A couple drew on complementary talents to create a show-stopping Kerikeri house.

This is what happens when a Kerikeri design store owner and a builder combine their talents

Simplicity and sophistication often go hand in glove in interiors, and when professionals with an eye for design are involved, they can make that blend look supereasy to achieve. That’s the case at the Kerikeri home of Tania and Matt Cooper which is a collaborative union of heart, talent and shared vision.

Tania is the founding owner of a successful duo of design stores, Caravan Clothing & Home. The first Caravan store opened in Kerikeri in 2006 and a second, in Russell, in 2017. Matt is an enterprising builder. It’s a match made in heaven. For the couple’s latest project – decorating their home –

Tania’s dug deep into her eclectic talents as a designer, artist and colour queen.

The result exudes casual minimalism with an emphasis on joy. The home’s core interior palette is white – the perfect canvas to display a flourishing collection of art, including Tania’s own work. Unlike a gallery with its hushed ambience, the effect is fun and warm, yet sophisticated.

Harmony is accentuated with dramatic sweeps of black punctuated by colourful accents on feature walls. It’s an audacious twist on a classic look and the result is elegant with an edge.

Thoughtful details and subtle texture add to the house’s appeal. The front door is full height and crafted from Japanese cedar. A wall in the living area is crafted from textured concrete and the house is full of fun and fabulous artworks.

“We both love Californian modernism,” Matt says. “The seamless merging of indoor-outdoor living and capturing the all-day sun is how we like to live.”

Nestled below the road, the house feels like a sanctuary, despite being surrounded by other homes. Privacy has been created with a clever mix of

natives and tropicals, and planting of low hedging to conceal neighbouring rooftops.

“I love those trees,” Tania says, pointing to the property’s historic flame trees. “I fought to keep them.” Tūī voice their approval as they swoop upon the clusters of bright red bell-shaped flowers.

“We thought about naming this The Tūī House,” Tania laughs.

The house and garden certainly coexist in harmony. It’s no wonder Tania and Matt enjoyed their time in lockdown last year.

“It’s the first time I’ve had a decent stretch of time away from work. We both relished the time to recalibrate,” says Tania.

They used the weeks at home to add finishing flourishes to their refuge, such as the spa-like reflecting ponds at the entrance which combine with Eastern-themed statues and urns gathered from travels through Bali and Java.

The juxtaposition of old and new continues inside, with rustic pieces of repurposed furniture that have been given a contemporary facelift by Matt.

The couple’s favourite spot is the TV room with its cocooning black walls and vibrant panel painting by

‘We knew we wanted it to be a simple construction and it had to be black’

THESE PAGES Hand-crafted concrete walls in Tania and Matt Cooper’s Kerikeri home add texture and character; the rustic finish was achieved by pouring concrete into planking formwork: “They were a lot of work, we had to prop up the boxing to keep it all in place,” says Tania.

THIS PAGE The elegant yet informal mother-of-pearl chandelier doubles as a gentle wind chime; it was sourced from Indonesia and is from Tania’s store Caravan Clothing & Home, as are the dining chairs; the dining table was made by Matt. OPPOSITE Artist Scott McFarlane’s powerful landscape Kaeo, Pohue references local history and pairs well with an Indonesian retro buffet imported by Tania.

THIS PAGE The Ashford Tropics wallpaper from Guthrie Bowron pays tribute to the home’s subtropical garden setting. OPPOSITE (clockwise from top left) Tania often works from home, running her two stores. Tania’s Four Churches painting was inspired by historically significant Northland churches. Te Ahu Ahu by Scott McFarlane and cushions from Caravan Clothing & Home add luscious accents of colour. West-facing doors lead from the living area to the garden.

THIS PAGE A turquoise and light green colour scheme includes ceremonial juju hats from Cameroon and Marimekko fabric from Finland stretched over a canvas. OPPOSITE (clockwise from top left) Tania, Matt and dog Ted love welcoming people to their home. Pops of green echo the foliage colour in the garden. East-facing doors open from the main bedroom; Tania had the four-poster bed made in Bali during one of her pre-Covid buying trips. Tania created this rich abstract artwork on recycled door panels.