My Houzz: A Waitoki Dwelling Dresses Up for Christmas
A couple makes great use of space in their home in the hills of Auckland, as they ready themselves and their house for Christmas
Working within the restrictions of their local area, New Zealand couple Wayne and Irene Veale managed to build a small home for themselves that thankfully doesn’t feel small. By adding volume where it matters, with vaulted ceilings in the living space and spare bedrooms, there is still plenty of room for them to entertain family and friends, creating a cosy home full of warmth and character. The couple now look forward to having their family over to open up presents, feast on a scrumptious lunch and enjoy their beautifully festive new home with their nearest and dearest this Christmas.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Wayne and Irene Veale, and their dog Bella
Location: Waitoki, Auckland, New Zealand
Size: 243 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Wayne and Irene Veale, and their dog Bella
Location: Waitoki, Auckland, New Zealand
Size: 243 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
The first hurdle they faced was to find a way around a council restriction, which stated they had to build the minor dwelling no more than 6 metres from the existing home. They overcame this by building their home within a barn. “This meant we were able to choose our site on the land without this restriction,” says Irene.
They then had to design the barn to suit their lifestyle. They started by looking at barn kits, but decided that to get what they wanted, they would have to design it themselves.
They then had to design the barn to suit their lifestyle. They started by looking at barn kits, but decided that to get what they wanted, they would have to design it themselves.
Irene and Wayne wanted a simple rustic style, with raw edges and an aged look. Irene’s background is in interior design, which helped with the process. Every detail was thought out and made by hand, which the couple says makes their home truly unique.
Budget restrictions meant that for a year and a half Wayne put in a lot of the work himself, and spent every evening and weekend during that period finishing the interior of the home. The whole project was completed earlier this year.
Budget restrictions meant that for a year and a half Wayne put in a lot of the work himself, and spent every evening and weekend during that period finishing the interior of the home. The whole project was completed earlier this year.
Irene is a hospitality queen, who has always enjoyed having large groups of family and friends around for meals or to stay. Their barn serves as the perfect spot for this and the dinner table, couches and deck area are often full of visitors.
For the kitchen, the couple decided to splurge on beautiful marble benchtops, and saved on the cabinetry by fitting them with plywood fronts.
The impressive Monterey cypress (Cupressus marcocarpa) beams and trusses in the living area were created by Wayne during his Christmas holidays. They had to be built standing upright and then lifted by a crane into the vaulted, white-washed ceiling space, because of their size and weight.
This Christmas, the couple have been able to properly deck their newly-finished halls, and have gone all out with their tall tree clad in glittering gold and white decorations.
Pendant lights: French Country
This Christmas, the couple have been able to properly deck their newly-finished halls, and have gone all out with their tall tree clad in glittering gold and white decorations.
Pendant lights: French Country
With the grandchildren living in the paddock below, the two families are always in and out of each others’ houses. “We have an open home approach with our daughter and son-in-law, and we visit, support each other and enjoy each other’s company regularly,” says Wayne. “The grandkids want Poppa to build a flying fox from his house down to their home.”
Considering this closeness, it was of course a family affair when it came to decorating this year’s Christmas tree.
Considering this closeness, it was of course a family affair when it came to decorating this year’s Christmas tree.
The master bedroom is located downstairs and opens up to the generously-sized deck. It’s a serene space, which is more contemporary than rustic in its design.
One unfinished project is this stunning mirror in the master bedroom, though Irene says visitors often comment that it looks great in its current state.
The bathroom is cosy, with Monterey cypress adorning the walls. Wayne once again completed the work here himself. The large bathtub is a hotspot during the colder months of the year, which can be very cold indeed in the hills of Auckland.
With timber-clad walls, wooden flooring and this bathroom bench, the rustic style of the house continues with great strength into this space. A shower recess was also installed, and finished with white subway tiles to give it a contemporary edge.
Upstairs, the mezzanine boasts two guest bedrooms, where the couple’s guests stay when visiting. As such popular hosts, sometimes they need even more space than these two bedrooms can provide. Irene says they often have people sleeping on the couches or the floor as a result.
The big braced pinewood doors are another one of Wayne’s creations, and they suit the barn style of the home perfectly. He also sanded the ply floors – which run throughout the upstairs space – and the stairs, by hand.
The big braced pinewood doors are another one of Wayne’s creations, and they suit the barn style of the home perfectly. He also sanded the ply floors – which run throughout the upstairs space – and the stairs, by hand.
The second guest bedroom is slightly smaller than the first, but still provides guests with ample space and a lovely view onto the grassy land that lays outside.
The huge deck, which wraps around more than half of the house, has extended the size of the home and maximised the amazing views of the valleys and pastures.
The roof is clad in black Colorbond and the garage door is made from the same material. The rest of the exterior features a black-stained board-and-batten finish.
The roof is clad in black Colorbond and the garage door is made from the same material. The rest of the exterior features a black-stained board-and-batten finish.
Wayne can often been found outside. He loves his chickens, which are tame and walk around at leisure. They can usually be seen trailing behind Wayne or one of the grandchildren as they walk the property.
With the big Christmas tree lit up and the pile of presents below it growing more and more every day, this close-knit family are more than ready for Santa to pay a visit to their new home.
TELL US
What do you like about this barn conversion? Let us know in the Comments section.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and New Zealand, and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
TELL US
What do you like about this barn conversion? Let us know in the Comments section.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and New Zealand, and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
Wayne, who is a former builder, took on the challenge of building their cosy dream home in this perfect spot.