KEY POINTS:
After spending 18 months on the open home circuit looking for a house that would suit their growing family, Vicki Taylor and Mark Thomson didn't mess around once they found a place that matched their wish list. As soon as the keys were in their hands, they pulled up the carpet in the bedrooms and sanded the floorboards. They painted the rooms in warm, neutral tones and stained the floor in dark chocolate.
The simple palette in their home helps the couple avoid any risk of sensory overload once their working day ends. They own fashion store Taylor, where Vicki is the company's designer, fabric buyer and is in charge of marketing, while Mark takes care of administration and production.
"We are both surrounded by colour and pattern at work, so we have taken a more simplistic approach to our home," she says.
In practice, that approach means getting the look and style they want, without sacrificing either function or form. So while bare floors provided the look they wanted, installing a ventilation system ensured the house would never get too hot or too cold.
Although major structural changes weren't necessary during the renovation, a little creativity was required to fit in an ensuite. "We agonised for a long time over what was the best way to add another bathroom," says Thomson. "Initially the front bedroom worked as our master bedroom, but there was just no way to incorporate an ensuite into that room without destroying the villa's bones."
Luckily an architect friend came up with a solution. They stole some space from the next-door bedroom for both an ensuite and a walk-in wardrobe. The stroke of genius was moving the original window and ceiling rose so they remained centred, giving the impression the new addition had always been there.
You could say the same of the lush tropical garden that looks far more established than you'd expect from what's essentially been a five-year project. "We pulled out everything bar a yucca, a large cabbage tree and a couple of other things," says Thomson. "The rest has basically started from scratch."
Modern minimal
Neutral gear: This style typically has pale but warm neutral walls, with contrasting dark floors and crisp white in high-use work areas such as the kitchen and the bathroom. Furniture is a mix of dark and light.
Systems sorted: Clever storage is essential. Make sure you have enough cabinetry in the kitchen for everyday items to have a designated hideaway, leaving a clutter-free bench.
Kid-friendly: Have storage chests at the ends of children's beds to encourage them to put toys away once they've finished playing. Use the same colour scheme in their bedroom as the rest of the house but customise the space with removable wall stickers that can be changed as kids grow.
Keep it simple: Choose simple, timeless furnishings in plain textures and colours. Then you can accentuate with colour in artwork and affordable accessories that can easily be changed and updated.
* Leanne Moore is the editor of Your Home & Garden. For more on the Taylor/Thomson home, see the issue on sale now, or visit www.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz.
