Designing and building a home allowed a Mt Eden family to inject it with their own style.
Sometimes one plus one adds up to more than two. By cleverly combining their individual skills, textile specialist Kay Wooff and her architect husband Ken have produced a striking contemporary home that's packed with character. The Auckland couple built the new home on a Mt Eden property they bought in 2003 and eventually got approval to subdivide.
Ken, a commercial architect, sketched the initial plans and then teamed with another architect to refine details of the design. Together, the couple designed the interior colour scheme and chose the materials for the house they share with their son Samuel, 21, and daughter Yvette, 20.
"It is always satisfying to design a house for yourself and discover the compromises that you have to make to work within a budget," says Ken. "Commercial projects are much less stressful and less emotional."
When the house was finished, Kay took the opportunity to bring it to life with her love of textiles and fabrics. "I love to sew and I'm always keen to try other handcrafts," says Kay. "I have always worked in the rag trade - from textile wholesalers to fashion manufacturers and fashion retailing. I've been involved in all facets of the industry."
On the ground level, concrete floors were a practical decision, with under-floor heating keeping the home cosy during winter and rugs scattered about to soften the look. Dark carpet on the stairwell and upstairs contrasts with the neutral walls.
There is a mix of modern and retro furniture throughout the home, matched with accessories made mostly from vintage fabrics. "I have pieces [of textile art] all around our home from artists whose work I admire."
The walls also feature antique tribal art, bought when the couple lived in Papua New Guinea two decades ago. "We have antique wooden carved garden gods, throwing spears, bows and arrows and beautiful woven baskets, and a ceremonial axe from Mt Hagen with beautiful weaving surrounding the blade," says Kay.
"These handmade pieces have an organic quality that appeals to us, and they are special as our early courtship was in New Guinea. It was fun travelling in the highlands to pick these pieces. Everything comes from somewhere we have been."
In the master bedroom, the centrepiece is a vintage silk Malaysian navigation map from the 1940s. The map, a gift from Kay, shows where Ken was born. Sitting in a frame, it hangs above Kay's favourite furniture piece, an Ercol day bed bought second-hand.
"It's a design classic," she says. "I like its simple streamlined lines. It is on the list to be re-covered. I just love to sit and read on it while enjoying the great view of Mt Eden through the large sliding doors."
Style tips
Material gains: Vintage fabrics make great cushions. "Most of the cushions I make for the house have been made out of vintage embroideries, scarves and fabrics," says Kay.
Child's play: If your favourite fabrics become threadbare, don't despair. Clever textile artists can take anything from vintage scarves to ties and turn them into dolls that become keepsakes.
Personality plus: Kay likes her decor to speak about her family and not be just the result of following trends. "The pieces we select must have a story and a soul."
Leanne Moore is the editor of Your Home & Garden magazine. See the latest issue for the full story on this home and other ideas for your place.
