The refined interiors of this luxury lodge have one thing at their core, spectacular design with aroha – achieved by Two Birds Design and Archimatter.

WORDS Kathy Catton PHOTOGRAPHY Peter Rees

NOTHING BEATS TIMBER Timbers of New Zealand were the perfect choice for the wood flooring, ceiling and exterior cladding of Kaitiaki Lodge.

There’s something quite different about designing a luxury lodge. It’s not just about creating ‘bling’ and using super-sized furniture. It’s more about a state of mind or a feeling that is created, so that guests have a sense of being immediately at home with the distinct belief that living is easy.

Kath Preston and Jackie Stenberg are the masterminds behind the interiors of this gracious Waiheke Island residence known as Kaitiaki Lodge.

TWO BIRDS DESIGN Interior designers Kath and Jackie created the functionality and beauty behind all of the interiors of this luxurious lodge.

“It was during the first Covid-19 lockdown that we started to throw ideas around and figure out how we could work together,” says Jackie. “Kath has over 16 years of experience in interior design, and I’ve been doing home staging and working in the flooring industry, so it was a great blend of our different skills.”

Armed with business plans and plenty of creativity, Two Birds Design was founded, and the two got to work on establishing their brand and building a client base.

“We decided to take a stand at the home show in Christchurch in 2021, and it’s here that we met Nathan, owner of the Kaitiaki Lodge,” says Kath. “Nathan approached us and said he was looking for an interior designer for his home. He’d seen our work on Instagram, and he liked what he saw.”

Nathan had bought the 10-acre bare site while living in Tokyo. Being so far from home and living in such a big city, he was yearning for a piece of New Zealand he could call his own.

“I had visited Waiheke Island in 2014 and loved the mixture of white sand beaches, extensive native bush and wonderful community,” says Nathan. “When I saw this land on TradeMe, I knew I had to view it.” Fast-forward just a few months, and Nathan had completed the purchase.

The pandemic made it the perfect time for Nathan to return to our shores and dive into the project of creating a luxury lodge. “My uncle is an experienced property developer, so with his expertise and support behind me, I felt confident we could build something truly special.”

And special it is. The lodge is a five-bedroom abode with stunning views across the Hauraki Gulf. As the Ma¯ori name ‘kaitiaki’ suggests, there’s a sense of being held and nurtured when you arrive here. With a swimming pool and spa, and set on three separate levels, the consented 260 square metre lodge is incredibly efficient with space while also allowing for 10 guests to comfortably stay.

LUSH UNDERFOOT All the Bremworth carpets in the home are made in New Zealand with 100% NZ wool and create a luxurious feel in the lodge.

Nathan worked with Leon Bieldt from Archimatter to design the contemporary home perched high up on the land.

“Nathan contacted me with a brief of creating a modern wood cabin or bach, without compromising on luxury. He supplied some ideas of homes he liked,” says Leon. “I like this approach of working together with the client as a team, rather than the designer dictating their personal style onto the client. Nathan has impeccable taste, so I felt comfortable that such a collaborative process would yield a successful project.”

Leon from Archimatter is conscious of the budget constraints of all homeowners in the current climate and says he works collaboratively to ensure a realistic outcome. “It’s a balance between architectural style and project cost. Simple design is essential, but the key is to avoid it being banal or boring.”

Far from boring, this home has two primary materials for the construction design. “With the material supply chain drama unfolding during construction, we had to be flexible in our choice of wood and roofing,” says Leon. “We settled on South Island Macrocarpa for the ceiling and exterior cladding with Colorcote Horoeka for the roof.”

What’s also exquisite in the design of this home is how the terrace plan form was used. Leon explains more, saying, “Given the steep slope of the section, the terrace plan form was selected so the lower level projects forward of the upper level. This allowed the lower-level roof to become the outdoor living deck of the upper level.” Even the introduction of the pool lends itself perfectly to a third lower terrace.

Overcoming these supply and construction challenges with ease and grace is another aspect that stands this lodge apart. Nathan comments that Leon was “a dream to work with” and highlights his professionalism, hard-working nature and his wonderful eye for detail. “Everyone from the planners to the builders commented on the quality and accuracy of his architectural plans.”

