Houzz Tours
At Home With ... Rachael McMahon From Made From Scratch
Step inside this light-filled home in Auckland and comment for your chance to win a $50 voucher
Rachael McMahon is the creative mind behind the popular lifestyle blog Made From Scratch. Her life revolves around her home and creating a warm and inviting space where she can play hostess and experiment with delicious recipes. She and her husband stumbled across their three-bedroom, one-bathroom house in 2011 in the up-and-coming suburb of Beach Haven. It seemed the purchase was meant to be, as they drove past the ‘open house’ sign, had a look inside and bought it the next day. The ex-state house was outdated and in need of a revamp to bring it into the 21st century. Having recently finished renovations, the couple have now added their personal flair to create a home that works for them.
To celebrate our favourite Australian bloggers and their homes, we’ll be asking each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift. All you have to do to enter is comment on why you love this house. The winner of Rachael’s chosen prize – a $50 voucher from The Assembly – has now been announced. Well done d. steel!
To celebrate our favourite Australian bloggers and their homes, we’ll be asking each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift. All you have to do to enter is comment on why you love this house. The winner of Rachael’s chosen prize – a $50 voucher from The Assembly – has now been announced. Well done d. steel!
What made you start blogging?
It was my husband’s idea, actually. He thought it would be a wonderful thing for me to do to document our upcoming wedding. I’d heard a little about blogs while we were travelling through America and Canada a few months beforehand. I initially thought it would be crazy to do as no one would possibly want to read about what I was up to. It very quickly started to grow after our wedding and it’s now my full-time job. I never ever imagined that so many lovely people would enjoy it and it’s now my job. I’m very, very lucky.
Rachael made this pegboard after finding it during a hard rubbish collection. She simply put a frame on the back and painted it a soft mint colour.
It was my husband’s idea, actually. He thought it would be a wonderful thing for me to do to document our upcoming wedding. I’d heard a little about blogs while we were travelling through America and Canada a few months beforehand. I initially thought it would be crazy to do as no one would possibly want to read about what I was up to. It very quickly started to grow after our wedding and it’s now my full-time job. I never ever imagined that so many lovely people would enjoy it and it’s now my job. I’m very, very lucky.
Rachael made this pegboard after finding it during a hard rubbish collection. She simply put a frame on the back and painted it a soft mint colour.
How long have you lived in this house for and how did you and your house meet?
We’ve been in our home for just over four years now. It’s odd, it’s only now starting to feel like ‘our’ home as we’ve finally finished renovating it. We found it by chance on a very rainy and cold day over the Easter long weekend in 2011. We drove past the open home sign, took a quick look and bought it the following day. It was such a simple decision (aside from the money side of it) and just felt so right for us.
It’s an ex-state house – it had the most unattractive colour palette when we bought it. Mushy old yellow (inside and out) with a brick red trim. I’ve spent the past four years getting rid of everything brick red in our home. It was such a big project and every time I look back at the ‘before’ photos I almost can’t believe that that’s what we started with. It’s truly amazing what you can do with a little planning, a lot of white paint and a few years to work at something.
We’ve been in our home for just over four years now. It’s odd, it’s only now starting to feel like ‘our’ home as we’ve finally finished renovating it. We found it by chance on a very rainy and cold day over the Easter long weekend in 2011. We drove past the open home sign, took a quick look and bought it the following day. It was such a simple decision (aside from the money side of it) and just felt so right for us.
It’s an ex-state house – it had the most unattractive colour palette when we bought it. Mushy old yellow (inside and out) with a brick red trim. I’ve spent the past four years getting rid of everything brick red in our home. It was such a big project and every time I look back at the ‘before’ photos I almost can’t believe that that’s what we started with. It’s truly amazing what you can do with a little planning, a lot of white paint and a few years to work at something.
Where do you love to write and what could you not write without?
In my office, or any café that allows me to sit and tap away at my laptop for hours on end. I couldn’t write without either my computer or iPhone, everything I do is online, I’d be completely lost without them.
Desk lamp: Freedom
In my office, or any café that allows me to sit and tap away at my laptop for hours on end. I couldn’t write without either my computer or iPhone, everything I do is online, I’d be completely lost without them.
Desk lamp: Freedom
The city prints are from Rifle Paper Co; Rachael and Ben have been to all but three of the cities on display.
What do you love to do on Sunday afternoons?
Either go for a walk with our puppy or curl up on the couch in the sun with a good book. Every year I have the same resolution to read more, it’s a really lovely way to make sure you take a little time out just for yourself.
Artwork: Rob Tucker; couch and coffee table: Freedom
Either go for a walk with our puppy or curl up on the couch in the sun with a good book. Every year I have the same resolution to read more, it’s a really lovely way to make sure you take a little time out just for yourself.
Artwork: Rob Tucker; couch and coffee table: Freedom
What makes you happiest at home?
Cooking, baking and having people over for dinner. I love it when our home if full of laughter, chatter, friends and delicious wine and food. Aside from that, gardening – it’s so therapeutic.
