Chintz, country furniture and a breezy touch of the Hamptons combine so seamlessly in this Taranaki home it’s hard to believe it’s a new-build
Hamptons style meets country living in this Taranaki home
Amy Hart, stay-at-home mum, Brendon Hart, 35 production supervisor, Arlo, 7, and Macy, 4, plus family pooches Nixon and Jet.
Q&A with Amy
Our best memory
Amy: This would have to be being on site and involved with the building process every day.
Splurges
Our solid-wood bungalow doors and our old-style (but new) door handles, plus the beautiful leadlights in our front door and ensuite. Our biggest splurge, though, was reupholstering the furniture.
Our best buys
The light fittings from Freedom Furniture and Lighting Direct. I just waited for specials and we got exactly what we wanted.
Style Secrets
+ Don’t be afraid of colour, texture and pattern. Remember, you can always paint walls in a neutral shade, then add colour and pattern with soft furnishings.
+ Plan, plan and plan some more. Amy had a scrapbook filled with paint samples, fabrics, tiles and images of furniture that she liked. She began compiling it well over a year before starting the build.
+ During the concept phase, look at the size and length of proposed wall spaces and how they fit in with your existing furniture and art, as well as what you would like to purchase.
+ Go with your heart. If you stick to what you like, even if it’s not on trend, you will always be happy with the end result.
Budget
+ Interior doors: Doorworx
+ Kitchen $45,000
+ Living $35,000
+ Bathrooms $40,000
+ Bedrooms $40,000
+ Building costs & landscaping $310,000
= total $470,000
Words by: Annick Larkin. Photography by: Jane Dove Juneau.
1/17
Amy Hart, stay-at-home mum, Brendon Hart, production supervisor, Arlo, 7, and Macy, 4, plus family pooches Nixon and Jet.
2/17
For a year, Amy filled a scrapbook with paint samples, fabrics, tiles and images of furniture that she liked.
3/17
Amy and Brendon Hart had always talked about building a new home of their own. Not long married, Brendon and Amy decided it was time to turn those dreams into reality.
4/17
Deco-style drawer pulls were the perfect final edit in this vintage-chic kitchen
5/17
The antique Queen Anne-style lounge suite is one of Amy’s favourite pieces. She had it reupholstered in fabric from Warwick Fabric to ensure the cottage aesthetic flowed from room to room.
6/17
The pastel blue, spindle-back chairs at the dining table add a subtle dash of colour and texture to the open-plan layout.
7/17
“I struggle to choose my favourite room as I loved decorating every space – but he kids’ bedrooms were really fun to design”
8/17
Muted yellow accents n Arlo’s bedroom carry through the home’s vintage aesthetic, while still allowing the room to be a little boy’s ‘bat cave’.
9/17
Muted yellow accents In Arlo’s bedroom carry through the home’s vintage aesthetic, while still allowing the room to be a little boy’s ‘bat cave’.
10/17
Amy’s playful yet cohesive colour palette ties the kids’ space to the rest of the home.
11/17
The embellished, vintage-style bed adds a touch of whimsy.
12/17
Deco accents appear in the tiles, tapware and lighting.
13/17
Deco accents appear in the tiles, tapware and lighting.
14/17
A repurposed set of drawers and an antique French enamel basin have been upcycled to create a unique bathroom vanity.
15/17
Amy has always loved Hamptons-style beach houses and character-filled cottages, so she had a fair idea of what she wanted to achieve with her decor.
16/17
Exposed trusses, a white-painted timber deck and cross-back outdoor furniture ensure this home’s classic look flows from inside to out.
17/17
Brendon was on the same page when it came to favouring classic character over contemporary chic. The result is a cosy home beloved by the whole family.
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