Meanwhile, Kath and Jackie set to work immediately on their brief. They were involved in all aspects of the interior design, including looking at plans, making suggestions for the layout and consulting on the design of the kitchen. Their brief from Nathan was to create a natural, organic feel to the home. In a sense, it was about bringing the forest and bush inside. The pair were tasked with sourcing flooring, paint colours, soft furnishings, tiles, lighting and all the finishings of the home.

The extensive natural wood flooring and ceiling create an instant canvas for the other features. “Nathan wasn’t a big fan of white, so we worked hard to create a colour palette that spoke to the lush natural environment and gave the home a really warm and cosy feel,” says Kath.

Of particular note is the burnt black timber down the stairwell, a traditional Japanese practise of charring the cladding to provide a beautiful and long-lasting timber. “The different textures are beautiful and give a really earthy feel to the home,” says Jackie.

TIMELESS TILES The More Grigio and Materia Deep tiles in the downstairs bathrooms were supplied by Brymac Tiles and give a luxe feel to the home.
WONDERFUL TAPS All tapware was supplied by Unico/Waterware and sparkles with luscious lines and styles.

In addition, the Neolith Amazonico Slate mossy green benchtop looks almost like pounamu and encapsulates the dark and mysterious tones representing the dense forest floor that surrounds the property.

“We worked through the three-month lockdown that Auckland and Waiheke experienced,” says Jackie. “Although we couldn’t physically source products in Auckland ourselves, we took the opportunity to gather fabric samples and carry out extensive research into colours, products and materials.”

This research is important to Kath and Jackie in all their projects. “We like to do work that’s not so run of the mill – whether that’s introducing new materials or working with a style that is a little bit edgy,” says Kath. “That’s how we see our design expertise: providing something a little bit unexpected that surprises and delights the client.”

Nathan concurs with Kath and Jackie and comments on what a pleasure they both were to work with. “They both bring their own unique styles to the design process and know exactly how to make everything pop,” says Nathan. “Kath has a wealth of experience in the hotel and rental industry, which was invaluable in creating a functional yet luxurious feel in the lodge. Jackie has such a wonderful eye for adding the right textures and elements to make a room feel warm and inviting.”

Both women care deeply about getting a great result on whatever project they are working on, and certainly went over and above to find the perfect touches in this home.

For example, the downstairs media room has lush textured wallpaper which has the sense of bringing the bush inside. There is incredible thought given to the introduction of some beautiful New Zealand artworks in the home. In every room there is reference to the native bush outside. The wallpaper has tropical foliage textures and themes, or in other rooms such as the powder room, it adds that nod to luxury with gold-coloured wallpaper.

DETAILED DESIGN A statement in contemporary luxury and full of beautiful design details, the Neo sofa and Seymour chair were supplied by King.

Much of the furniture was sourced from King. Kath and Jackie chose this supplier due to their contemporary looks and attention to detail. “King has some clever designs in its products, like putting in extra hidden storage or wireless charging for devices. They also have a great range of fabrics at a good price point,” says Kath.

The bedrooms are the only rooms where white paint was used to create a backdrop of peaceful and quiet environments. The pair used earthy colours and themes of trees in the cushions, throws and bed covers. The ensuite is finished in black, at Nathan’s request, and macrocarpa was used for the vanity slabs.

“The Kaitiaki Lodge was built with love at its core. Everyone who has participated in the design and construction of this lodge was chosen for their passion and love of what they do,” says Nathan, owner of the lodge.

“I love that there are so many different spaces to enjoy here. At a recent dinner event, we had a guest resting in their room, another watching the rugby in the media room, someone cooking dinner in the kitchen and my partner and me on the deck next to the fireplace. Most guests comment that they fall in love with the house more and more as their stay goes on.”

This high-end home delivers on comfort, quality, detail and sophistication. It is this refined appearance that makes the design so appealing. It will surely create a unique experience for the guests who stay there.