In a street minutes from Westfield St Lukes, in Auckland's Sandringham, Mary-Ellen and Matt Hinton’s weatherboard bungalow has been perfect for the couple and their three children, Sybella, 10, Jasper, 8, and 6-year-old Evie.
Built in the 1920s, 15 Truro Rd was painted yellow inside and out when they bought it. The couple pulled up the old carpets, white-washed the floorboards, and painted the joinery.
The result was a wonderful canvas for Mary-Ellen — who founded her interior design company Hello Saturday in 2015 — to give her skills and ideas free reign.
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Maximising light is always the first step in bringing homes like Mary-Ellen’s to life. While there are plenty of white walls to help achieve that effect, she’s also injected more edgy elements, particularly in the bathroom with its toucan-patterned wallpaper.
There are three good-sized bedrooms, including the master. The house has a remarkable amount of living space for a home of its vintage, with a big lounge overlooking the front garden.
With a heat pump for winter warmth, the original fireplace is display-only and provides an ideal setting for Mary-Ellen’s indoor plants.
She painted a wall behind the TV black. “I didn’t like seeing the TV, so this way it blends in, and you don’t notice it,” she says.
Beyond the lounge is a large L-shaped area with kitchen, dining and living space. The black kitchen is striking and dramatic, with plenty of cupboard space and a central bench. The living nook is essentially a sunroom.
The rear of the section is private with tall hedges. There’s a spa, playhouse, vegetable garden, storage shed with studio, plus another shed.
She says the community is very close. “There’s always someone to collect your mail or feed the cat.”
She and Matt have decided it’s time to move, but they hope to remain in the Balmoral and MAGS school zones.
They need another bedroom and Mary-Ellen is itching to get stuck into a new project. Agent Lisa Pringle, from UP, says it is a lovely example of how a 100-year-old house can be brought up to date, without sacrificing its original personality. “It’s a breath of fresh air.”
Find out more about 15 Truro Road, Sandringham
