The Open Home

A passion for international interiors and a love of entertaining shaped the style of this soulful seafront abode

- Debbie Harrison

Walking around Sarah Kee’s home in Point Chevalier, Auckland, it’s clear she has exquisite taste. In most of the rooms, you’ll find artworks, sculptures and artisanal furniture, each with a story to tell. But open the door to a son’s room or another lounge and you’ll see an installation of another sort: stacks of mattresses.

“The boys always have a friend or two over for the night,” Sarah says with a smile. “That’s what I most wanted for this house, for it to be welcoming – a big, family-friendly home so when the boys were old enough they would feel comfortable coming home and hanging out with their mates. I’m from a family of seven and ours was always the open home in our neighbourhood so I wanted that for my kids.”

THE BACK STORY

The house started life as a 1950s bach and was then turned into a two-level plaster home in the late 1980s. Sarah and Matt Noonan had been about to embark on a renovation of their previous house when they stumbled across this one. Unable to say no to the large corner site and water views, they bought it in 2008.

“The ever-changing view of the harbour and the west coast, the greenery, the serenity, the community of Point Chev – we just loved everything about the place,” Sarah says.

But with two young kids and Matt running his production company, Curious Film, life was busy. Renovations got put on the back burner for eight years, leaving plenty of time to dream.

THE KITCHEN

As an entertainer and the mum of two growing boys, a big kitchen was Sarah’s dream. During the renovation, space was stolen from the family room to put in a scullery, which was fitted out in oak to go with the oak floorboards. Oak was also used for a feature wall and shelving in a corner of the kitchen to display some of Sarah’s pottery collection.