Houzz Tour: Wanaka Tudor Meets Scandi
A South Island stylist borrows Scandinavian tricks to bring light and cosiness to her home
Interior designer and stylist Anna Begg must have a good eye, or trust her parents, as she bought her house in the growing resort town of Wanaka – deep in the heart of the lakes and mountains of New Zealand’s South Island – sight unseen.
Begg and partner Adam Baxter were planning a return to New Zealand in 2014, after Begg had been working on luxury resorts around Byron Bay. She had been scouting the online auction site Trade Me when a 1980s house caught her eye. Her parents, who had been dispatched to scout the property, reported it as dark and a sad old renter, but Begg was charmed by the bones of the house and knew she could rescue it.
Begg and partner Adam Baxter were planning a return to New Zealand in 2014, after Begg had been working on luxury resorts around Byron Bay. She had been scouting the online auction site Trade Me when a 1980s house caught her eye. Her parents, who had been dispatched to scout the property, reported it as dark and a sad old renter, but Begg was charmed by the bones of the house and knew she could rescue it.
The house had been built in the Tudor style. This is not a common style in the district where stunning contemporary architecture is more the thing, but Begg was taken by the home’s pitched roofs, panelled walls and charming multi-paned windows.
The house was hidden behind an overgrown garden, the interior was dark panelled wood, with reportedly dreadful carpets and very little light penetrated the gloom.
But Begg had spied all she needed: there were well-proportioned rooms, including a separate living room and a dining room, and the three bedrooms were tucked under charming beamed and pitched ceilings, with dormer windows upstairs. Luckily, the bones of the bathrooms and kitchen were still good.
But Begg had spied all she needed: there were well-proportioned rooms, including a separate living room and a dining room, and the three bedrooms were tucked under charming beamed and pitched ceilings, with dormer windows upstairs. Luckily, the bones of the bathrooms and kitchen were still good.
AFTER: When she finally walked into her new home for the first time, Begg was also delighted to find that the wooden beams and panels were solidly built. No fake additions here.
Once the couple had cleared the area of the garden nearest the house, they saw how the French doors and picture windows began to make sense. Finally, they could be opened to patios, framing views of the best of the original trees. The house became flooded with light.
Now the living rooms have all-day sun and the garden has become a third living room for the long summer evenings of the far south.
Cavalier Bremworth Lattice carpet in ‘Amber Glow’: Flooring Xtra
Now the living rooms have all-day sun and the garden has become a third living room for the long summer evenings of the far south.
Cavalier Bremworth Lattice carpet in ‘Amber Glow’: Flooring Xtra
Before they moved in, Begg and Baxter went through the house painting everything white from top to toe. They then took great delight in ripping up the old carpets. The state of the floors, and the cold winters of Wanaka, prompted them to carpet throughout in a precision loop pile from Cavalier Bremworth. The lattice pattern, in a multi-coloured textured loop pile, has the casual style of sisal with the warmth of wool.
The resulting clean look was good enough to be photographed for the flooring company’s catalogue. In keeping with Begg’s style, the sisal-look carpet made a great base for layering her vintage rugs.
The resulting clean look was good enough to be photographed for the flooring company’s catalogue. In keeping with Begg’s style, the sisal-look carpet made a great base for layering her vintage rugs.
The original wood-burning fireplace was one of the few fittings that didn’t get the white treatment. A rich dark black makes the most of the interesting shapes of the fireplace, covering up a previously busy brick.
Begg used matt paint on the bricks, and a gloss on the mantel to bounce the light around the room. It now becomes the foil to the couple’s collection of black and white prints and photography.
Fireplace painted in ‘Fuscous Grey’: Resene
Begg used matt paint on the bricks, and a gloss on the mantel to bounce the light around the room. It now becomes the foil to the couple’s collection of black and white prints and photography.
Fireplace painted in ‘Fuscous Grey’: Resene
Begg’s outstanding skill was furnishing the property on a budget of next to nothing. She knew that she wanted to bring in a clean Scandi aesthetic to the house, but after many years spent styling tropical resorts (including a stint exporting craftsman-made furniture from Indonesia), she admits she wanted to layer in textiles from around the world.
The rattan chairs came from Begg’s parents house, while the brass coffee table was a trading find. She was particularly thrilled to score the linen sofa, originally from the region’s top retailers Mckenzie and Willis, for only $200.
Reindeer hide: Kate Findlay; Aztec cushions: Ikea
The rattan chairs came from Begg’s parents house, while the brass coffee table was a trading find. She was particularly thrilled to score the linen sofa, originally from the region’s top retailers Mckenzie and Willis, for only $200.
Reindeer hide: Kate Findlay; Aztec cushions: Ikea
“Nearly everything you see in the house is from the recycling centre,” says Begg, laughing. The local community runs a trading website, where people can free-cycle unwanted furniture.
Being in the heart of South Island ski-country, with plenty of sheep stations near by, meant that Begg was practically duty-bound to lavish her furniture with deer hides and shaggy Scandi-style sheepskins.
She stayed with natural textures – wool loop-pile carpet that looks like sisal, linen upholstery and curtains – and then layered on her favourite Middle Eastern cushions and rugs.
Being in the heart of South Island ski-country, with plenty of sheep stations near by, meant that Begg was practically duty-bound to lavish her furniture with deer hides and shaggy Scandi-style sheepskins.
She stayed with natural textures – wool loop-pile carpet that looks like sisal, linen upholstery and curtains – and then layered on her favourite Middle Eastern cushions and rugs.
The 1980s kitchen was good and serviceable for the couple, requiring mostly clever styling to bring it into Begg’s taste. Her dad’s shed yielded an old ladder that just needed staining before being hung above the kitchen sink for pots. Updated appliances and plenty of retro finds were sufficient to create a stylish hub for cooking and entertaining.
