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

Fans of Netflix’s Sex Education can now own a piece of the show’s history. The home used as the residence for teenage sex therapist Otis Milburn (played by Asa Butterfield) and his sex therapist mother, Jean Milburn (Gillian Anderson), has hit the market in real life. The unusual five-bedroom Scandinavian-style home known as ‘The Chalet […]

Modern Scandi hygge meets an elegant Japanese design aesthetic in a double pavilion new-build in Wellington.

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 […]

An abandoned Dunedin cottage turned out to be this family’s dream come true

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 Waihi couple are grateful for the calm after the storm as they enjoy their handcrafted home Meet & greet Asha (designer and at-home mother) and Dylan Frost (builder), and their children Koa, seven, Sol, four, and Aro the Siberian husky. The property A 217sqm new-build on an 877sqm section at Waihi Beach, Bay of […]

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 […]

A couple spotted a Californian bungalow near their rental and snapped it up 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 […]

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 meet & greet Hannah Stechman (hairdresser and salon owner), and Nate Brown (plumber). the property A four-bedroom 1920s railway house in Hamilton. If the clothes we wear act as a reflection of our true selves, then for trendsetting fashionistas, home is a […]

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 […]

When designer and maker Dani Dean took on a sentimental family project, both her creative compass and her heart were on the line Meet & greet Dani Dean (interior designer and design studio owner), her husband James Dean (electrician and co-founder of a warehouse space for events and creatives), and their sons, Dallas, six, and […]

Light and balance work with nature and a slow lifestyle at this idyllic holiday house in Denmark meet & greet Rikke Moldrup Rasmussen (Slow fashion and home textile company owner), Flemming Moldrup (writer and TV presenter), his daughter Yoko, 14, and her son Gilbert, 25, and daughter Molly, 18. the property Three-bedroom ’50s holiday cottage, […]

When a couple traded their busy city life for a country idyll, they also seized upon the chance to build a new home Meet & greet Alistair Niven (business development manager for Nugreen Solutions) and Carol Palmer (grower board director for Trevelyans) and Storm the Labrador. 1 Background Alistair Niven and Carol Palmer were living […]

The Grey Lynn family home of Hej Hej co-founder Alice Isles is as upbeat and playful as her fashion brand, but on a grander canvas meet & greet Alice Isles (co-owner of clothing brand Hej Hej), Mike Isles (corporate finance advisor), and their twin daughters, Madeleine and Matilda, both six, and Chewy the cat. the […]

A spontaneous purchase of a weatherboard house provides a melting pot of coastal inspiration Meet & greet Monique Ryan-Musacchio, (African artisan homewares and handmade goods importer), husband Andrea, daughter Mati, five, Jackson the Labrador, and cats, Pip and Nala. The property Five-bedroom. renovated post-war weatherboard bungalow with ocean views. Some buy a property sight unseen, […]

Meet the people who converted the ground floor of this ex-rental property meet & greet Brendon Veysey (police officer), Tori Veysey (graphic designer), Van, seven, Cruz, four, and Billy, 18 months. The property An eight-bedroom, two-storey home in Cambridge. What started out as a bit of a joke between friends, has resulted in something a […]

Pink, blue and orange add a natural flow throughout this villa transformation.

From London to the beach bliss of Devonport, Auckland, a returning family discover the reality of their Kiwi life is even better than their rosy memories Meet & greet Kate Sumner-Brown (legal recruitment company owner), her husband Kris (senior finance partner), and their daughters, Margaux, eight, and Charlotte, six. The property Weatherboard bungalow built in […]

A couple finally found the view they always wanted and built a house around it Meet & greet David (consulting engineer) and Shelley Proctor (pharmacist) and Bella and Chloe the schnauzers. David and Shelley Proctor always had a house with a view on their wish list, it just took them a while to find it. […]

A split-level house set into a clifftop took design inspiration from the rugged Taranaki coastline Meet & greet  Sally McDonald (interior designer and founder of The Arc Dept, a creative studio specialising in door hardware and custom resin designs), her husband Nick O’Dea (engineer), their children, Ted, five, Peta, three, Elle, one, and Ian the […]

A rundown cottage, which was discovered online, has been renovated into a spacious home after a lot of hard graft and help from family Meet & greet  Thom (airline pilot) and Elysia Shanks (stay-at-home mum), and James, eight, Josh, four, and Isaac, 16 months. A tiny workman’s cottage built in the 1800s and in original […]

When an artist purchases and renovates her childhood home, the result is a special and joyful place to live Meet & greet  Prudence (artist) and Damian Oliveri (building and construction company founder), Theodore, eight, Luella, four, Greta the mini dachshund and Humphrey the short-haired pointer. The property A renovated mid-century beach house. When abstract artist […]

Artist Ludovica Basso opens the doors to her colourful stone house by the Italian Riviera Meet & greet  Ludovica Basso aka Clorophilla (illustrator). The property Ligurian stone house and art B&B in Borgio Verezzi, Italy. From the terrace of her home A Crueza, so named because “I liked this word for its sound”, Italian illustrator […]

