4 |
THESTYLE
“Themainfeelingwegotfromthe
homewhenwefirstmovedinwasof
a retreat,”remembersJane.“Weusuallylovea
lotof colour,especiallyonthewalls,butforthis
housewekepteverythingwhite,asit givesa
senseof calmaswellaslettingallof theglorious
sceneryoutsidebecomethefocalpoint.The
finishesandfurnishingsareallchosentoecho
thenaturalbeautythatsurroundsthehouse- thebrownsandgreensof thebush, and the
greenandblueof thewater.”
Oncethekidsareallinbed,JaneandBryan
settleintotheformallounge,completewith
carpetedconversationpitandwoodburner,
perfectforanafter-dinnerglassof wine.
“Inwinter,wespenda lotof timeinthere,
firingupthewoodburningstove,”saysJane.
“It’ssucha cosyspot,partof themainliving
spacebutalmost like a secret hideaway.”
5 |
THEEND
Thefamilyfeelveryluckytohavespent
timeinthisuniquepartof Aotearoa.
“Thehouseis sodifferentfromanythingwe’ve
everlivedin,andwefeellikeyouwouldn’tfind
thisanywherebutinTitirangi,”saysJane.
Butafterenjoyingthehomeandthe
neighbourhood,andwelcomingbabyCharlie
intothefamily,theSmithsdecidedit wastime
tosellandheadbacktotheStates.Despite
theirdistance,theysaythehousewillalways
“evokeforustheplacewehavecometocall
‘home’, no matter where in the world we live”.•84 |yhg