THE WHITE TREATMENT

Claudia Zinzan and partner Nick Hutchinson, Michaela, three, and Tony, seven (he was at school when this photograph was taken), live in a three-storey Titirangi home that they’re renovating. The couple founded Aucklandbased store Father Rabbit six years ago, selling beautiful, functional products for everyday life. At home, Claudia says she’s a minimalist in the sense that she only has things she really needs.

EVERYTHING IN OUR HOUSE:

Has to have a use. It might be a book to read, a vase to put flowers in, candles that we use. I’m not really into ornaments. I’m not the sort of person who has stuff just for the sake of looking at it.

WE’VE RECENTLY:

Painted everything on this level white. It had heaps of dark timber, lemony yellow walls, cream carpet. I’ve used the same white over and over in different houses. It’s Dulux ‘Okarito’, a fresh white that has energy and doesn’t look too stark.

I’VE FOUND:

The perfect floor paint. It’s by Porters Paints and it’s expensive, but it’s waterbased and covers in two or three coats. I used the colour ‘Bone’ which is a really soft, beigy grey. When I posted on Instagram that I was going to paint the floorboards, my friends were saying, “You can’t,” and the painters were really cross with me. But I just don’t like dark brown.

NOW THAT WE’VE PAINTED:

I’m being really careful about adding things back. I have to love what I’m putting back. I think we need another rug and we’re getting white linen curtains and that’s about it.

IT MAKES ME IRRITATED:

If there’s too much clutter. There are times when things get messy – we have children! But my perfect state is very organised. I like things straight, not crooked. As a mum I’m pretty strict about things like not eating on the couch and I got rid of the toys in the living room. They do play there of course, but they keep their toys in their room or the playroom.