Photography: Sarah Rowlands
Even though Aleasha and Simon Dearsley have lived and worked in far-flung corners of the globe, it was always Ohoka, 25 minutes north of Christchurch, that called to them. After 14 years overseas, a longing for a simpler, more rural way of life and to be closer to family began to outweigh the excitement of their high-flying careers. They wanted their daughters to grow up with muddy boots, wide skies and the same sense of freedom they’d both known as kids.
When it came time to come home, the couple went full circle, leaving Seattle to build their dream house on the very farm where Aleasha grew up.
“Ohoka always held a special place in our hearts,” says Aleasha, who met her husband Simon at the School of Architecture and Design in Wellington.
“Even though we’ve lived all over the world, from China to Finland, this has always felt like home. It has changed a lot, though; it used to be a lot more rural, but it’s nice now to have lovely restaurants, cafes, bookshops and a farmers’ market nearby. We feel incredibly lucky to be able to give our girls the same kind of childhood we had.”
They did bring something home from their life abroad, though – a love of Finnish architecture and design, which they knew would translate well and ultimately shape their new rural home.
Home Profile
Meet & Greet: Aleasha (marketing in sustainability) and Simon (design director) Dearsley, their daughters Grace, 12, and Sophia, 10, and Charlie the dog and Pepper the cat.
The Property: A Finnish-styled 410sqm new-build with four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms on 4.5ha in Ohoka, Christchurch.
“Simon and I both studied design, so we had a strong vision of what we wanted. We were inspired by simple barn forms of Finnish architecture after living in Finland and we started out with a moodboard of Finnish summer homes,” she says.
“We took these to an architect and developed a version of this that suited the New Zealand landscape and our lifestyle.”
Finnish design is based around simplicity and practicality, and shaped by nature – forests, lakes and long winters. Finnish homes are all about quiet beauty and a strong connection to the surrounding landscape, favouring natural materials like timber, stone and concrete. Compared to the more well-known, lighter Scandinavian style, Finnish homes embrace shadow and darkness and often feature warm, cocooning spaces for winter living – ideal for those crisp Canterbury winters.
As such, the couple’s brief to Archco Architecture was thoughtful but simple: lots of natural light, a home they could both work comfortably in as they both often work from home, plenty of natural materials
like wood and stone – but a house that didn’t feel too uptight.
Warm approach
“We wanted it to feel warm and fun for our two girls and we wanted them to be part of the design process and interior choices – hence the pink tiles in the girls’ bathroom. We also wanted to use colour throughout, in true Finnish form.”
Externally, the house takes its cues from modern barn architecture. Abodo wood cladding was chosen for its sustainability and ability to weather gracefully, silvering off over time without demanding heavy maintenance. They chose the colour Ironsand for the roof and matching window joinery to gently echo the tones of the surrounding farmland.
The realities of new-home builds
As is often the case, designing the home meant balancing ambition with realism. While this was the couple’s first full new-build with Coldstream Builders – having renovated a house in the US – the realities of rising construction costs during 2020 forced some recalibration over the drawn-out four-year build.
“Like most people, we had to adjust as material costs skyrocketed,” says Aleasha.
“We were definitely over-ambitious at the start and had to make a number of design changes as we went.”
by Canterbury Clay Bricks.
What remained non-negotiable, however, was the relationship between the house and its outlook. Large windows frame various vistas across the property – from the Port Hills to the winding stream, existing farm trees and an old barn – and ensure the home feels firmly anchored in its setting, as is the Finnish way. Cleverly, they have brought the outside in by continuing the use of exterior materials of pine and brick inside.
“We really liked the idea of grounding the interior and feel the solidness of these materials give the home more integrity and permanence in the setting. The bricks that wrap the fireplace and form interior pillars are New Zealand made using Canterbury clays and we just love the warm, earthy colour and subtle variation in each brick,” says Aleasha.
Working in harmony
Throughout the home, the palette is calm yet layered and the style is a fusion of the couple’s shared tastes. Lots of their art and decor are pieces they’ve collected over their years of living abroad. Aleasha, who worked in fashion in London before having children, has a keen eye for textiles, colour, pattern and sustainable treasures with a story, while Simon gravitates toward hard materials and well-designed furniture.
“We’re lucky that together our ideas and style seem to complement each other and work harmoniously.”
Throughout the home is joinery by Lyall Park, including dreamy custom cabinetry in the hallway, which provides storage for linens, bedding and jackets.
“We originally planned light oak joinery, but realised the darker tones felt cosier and more interesting against the lighter walls and floors. Getting the colour right took time, but it was absolutely worth it.”
Striking features
One of the home’s most striking features (and the space visitors comment on most) is the kitchen, where natural stone takes centre stage. The Dearsleys were smitten with the Black Forest leathered granite benchtop and splashback, which they chose to bring depth and character to an otherwise light space.
“It was worth every penny. The stone adds so much character and feels a little unexpected, which we enjoy.”
Power move
Colour appears gently but deliberately around the home: green cabinetry in the laundry and scullery, blush and pink tiles in bathrooms, patterned wallpapers in bedrooms and playful accents throughout. Living in Finland taught the couple how powerful colour can be in a home.
“The Finnish approach to using prints and colour to lift your mood during periods of gloomy weather is something we appreciate. We chose to have these playful pops of colour throughout, but opted to keep our main living area quite neutral so we didn’t tire of our choices,” Aleasha says.
“Instead, we can change things up easily with art and textiles.”
Sustainability considerations
Given Aleasha’s job, sustainability was also a key consideration for the build. Solar panels power much of the home’s daily energy use, including charging the family’s EV. Passive heating, generous glazing and the thermal mass of brick all help keep the home warm in winter and cool in summer.
“It really changes how you think about energy use,” says Aleasha.
“We try to run appliances during the day off solar and, even with a large house, our energy use isn’t excessive. The home is warm and easy to cool with lots of sliding doors.”
Outside, the landscaping mirrors the home’s relaxed ethos. Native grasses, park-like trees and easy-to-mow swathes of grass are part of a master plan to provide structure without fuss.
“We didn’t want anything too manicured or maintenance-heavy. The rural landscape is such an important part of the overall design of our home.”
Now, 18 months into life back in Ohoka, the family has well and truly settled. The home has already hosted Christmas gatherings, visiting family from Auckland and countless afternoons of children
spilling in and out with friends.
“From planting our first boundary tree together when it was just a paddock, to standing here now – it’s pretty incredible.”
Home truths
What about this house works best for your family? It’s a great home for entertaining family and friends with kids. Many people can move around the house, but it never feels crowded.
What do you prefer – high-end or bargain buys? A mix. We are less concerned with the price and more concerned about quality and choosing pieces that last.
Favourite spots in the home? The window seat by the fire is a favourite spot for morning coffee, it’s used as a daybed and also as a board games zone for the girls and their friends. Also, the upstairs Juliet balcony off the main bedroom. It feels like waking up and looking out over a park.
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