A lot of heart and a great deal of art fills this tiny, two-storey home by the sea Meet & greet Lottie Consalvo (artist), James Drinkwater (artist) Vincenzo, eight, Hester, five, and border collie Bella. Early each morning before her family rises, artist Lottie Consalvo walks her dog along the beach close to her home. […]

A timeless approach to design led to a dark, dreamy bedroom for a New Plymouth couple. It’s a true exercise in smoke and mirrors, with wallpaper to match Meet & greet Gina (photographer, designer and vintage shop owner) and Rick Fabish (builder) and their four daughters. Transforming a white bedroom into a dusky, opulent boudoir […]

A couple in the building industry liked a semi-rural location so much, they bought and built in the area twice Meet & greet Hayden (builder) and Ashleigh Dam (nurse educator), George, three, and Dani the cat. 1 The Design Given Hayden and Ashleigh Dam own a building company, they have a tendency to spend only […]

In search of a new challenge, Olympic gold medallist Eric Murray turned a fast-flip house into one worthy of being a forever home Meet & greet Eric Murray (business development manager and two-time Olympic gold medallist), his girlfriend Thea Lyle, and his son Zac, 10. When you’ve already conquered the world, where do you look […]

Rather than a heavy-handed ‘gut and redo’, an Auckland couple built on existing decor to make this bungalow their own Meet & greet Mary-Liz (marketing manager) and Richard Amor (business consultant), Johnny, four, and Harry the miniature schnauzer. A homeowner’s love story usually follows the same formula: meet an almost perfect home, fall in love, […]

Paintings and an eclectic mix of furniture live in harmony at an apartment that is both home and studio to Cecilie Hertz and her family Meet & greet Cecilie Hertz (visual artist and owner of Atelier Absalon). The idea behind Atelier Absalon is to present art in home spaces so potential buyers can more easily […]

A kitchen renovation can take months and thousands of dollars, but a quick revamp is low-cost and near effortless. It’s the “I just woke up like this” of makeovers that will transform this busy space overnight Update your appliances (or hide them away) Appliances like a toaster or kettle see a lot of daily wear […]

The owners of a new build in Raglan, which has cool curves in all the right places, took coastal Mediterranean architecture as their muse Meet & greet Monica (co-founder of an eco yoga mat company) and Justin Grimshaw (sales manager) and their two daughters Kalani, six, and Luna, four. For as long as Monica Grimshaw […]

A love affair with colour has transformed this coastal home into a blushing beauty Craving open space in the midst of lockdown, Amber Armitage purchased a small bach in beachy Mangawhai. Her “let it be” approach to paint has paid off by the bucketload, letting the small rooms remain dark and moody while the light-filled […]

Using every small-space trick in the book, this New Plymouth cottage punches well above its weight in style and functionality

A nature-loving family are the embodiment of Scandi style, embracing comfort inside while still connected to the outside Meet & greet Elisabeth Ritola (works in the health care sector), Markku Hirvonen (aviation sector professional) and Lucas, eight. Elisabeth Ritola and Markku Hirnoven’s house, Villa Lume, was built on a plot of land by a forest. […]

It wasn’t their first choice, but a brick house with valley views proved to be the perfect fit for this enterprising couple Meet & greet Nikki and Luke Hobbs (building and interiors company directors), Australian shepherd Aya, terrier Chelsea and palomino pony Rosé. Sometimes, when one door closes, another opens, as was the case for […]

When a Timaru family built a holiday home in picturesque Wānaka, space and views were what they most craved Meet & greet Craig Fraser, Natalie Cameron, Aggie, 10, Oscar, eight, Ellie, six, and Yogi the cavoodle. When Craig Fraser came across a section in Wānaka with expansive views of Lake Wānaka and the surrounding mountains […]

A New Plymouth couple rewrote history to give a charmless ’70s house a large dose of right-on retro appeal Home Profile: Meet & greet: Blair (operator off-shore oil and gas) and Karen Prichard (owner/manager of Social Kitchen and Monica’s Eatery). Good bones. It’s the carrot that lures would-be renovators, motivating them to pour all their […]

An elevated section in the Bay of Plenty’s Te Puna hills, with its distant views to the sea, was the perfect spot for a spacious new build Meet & greet Gaelene (facilitator for Look Good Feel Better), and Howard Falconer (commercial property developer). For ex-farmers, Gaelene and Howard Falconer, a move to Tauranga in 2014 […]

Much-loved travel mementos find new life at a coastal home in New Plymouth Meet & greet Delwyn McCurdy (real estate consultant) and Craig Hooper (truck repairs) and their two dogs, Ted and Oscar, and Marley the cat. For Delwyn McCurdy and Craig Hooper, it didn’t matter what their next house looked like, it mattered where […]

A family exchanges cramped apartment life in Southeast Asia for a large, cedar-clad coastal home in Raglan Going from living in a small apartment in Singapore to a 400sqm home on a lifestyle block in Raglan is extreme. But, for one couple and their daughters that’s exactly what they did. “They were after a lifestyle […]

