At Home with Abbe
Welcome to the at home with A&C series. Over the next little bit we will be showcasing the wonderful team at A&C & their beautiful homes and style.
To kick it off, this week we took a peek inside the home of one of our girl bosses, Abbe Vaughan. Long time friend of A&C Homestore and now Head of Brand/Buying, she shares with us her favourite pieces and corners of her Point Chev home in Auckland.
Tell us a little about you and your home and the people who live with you?
I’m Abbe, Mum to Delphina (9) and Xander (7) and wife to Damian, our home is in Pt Chevalier and we also share it with Aki our very sassy cat.
Our home is a renovated 1920’s bungalow with an open plan kitchen and living extension and a lovely big tropical backyard.
We used to live next door and had watched the previous owners painstakingly renovate the dark bungalow into an open, light and bright lovely home so when they put it on the market, during lockdown we jumped at the chance to buy it. It was the perfect next step for us and literally right over the fence.
We loved this home as it was a similar era and footprint to our first home which we had renovated and loved but had way more space – the large backyard and overall a more ‘grown up’ feel.
The house is white throughout, with a modern extension but retains the lovely Bungalow features in the doors and ceilings and one of my favourite spots in the house is the bench seat in the master with the stunning stain-glass purple windows, it’s my favourite spot to read with a coffee in the morning sun.
Since we moved, we have only needed to change a few things, we felt the master needed some work so we changed the door to a barn style door to give more space on the inside of the room and built in a custom bedhead – now we have space for a bedside table and things by the bed.
What’s the last thing you brought for your home?
The Liam Oak Coffee Table – we brought it in for this photoshoot and it never left.
Liam Oak Coffee Table - A&C Homestore
How would you describe your design style?
My style is minimal and a little eclectic and I adore the Japanese meets Scandinavian trend for its minimalist lines and warm and calming spaces. I love a tidy organised home and thankfully my daughter Delphi has taken after me and her favourite thing to do is to put on music and Marie Kondo her room, an amazing trait for a 9 year old.
I like to keep the colour of our walls light and add colour and texture into rooms with cushions and rugs – which also add warmth, most of the larger furniture in our house are neutral shades of greys and earthy tones of wood and greens and I love to bring colour in through smaller pieces like art and special ornaments I have collected over the years.
I also give the kids free reign to decorate their own rooms and I love seeing their little personalities coming through in their ‘interesting – not very mum’ choices.
Any advice for creating a home you love?
Surround yourself in the things that make you happy and smile. Your home is a place where you should feel most relaxed and comfortable and be unique to you.
Investing in art is something I love too.. Some of my most favourite items in our home is art, that our kids have made or others that have a story. I love the painting of a girls face that sits above my bed, I brought it at a market from a young girl who had painted it herself and I adore it.
Another prized possession is a large Sofia Minson painting that our friends jointly brought for Damian for his 40th birthday.
I love mixing things I have collected or been given over the years, all the things that have lovely memories attached to them.
When we used to travel more I used to buy a piece of art (in some shape or form) from every country we had visited, now we are sticking more local I have made this local ceramics or sculptural pieces, I’m a sucker for quirky ceramics, my favourite is a pretzel from Artist Alice Berry and a bottle of mermaid tears brought from an artist at a local market.
Home-made recipe stand – made by Delphi
Proudest DIY:
For our one year wedding anniversary (12 years ago!!) I made Damian a large piece of art which has all of our wedding songs, guest names and wedding vows on it. It’s a great reminder of the awesome day it was.
Fill the blanks:
The coolest place you’ve been to: Hartwood Restaurant in Tulum, Mexico – it sits on the edge of the jungle with the most incredibly fresh food caught on the day and then prepared over fire.
Best cup of coffee/tea is at: Ozone in Grey Lynn
Your go-to local eatery: Lillian in Grey Lynn or Blue Breeze Inn in Ponsonby, both for the outstanding Burrata, both magical dishes that are very different but equalling delicious.
Favourite interior account(s) to follow:
Alexander & CO - A team of clever Architects and Interior Designers based in Australia working on the most incredible projects.
reisingerandres - Andrés Reisinger is a digital artist based in Barcelona creating the most dreamy installations.
baunetz id– A German Interiors Magazine showcasing the most stunning interiors and design.
If you could bring back a fashion or home trend what would it be: Fondue dinner parties. Who is with me?
Finish this sentence: I’m currently loving ' Feijoas’ – Love this time of year to enjoy this polarising fruit.