It was love at first sight, but Jaron Mumby acknowledged the object of his desire was simply out of his reach. So, he put those thoughts at the back of his mind and got on with life.
He met Hannah, they married, started a business together, had their first child and were expecting their second. It was then that he brought Hannah to see what he had been unable to dismiss from his mind for over a decade.
Jaron was introduced to the Oceanside sub-division in 2015, when he was contracted to create the brand and design work.
“I stood on the platforms at various vantage points when it was just bare land and you just fall in love with it.”
It had everything — “the ocean, the golf course, the proximity to town and the Coastal Walkway, it was just perfect.”
With only 16 exclusive, large-format sections, all over 1,100m2, he realised that owning one of these premium, coastal-view sections was something he couldn’t financially achieve.
He did join the golf club though and watched the section he dreamed of from afar for another six years.
In 2020, not long after their second child came along, they realised they would need a bigger house with a section. He took Hannah to see Oceanside and she fell in love with it too, but without really believing that building here would be a realistic option.
“But something burns in the back of your mind and we started thinking ‘how can we make it work?”
“We’d come out and visit the site and do the sums, and always talk ourselves out of it. We came out for a fourth time with the agent, pretty much to say goodbye to it.”
But Hannah and Jaron didn’t call their business ‘Favour the Brave’ for nothing.
“Jaron drove out the gate on that last visit, stopped the car, looked at me and said ‘we’re doing it’,” Hannah recalls, “and I was like ‘OK, let’s go’.”
“Every golfer that plays Ngamotu cannot wait to get on the 13th tee because that’s the best spot on the course. You just have this panoramic view from the maunga to the ocean and you just go ‘wow!’.” The Mumby’s house is just to the side of that vista.
THE VISION
“Both Hannah and I grew up around the coast so we’re used to having open spaces and living in close proximity to the ocean. We love our sports and being outdoors, and with having two young boys, this was very much a lifestyle decision. We could see how our family would thrive in a spot like this.”
They paid the deposit and finished the renovations they had been doing on their current house. Their two boys were under three and this was also during the covid-era, so there was a lot of uncertainty around everything.
The house sold within four days, for the price they needed, and they found a rental property to live in while they designed and built their new home.
“We wanted to bring through some of those mid-century vibes,” says Hannah. “We love the homes from the 60s, they’re simple, functional and grounded. Being on the coast we also knew it had to be durable, but wanted to balance that with a sense of softness.
“We wanted it to be a place of calm, almost like a bach. Every time we walked through the door, we wanted it to feel like a deep breath.”
That meant open living spaces, indoor/outdoor living and hard-wearing surfaces. A higher stud height adds to that airy open feeling.
“We had a vision for the build and had a great design done, that we fell in love with, but when we priced it, it was out of our reach.”
Again, they had to rethink things to figure out how they were going to make it work.
Initially all the advice they received was that single-level homes are more cost effective, so that was all they looked at for their design.
“But we kept thinking ‘are we missing a trick?’. The view from an upstairs aspect would be spectacular. The initial design had our work studio out the back with no views. We started to imagine having that space upstairs,” says Jaron.
“Because we both work from home we needed office space but we wanted to make it multi-purpose so it doubles as a guest room with a kitchenette and bathroom.”
It also has its own access.
Upstairs the tiles used in the kitchenette were inspired by some Portuguese ones that would have cost a fortune to import. “Blair from Company of Tiles had these two variations and we created our own pattern using them, to get the same effect, minus the shipping cost!”
The view from the deck upstairs.
They pushed and pulled from other areas to save costs and make the office with a view achievable.
An internal courtyard was one main feature that didn’t survive the cull.
“It was lovely, but all the joinery around it and water proofing would have come at an expense, so it was one of the things we had to give up.”
Instead they have a separate living room and the couple now realise they have ended up using it far more than they probably ever would have used the proposed courtyard.
This space is light and inviting — it can be used as a reading space, a music room, a second lounge, kids’ hangout or a games room.
A separate laundry was also sacrificed and is now integrated in the double garage, plus a golf cart bay for when one is finally added to the family fleet.
“My goal is to spend as little time in the laundry as possible, so I didn’t need a special room for a washing machine,” says Hannah.
There is no elaborate walk-in wardrobe in the master suite but the resulting ‘Walldrobe’ has been made into a feature and the couple are delighted with the result.
They ended up with floor space of 252m2.
THE BUILD
“We found a really good builder in Kaleb Nolly. He was flexible in terms of how we could make this project work and really understanding of where we were at.”
