home tour

A contemporary home on a Christchurch estuary provides its owner with an outlook that’s always changing

All is bright when it comes to Alex's Christmas decor

The design, construction and decorating of a Taranaki family’s new build was made all the sweeter thanks to family and friends.

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

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

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, […]

With plenty of passion and a lot of persistence, an Auckland couple create a rural dream with vibes of the Med

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

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

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

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.

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

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, […]

Gina Fabish is always on the lookout to create Christmas magic for her family. The scene in their 100-year-old villa living room is a festive one, from the robin’s egg blue wrapped presents under the tree to the warm glow of the candles adorning the character-feature fireplace and the green garland that drapes over the […]

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, […]

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, […]

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 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. […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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

A couple on a mission for more space found just what they needed – and it was practically on their doorstep Serendipity was surely at play when Melissa and Marc Gibson embarked on their most recent house-hunting exercise. “With the arrival of our son Hugh four years ago, we quickly realised we had outgrown our […]

Sandra Barrio von Hurter’s colourful jewellery is adored for the way it brightens up Zoom calls – and she has a home to match Meet & greet Sandra Barrio von Hurter (jewellery maker), Felix von Hurter (businessman), and Frida, one. Sandra Barrio von Hurter lives and breathes colour, from the cheeky cherries that dangle from […]

A serious health crisis led to career changes for an enterprising couple who share their demo-to-reno secrets Meet & greet Tyge (project manager/ house flipper) and Christina Dellar (interior designer/house flipper), Valor, six, and Zeph, three. There are certain times in married life when you question your partner’s thinking. A very dated old bach in […]

Leaving the city and heading north to embark on a new build was a happy leap of faith for a savvy young family Meet & greet Joel Mowat (director of Movewell Physio), Jess Mowat (mum/teacher), Sailor, four, Xanthe, three, and Sullivan, one. For the former Auckland couple Jess and Joel Mowat, trading the big smoke […]

Designer Hannah Whitehead finds balance in a newly built home that prioritises simplicity Meet & greet Hannah (creative) and Dylan Whitehead (mechanic), Frankie, seven, Leo, four, and Riley the retrodoodle. If there was one word Hannah Whitehead kept returning to when picturing life in her family’s new build, it was ‘calm’. The creative lead at […]

A couple’s renovation of their neglected home in Papamoa has incorporated design features from the ’60s and the ’70s Meet & greet: Andrew Inman (global sales manager for mountain biking company Kids Ride Shotgun), Marnie Carter (policy researcher), Koia, six, Reenie, three, and Hatupatu the cat. The renovation nearly didn’t happen. First there were eight […]

The classic versatility of black and white was the starting point for the Sutherland-Tolley villa renovation

Meet & greet Jonathan Kennedy (architect), Fiona McIlraith (commercial manager), Jackson, eight, and Archer, one. Jonathan Kennedy has come home. He grew up on a 1600sqm Merivale site, studded with mature trees a hop, skip and jump from Christchurch’s verdant Hagley Park after his father bought the section when Jonathan was 10 and built a […]

The decorations are up and the kids excited to spend Christmas in their mid-century inspired home To say the least, this was an ambitious project – a couple with three young children deciding to tackle their vision of designing and building every corner of their home. And so it was that Megan and Mike Fishwick […]

Undaunted by restrictive property caveats and two earthquakes, a Christchurch family couldn’t be happier with their self-built and designed dream home With its wide eaves, low-pitched roof and walls of timber-framed glass, there is little mistaking one of the primary influences on the design of the distinctive Kennett/Maher house on the coastal hills of Christchurch. […]

Completely private from the front, this home opens out to the private garden through sliding doors and raked windows. With no windows you can casually peer into from the road, Tim and Polly Dagg’s home is a mystery by day. “One of my pet hates is having big windows facing the street and looking into […]

Opening out to outdoor entertaining areas, you won’t want to leave. There’s something about the little pool house in Hannah Williams’ backyard that’s instantly relaxing. As soon as guests walk past the palm trees and the pool, they feel like the best vacation version of themselves. This tiny house, which Hannah created for guests and as […]

A serene home in Taupō unites breezy neutrals, soft textures and furniture with relaxation in mind. Meet & greet Selena McWilliam, business owner and interior designer, with daughter Jordyn, 11, and Burmese cats Polar and Egypt. When Selena McWilliam and Mike Austin first visited the empty 942sqm section at Botanical Heights in Taupō, they were […]

With a couple of kids under two, this hard-working tradie has transformed her home one colourful room at a time. After a massive villa renovation in Island Bay in 2018, builders Nikki Kettle and Tom Taylor were determined to find a home that didn’t need any work done. “We said to each other, we can’t […]

A dark and gloomy Te Puna home is given a light, bright makeover with a nod to modern European flair. See the before and after shots below Andy and Summah Wright have adventure in their blood. After leaving Mount Maunganui for a brief stint in Mangawhai, the couple felt the pull of family, so they […]

With its free-spirited style, this sunny home is a beautiful reflection of the family who live and work here. See more of this light-filled home here Dee Tang calls her bungalow-style home “the Lady California”, saying, “It’s the only house I’ve ever wanted to buy.” In fact, she and her husband Desmond Sweeney moved across […]

