Q&A

BEST MONEY YOU SPENT: Having the radiator central heating installed throughout the house this year. (Iain) The Skygarden lights in the entry hall and front office which we bought many years ago but never had the right house to hang them in. With the height of these ceilings and the scale of the rooms, we knew they’d work here. (Allen)

YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE HOUSE: The master bedroom is my favourite. The room is generous and we’ve kept it simple because the hero is the view – it looks out over Evans Bay, the airport and onto Cook Strait. Seeing the water creates a very relaxed vibe. (Iain)

The downstairs living room. It’s a calm space with neutral tones, the furniture is in scale and the character fireplace makes the room feel like it has a heart. (Allen)

DECORATING ADVICE: You can’t beat a neutral colour palette – it really is timeless. All our houses (apart from the yellow and purple rooms we had in 1996) have been white or off-white, and we’ve introduced colour with art. (Iain)

I’m all about having clutter if you want or having a pared-back contemporary feel – your home should make you feel relaxed and happy. (Allen)

WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT LIVING HERE: Hātaitai has a lovely urban feel with great coffee and craft beer. The village is a good meeting spot for locals. (Iain)

It’s a wonderful supportive community. (Allen)