FARAWAY CHARM Inspiration from the other side of the world
Find inspiration on the other side of the world from this family home, which combines a chic monochrome palette with tactile materials
Chrissy, Jono and their daughters moved into their home in Remuera, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, 10 years ago. Although the north-facing house had plenty of character, a great indoor-outdoor connection and pool, it also came with some drawbacks: it lacked light, had a small living room and an outdated kitchen. But with an eye for design, and an array of homeware products at her disposal, Chrissy has transformed the property into a sophisticated and stylish inner-city oasis.
The couple were keen to put their stamp on their new home, so the renovation work started immediately. ‘The day we moved in, our friend Andrew, a builder, took down the wall between the dining room and the spare bedroom so we could create a second living room and separate dining area,’ says Chrissy. The decor was also uninspiring, with every wall, window frame and door in the house painted in varying shades of beige. Having recently returned from a holiday in Greece, where she discovered a passion for all things white, Chrissy decided to use the colour as the base in the house.
‘I find the simplicity of white restful, calming and easy to live with,’ she explains. The original timber floors in the kitchen, dining room and hallway were sanded back and whitewashed, and it wasn’t long
before the joinery and walls followed suit and were painted a soft white, too. ‘The lighter colours on the floors and walls have totally rejuvenated the house,’ says Chrissy.
The only exception to the fresh, all-white scheme is the dramatic black wall in the dining area. This bold design statement creates a striking focal point while highlighting the circular window beautifully.
To prevent the interior from feeling sterile or one-dimensional, Chrissy has filled every room with detail and texture, with cushions, hides and rugs creating a layer of warmth and indulgence. However, most of the items in the house are affordable high street buys. ‘I’m not really an investment shopper because I like being able to change things,’ she explains. ‘Also, the cost is not what’s important; it’s the way you bring items together. I’m a big fan of cushions as I think they make a room look more luxurious and cosy. And I like rugs because they define separate zones. I’m always changing mine around.’ Lush greenery is also used to add colour and connect with the impressive outside space, which has a large patio area with a fireplace and barbecue, and a swimming pool.
Lighting has also been carefully considered.
A range of lamps and bamboo shades illuminate artworks and dark corners, as well as creating pattern play on the walls. ‘Good lighting instantly improves the mood of a room,’ says Chrissy. In the kitchen
LED downlights with dimmers provide overall lighting, supplemented by pendants above the island. It took three years before the original dated U-shape kitchen layout, which lacked essential storage, was replaced with a sleek new one. Chrissy opted for a minimal design with white, satin-finish handleless cabinets and white Caesarstone worktops.
‘We increased the cupboard heights and depths, created space for an American-style fridge-freezer and installed a central island that we could all sit around for informal meals,’ she explains. Open shelves were chosen as a means of subtly introducing colour and texture, as well as showcasing some of Chrissy’s beautiful homeware. ‘I’m so pleased with the end result,’ she says.