage. The property A contemporary three-bedroom new-build in rural Hawke’s Bay. High school sweethearts, Laura and Shaun Andrews have had a few adventures in […]

Years of letter writing to own this Dunedin villa culminated in a labour of love renovation Meet & greet Claire Robinson (registered valuer/risk manager), Cameron McLellan (solutions analyst), Lyla, two, and Moss the retrodoodle. The property A circa 1905 renovated three-bedroom weatherboard villa in Dunedin. For four years, while living in the leafy suburb of […]

Adult and children pods separated by a large living space has resulted in perfect family harmony Meet & greet Lucy Wildman and Fran Frost (founders/co-owners of Little Flock of Horrors), their son Iggy, 13, and daughter Frankie, 12, and three griffons, Leroy, Stevie and Bonnie. The property Single-level three-bedroom new-build on a two-hectare lifestyle block […]

An Auckland family’s desire to build by the sea hit a few unexpected squalls, but the result is a roaring success Meet & greet Chris (lawyer) and Leah Goddard and their children Evelyn, 11, and Harry, nine. The property A three-bedroom new-build on Auckland’s North Shore. After 10 years of renting with their young family, […]

Renting is no obstacle for Steve and Bobby Clark who are using art, DIY skills and styling to revamp their home Meet & greet Bobby (artist, designer and stylist) and Steve Clark (artist, designer, stonemason and sculptor) their son, Jimmy, two, and Scout, a Staffordshire terrier. the property Rented corner-block house. Steve and Bobby Clark don’t […]

We go behind the scenes to explore an Auckland villa that’s home to two power players in New Zealand theatre Meet & greet Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Michael Hurst (both performers and directors), Jennifer’s stepmum Rula and Ruby the cat. The property An airy, character-filled three-bedroom villa in the central Auckland suburb of Westmere. If Jennifer […]

A love for moody hues adds a heightened sense of drama to this Hastings home Meet & greet Kate Robinson (homeschool parent) and Tim Robinson (research company owner), and children Billy, 18, Finn, 16, and Theo, 10. The property A renovated period villa in Hawke’s Bay. Kate and Tim Robinson’s house has been, and will […]

A former magazine editor has created an inner-city oasis – a veritable greenhouse and personal library, artfully styled with favourite objet gathered over the years Meet & greet Sumien Brink (former magazine editor). The property A spacious apartment in the heart of Cape Town, South Africa. It was a busy day in the heart of […]

A cosy coastal retreat evokes nostalgic memories of holidays past while paying homage to its rugged landscape setting Meet & greet Fiona Leahy, her husband Tony Swingler and their three teenagers. The property An artfully crafted bach designed in response to its windswept coastal location. When Fiona Leahy bought a vacant block of dune-top land […]

Choosing to build on the Whitianga Waterways was very much Plan B for one couple, but it now feels like it was meant to be Meet & greet Warren and Toni Griffin (both in early retirement), and Lincoln the American cocker spaniel and Thomas the British blue cat. To best view Warren and Toni Griffin’s […]

A former bach had the right flow for modern family life, while the coastal location and backyard sealed the deal Meet & greet Ilze (head consultant and director at The Tile Room) and Ethan Leggett (director of Cutting Edge Tiling NZ), Travis, six, Mia, four, and Zeus the huntaway-staffy cross. The property Four-bedroom, three-bathroom ’80s-style […]

Downsizing was an exercise in space saving and creativity for a Copenhagen mother and her son Meet & greet Vasia Moragianni (key account manager at a software company) and her son Emil, seven. The property Two-bedroom 60sqm apartment in Copenhagen. It can be quite a challenge making over an apartment when the square metres are […]

A Christchurch home on a steep site required an innovative design, which meant plenty of sharp angles Meet & greet Nick and Marie Parsons (owners of Parsons Construction), and Lucy and George the Birman cats. The home Nick and Marie Parsons built on the hills of Mount Pleasant gives no hint of what is to […]

When a Nelson couple nabbed their dream hillside site, they needed a house that would live up to the lofty views meet & greet Chris (commercial construction quantity surveyor) and Dawn Cooper (human resources manager), and Siamese cats Gismo and Nutmeg. the property A three-bedroom schist and cedar new build on a hilltop site with […]

meet & greet Chris Boggs (financial services executive), Megan Lehl (human resources manager, currently on maternity leave), Millie, nine months and cavoodle Olive. the property Modernised four-bedroom, three-bathroom Californian bungalow in New Plymouth. Sometimes, what you’re looking for is much closer than you think. In the case of New Plymouth househunters Chris Boggs and Megan […]

