Photography by: Emily Raffills
Christina Dellar is a self-confessed devotee of rom-coms – the kind where the heroine finds herself in a beautifully designed home and the perfect happy ending. So when she and her husband Tyge stumbled across their dream house in Stillwater, Auckland, and it felt like stepping into a scene straight from a Nancy Meyers film, she was all in.
With its sprawling grounds and classic charm, this was the house that Christina, 36, had always imagined for her family. Cue a little redecorating magic from the seasoned renovators and they’ve created their own fairy-tale ending.
It was almost two years ago that the Dellars’ house-hunting journey led them to this 327m2 Stillwater homestead set on two hectares of park-like grounds that included giant weeping willows and its own pond. The six-bedroom home, featuring two lounges and a home gym, wasn’t perfect, but Christina and Tyge, 42, saw beyond the tired decor and orange-stained wood.
“We instantly fell in love,” recalls Christina. “The house had great bones, but it felt a little dated. We knew that with some fresh paint and thoughtful updates, we could bring it back to life and create a home that felt fresh, homey and bright.”
The house itself had a distinctly American feel, something that resonated with Christina, who hails from the US. And then there was the expansive kitchen, which doesn’t take much imagination to picture it being the centrepiece of a heartwarming, bustling family scene of a chick flick.
“It was love at first sight with the kitchen,” she shares. “The big windows, the open layout, the space for friends and family to sit while I cook… It’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a kitchen.”
For Tyge, the spacious property and large swimming pool for sons Valor, nine, and Zeph, six, sealed the deal.
“I grew up in South Africa with a pool and it was such a highlight of my childhood,” he says. “I wanted the same for our boys. I also loved that the living room has a traditional open fireplace, which isn’t common any more. You can’t beat an open fire in the evening.”
Christina and Tyge have a business and YouTube channel called Demo To Reno, which documents them as they do up homes and flip them – 12 houses at last count. As you’d expect, the couple wasted no time rolling up their sleeves and making this Stillwater homestead their own. The first and most impactful change? Paint – and lots of it!
“Nothing transforms a space quite like fresh paint,” says Tyge. “We partnered with Resene to bring a crisp, bright feel to the interior. We’ve been taking our time painting each room and space. We aren’t done yet as this house needed a lot of love. The wood trim will be painted over time, and the exterior will require a lot of hours and paint.”
Christina’s love for classic romantic films has heavily influenced her interior style.
“I adore the homes in Father Of The Bride, It’s Complicated and The Holiday,” she says. “They’re light-filled, warm, homey, elegant and exactly the vibe I wanted for our house.”
The dining room was wallpapered in a beautiful Hampton-style print from the Resene Eden Collection to create a cosy yet stylish atmosphere. The kitchen got a facelift with new handles, Resene Half Sea Fog on the cabinets and statement pendant lights.
Carefully chosen lighting fixtures were added throughout the Stillwater homestead – one of Christina’s go-to methods for improving a space. “It never ceases to amaze me how much impact a beautiful pendant light can have on a room.”
Each space was designed fit for purpose. The master bedroom, painted in Resene Black White, is a haven of tranquillity, featuring crisp white linen chairs to lounge in, soft, neutral tones and that four-poster bed. “It’s our space to unwind, so I kept it fresh and calming,” explains Christina.
The dining room, on the other hand, is designed for celebration. “With bold wallpaper, beaded pendant lights, and a large cabinet filled with beautiful glasses, dishes and candles, it’s made for hosting,” she says. “We found the perfect dining table, big enough for Tyge’s whole family – 12 people – and an oval shape that feels warm and welcoming.
“We’ve hosted countless pool parties, dinner gatherings and cosy nights by the fire. Our favourite memory so far has to be Christmas, when we had 14 family members staying with us. We swam, feasted and even had an outdoor movie night. It was everything we’d dreamed of.”
The pool is used year-round by the family – even for cold dips in winter. There are still projects on Christina and Tyge’s list, but in the meantime, they’re enjoying soaking up time in their beautiful Stillwater homestead.
“This is it,” says Christina. “We’ve lived in four houses in three years and this is the first house that feels like home. It’s truly our happy ending.”