Influenced by exotic holidays, one family set about building their own resort with touches of Byron Bay and Bali Phoebe and Damon Batchelor’s holidays in Bali and Byron Bay left a lasting impression on them. Although the New Plymouth couple loved the diversity of snowy mountains and epic surf breaks their west coast abode offered, […]

A tired-looking bungalow is given a fun-loving touch, resulting in a home that boasts creative colour and easy flow for a young family If there’s one thing about renovating, it’s that – if done right – a little can go a long way to creating a functional home that is pleasing to the eye. When […]

The home invites the raw landscape right up to the house with extensive use of sliding and bi-fold doors as well as a wall of raked windows.

The boundary between inside and outside is blurred at a Matarangi holiday home thanks to the clever use of sliding doors and raked windows There are no fences to speak of at The Pines, a bach community at the end of the Matarangi sandspit, in the Coromandel. Boundaries are vaguely defined, paths meander under the […]

Masters at making every dollar count, this family have worked wonders on a classic split-level house that no one else wanted When Nita Pearson and partner Francis Scordino were looking for a home, they saw potential where others saw problems. “We needed a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a boys’ backyard that sat within our budget,” […]

Cane furniture, potted palms, beachy bits and a stack of National Geographics capture the easygoing essence of the 1970s bach.

From Tan’s impressive closet to Antoni’s modern kitchen, we take a sneak peek inside the interior style of The Fab Five from Queer Eye It doesn’t come as a big surprise that Tan France has an amazing closet. His role on Queer Eye is, after all, the fashion guru. But, if you think the handsome, […]

Magpie finds, timeless cane and classic furniture have been mixed with graphic art to create an interior full of interest and meaning at this Napier villa Meet and Greet Hannah Feltham, 45 (designer; runs Good Space home organising and styling), and Grace, 8, plus Peggy the Staffy Hannah’s Top tips Paint your walls white and […]

This mum-of-one with an eye for eclectic design never planned to live in her grandparents’ old Napier villa, but fate had other ideas Meet and Greet Hannah Feltham, 45 (designer; runs Good Space home organising and styling), and Grace, 8, plus Peggy the Staffy Hannah Feltham never intended to buy the house her father grew […]

A dated A-frame right on Papamoa Beach was the perfect project for this creative couple, who have transformed it into a nostalgic holiday retreat Meet + Greet Rachel Dobbs, 33, Jared Dobbs, 33 (both photographers at Swift & Click), Charlise, 14, and Joy, 2. It’s been a while since A-frame homes were all the rage. […]

High on the hills overlooking Los Angeles, Nicole Scherzinger enjoys panoramic views from her classy, but comfortable, home. Take a look below “I’m all about comfort,” Nicole Scherzinger tells Architectural Digest as she takes them around her incredible LA home. Sitting high on a hill, her four-storey home commands panoramic views of the city. Originally […]

This elegantly designed Hamilton home wraps around a lush gully of native bush and boasts almost seamless connections to its outdoor spaces Meet + Greet Katie and Matt Williams, (owners of a painting and decorating company), Boh, 11, Lola, 9, Rocco, 6, plus Margaux the French bulldog As our families grow, most of us look […]

Smoke stained walls, holes in the floor and no kitchen didn’t discourage Jess Britten and Warren Durling from seeing what Ponsonby’s old Masonic hall could be: their future family home For the first of our series INSIDE, Jess Britten from Hall We Need takes us inside her stylishly renovated home: Ponsonby’s old Masonic Hall “It […]

Much like their apartment on The Block NZ, Stacy and Adam’s Wellington home has a monochromatic vibe with pops of colour. Take a tour below Adam Middleton and Stacy Heyman are no strangers to marching to the beat of their own drum – or getting what they want. And the 25-year-old, risk-taking creatives are out […]

Their apartment on The Block NZ has a “boutique hotel vibe” but Lisa and Ribz say their Wellington home has a very different feel. Take a peek through the photos below Describing their Wellington home, Lisa and Ribz both break into peals of laughter. “It’s very homely,” says Lisa. “We have these hideous La-Z-Boy couches […]

Packed with clean, modern style, this Airbnb provides the ultimate interior inspiration. Erena Te Paa tells us how she created a breezy, relaxing guest retreat The allure of Erena and Joe Te Paa’s Hamilton Airbnb, Akitō Studio, is undeniable. Akitō translates from Māori as “to be slow”, and with a large outdoor tub with views […]

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s home is minimal to the extreme. Designed by Alex Vervoodrt it features a white and cream colour palette, rounded furniture and open spaces. See more below Kim Kardashian has given us a rare glimpse into her ultra minimal LA home that she shares with husband Kanye West and their three […]

These five Mt Maunganui homes have such an individual style that they put this beachfront city on the stylish-homes map 1. A modern Mt Maunganui cottage When Heather Coyne and Mark Winter bought a piece of land right in the middle of Marine Parade in 2008, they embraced the 1940s cottage that occupied the front […]