My Houzz: A Little Slice of Country
A three-generation family make their dreams come true by moving into a home in the rolling hills of North Auckland
Mark Scowen
6 November 2015
Houzz Australia Contributor. Photographer at Intense Photography
Many of us living in the hustle and bustle of the city dream of packing up and moving to a secluded country home. It was certainly a dream shared by couple Paul and Lee Smith. Having grown up on Auckland’s North Shore, in the middle of suburbia, as adults they longed for an old villa on 10 acres in the country. It took six years of sacrifice to save for a deposit, but three years ago they made their dream a reality “and then the hard work really began,” says Lee.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Paul and Lee Smith with their children, Riley, 6, and Ruby, 2, along with Spotty the Fox Terrier and Lee’s mum, Meimmie Prins, who lives in a granny flat on the property
Location: Wainui, New Zealand
Size: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Paul and Lee Smith with their children, Riley, 6, and Ruby, 2, along with Spotty the Fox Terrier and Lee’s mum, Meimmie Prins, who lives in a granny flat on the property
Location: Wainui, New Zealand
Size: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
The 100-year-old house had previously been used as a farm worker’s cottage and then a rental for many years, which meant it had become quite rundown. One of the main hurdles of the year-long renovation was working on a structure that wasn’t straight or level; the rooms also had an interesting layout from years of additions. Lee says this drove Paul “slightly crazy at times” as being a Mechanical Engineer, he likes everything to be precise.
Paul and Lee worked tirelessly to ensure it was the home they had always dreamed of.
“Our home is our retreat from all the hustle and bustle of work and school. It’s still close enough to town to pop out for some milk, but far enough into the country that we feel the peace,” Lee says. “We love all the sounds and smells and the tranquillity that it brings us.”
“Our home is our retreat from all the hustle and bustle of work and school. It’s still close enough to town to pop out for some milk, but far enough into the country that we feel the peace,” Lee says. “We love all the sounds and smells and the tranquillity that it brings us.”
The duo opted for a soft-toned colour palette of neutral greys in the main living room. Lee says that while she doesn’t have a specific style of decor, she did know that she wanted the space to have a homely feel and to be a place where her children could grow up comfortably. She also sourced most of the furniture from secondhand stores and websites like Trade Me.
Opposite the sofa is an original fireplace. It was previously a dark brown veneer that dominated the room, so Lee painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.
The dining table, from French Country, and the sofa, from The Design Store, are some of Lee’s favourite pieces in the house. “I think they are the only new items I have bought for the house,” she says.
In the living room, one of the couple’s favourite secondhand items is the rocking chair, which is an inside joke between the couple. Everyone hassled Paul for being a hillbilly for moving to the country, so Lee bought Paul the chair to sit on the verandah, while someone else bought him a pipe.
Before moving in, Paul and Lee also pulled up all the old carpet and lino and had the original kauri floors restored. They also painted all the interior walls of the house – “not easy when the ceilings are three metres high!” says Lee. The exterior of the home was also recently painted.
Before moving in, Paul and Lee also pulled up all the old carpet and lino and had the original kauri floors restored. They also painted all the interior walls of the house – “not easy when the ceilings are three metres high!” says Lee. The exterior of the home was also recently painted.
The kitchen remains connected to the living area via an open window. It’s next on the list to be renovated, to bring it up to date.
The second living room is where the couple come to relax in front of the fire during the colder months. They replaced the original windows with French doors that lead out onto a wraparound covered deck, which Paul painstakingly built in the evenings and during weekends over the space of a year.
Off the second living area is Paul and Lee’s Bedroom, which is a secluded sanctuary connected to the verandah by French doors.
The verandah is Lee’s favourite spot during summer, and it is here that she enjoys reading a good book.
The kids have their own space, too. Ruby's bedroom is all things pink, her favourite colour.
Riley's bedroom is a place he can spend some quality downtime in after helping his parents on the land, which he loves to do.
The couple regularly entertain family and friends around the outdoor dining table, which Paul made. “I wanted something large enough to seat 10 people, so in summer we could sit out on the verandah with friends and family overlooking the beautiful countryside,” says Lee.
Upon moving in, the garden was completely overgrown and Paul and Lee worked tirelessly to bring it back to life. “It was filled with tyres, wire, dead animals, tools and rubbish – and just when we thought we had seen it all, we’d find something else!” says Lee.