Cooking, baking and having people over for dinner. I love it when our home if full of laughter, chatter, friends and delicious wine and food. Aside from that, gardening – it’s so therapeutic.
What’s your signature dish?
Goodness, so many – a favourite to make for friends and family is a slow-cooked piece of lamb and roast vegie salad, served with whatever cake or dessert I have felt like that day.
What renovations have you completed on your home?
Everything – we moved the kitchen to the middle of the dining/kitchen/lounge area. It used to be in the dining room. We did a full renovation of the bathroom, and painted the whole inside and outside of the house.
Goodness, so many – a favourite to make for friends and family is a slow-cooked piece of lamb and roast vegie salad, served with whatever cake or dessert I have felt like that day.
What renovations have you completed on your home?
Everything – we moved the kitchen to the middle of the dining/kitchen/lounge area. It used to be in the dining room. We did a full renovation of the bathroom, and painted the whole inside and outside of the house.
What are your favourite rooms in the house and why?
Our kitchen/dining/lounge area is truly the heart of our home. I also love my office. I’m terribly lucky to have a space to call my own and be able to work from home and decorate it how I wish. Actually, our whole home, it’s such a lovely space and each room is special in its own way.
Light sculpture: Trish Campbell
Our kitchen/dining/lounge area is truly the heart of our home. I also love my office. I’m terribly lucky to have a space to call my own and be able to work from home and decorate it how I wish. Actually, our whole home, it’s such a lovely space and each room is special in its own way.
Light sculpture: Trish Campbell
How would you describe your decorating style?
All white with touches of bold colour. I love the simplicity of white and very clean lines, but love the addition of colourful artwork, objects and pieces that we have collected on our travels. In a way, we treat our home like an art gallery; we’re always moving pieces around and trying to create new spaces with familiar objects.
To me, great design is…
Anything that you love and hold dear. Everyone has their own personal taste. If you love it and it works in your home then it’s great design.
All white with touches of bold colour. I love the simplicity of white and very clean lines, but love the addition of colourful artwork, objects and pieces that we have collected on our travels. In a way, we treat our home like an art gallery; we’re always moving pieces around and trying to create new spaces with familiar objects.
To me, great design is…
Anything that you love and hold dear. Everyone has their own personal taste. If you love it and it works in your home then it’s great design.
The laundry breaks away from the home’s white colour palette with a soft blue wall paint and eclectic artwork.
One of Rachael and Ben’s graphic designer friends, Ralph Matthews, created this fun painting for them.
Can you share your biggest decorating fail with us?
A pallet coffee table – we had so many left over after our bathroom renovation. I thought it would look great in our lounge. It didn’t.
You will not see [blank] in any house of mine.
A pallet coffee table.
A pallet coffee table – we had so many left over after our bathroom renovation. I thought it would look great in our lounge. It didn’t.
You will not see [blank] in any house of mine.
A pallet coffee table.
The next big decorating trend is…
I’m not sure, I’m loving all of the copper at the moment and am thrilled that it’s been around for as long as it has. I think people are moving towards warmer and softer homes but with a lot more colour.
I’m not sure, I’m loving all of the copper at the moment and am thrilled that it’s been around for as long as it has. I think people are moving towards warmer and softer homes but with a lot more colour.
What’s your next big project?
Carpet – we’re yet to replace it. We’re finally finished with all of the major renovations so it’s now time to get some very soft and warm carpet.
Describe your home in five words.
White, colourful, warm, inviting and relaxing.
To celebrate our favourite Australian bloggers and their homes, we’ll be asking each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift. All you have to do to enter is comment on why you love this house. The winner of Cintia’s chosen prize – a $50 voucher from The Assembly – has now been announced. Well done d. steel!
If you’d like to submit your blog for this series, follow the instructions found here.
MORE
At Home With … Interior Design Blogger Lee Dewsnap
At Home With … Kristie Castagna From Elements at Home
At Home With … Rachael Honner From Hip Brown Home Blog
Carpet – we’re yet to replace it. We’re finally finished with all of the major renovations so it’s now time to get some very soft and warm carpet.
Describe your home in five words.
White, colourful, warm, inviting and relaxing.
To celebrate our favourite Australian bloggers and their homes, we’ll be asking each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift. All you have to do to enter is comment on why you love this house. The winner of Cintia’s chosen prize – a $50 voucher from The Assembly – has now been announced. Well done d. steel!
If you’d like to submit your blog for this series, follow the instructions found here.
MORE
At Home With … Interior Design Blogger Lee Dewsnap
At Home With … Kristie Castagna From Elements at Home
At Home With … Rachael Honner From Hip Brown Home Blog
Who lives here: Rachael McMahon, her husband, Ben, and their Cavoodle, Kora
Location: Beach Haven, Auckland, New Zealand
Size: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Firstly, what do we need to know about your blog?
It’s a daily lifestyle blog – a lot of people have tried to define it, but I really like that it has a bit of everything. Each day I share either a recipe I’ve made, a wedding or home that I admire, something that I have been working on, and now recently, beautiful work that my contributors share. I love that it’s a melting pot of inspiration for any woman at any point in her life.
Photos by Melanie Jenkins