Jaron took on the role of Project Manager.
“It’s a huge undertaking — especially when you’re working full-time and you have two young kids. This was one of the hardest years of my life, without a doubt.”
Post covid, prices for materials were volatile and availability tenuous which added stress and uncertainty to the budget.
“All our landscaping money went into feed those extra costs, as it does.”
The driveway had to be postponed as well as the decks, pergolas and breeze block walls, until the couple had built up the funds to afford them.
“You have to keep adapting, evolving and problem solving. There’s a real sense of achievement when you tick off something you’ve been waiting a long time for, though.”
Then Hannah tore her knee ligaments and could no longer help out on site.
“I had a few lonely times out here. I was working hard in my day job, then spending every other moment out here cleaning, labouring, organising.
“We were also researching all the finishes and everything we wanted to use — tapware, tiles, cabinetry, lighting, all that stuff.”
Jaron also hadn’t figured how torturous it would be to work on the site with the temptation to ‘skive off’ all around.
“I remember turning up on days where the surf was perfect out the front, or you’d see your friends playing golf, and I’d just have to stay focused.”
The build itself only took nine months, with the family moving in Labour Weekend 2023. But it’s taken another two years to finish off all the projects on their to-do list.
SIDEBAR – A Lesson from Green School
There was another aspect of the build that added more labour, but was incredibly rewarding to do.
“Because of our involvement with Green School (Favour the Brave did the graphic design and marketing through the initial launch and build), we knew how little waste went to landfill when they first built the school. So we followed a lot of their principles and only sent two small skip bins of waste to landfill.”
At the end of each day they’d go through the skip and take out anything that could be recycled and any material that could be re-purposed was stored.
“That became our sustainable mission through the build process.”
From those saved materials they were able to build a garden shed, a treehouse for the boys and add bits and pieces throughout the house and garden like the recently completed fire pit.
“It was rewarding to do and at the end when Jaron’s done all these projects, it adds that extra special element of achievement and it means more.”
THE EXTERIOR
Built to take on the ocean and the wind, the house sits solid and staunch at its commanding 1350m2 site at the top of the hill as you enter the Oceanside development.
The front of the section faces the sweeping views down to the Coastal Walkway and surf break.
At the rear of the section are a stand of pine trees that offer shelter from the southerlies and a demarcation line between the house and Ngamotu Links’ 12th hole.
A curtilage area defines where each house can be built on each section at Oceanside.
“Each of these lots is designed to ensure that everyone maintains their views,” explains Jaron. “You can build up to 80% of your curtilage area. This means view shafts are maintained. It’s a really well-thought out development.”
Clad in dark Weathertex and a pale clay emperor brick, the Eco-ply beneath ensures no draughts throughout the home and adds to its effective insulation.
The main deck sits to the western side of the house, connected to the living/dining area and galley kitchen with glass sliders to view the stunning sunsets and mountain vista.
The landscaping they have dubbed ‘modern Mexican’ with strategically placed cacti and small rounded river stones, is softened by hardy coastal grasses and a stretch of lawn for family sports.
Mark from Scapes and Spaces did the hard landscaping, and the Mumby’s planted most of it outfollowing a plan designed by Sean Parker.
“We went a bit rogue on some of the planting, as some of our original plants died, but stuck pretty much to the plan,” the couple confess. “There’s a bit of trial and error that goes on up here.”
An outdoor shower is well-utilised when coming back from the beach, while artificial turf in the sheltered play area at the back ensures a soft surface for bare feet, no prickles and no mowing or weeding.
“You can still bounce a basketball on it too,” demonstrates Hannah.
A well-utilised hidden trampoline sits alongside a veggie garden and an array of fruit trees.
“We’ve tried to utilise every bit of space that we have.”
The breeze block walls and pergola finish off the house and provide screening from the sun and wind, while providing that mid-century vibe.
“We’re so lucky that Cole at the Bloc Group in Egmont Village casts his own breeze blocks. It’s always great to use local where you can.”
The shed door was a real find — $50 off Market Place.
“It’s a reminder of our roots on the Taranaki coast,” Jaron says of the etched glass image.
THE INTERIOR
Originally thinking the house would have sliding doors and a deck at the very front of the house,
gift vouchers for a weekend at Ahu Ahu Beach Villas changed their minds.
“We spent most of our time there lying on the bench seats in the living area.”
When the house design came back with bench seats and sliding windows they decided to run with it.
