A new-build that invites the light to dance. From bright pools of sunshine to a dappled, dreamy glow, it’s the gentle warmth of the afternoon sun that truly turns this house into a home.
There’s something quietly magical about finding calm at the end of the day, so this new build home is shaped to catch the sun. In the open kitchen–living area, wide glass doors and soaring gable windows drink in the northwestern light. Soft linen curtains cast a warm, golden haze, while earthy tones and sun-kissed finishes deepen the home’s balmy character. Cedar-lined ceilings fold down into a timber band that traces the tops of the walls, lifting the eye to those beautiful gables above.
Colours throughout are rich and evocative: toasty reds, terracotta hues, mossy forest greens. Dark marbles ground the palette with a sense of the elemental. Timber reappears like a familiar refrain — oak flooring underfoot and a delicately crafted oak stair screen designed to gently sift sunlight as it moves through the day. With a family who lives through food, gatherings, and easy hospitality, the kitchen is a hardworking white steel, and the home’s layout encourages effortless flow out to the decks and garden.
Outdoors, life unfolds in a series of inviting spaces — a barbecue nook, an outdoor fire, a grassy courtyard for children to roam. A louvred roof, pergola structure, and perforated metal screens create layers of filtered light, shelter, and privacy. A curving garden softens the edges, and tucked away for the youngest explorers is a tiny fairy garden, a moment of wonder just waiting to be found.
On a corner site in a lively Westmere neighbourhood on Auckland’s city fringe, this new home sits comfortably among both heritage villas and modern additions. Its contemporary gables pick up the rhythm of the street, stepping down the slope with a gentle confidence that allows it to feel both new and right at home.
Sunny Side Up was named a 2025 TIDA Winner for Architect Designed Kitchen, a 2024 Interior Residential Finalist, and awarded a 2023 Best Awards Bronze Pin, alongside features in Abode and Homestyle magazines.