Where beach meets country

Photo / Supplied

As someone who loves scouring books and magazines for design ideas, Aucklander Janet Paul was in her element when she and her husband John bought a dilapidated Takapuna cottage eight years ago.

The couple, who had moved from their beloved Devonport knew they were in for a big renovation job - they had been renting the home for three months before putting in an offer to buy. "Although it was rundown, it had the feel of a beach house, with tongue and groove and lots of windows," says Janet. "It's quiet, with a marvellous sense of space and a large section that would be prohibitively expensive if it were in Devonport.

John loves the convenience to the motorway and I can walk to the beach in 10 minutes." While the house had potential, the Pauls knew it would take a lot of work. "It was a mess," Janet recalls. "The lounge and dayroom were added on in DIY fashion and the main bedroom was a badly converted carport.

The aluminium joinery looked wrong for the house, as did the Pinex ceilings and all these horrible arches everywhere. The kitchen was a hotchpotch of old cupboards, which looked like they'd been rescued from different houses." However, the simple floor plan meant the home had good flow, the rooms were spacious and there were plenty of windows to fill the house with light.

Janet took a lot of inspiration for the decor from the book Seaside Interiors by Diane Dorrans Saeks. "I don't always have a picture in my mind," she says. "I play a lot, just trying things out. And I love working with what we've got." Furniture from their previous house was painted or distressed if it didn't have the right look. "I love the aged look of distressed wood. It's so easy to transform something and add character."

The couple decided to stick with the existing floor plan, but boost their living space by increasing the size of the rear bedroom, which has become a dayroom. They also removed the outdated aluminium conservatory and replaced it with a timber deck to open up views of the garden. To enhance the cosy, relaxed feel, a wood fire was installed and the new kitchen was fitted with traditional features such as a plate rack, butler's sink and wooden benchtop. "I can admire contemporary design but it's not me. I love the country style," says Janet.

The addition of bifold doors and windows helped open up the home and give it the breezy, summery feel Janet was after. In the lounge, the seaside bach feel gives way to more ethnic elements, courtesy of the couple's many carvings and vases collected during trips to Bali.

The dayroom at the back of the house, which also serves as a guest room, is one space where Janet expressed her feminine side - an instinct she kept in check in the living areas in deference to John and teenage son Ben.

Throughout the home, a soft palette of neutrals creates a relaxed feel. "I think it's a beautiful place," says Janet. "I love the peace and quiet, the space and the gardens. I just love being home."

Style tips

Shore thing: Collect shells and driftwood to give your home a seaside atmosphere.
Rustic feel: Flea markets and antique stores are a great source of wooden country-style furniture that adds a rustic element. Painting or distressing imperfect pieces gives them character.
Bach basics: For the ultimate bachy look, nothing beats lining the walls with tongue and groove.
Light touch: Sticking with a soft pastel or light neutral colour palette will promote an airy and open feel. Brighter colours can be added in fabrics, artworks or tableware.

* Leanne Moore is the editor of Your Home & Garden.