Interior designer: Donna Weir, Nextdore
Key suppliers: The Tile Company, Robert Malcolm
Photography: R+A Creative
This beautifully reimagined family bach blends sustainability and style to create a modern coastal sanctuary. The original Raupo Bay bach was built in the 1960s, and the architecturally reinvigorated home is full of thoughtfully integrated references to the bach’s history, including macrocarpa timber sourced from the owners’ family farm.
The result is a space that feels effortlessly modern, with nostalgic touches and a strong sustainability focus.
‘Red Lobster’ artwork from the original bach hangs in pride of place, an eye-catching homage to the home’s history.
The property evokes coastal luxury, with natural materials and rustic elements complemented by high-performance modern materials.
The upholstery throughout the bach exemplifies this approach, showcasing rich textures and vintage-inspired patterns in deceptively heavy-duty fabrics. The built-in furniture, designed for comfort and connection, is custom built from the same locally milled macrocarpa that lines the walls.
The squabs at the dining bench are upholstered in a combination of James Dunlop 'Waiheke Driftwood' and Osbourne & Little 'Hammock'.
The design is centred on the concept that “the things that make a place sustainable also make it restorative”. Sustainability was a key focus of the design: the bach is completely off-grid, insulated by locally sourced farm wool, and uses low-impact materials wherever possible.
To support this philosophy, Marmoleum was chosen as the main flooring material throughout the bach. Marmoleum is a climate-positive material, meaning its production reduces more CO2 emissions than it creates, without buying carbon credits. It’s also durable and low-maintenance, and the striking ‘Vivace’ pattern adds another textural element to the space.
Marmoleum Vivace provides a sustainable flooring option, without sacrificing visual impact.
Warm orange hues are woven throughout the interior, in reference to the ‘Red Lobster’ artwork and the vintage fishing buoys that hang in the kitchen. Custom-painted toekicks, orange upholstery accents, and deep terracotta splashback tiles are layered into a subtle, cohesive colour story.
Hanoi Burnt Red porcelain wall tiles from The Tile Company add depth and drama to the kitchen splashback.
The bathroom is a sophisticated demonstration of how the right tile choices can transform a space. The soft blue-grey hues of the bathroom feature tile, Coco Blue Grass Matt, are a refined reference to the bach’s coastal location.
Baldocer Dome floor and ceiling tiles capture the natural beauty of limestone, adding elegance to the space while maintaining the interior’s connection to nature.
Coco Blue Grass Matt and Dome Bone tiles pair beautifully in the bathroom.
It was a privilege to work on the Raupo Bay bach; the family history, sustainability focus and stunning coastal location mean this is a project we’ll remember fondly for a long time.
To bring your vision to life, book a design consultation with our team. We’ll listen to what you want to achieve, understand what matters to you, and create a space inspired by your story.
Discover this space in person — book your stay at Raupo.
