Akari House
The home of wellness writer Monique Hemmingson echoes the kind of conscious living that she advocates for on the daily.
Words: Cardia Speziale I Photography: Erin Cave I Architecture: Evoke Design I Interior Design: Monique Hemmingson I Build: Hopping Homes
‘I love the idea of retreating home to rest and reset so I like it to be calm and minimalist space. The interior palette is a reflection of this,’ says Monique Hemmingson.
An Isamu Noguchi Akari floor lamp and Sarah Ellison armchair.
The vision was to create a calm sanctuary to retreat in.
‘I am very conscious of what we bring into our home and ask what purpose it will serve. Because of this we try to choose quality over quantity and buy from responsible brands, thinking of the full life-cycle of something before purchasing it.’
‘I love Danish design and am delving deeper into Japanese design principals lately which are so beautiful and encompass soothing rituals and mindfulness too which I resonate with.’
‘I love the little glimpses the house offers; the view and smell of the cedar stair balustrade that ties into the same screen externally out the window in front of you or looking down the hall at the different textures of the entranceway brick wall and custom cedar front door as you arrive home.’
Monique Hemmingson is an author, writer, and wellness advocate. Having published two books; Wild Kinship, Conversations with Conscious Entrepreneurs, and Wild Kinship, The Makers, Monique’s passion for holistic health, design and travel are felt within every corner of her home.
Located in Mount Maunganui, just a five minute walk to the beach and nearby town, Akari House — the home of Monique, her husband James and their children Lulu, Auggie and (fur baby) Remy, is a testament to the lifestyle that she advocates for each day.
Built by husband James’ building company, Hopping Homes, with interior design by Monique herself, and architecture by her brother’s company, Evoke, Akari House is the forever home for this young family, looking to live more consciously, and in harmony with surrounding nature and their vibrant community.
‘We love our neighbourhood , it has a very locals vibe and is a five-minute walk to the beach so we can hear the waves and pop down easily and is also a short drive into Mount Maunganui town,’ says Monique. ‘We’re surrounded by young families in a similar stage of life who have become good friends, and a few lovely parks and coffee shops are right on our doorstep,’ she adds.
The family had purchased the property 2022, relocating and renovating the rundown existing bungalow while living in it, before subdividing the front of the section to build on and eventually move into last April. ‘Finding bare land in this area is really difficult as Mount Maunganui is a small peninsula, so if you want to build new, you usually need to create a space to do so,’ continues Monique.
With a vision to create a calm sanctuary to retreat in, while still serving a functional purpose to meet all the needs of their growing family, the space carries with it an air of mindfulness – aligning beautifully with Monique’s approach to everyday life.
Treading as lightly as possible, atheistically and sustainably, the home features a neutral palette with honest materiality; 90% of the exterior is made using Abodo timber classing, which is rapidly and sustainably grown and treated naturally in New Zealand, and known for its durability and longevity, which was an important consideration with the home existing within a coastal environment.
Inside, the light-filled space offers beautiful moments that speak to the family’s preferred way of living; such as in the main bedroom which opens up into the trees, the kitchen that invites guests to gather for food and conversation while remaining highly functional, the lush landscaping, outdoor garden hot-tub, and overall minimalist aesthetics, referencing Moniques love of Danish and Japanese design.
‘’It’s little moments throughout the house that I love. The way the linen curtains blow in the breeze, the Isamu Noguchi Akari lights glowing on a gloomy day, a cup of tea in front of the fire or sitting out in the vegetable garden to catch the morning sun, a moment alone (without clambering children) in the ensuite shower. A soak in the cedar hot tub in the garden or sitting out on the deck watching Lulu play in the yard beneath the trees,’ says Monique.
The beauty of the finished project rarely comes without some challenges along the way. Talking to the process and timing of the project overall, Monique reflects on a difficult time for their family when eldest daughter Lulu fell ill, having to spend time in and out of hospital, and then ‘hiding away’ at home to protect her compromised immune system. Reflecting on this time, Monique comments on the value of home as a sanctuary; ‘a challenging personal grievance made things a lot harder,’ she says. ‘It also however made our home all the more important to us — having a safe space to rest and recover within that felt calm, became even more of an asset and was very appreciated during that time,’ she adds.
‘The flooring is a beautiful wide panel French oak laid by our friends at Abstract Flooring, and the kitchen and bathroom cabinetry and office is Tasmanian Oak and crafted by local carpenters, Eastwood Kitchens.’
‘The small section of brickwork within runs from an external wall outside and was done to bring the outside in and visa-versa. ‘
‘My brother is the design manager at Evoke and turned my sketches into legitimate house plans. This project was our second build and second renovation, and we’ve worked with him each time. My husband is also the builder- each project is a family affair.’
“The emotions a space can evoke, how it flows and performs can have a huge impact on your nervous system. I wanted to take this into consideration throughout.”
‘I have a budding collection of beautiful original artworks, ceramic and sculptural pieces and stunning lamps/lighting that bring a lot of joy, along with very cherished books. Those items really make up the entirety of our decorating pieces.’
‘[I love] the way the oak flooring gives way to the bathroom tiles and the peak into the children’s bedrooms as you walk down the hall that offer a little whimsy.’
The home features a neutral palette with honest materiality—90% of the exterior is made using Abodo timber classing.
‘The landscaping has been big for us this build as we hadn’t put so much energy into it before. Watching the natives and fruit trees take root and flourish, grow over the entranceway pavers and flower is a big source of joy. I love spending time out in the yard.’