Elegant and sophisticated, but also welcoming and family friendly – this renovated charmer in Wellington has it all. meet & greet Sean Bennett (explosives detection dog handler), Laura Bennett (financial crime analyst), son Harper, 10, and daughter Frankie, eight, plus Muffin the rabbit and Maddie the dog. the property Four-bedroom, two-bathroom renovated 1920s bungalow in […]

A style-savvy couple, with three young children, clicked into cyberspace to help renovate their new city living space meet & greet Rebecca Boektje (social media influencer and travel blogger), her husband Bo The (creative agency owner), and their three children, Yuki, five, Ravi, three, and Xan, two. the property Four-floor historical 1886 townhouse in Amsterdam. […]

A lot can be achieved with a bit of DIY determination and an eye for economy Meet & greet Jayden Winterburn (youth worker/pastry chef), Stephanie Gaudencio (administrator), Nico, six, dogs Keeta and Lady, and Puss the cat. The property Renovated 1930s three-bedroom home in Napier. So often we read about homeowners needing to undertake extensive […]

A 1950s caretaker’s cottage renovated in a minimal, contemporary style was designed to enjoy the stunning views from the windows Meet & greet Susie Whyte (architect and interior designer) and John Burke (pharmaceutical services director). The property A renovated 1950s four-bedroom prefabricated bungalow in Aberfeldy, Scotland. Clad in wood, surrounded by green fields, colourful wild […]

Every shade is on the table in this eclectic apartment owned by a fashion designer and her artist husband Meet & greet Emma Mulholland (fashion designer), her husband Gareth Budge (artist), and their sheepadoodle, Norbert. The property One-bedroom apartment situated in a 1930s building. ‘Boring’ and ‘average’ are words that simply aren’t in designer Emma […]

Originally looking to build anew, an existing house’s plentiful garden and beach access proved irresistible Meet & greet Dorothy Anderson (grandmother) and Hugh Gladwell (lawyer). The property A four-bedroom, renovated ’80s home in Mahurangi East. Dorothy Anderson loves her new kitchen. She’s cooking in it while we chat as she prepares to celebrate her husband […]

This creative couple could give lessons in cosy, as evidenced by their welcoming Wellington home Meet & greet David (web designer) and Abbey Cross (managing director of business development for their business, Vision Digital) and their children, Zeke, 14, Bella, 12, and Lyric, seven. The property Three-bedroom ’60s house in Tawa, Wellington. Virtually everyone rents […]

Despite renovations that never end, a creative couple have built themselves a sweet life in a charming old stone house nestled in the Tuscan countryside meet & greet Britta Herrmann (ceramic designer) and Marco Frediani (yoga teacher and university professor). the property A four-bedroom stone house in the Tuscan countryside, built as a peasant’s home […]

A Whitianga home was built specifically for what the future may hold Meet & greet Julian Waters (retired animal nutritionist). No one knows the future, but that’s not stopping Julian Waters planning for it. He wants to enjoy his striking, modern Whitianga home for as long as possible, delighting in the indoor-outdoor living going from […]

An ’80s house gets a contemporary update that makes the most of its compact footprint Meet & greet Erin (lawyer) and Ryan Drew (marketing team leader). The property A small 1980s home, converted from two bedrooms to three, and modernised. Small in size but big on charm, Erin and Ryan Drew’s Auckland home not only […]

Our Living Well columnist Eleanor Cripps gives her Piha bach gets a fresh lick of paint, and in return, creates a new way of life.

A mid-century summer house in a Danish artists’ colony gets a suitably creative, sympathetic makeover Light is said to be an artist’s best friend, so when an artists’ colony was built beside a small Danish lake in the 1950s, sunlight was the god it worshipped. Panoramic windows with views of nature and soaring interiors became […]

When a Tauranga family hankered for a place to unwind on days off, they went beachcombing at Waihi Meet & greet Kimberley Kearney (mum), Alexa, seven, Sienna, four, and Isla, two. the property A near-new, three-level holiday home nestled on a hill. Having children can upend anyone’s world, but for the Kearneys of Tauranga, that […]

A trendy duo bring the colour from their wardrobe into their Hamilton home

In windswept Mangawhai, two interior designers crafted a contemporary home with timeless attention to detail meet & greet Bevan (industrial designer and company director of Walkspace Street Furniture) and Tori Thomas (interior designer and artist at Tori Thomas Creative), Indie Rose, nine, Siena Belle, six, and Hungarian vizsla Pixie and Benji the cat. the property […]

