CURVE APPEAL

Sustainability and a love of nature are some of the design elements that inspired this countryside-loving family’s new-build

- Fiona Barber

An interior designer and a builder make a handy combination. Throw in an ability to hunt down stylish second-hand bargains and a penchant for gathering treasures and you’ve got all the ingredients for something special. The confluence of Kate and Jesse Crooks’ talents and skills is their Riverhead property, a stone’s throw from the upper reaches of the WaitematÄ Harbour. Their twin-gabled family home is all about open, airy spaces, being close to nature, and sustainability. The style? “It’s a modern farmhouse with an eclectic mix of furniture,” says Kate, who grew up near this once-rural north-west pocket of Auckland.

Breathing space

After living in London and central Auckland, Kate and Jesse decided to head west to be closer to the countryside. Riverhead, says Kate, has a small-town feel to it, so they bought a corner section there and set about designing a family home to suit them and their “outdoor kids”.

“Before our build, we’d often go for walks and bike rides in the area – down by the river and boardwalk,” she says. “A lot of the design elements within the home reference back to the textures, patterns and contrasts from the river and surrounds. We love being out in nature so having the river, walkways, pond, and mountain-bike tracks close by is perfect.”