Having a sense of both physical and mental space is vital for Tania Clifton-Smith. The Auckland physiotherapist, who specialises in breathing pattern disorders, realises how the layout and flow of a house affect you psychologically. And because she grew up on a farm in the Manawatu with spectacular views of Mt Ruapehu and Mt Taranaki, it runs in her blood not to settle for living and working in an environment in which she feels hemmed in.
Seven years ago, she and husband Terry were living two streets away with their daughters Olivia, now 11, and Jessica, 9. They had no intention of moving until Tania chanced upon an open home and was immediately captivated. "You come in the front door, and when you get inside this house it just opens right up.
"A house that is calm, has a sense of space and flows well is really important to me. That's my philosophy with my work, so it's what I want to reflect in my home life," says Tania, who runs her business, Breathing Works, partly from home.
Some aspects of the house were dated when the Smiths moved in. The garden was overgrown and needed fresh landscaping to make the most of the 1012sq m site, which has a swimming pool and mature trees, including towering palms.