Past and present, plus travels far and wide, are all interwoven in the exquisitely detailed home of textile designer Tigger Hall meet & greet Tigger Hall (interior designer), daughter Beatrice Lewis (musician), and Juno and Max the spaniels. the property Renovated four-bedroom ’70s bungalow. Self-described ‘textile maverick’ Tigger Hall is a passionate collector, gathering objects […]

Building a house on your own isn’t for the faint of heart, but this eight-month project resulted in a home made with love for a young Gisborne family meet & greet Joseph (construction company owner/director) and Angelique Gloistein (hair salon owner and entrepreneur), Dublin, eight, Atlas, seven, and Texas, three. the property Three-bedroom, barn-style home […]

Part-time Waiheke Islanders created the perfect family home away from home meet & greet Susannah (interior designer at Island Interiors) and Paul Matheson (financial controller), River, 12, Sunday, eight, Violet, six, and Domino the dog. the property A ’50s bach on Waiheke Island that has been variously added onto over the years. It doesn’t take […]

Ancient history blends with modern design and natural materials at a rustic Italian holiday home near the Adriatic Sea meet & greet Olenka Airasca (singer and interior designer), her partner Andrea (interior design) and their son Noah. the property Two-bedroom historic Salento farmhouse-turned-holiday house near Ostuni, Puglia, Italy. In the Salento countryside, with the blue […]

After living life in fast forward, a young family has created a holiday-at-home haven where they can stop and exhale Meet & Greet Pearl Delaney-Girdlestone (One & Only and Hendrix creative director) and Cruze McFarlane (One & Only and Hendrix business director), Atlas (19 months), and Rocket the Boston terrier. The Property Renovated four-bedroom, two […]

The owners of a renovated ’50s house with cool art deco features prepare for a festive day of fun Meet & Greet  Erica Jane Wilson (artist and photographer), Colin Wilson (concrete layer) and children, Kyla, 12, Leon, 10, Mahli, five, and Nash, two. The Property A four-bedroom, 1950s art deco home in Welcome Bay, Tauranga. […]

Danish interior design shop owner Ann-Sophie Ulka’s home is decorated in colours that give lots of positive energy. Come December she dials up the festive cosiness factor with beautiful and feminine pastels Meet & Greet Ann-Sophie Ulka Faust (entrepreneur and owner of the interior shop Fabrek), her husband Kasper (CEO of Fabrek) and their sons, […]

With its white palette, open-plan spaces and materials inspired by the ocean, this new home is a beautiful reflection of the family who live here and the perfect backdrop for a colourful ’70s-style Christmas Meet & Greet Rhiannon Swan (wedding and events planner), her husband Cameron Swan (managing director of a commercial innovation company), and […]

     An artist sketched a house open to the views with a nod to the local birdlife in 2019.  Two years later, the vision was realised and he and his family moved into the home on a hill in Raglan Meet & Greet Simon Dickey (artist and photographer), Sarah Schultheiss (window dresser) and Tahli, eight […]

Sleek, low-maintenance and with a five-star hotel vibe was the design brief for this family home in Ōmokoroa Meet & greet Andrea Howden (construction business manager), Steve Howden (operations in construction industry), Thea, eight, Phoebe, three, and Riley the dog. The property A three-bedroom house in Ōmokoroa. When the pandemic happened in Aotearoa in 2020, […]

A couple downsized to an acre paradise and built a house with everything they need in South Auckland Meet & greet Virginia and Alan Henderson, Ruby the Labrador and Lulu the Birman. 1 The design When Virginia and Alan Henderson spotted a farm that had been subdivided in Pukekohe East five years ago, they fell […]

Danish architecture with a Japanese twist creates a fluid transition between house and nature Meet & greet Andreas Jorgensen (landscape architect), Mikkel Hybel Fonsskov (journalist and editor at a publishing house), and Martha the Labradoodle. The property Newly constructed architect-designed cottage. The house is 72sqm with an annex of 10sqm located on a densely wooded […]

A modern Auckland home is treated to an 18th-century European makeover of mythic proportions Meet & greet Claire Crosbie (visual merchandiser), her two children Luke, 23, and Sophie, 21, and poodle mix Sasha. The property A three-bedroom converted barn in Auckland. From the outside, you wouldn’t know Claire Crosbie’s unassuming Auckland house looks like a miniature […]