Photography: Anna Briggs
When you visit Nomer and Aisha Tanag’s Wainuiomata new build home, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that no kids live here. At first glance, it seems wildly incompatible with children. There’s no clutter or brightly coloured plastic toys and there are far too many gorgeous but very white pieces of furniture to survive little fingers and busy wee bodies, surely. There’s enough beautiful, breakable decor to make most parents nervous. But children do live here – three of them, in fact – and they do have toys, they’re just cleverly stored out of sight.
Home profile
Meet and greet: Nomer (software developer) and Aisha Tanag (balloon stylist and interior design student) and their son Anton, eight, and twin daughters Anita and Amalia, three.
The property: A four-bedroom, two-bathroom, modern barn new-build in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, with one room that’s used for Airbnb.
“There are definitely heaps of coloured toys,” Aisha says.
“They’re just not always on display – I’ve got a good system of storage boxes and bins.”
Aisha says her love of minimalism grew back in early motherhood. Around the time she and Nomer welcomed their first child, Anton, Nomer introduced her to the idea of owning less – and choosing better.
“We were still renting and having fewer things meant fewer decisions to make,” she says.
“That was also when my love for white started. I simplified my wardrobe and kept a lot of whites, which made getting dressed one less thing to think about.”
In a season where everything felt new and a little out of control, that simplicity – in both belongings and mental load – made a difference.
“Then that same approach naturally carried over into our home. Choosing neutral tones and intentional pieces really reduced the mental load. As new parents, we needed that. Minimalism gave us space to breathe and it also brings with it a feeling of calm. We try to stick to buying only what’s needed and what we love.”
The build
The Tanags bought their section in Wainuiomata in July 2020, drawn to the peacefulness of the rolling hills and trees that edge the eastern side of the property. This was their first build but they weren’t afraid to get hands-on. The couple designed the floor plan themselves, then worked with their builder’s in-house architectural designer, Catherine McDiarmid, to refine it within budget.
Keeping the footprint simple was both a design and financial decision. The lounge faces north to capture all-day sun, while the total size was capped at 165 square metres to avoid additional council requirements. That choice also meant no garage – something that surprised friends and family, but made perfect sense to the Tanags.
“It was more important to us to create a bigger living area for the kids to play and grow,” says Aisha.
“And, again, it makes us more mindful about the things we buy, knowing we can’t just store overflowin a garage. We did add an attic, which is brilliantfor storage.”
The couple both love their home, but their must-haves when it came to designing it were quite different.
“For me, it had to be a white home – and I really wanted a separate room for the bath because I try to use it almost every day,” she says.
“For Nomer, it was all about the architecture – he wanted a vaulted ceiling in the lounge and a 38-degree roof pitch. We were quite different in our priorities.”
Somehow, it all came together: a modern barn silhouette that stands apart from its neighbours, earning curious comments from visitors.
“Some people have asked us why we chose this design because it looks so different from the other houses on the street, like being different is a bad thing. But I don’t get offended. I know my ideas are usually not what most people go for, and that’s okay. I love that our home reflects us.”
Creating calm
And if you’re wondering how a home this serene survives three children, the answer is systems – and a little lived experience. When Aisha moved to New Zealand from the Philippines at 19, her first job was part-time motel cleaning in Palmerston North.
“I only did it for three months, but I learned so much about cleaning efficiently,” she says.
“Sometimes I joke that I clean too much now.”
But she says she’s careful not to turn calm into control.
“I don’t want to burden my kids with keeping the house spotless. I want it to feel cared for, but also lived in and joyful.”
Toys are stored in wardrobes, boxes, bins and the attic, with a clever rotation system that keeps things feeling fresh. Broken toys are let go of without guilt. Wardrobes are kept sensibly minimal, though Aisha admits tutus for the twins remain her weakness – “They’re just too hard to resist.”
Their choice of flooring – Pergo Chalked Nordic Oak – was made for both practical and aesthetic reasons.
“Not having carpet isn’t common in Kiwi homes, but it has been a game-changer for us. With kids making endless messes and spills, having hard floors makes everything so much easier to manage and clean. It took us so long to decide on our flooring – my first choice wasn’t in budget – but I love what we landed on. It’s warm with a hint of grey, low on knots, and it works well with our aesthetic.”
Design choices
“From the beginning, I knew I wanted our space to feel modern, but not cold,” she explains.
“I wanted to balance the minimalism with textured materials and a mix of vintage pieces. That contrast is important to me. I think you’d describe my style as ‘soft minimalism’.”
Aisha will happily DIY, search Marketplace, or find an alternative to something she has her eye on. As such, some of the home’s most treasured pieces carry stories, like the restored rimu bed with “pumpkin feet” and its matching bedside tables.
“I found it on Marketplace. It had been an older couple’s very first purchase together. They were letting it go only because they needed a higher bed. Knowing its history makes it incredibly special and they appreciated how much care I had for it. I’d originally planned to restore it myself, but it’s a struggle to find the time, so luckily, one of our church friends did it for me. I absolutely love that piece.”
Aisha’s love of design runs deep. She grew up surrounded by art, with her late father creating handmade candle holders from bamboo stalks and sculptural pieces from salvaged nuts and bolts. He also worked as an illustrator, creating designs for Hallmark cards. Seeing his creativity shaped how she appreciates texture and craftsmanship. She’s inspired by designers like Kelly Wearstler and Athena Calderone, but ultimately she follows feeling over formula.
“When something inspires me, I feel it straight away – I get butterflies. Finding your style is a journey. It evolves as you do.”
Sharing to earn
One of the home’s cleverest features is a separate, lockable entrance to the main bedroom. The couple had always intended to use this room as an Airbnb for extra income. More recently, the house has also become a sought-after photoshoot location after a little prod from Wellington photographer, Olivia Atkinson.
“She encouraged me to do it, as there aren’t many homes for hire in Wellington. She helped us take professional photos and connect with other photographers looking for a space to shoot in.”
Now, the home supports the family financially while giving creatives a beautiful space to work in. Outside, the landscaping is Mediterranean-inspired and low-maintenance, with dreams of a dip pool and a little studio gently being floated by Aisha to Nomer.
Ask Aisha what she’s most proud of with this home, and the answer is simple.
“We’re so grateful to have a comfortable home for our kids, a place where they can grow, play and make memories, celebrating birthdays, sharing everyday laughs, and knowing that this is the space they’ll remember as their home growing up. That’s so special to us.”
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