A heritage home’s contemporary update was shows how to perfectly juxtapose classic black and white Meet & greet Jess and Sam Hunter, and their daughters ranging from six to 13: Bea, Lily, Olive and Ellie, plus Willow the Labrador. After living in a 1950s weatherboard cottage for some time, interior designer Jess Hunter and her […]

From the outside, new meets old at this ’60s state house in Auckland, but it’s an entirely different matter on the inside Meet & greet Matt (brand and creative consultant and co-founder of RAAD) and Rebecca Saunders (marketing contractor and co-founder of RAAD), Zoe, seven, and Issy, three. When Rebecca and Matt Saunders found their […]

A passion for the beautiful and eclectic reflects the occupants of this historic Wellington apartment Meet & greet Andre Afamasaga (human rights advocate) and flatmate Paul Whiting (Ministry of Education lead). The old Aulsebrooks factory in the middle of Wellington hasn’t been making iced animal biscuits in years. Instead, the historic building is now an […]

An artist plus a builder equals a perfect creative partnership to construct this cosmopolitan-meets-rural retreat from scratch Meet & greet Rae (artist) and Nick Prentis (builder) and their dogs, Dougal, Huckleberry and Beauregard. When people wax lyrical about their dream home, what they usually mean is a house that ticks all the practical boxes for […]

An architecturally significant post-war home was the design inspiration and sentimental impetus behind this coastal abode Meet & greet Sally (town planner and project manager) and Matt McGarry (electrician and solar power installation company director), Jasper, 11, Duke, nine, Sonny, five, and samoyed retriever cross Shelby. The options are endless when you build from scratch, […]

A couple finds the joy in indoor-outdoor living with a new build framed amongst rolling farm hills Meet & greet: Greta Martin and Andrew Morgan (co-owners of Cafe Coffee & Bakery Systems) and their four cats and dogs. The Design With the kids all grown up, it was time for a change of scene for […]

Life is looking rosy for an apartment-dwelling couple who have an eye for colour and design Meet & greet Chantal Assinck (location agency owner) and Tom Klomberg (HR consultancy owner). Chantal Assinck and her partner Tom Klomberg live on the third floor of an apartment building located in the heart of a busy city situated […]

The home no longer looks as it once did, thanks to a light and airy renovation Meet & greet: Alex (film editor) and Melissa O’Shaughnessy (stay-at-home mum), Emma, Jordan, Nathan, Bailey the Labrador retriever and Coco the Shih Tzu. We’ve all had one of those awkward first meetings. For Melissa (Mel) O’Shaughnessy, it took a […]

Relocating to the country allowed an interiors stylist to create her dream maximalist home Meet & Greet: Emily (interiors stylist) and Charlie Mellor (bike company general manager). When Emily Mellor and her husband Charlie found their dream home in the countryside, it was clearly meant to be.  At the time, in summer 2015, it was […]

When a couple of empty nesters decided to downsize, it was a chance to design and build exactly what they wanted Meet & greet Kim (database administrator) and Neil Ford (programme manager for a large engineering company) and cavoodle Otten Ford. 1 The Design After Kim and Neil Ford’s three children left home – one […]

Separated by distance and a pandemic, a woman’s dream of relocating a historic home to the countryside of her youth was a passion project Meet & greet Julie (barrister) and Sean Granger (environmental operations manager), Laird, 11, and Tilly, eight. Standing on a narrow, dusty road in a picturesque hinterland, Julie Granger’s heart was in […]

Interior designer Annabel Berry has a pool of talent to draw from at her coastal chic home in Oamaru Meet & greet Annabel (creative director of Design Federation) and Simon Berry (managing director of Whitestone Cheese), Mia, 10, Jackson, nine, and Boe, seven, plus dogs Tessa and Wicket. It’s actually impossible to believe Annabel Berry’s […]

Sustainability and a love of nature are some of the design elements that inspired this countryside-loving family’s new-build Meet & greet Kate Crooks (interior designer at Kate Crooks Design), Jesse Crooks (builder and co-owner of Astute Build), Willow, six, and Siena, four. An interior designer and a builder make a handy combination. Throw in an […]

No strangers to renos and hard work, a Manawatū couple pooled their formidable talents to build the perfect Bali-inspired retreat Meet & greet Blair and Rebecca McDonald (residential building company owners), Ryder, 11, Indy, eight, Tilly, six, and French bulldog Zinzan. If lockdowns have taught us anything, it’s that a home you love being in […]

A bungalow near the beach is an interior designer’s ever-evolving sanctuary Meet & greet Megan Ekdahl (interior designer) and Mike Ekdahl (commercial property developer) and Marlow the cavoodle. When interior designer Megan Ekdahl and her husband Mike bought their Strandon property 16 years ago, they had no intention of living in it. Despite its location […]

A property developer and his family find magic at Moonlight on a steep section overlooking the Tasman.