Feature article

A colour - loving couple find solace in the seaside Wellington suburb of Seatoun

A colour-filled Seatoun home showcases bold dopamine decorating, art, and playful family living by the seaside.

Homestyle
Last updated: 20 May 2026 | 4 min read
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Interior designer Karla Devine of House Party Interiors transformed her Seatoun home with bold "dopamine decorating". The sun-filled 1940s house was chosen for its open-plan layout and community feel.

Major renovations included double glazing, central heating, and a redesigned kitchen with The Joinery Shop. The upstairs was reconfigured into a main suite, and a new laundry and internal garage access were added. The home showcases playful colour pairings and curated art, creating a joyful seaside family retreat.

An addition to the original floorplan accommodates the dining, family room and kitchen. “I designed and had the rangehood custom-made to the exact size of the Soap tiles by Kaufmann Keramik via The Tile People,” says Karla. “I’d seen these tiles a couple of years earlier and couldn’t forget them.”

At the heart of the family room, looking out over the back garden, is a Ballerina table from Goldsworthy Studio with Gubi Coco dining chairs brought back from London. On the wall hangs a Gordon Walters artwork from Webb's.

Karla and her two children Paloma and Peggy reading stories on a BoConcept Camo sofa in the lounge. Behind them is a Rob Tucker painting.

A painting by Bruce Treloar is from the International Art Centre in Auckland and hangs above a custom console made by Advanced Tile & Stone. Eclectic finds such as an Eclette recycled cardboard vase bought in Melbourne, Seletti ceramic hand sculpture, and a vase made by Sophie Alda from A New Tribe in London, are just some of the couple’s many collected treasures.”

Topcer matte wall tiles from Tile Warehouse are paired with Mutina Mattonelle Margherita floor tiles from European Ceramics. Duomo Piccolo wall sconces by Nightworks Studio flank the mirrored cabinet imported from the US and are positioned above a custom-made vanity by Karla, topped with sinks from Nood Co.

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