Leading a double life may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it suits Karen and Phil Smith, the American owners of Lavender Cottage homestay, just fine.“Back in the States, we have a four lane highway near our home, says Phil. “But here, we love hearing the tuis and fantails, and we can’t step out the door without meeting someone we know.”
The couple hail from Arvada, Colorado and began holidaying in New Zealand when their adult children moved to Wellington. In 2001, their daughter suggested they buy a place, and on a whim took them to Greytown.
“Lavender Cottage was the first house we saw,” says Karen. “We just found it so charming and loved the idea of having an old settler’s cottage.” With four hours left before they were due at the airport for their return flight, they put in a bid. Two weeks later they owned the house and now it’s their home for several months each year and it’s available as self contained accommodation the rest of the time.
The couple have completely renovated the cottage, giving it all the comforts of the modern era, while retaining its period charm. It now has full insulation, a log burner, and is wired for high-speed internet.
Karen, who worked in interiors, has blended American colonial and New Zealand country style inside. The main cottage sleeps four people: there is a double room, with a period brass bed, and a twin room opposite. Distinctive throughout are luxurious linens, most of which Karen has sourced from the States. A cosy lounge adjoins the kitchen and formal dining room, complete with china dresser. French doors open out on a sunny, private deck, and the garden.
A recent addition is ‘Rosebud’, a generously sized double room and ensuite, built in keeping with the style of the cottage. It has a deck on two sides, making it a great sun-trap.
Through all this ‘progress’, the history of the 1870s cottage still means a lot to the couple: “We’ve kept the compass marks on the totara panelling in the living room, which must have been made by children years ago, and we often sit here and wonder what happened within these walls.”
“We really feel we’re part of a global community with the cottage here and the house in Denver,” says Phil. “And hopefully we are contributing too.”
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