“When these windows are open your indoor space connects to the outdoor with the sea breeze coming through. It is my favourite thing about the house,” says Hannah, “especially the storage underneath those seats.”
There are drawers all along the length of the bench seat and each member of the family has their own one to store various paraphernalia. Photo albums, toys, games, books, magazines are all easily accessible and quick to put away again, maintaining that all-important aura of calm.
Sam Elliott from Studio Elliott designed the bench seat and the kitchen, plus the layout of the laundry and bathrooms. Sustainability and an organic way of living sit at the heart of her belief that a harmonious home enhances well-being, much like good nutrition supports health.
Hannah took the lead researching materials.
“Texture was important, especially because we went with a very muted, calming palette.”
Inspiration came via magazines, scrolling on social media and researching online.
Polished concrete floors feature throughout the living area, acting as a heat sink.
“We wanted a house that would be warm throughout the year and the underfloor heating was one of the things we didn’t want to compromise on,” says Jaron.
The Steibel Eltron system from Premier Heating offers heating (and cooling in summer) and keeps the whole house a steady 22 degrees — even the garage, which has also been carpeted. They have noticed they are all less susceptible to colds, coughs, flu, earache and the like, since moving in.
A curved kitchen island ensures no trips to the emergency room with little heads as the children grow, and spares adult hips too.
There are extra storage cupboards along the front of the island and all the appliances are integrated with the joinery.
“Sam designed the kitchen really well in terms of functionality. I actually enjoy cooking and even cleaning up now,” says Hannah.
A walk-through scullery from the garage makes it easy to unpack and store groceries.
“It just creates a really liveable flow.”
Let there be light — Reeded glass features throughout the house, adding to that mid-century?feel, and echoing the vertical lines from the Laminex panelling in the living area. The dappled light adds tranquility and allows transferred light to the media room and the hallway beyond.
Resin Handles from Sally at The Arc Dept.
“I love all our curtains from RJ Eagar — they did a great job.” The recessed tracks are another feature that help create a feeling of calm uncluttered living.
THE SLEEPING QUARTERS
The three bedrooms sit on the southern side of the house, with the main bedroom cleverly positioned at the western end so that Jaron and Hannah are greeted with a view of the sea as soon as they wake up. A lower stud height and lush textured carpeting imbues a cosy feeling to the sleeping quarter.
The boys’ rooms offer floor to ceiling views to the garden out the back, letting in plenty of light and adding to the overall feeling of space throughout the home.
Built-in wardrobes (with internal drawers at just the right height) and a homework desk line a wall in each.
Warm, light and spacious, the family bathroom is another sanctuary — not a nightly battleground to be endured. No door on the shower keeps cleaning to a minimum and curves in the detailing contribute to the cohesive curvature throughout. Sanotirini Beige mosaic tiles line all of the walls in what was a mammoth task for tiler, Dave Casey. “He did an amazing job of laying such a tricky little tile.”
Throughout the home, favourite wedding photos have been enlarged and framed, sitting alongside local artworks the pair have collected over the years.
Every well thought-out aspect of this house, as well as the compromises, contribute to the calm and comfortable holiday vibe the couple were chasing.
They are grateful for everyone they met along the way who helped pull their vision together. Everything they learned from the experience makes them feel better equipped to do it again — at some stage in the very distant future, they hasten to add.
They often spend summer evenings wandering around Oceanside, looking at the remaining sites and brainstorming about what they could do. As creatives, they can’t help it! They believe they have built in one of the best spots in the city and can’t imagine building anywhere else.
“You look across towards town and all you hear are the ocean, birds and the occasional tee shot.
“We don’t believe there’s a more perfect spot for us to be right now.”
“The en suite floor tiles from Eco Outdoor, laid by local tiler Dave Casey, were a must for Hannah.
With an organic feel, they both love the way the feeling you get when walking over them.
A skylight over the shower gives the feel of showering outside, but without the lack of privacy.
Tiles just inside the bedroom sliders help negotiate the transition from outdoor to indoor.
NEW HOUSE, NEW LIFE
Having a new home has also resulted in another huge lifestyle change for the Mumbys.
After designing LIVE Magazine for 20 years, Jaron is embarking on a new career as a real estate agent, with good friend Glenn Green at Harcourts Team Green. This issue of Live will be the last one he does as he seeks to forge another career away from graphic design and strategic marketing planning.
“It comes with a certain amount of anxiety but … favour the brave,” he grins.
For wife Hannah, she’ll still be writing for LIVE and continuing various projects for Favour the Brave and Smokeylemon.