With an idyllic location by the sea, this new-build is a maker of memories for a young family who took the plunge — and landed a mindful lifestyle.
Sometimes, falling in love is the easy part. Commitment is way harder. This coastal section with a wicked surf-break out front, and located alongside a golf course, was a definite swipe right for Hannah and Jaron Mumby. But then, when it came to making it official, it felt too scary. “The land just seemed so far out of reach for us financially,” says Jaron. They were ready to give up on the dream. But the pair, who run a design, PR and marketing firm, and who have both played high-level competitive sports, are not quitters. The name of their business is Favour the Brave. They decided to put their money where their hearts were.
Waiwhakaiho is a short bike ride along the coastal path from Ngāmotu/New Plymouth, but it feels a million miles away. This 1300sqm section is backed by the arrow-shaped sentinels of Norfolk pines and the distinguishable peak of the maunga.
A robust form now occupies the land: a crisp white box is etched against the sky, and a double-storey in black pops up behind. With a cactus garden out front and organic white-brick cladding, there’s something Mexican-modern about the aesthetic. Yet the Taranaki born-and-bred couple, who previously renovated an Art Deco house for them and their two young boys, didn’t have the dry desert in mind when they started. They were mid-century coastal fans.
As this was Hannah’s first build, she spent hours poring over Instagram and Pinterest, “saving a million pictures to my feed.” It was clear this virtual moodboard would need judicious filtering, so they turned to a friend — architectural designer Tim Geard. “We gave him our fusion of ideas,” says Jaron. “And were excited to see how he would interpret the brief.”
What came back was not quite as expected. Instead of swathes of glass facing the ocean, a built-in benchseat beneath windows wrapped around the front and corner of the living room. A night at the nearby Ahu Ahu Beach Villas convinced the Mumbys that Tim’s idea was the right way forward. “The villas have a similar set up; Hannah and I sat for hours on that benchseat just talking,” says Jaron.
Along with the open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, there are three bedrooms on the ground floor as well as a separate media/hang-out room. Upstairs, a self-contained guest suite is currently used as the couple’s office. This clever layout means the home can flex with the family in years to come but, right now, it does make it difficult to put productivity before play. “When the blinds are open, you can look out and see surfers and golfers,” says Jaron. “It’s easy to think of all the things you’d rather be doing.”
The magnetic pull of the landscape aside, there’s also plenty to draw the Mumbys inside — the sense of quiet calm that pervades their home, for instance. Interior designer Sam Elliot of Green Room Studio was their sounding board to help craft a relaxed, yet refined, coastal retreat.
Because the black-and-white exterior has such a strong presence, the interiors are gentler. “We wanted a place that felt good for the soul,” says Hannah. Sam zoned in on layering, introducing a muted, earthy palette for warmth, plus elements of subtle playfulness. The kitchen is an exemplar with timber-look cabinetry, a splashback of matte mosaics and fine engineered-stone benchtops. With two energetic young boys in residence, the curved island has prevented many a trip to A&E, while above the dining table a draped pendant was one of a few splash-out buys: “It’s called the Tasman Pendant and since we can see the Tasman Sea from our kitchen window, it was obviously meant to be,” explains Hannah.
Concrete floors were a given, since they allowed an in-slab heating and cooling system, but their power-float finish has an elegant softness to it that reflects the light. Understated details, such as fluted panelling on walls in the entrance hall, the TV area and behind the main bed, layer up the look. Tones of warm white drift through to wheat, honey and brown, with counterpoints of blue and washed greens that echo the sea, sand and surrounds. It all makes for a cohesive serenity — a balm for busy lifestyles.
Keeping a tight rein on the purse-strings means that Hannah and Jaron are committed to making meaningful purchases. “Building a house is a massive investment and there is some pressure to buy everything new,” says Hannah. While they invested in a chunky, comfy sofa, they’re still running with their old dining table. “I think there’s something quite nice about being patient.”
Artworks embody this mindfulness: one major piece in the living room was a wedding gift from friends; another that depicts cactuses by a pool is by a local artist and keys in with Hannah’s passion for this spiky plant. “I’m sure that says nothing about my personality,” she laughs. Many’s the time hunting out just the right cactus has become a major mission.
Having moved in on Labour Weekend two years ago, the Mumbys are enjoying the freedom of their place apart. Since no other sites here are yet developed, the boys, Ky (7) and Brooks (5), are princes of their domain, riding their bikes where they will, exploring or having pirate-hatted sword fights in the dunes.
At night, with their munitions safely stashed away in the benchseat, the evening light paints a rosy glow over the brickwork. The couple, who have spent most weekends finishing off the decks and landscaping, still have projects to do. But for now, with the windows slid open to the breeze, and far on the horizon the sun sinking into the sea, all is well.
Words Claire McCall
Photography Matt Quérée
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