The layout of the house meant that the couple had room for a casual dining area, a chance for Begg to mix her tulip-style chairs and pedestal table – another vintage find.
The layout of the house meant that the couple had room for a casual dining area, a chance for Begg to mix her tulip-style chairs and pedestal table – another vintage find.
Begg added central Asian rugs over the carpet for colour and style. Her global mix also includes a hanging basket chair – one of the few pieces she has kept from her furniture business in Indonesia.
One of Begg’s best furniture sources was her dad’s farm shed in Balclutha, some three hours south of Wanaka. She discovered the sideboard under a bunch of implements; nobody seemed to recall where it had come from originally. But it polished up beautifully, and is a great home for the cocktail tray.
The old wooden chairs were found at a recycling centre and had come out of a local church. The shelves at the back were to hold hymnals.
The old wooden chairs were found at a recycling centre and had come out of a local church. The shelves at the back were to hold hymnals.
The old school desk in the hall was similar to those Begg’s dad remembered from his days in a country classroom.
Many of the traditional-look wall sconces were original to the house, and Begg has been combing for fringed shades to complete the look.
Many of the traditional-look wall sconces were original to the house, and Begg has been combing for fringed shades to complete the look.
The lush greenery of the outside has been repeated in hanging plants and baskets through the house.
TIP: Begg recommends grape ivy (Cissus alata ‘Ellen Danica’) for easy-care hanging plants beside the kitchen, while a more delicate maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum ‘Fragrans’), graces a rattan plant stand, a nod to traditional house decor. Be careful to keep these delicate beauties in a sheltered spot, as they do not like draughts.
Another of her favourites is the durable heart-leaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens) and she uses hoya, or wax plant (Hoya carnosa) for its shiny leathery green leaves and waxy fragrant pink flowers.
TIP: Begg recommends grape ivy (Cissus alata ‘Ellen Danica’) for easy-care hanging plants beside the kitchen, while a more delicate maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum ‘Fragrans’), graces a rattan plant stand, a nod to traditional house decor. Be careful to keep these delicate beauties in a sheltered spot, as they do not like draughts.
Another of her favourites is the durable heart-leaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens) and she uses hoya, or wax plant (Hoya carnosa) for its shiny leathery green leaves and waxy fragrant pink flowers.
The terrific mid-century desk in one bedroom was picked up from the local dump. Begg left some of the old pink paint as a nod to its origin, adding a deeper pink lamp (an op-shop find) and a sheepskin-topped bentwood chair.
She often thinks she may have reached peak sheepskin, but then spots another specimen and finds a space for it.
She often thinks she may have reached peak sheepskin, but then spots another specimen and finds a space for it.
The bathrooms were in good enough condition to need only an extra lick of white paint and some clever styling. Begg found the cactus shower curtain at H&M Home, and mimics its branched shape with more hanging plants.
Shower curtain: H&M Home; macrame plant holder: The Workroom
Shower curtain: H&M Home; macrame plant holder: The Workroom
While she had painted out the heavy beams downstairs, in the attic bedrooms Begg preferred to leave the wood exposed. Textured plaster was painted over, and decoration left simple in these spaces. Begg believes in creating interesting lighting with vintage lamps and pendants she has sourced.
Bedding: Kate Findlay; knitted cushions: The Workroom
Bedding: Kate Findlay; knitted cushions: The Workroom
More of Begg’s favourite textiles are layered on the white linen bedding. Sheer linen curtains are to filter the light: the luxuriant garden keeps the house private from passers-by.
Begg wanted a bench at the foot of the bed, so put a call out via her freecycling site. The piece she ended up with just needed the green paint stripped off, and she now adorns it with a changing display of books and accessories.
Begg wanted a bench at the foot of the bed, so put a call out via her freecycling site. The piece she ended up with just needed the green paint stripped off, and she now adorns it with a changing display of books and accessories.
Welcoming vignettes created from Begg’s favoured finds are dotted throughout the house.
The dining table is cosied up with brass jugs and candlesticks, but in the summer Begg changes out the look with wildflowers and finds from her garden. She doesn’t have much downtime from spring through to autumn, as her styling business is booked out for weddings.
This summer she renovated a vintage caravan as The Caravan Bar, and the wee cocktail cabinet is driven all around the South Island for parties and events.
This summer she renovated a vintage caravan as The Caravan Bar, and the wee cocktail cabinet is driven all around the South Island for parties and events.
Begg’s fairytale house was framed by mature trees, even though tangled and overgrown undergrowth blocked the light and access to the yard.
As Begg and Baxter pruned and cleared the yard, they were delighted to find that underneath the jungle were the bones of a well laid-out garden. They learned that a previous owner had been a landscaper, and that his schist walls and paths were just waiting to be unearthed.
They rescued the sunniest part of the garden for an outdoor patio with a retro cone fireplace.
As Begg and Baxter pruned and cleared the yard, they were delighted to find that underneath the jungle were the bones of a well laid-out garden. They learned that a previous owner had been a landscaper, and that his schist walls and paths were just waiting to be unearthed.
They rescued the sunniest part of the garden for an outdoor patio with a retro cone fireplace.
Even outdoors, Begg and Baxter have uncovered vintage light fittings that complement their Tudor-meets-Scandi style.
Their home is truly a fairytale house, in the land of lakes and mountains.
TELL US
How do you like the way these homeowners have reinvented their Tudor-style home? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Their home is truly a fairytale house, in the land of lakes and mountains.
TELL US
How do you like the way these homeowners have reinvented their Tudor-style home? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Who lives here: Anna Begg, Adam Baxter and Bella the dog
Location: Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand
Size: 120 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Designer: Anna Begg of The Workroom
Year built: The house dates from the 1980s, renovation early 2015