The family make the most of the surrounding land with a variety of animals and produce. Seventeen sheep, 12 lambs and two cows graze around the home. Each year, the family also raise orphan lambs from the farmer down the road. “Last year’s lambs were called Turbo and Skittle,” says Lee.
Depending on the time of year, 20 to 35 beehives produce honey on the property.
This summer, Lee says a vegie garden is on the cards, so the family can enjoy fresh salads. They also hope to include a chicken run for free-range eggs.
This summer, Lee says a vegie garden is on the cards, so the family can enjoy fresh salads. They also hope to include a chicken run for free-range eggs.
“We love that our kids can grow up playing outside, learning about animals and growing vegetables, while also riding motorbikes,” says Lee about the beauty of living in the country.
Family time is important to the Smiths and so Lee’s mum Miemme Prins is never too far away, living on the property in a two-bedroom granny flat that was designed by 1880 Cottage Company and built by Sumner Construction.
“We were always keen to have my mum live with us, especially while the kids are growing up,” says Lee.
“We were always keen to have my mum live with us, especially while the kids are growing up,” says Lee.
Prins has brought her own style into her abode and also enjoys the beauty of the surrounding countryside and spending time outdoors.
Riley and Ruby regularly come over to spend time with Nana. Ruby has the day with Prins every Friday at the granny flat, while Riley sleeps over every Friday night.
The home works well for Prins, who works part time in eye care. While she is very close to the family, having a separate space also allows her to have her independence. “There aren’t really any downsides to living together, but we will always speak our minds if there is an issue. I think that’s the key to living in close proximity to one another,” says Prins.
Once a week, movie night is scheduled in the main house where the entire family, including Prins, snuggle up on the couch.
Making their dreams come true involved a lot of hard work, but Paul and Lee have been able to create a home that will last the distance and have done justice to its heritage.
“We have had many a compliment from the locals, who have been living in our area for two or three generations, on how well we have brought our home back to life, and tended to the land and tidied it up,” says Lee.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
“We have had many a compliment from the locals, who have been living in our area for two or three generations, on how well we have brought our home back to life, and tended to the land and tidied it up,” says Lee.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Eclectic Homes
My Houzz: Colourful Quirkiness in a Creekside Cottage
By Luci Carney
A European skateboard shop inspired the eclectic-meets-Nordic styling of this new family home set on 3000 acres
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Rural Houzz: A Modern Mountain Retreat Set Among the Gums
Explore a cleverly designed country home that sits quietly within the landscape, while providing views from every room
Full Story
Houzz Around The World
Cotswolds Houzz: Country-Meets-Coastal Makeover in a Tiny Cottage
A designer's restoration-renovation revives the period charm of a Cotswolds cottage, bringing the UK home back to life
Full Story
Projects Born on Houzz
Blue Mountains Houzz: A Country Idyll For Slower, Simpler Living
From a standard-issue brick home to a sophisticated mountain retreat with a sense of history, see how a designer did it
Full Story
Country Living
Expert Eye: Buying & Renovating a Country House
Swapping the rat race for a little piece of country paradise is a dream for many of us – here's what you need to know
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Barn-Style Holiday Home Pitches Up in Victoria
Rural vernacular and contemporary style meet in a two-part design for multiple generations of a Melbourne family
Full Story
Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Family's Tree Change to a Heritage-Style Farmhouse
A Melbourne couple left the city to build their dream country home, inspired by rural life and a pinch of Provencal
Full Story
Contemporary Homes
Houzz Tour: Tasmanian Pavilion Home an Ode to Local Apple Sheds
A rural home in Lymington complements its surrounding natural landscapes and water views
Full Story
Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Cliffside Home Designed for Comfort and Rejuvenation
A newly-built open-plan home overlooking Springbrook National Park is the perfect nature retreat for a creative couple
Full Story
Christmas
My Houzz: A Waitoki Dwelling Dresses Up for Christmas
By Mark Scowen
A couple makes great use of space in their home in the hills of Auckland, as they ready themselves and their house for Christmas
Full Story
Hi everyone, this is our home and we are so overwhelmed by the positive response from everyone. We love the lifestyle we have been so blessed to be able to have for our family and love our home. Thank you Mark for portraying our home in the photographs as it is in real life (no it wasn't dressed for the photos) and for the lovely written article :-)
A lived in and loved space. What more can you ask for from a home?
Lee and Paul, your place looks absolutely adorable! Well done. Yes im back for another look! Perfection right there. All the very best! Chrissy from the 1880 Cottage Company.