My favourite room
Open-plan living in a Titirangi “tree house”
Jocelyn Closs and Ryan MacPherson call their Titirangi, Auckland, home a “tree house”. With its modern stained ply exterior, mono-pitched roof and surf-beach-inspired interior, this house has the laidback vibe of a cosy hideaway far from the city. With backgrounds in advertising and fashion in New Zealand and Canada, it’s no surprise Jocelyn and Ryan have a highly evolved sense of style, as does Camp Cloon, the popular dogwear brand they started in 2015 and named after their beloved cavoodle (a poodle x Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross), Clooney.
What do you love most about your home? RM: We’ve lived here for five years and, over that time, have had a blast putting our stamp on it – from flooring inside to decking outside. I love that we have really made it our own. JC: We’re only 25 minutes from the CBD and yet we’re completely immersed in native flora and fauna here – we absolutely love coming home to our relaxing retreat after a busy day.
How would you describe your interior style?
JC: We like to keep things simple but really value texture and colour. We’ve always liked the modern, bohemian aesthetic you see in places like Byron Bay – open, bright and beachy with greenery, muted tones and lots of natural accents like wood, linen and leather.
How have you achieved this look in your living area? JC: Our living, lounge and kitchen blend into one another, so we’ve created a nice flow throughout by mixing natural textures like wool, linen, flax, rattan, and cottons. We don’t really care much for flowers but have a soft spot for indoor plants and love the feeling natural greenery brings to a space.
What are your favourite features? JC: The sliding oak door is definitely a favourite. This was actually sealed off when we bought the house but Ryan worked with a local woodworker to build it, and it has become a feature that ties our space together. RM: It’s great that we can talk with guests in the lounge while we’re cooking in the kitchen – having an open space allows the different areas to flow together nicely.
What are your favourite homeware pieces?
JC: My favourite pieces in the room are the butterfly chair by Kanuka Collective, an earlier brand of ours – this was the original sample and it’s just getting better with age. The print above our sofa is a one-off and we think it adds a bit of interest to the space, too. Lastly, our ceramic coffee cups from Thea, Waiheke, are a beautiful handmade touch. RM: Our oak table by Nood – it’s ridiculously heavy and amazing for entertaining.
It seats eight or more, or is the perfect surface for platters and snacks for a party. I also love this little tile plaque from the Atlantic by an artist in Byron Bay – he looks like my granddad. Naturally, Clooney loves his Camp Cloon teepee, but his favourite place to spend the day is on this beanbag from Citta, which is now his.
Do you change the decor in this room often?
JC: We’ve gone through different phases with most of the decor in our place, but we’re really happy with the vibe now – it’s feeling really cohesive. It took some time to get here as our style has been evolving over the last five years. When it comes to switching things up, you can do so much with soft furnishings if you have nice bases like a neutral couch and table – a beautiful throw or cushion can make a huge difference. Also, plants – just layering lots of greenery always makes our space feel like more of a home.
What have you learned along the way? To really stick with a theme – know what you love and stay within that vibe. Layering textures is really important to create some interest in a space, as ultimately you want to create a space you love to spend time in and texture has an amazing way of making things a lot cosier. Always keep an eye out, you might find the perfect piece on sale, or on the side of the road! Collecting a cohesive range of items over time is a sure-fire way to create a look in your space that really works. It’s more effective to find an item for your space rather than make a space for your item.
“We’ve always liked a modern, bohemian aesthetic you see a lot of in places like Byron Bay – open, bright and beachy”