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 much to work out what drew Susannah and Paul Matheson to their slice of paradise on Waiheke Island – the view from their elevated ’50s bach is like an ever-changing painting. The stunning lofty outlook allows them to take in all the action on popular Palm Beach, without needing to be amongst it or compromising on privacy.
“We love to be up high, away from all of the madness of a summer’s day at the beach but close enough to feel part of it. From here, we can see the sand and the waves breaking, and then the view of the ocean out towards Great Barrier goes on forever,” Susannah says. “There is always something going on out there: cargo ships, people sailing, car ferries, jet skis, paddleboarders. Hearing the sounds of people enjoying themselves on the sand and in the water is what sold this place to us.”
The couple had raised their kids on Waiheke but moved to the city once River, their eldest, started school. Years later, they still missed the island’s weather, nature, wine and friends they’d made there so they decided what they’d really love was a holiday home on the island where they could escape everyday life and spend time as a family. They acted fast when they saw the charming bach advertised for sale online, making an offer the day after their first viewing. Susannah says she knew immediately it was the house for them. “It was so cute – I fell in love the moment I stepped foot inside. The view, the peace, the easy access to the beach and Palm Beach Store makes the location second to none.”
The location and view might have been perfect, but the house itself?
“Due to how old it is, there are many idiosyncrasies with this house. The floor slopes in areas and rises in others. When storms from the Pacific roll in, we have the wind come directly off the ocean to us. Sometimes, it feels like the house could take off at any moment.”
Like the numerous previous homeowners, the Mathesons knew this slightly quirky bach would be the perfect place to gather together as a family and make special memories.
“We are often in different places – work, school, sports, travelling – but being together in a small, cosy place means we are forced to be together,” says Susannah. “Our weekends here consist of dinners and picnics with wine on the beach, morning walks, eating well, looking at the view and sleeping in the sun on the balcony. We just love it.”
Adding their personal stamp
When the family moved in, the house was a hotchpotch due to previous owners dabbling in a bit of DIY and renovation.
“The house records show it was built in the early ’50s as a traditional bach, but since then every owner seems to have done some sort of work to improve the house and extend it. Over time, bedrooms have been added, bathrooms brought inside, sleepouts added, then connected to the main house,” says Susannah. “A couple of owners ago was a builder who updated everything for modern living including the bathrooms and kitchen, which is a dream to work in now.”
The most recent owners had done the non-glamorous but essential work of adding a good driveway and retaining, as well as upgrading the septic and water systems. All that was left for the Mathesons to do was sort out the lighting and fine tune the interior design to create more of a cohesive look – something interior designer Susannah jumped at.
A coastal vibe
“When we moved in, the house had no ceiling lights and limited lighting and power overall,
so we spent quite a bit of time and money trying to get it up to modern standards with lighting, heating and the internet. Then we got stuck in and added new carpet and window treatments, and painted the existing wooden floorboards white for a coastal look.”
Susannah wanted the bach’s interior to reflect the relaxed seaside vibes of the house and location. She kept to a pared-back colour scheme of whites, black, greys and soft blues to reflect the ocean out front and natural tones for all the furniture and decor and shopped for easy-care furniture that was as relaxed as the house was.
“We often have a full house here and I want people to feel relaxed and at peace, not worried about breaking anything, so nothing here is too precious. I chose fabrics and furniture that can be used and easily taken care of – there are slipcovers on all of the chairs and sofas for easy cleaning, and I found wooden tables and chairs that are vintage so a few more knocks will just add to the character.”
Art by Rachel Mataira hangs in the living room and a bedroom – her spectacular drone imagery won her Young New Zealand Photographer of the Year and, even better, she’s a Waiheke local.
“New Zealand design is amazing so I always try to support local artisans and manufacturers first. They have so much to offer and produce truly beautiful items.”
Susannah also went international for some items, sourcing pieces from Indonesia to add character – such as the art piece that hangs above the dining room table.
“I had envisaged a large piece on the wall without distracting from the view and this was it. I also found the vintage TV unit in Indonesia, on a sourcing trip for clients – as soon as I laid eyes on it I knew it was for us. Getting it into the house wasn’t easy but I don’t think it will ever leave that spot now.”
Susannah enjoys hunting for pre-loved furniture to add depth to a space, rather than everything being brand new. A favourite holiday pastime is looking for treasures she can take home with her. Between this bach and their home in Auckland, the couple have bought items from Bali, Byron Bay, Canada and the US. The only caveat: it needs to fit into Susannah’s suitcase for the return trip home.
Outdoor living
With holiday homes, the outdoor living is often more important than what’s happening inside, and that’s true for this Palm Beach bach. Susannah says they only time they really spend inside is when sleeping.
“Even when it’s raining, we sit in the covered deck areas with the doors open, looking out to the ocean and watching nature do its thing.
“We spend all of our time outside so this year’s summer project is to upgrade the decking and extend it to give us more outside living. I’m going to source outdoor sofas and dining pieces that can handle the harsh New Zealand weather but that feel like an indoor piece. The range of outdoor products is amazing these days and I plan to use them out here – I’m thinking outdoor velvets, outdoor linens, Coast bean bags, plus there are plans for a big outdoor kitchen and a spa to warm up in after post-ocean dips.”
Now they’ve found their little slice of paradise, the Mathesons are determined to hold onto it as long as they can, says Susannah.
“We see this house in our lives for a very long time. We love the location and hope the house still has a few more years in her. We’ve discussed the future and what we could do to make it more liveable, beyond adding the outdoor kitchen and living. Our section goes way back, so maybe one day we’ll add some proper visitors’ accommodation at the back but at the moment it is perfect. Palm Beach is the most amazing place and we love spending any spare time we have here.”
Words by: Debbie Harrison. Photography by: Babiche Martens.
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