Light touch

Rather than a heavy-handed ‘gut and redo’, an Auckland couple built on existing decor to make this bungalow their own

- Shelley Tustin

FIRST IMPRESSIONS Shutters on the front windows give privacy from the street, while echoing the horizontal lines of the weatherboards. The topiary buxus balls and hedging lend formality to the front garden.

HALLWAY (opposite) Above the panelling is Marthe Armitage wallpaper in gold tones, which Mary-Liz has matched with simple styling and pale timbers. The blonde ash bench is from Sunday Store.

Meet & greet

Mary-Liz (marketing manager) and Richard Amor (business consultant), Johnny, four, and Harry the miniature schnauzer. 

DINING Most of the entertaining is done outside on the deck, says Mary-Liz, but this little dining nook is just right for family meals. The table was custom-made by Apartmento and is paired with Tolix chairs.

SITTING ROOM (opposite) The room is furnished with a mix of heirloom treasures (the art, rug and bookcase) and dark leather sofas, which Mary-Liz says are a godsend with a small child.

A homeowner's love story usually follows the same formula: meet an almost perfect home, fall in love, then make it one's own by erasing and replacing the most distinctive decor choices of the previous owners. But Mary-Liz and Richard Amor chose to play things a little differently. Despite going in with a very defined personal style, which absolutely did not marry with this bijou bungalow's existing decor, Mary-Liz decided to holster her paintbrush for a bit, and in the process, something unexpected happened. Instead of changing the house to suit her tastes, the home changed her.

Age and grace