Custom Fit

A newly built home close to Mt Maunganui’s beaches and bustle suits this family so well it could have been designed just for them

- Tina Stephen

When visitors arrive at the home of Stacey and Jake Pyne and their three children, they are presented not with a doorbell but a mini xylophone upon which to announce their arrival. This is the first hint that the household within thinks and acts a little differently to the norm, and this certainly includes their way with interior design.

“I love all sorts of different bits and pieces – I’m not sure exactly what my style is!” says Stacey. “I’m an avid collector and love to op-shop, though I’m trying not to do as much any more. I also enjoy Kmart. Jake loves fishing, so we have a lot of fishing-related stuff, too.” The result is an eclectic home, with almost the feel of a modern museum; one can’t help but be drawn to each intriguing piece, and charmed by the overall effect.

snap decision It was in fact Stacey’s bowerbird tendencies which led the family to this home three years ago – just when they’d finished a large renovation of their previous home and had absolutely no intention of moving. Sometimes, though, the path to the perfect home is not what we expect. In this case, the Pynes instantly fell in love with the new house, snapping it up and moving in within a matter of weeks.

Now living closer to downtown Mount Maunganui than before, the Pynes’ lifestyle revolves around the bustling village and the beach. Daughter Milla, 13, takes new puppy Mickey on daily walks, and her brothers – Hayes, 11, and Ari, 9 – meet up with friends after school on their bikes or go down to the beach for a surf. “We love the location. Being able to walk into town for coffee or dinner and to the beach is so good,” says Stacey.