- Designer Holly Houndstooth bought and renovated a Taupō bach after missing out on her dream home.
- She transformed the 1950s property with her partner, giving it a Kiwiana and nautical vibe.
- The couple are selling to buy a coastal property in Ōhope for a better work-life balance.
When Taupō interior designer Holly Houndstooth missed out on buying her dream home by $100,000, she decided to switch tactics.
Start your property search
Houndstooth told OneRoof that she immediately returned to her office after the disastrous auction and started looking for properties that had been on the market the longest.
The first listing to pop up on her feed was an ex-rental at 1/156 Spa Road, in central Taupō. The three-bedroom, one-bathroom 1950s bach had been on the market for six months – unusual for a listing in 2021 at the height of the post-Covid property boom.
“It was so ugly, and everything was beige. Everyone thought we were crazy, and we just bought it.”
Everything in the home has been replaced, including the kitchen. Photo / Supplied
The couple gave the house a relaxed vibe, leaning heavily into their love of Kiwiana. Photo / Supplied
However, Houndstooth and her partner Brett Cameron thought they could bring the property back to life. The fact that it came with a fireplace and had a secure backyard for their two English bulldogs was a bonus.
They paid $525,000 for the home and wasted no time making it their own, ripping out a “ghastly” blue carpet and the curtains as soon as they took possession.
Houndstooth drew on her obsession with Kiwiana to give the house a relaxed bach vibe. “I just love the look and style of it.”
She admitted the best thing about doing the project was that she could change her mind midway through, and that’s exactly what happened. “It kind of took a big nautical turn. I didn’t own boat oars when we bought the house.”
Discover more:
- Rich-lister's exclusive lakefront home hits the market for well over $5m
- Why beachfront properties in this town are selling for half the price
- Whitianga's fanciest 'shed' sells for $571K for second time in three months
The couple, who did a lot of the work themselves, built a new deck, installed French doors to create an indoor-outdoor flow, and renovated the kitchen and bathroom.
Houndstooth is proud of her creation, which recently featured in NZ House and Garden. “Every time I drive down that driveway, no matter what’s going on in my life, I just smile. It makes me so happy,” she told OneRoof.
She said the couple were selling up to buy a coastal property in Ōhope in order to get a better work-life balance. “The ultimate goal is at 3pm on a Friday we jump in the car, hoon up to the beach, mow the lawns and then sit down for a beer. That’s my dream life.”
She added: “If we could just lift that house and take it to the beach, we would.”
Master carver Des Baker’s retreat at 11 Frederick Street, in Taupō, is for sale following his death. Photo / Supplied
The 1970s property is being pitched to those looking to add their own touch. Photo / Supplied
1/156 Spa Road is heading to auction on February 13, but those looking for a home with personality and verve are spoilt for choice in Taupō right now, with the home of famed master bone carver Des Baker also up for grabs, at 11 Frederick Street, in nearby Two Mile Bay.
The three-bedroom 1970s gem was Baker’s workshop for decades, and where he created his unique sculptures. Baker died in 2020, and his surviving family has put the property on the market for sale.
Des’s son Mitch Baker, a painter, told OneRoof the home had inspired his dad and, more recently, himself.
“It kind of reflects two generations of work, so it’s got some nice history behind it,” Mitch said.
“It’s an original quarter-acre section and it still is. We haven’t subdivided it or anything like that.”
The downstairs had been converted into a private timber-lined bar, dubbed the Armoury, where Des used to showcase his work to clients away from the family home.
Mitch and his wife had been living in the home for two years following his dad’s death in 2024 and had decided it was time to sell and downsize.
“It’s a big property, and really I’m putting it on the market because it’s a developer’s dream.”
Harcourts listing agent Ellie-Jane said it would also suit buyers looking for a “Bohemian lakeside haven” or a home they can “reinvent”.
- Click here to find more properties for sale in Taupō
