W
henyouknowwhat
NatalieNewlands
doesfora living,
it’snosurprisethat
oneofthemust-
havesforhernew
Queenstownhome
wasa largewalk-inwardrobe.Fashiondesigner
NatalienotonlyownsQueenstownboutique
AngelDivine,shealso operates her own clothing
label,NewLands.
Thiscombinationofcreativityandbusiness
nousinformedthedesignoftheJack’sPoint
homeNatalieshareswithherbuilderhusband
MylesHerschellandtheirtwoyoungsons,
KnoxandHawk.Thehouseis bothstylishand
practical,accommodatingthatcapaciouswalk-in
wardrobeaswellashomeofficesforMylesand
Natalie,lotsofstoragetohideclutterand oodles
oflivingspacefortheiryoungfamily.
“Priortobuildingthisplace,werentedthe
tiniesthousepossible,”saysMyles.“Sowe
wantedtomakesurethishousewasdesigned
withenoughroomtoaccommodatea growing
family,ourbusinessesandtheopen-doorpolicy
weoperate,whichmeans the house is always full
offamilyandfriends.”
LAYOUT
A keyconsiderationwastakingadvantageofthe
1535-square-metresection’sdramaticviewsof
theRemarkablesmountainrangeononesideand
CecilPeakontheother.Asa result,strategically
placedwindowsensure snow-capped peaks fill
almosteveryframe.
Thecoupleoptedtoorganisetheirhome
intoa U-shapearounda centralcourtyard.
Thewestwingholdstheopen-plankitchen,
livinganddiningspace,aswellasa playroom
whichalsocontainsa largeofficeandadjoining
powderroomforNatalie’sstaff,whoworkthere
a fewdaysa week.Theeastwingcomprises
threebedroomsincludingthe master, a family
bathroomandthegarage.
A keydesignelementaretwohugesliding
doorswhichnotonlysealofftheplayroom
butcanalsoextendrightacrossthehallway
if needed.“Itmeanswecancloseoffthekids’
noiseandmessandmystaff can have some
privacy,”saysNatalie.
ThedoorsarepaintedinReseneKarenWalker
‘Robin’sEggBlue’,whichcontrastswiththe
whiteusedthroughouttherestofthehousewhile
alsoconnectingwiththeblues and greens of the
surrounding landscape.
INTHEZONELargespacesare
cleverlydividedintozones,each
witha differentpurpose.The
fireplacebuiltfromGlenorchy
stoneseparatesthelivingand
diningspaces,whilealsoadding
texture and cosiness.
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