Sue Chetwin’s mid-century makeover

This modernised Auckland apartment is the ideal coastal backdrop for Sue Chetwin's creative collection. 

MAS Member Sue Chetwin transformed her 1960s clifftop Takapuna apartment into a stylish seaside sanctuary, and created a living gallery for her eclectic collection of New Zealand art. The coastal pad provides a perfect escape from the busy life of the former newspaper editor and Consumer NZ CEO.   

“I’m involved in all sorts of governance roles, which keep me challenged,” she shares. “From being on the board of Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the Financial Markets Authority, to a more recent appointment as a member of the Building Practitioners Board. I also chair the Fletcher Foundation, which is the investment arm of the super important charity Share My Super, set up by philanthropist Liz Greive, which is devoted to trying to alleviate child poverty.” 

Making the move to Auckland 

Sue purchased the Clifton Road property in 2005. “I’d sold my house in Herne Bay and was on my own and was looking at property everywhere.” A friend talked her into checking out what Auckland’s North Shore had to offer – a major move, as many citysiders will attest to – but one look at the place sealed the deal. “It was pretty tired back then, but the view was just everything. It’s a beautiful spot.” 

The penthouse takes up the entire third floor of the boutique block and savours spectacular views of Takapuna Beach, the Hauraki Gulf and the city skyline. Sue rented the apartment out during her time in Wellington as CEO of Consumer NZ, but eventually returned to Auckland, this time with husband John.  

“We were sick of the wind in Wellington and he’s a yachtie. It’s a yachting paradise here!” she says. “We started the renovation at the end of 2019 and, of course, Covid hit immediately. So the project that was meant to take 9 months ended up taking 2-and-half-years. But it was worth every second. We absolutely love it.” 

Inspired by the view 

Sue and John enlisted architect Conway Brooks to bring their vision to life: A nod to the apartment’s mid-century era, without being too minimalist. “I have lots of quirky stuff, so it’s a more French salon look and feel. I’ve been a bit of a collector over the years, and because the house now has so many windows it was hard squashing it all in, but I managed!” 

Everything was stripped back to maximise space, with the living and kitchen areas expanded and the couple’s bedroom reshaped to be orientated towards the water. The ever-changing outlook is a source of constant joy. “I quite often work from home and have to tell myself during the day, ‘look up Sue!’ There are boats of every shape and size, ships coming and going, all the islands and the storms rolling in, plus all the different light you see. In the summer, the huge pōhutukawa trees on the property are framed in our kitchen window and the red is stunning.” 

The interiors are crisp and coastal-inspired, with Resene paint on the walls and tongue and groove ceilings illuminating the rooms and enhancing the sense of space. “There’s not a single painted wall or ceiling that’s not Resene Black White. It’s so fresh and a great canvas for hanging paintings on,” says Sue.  

These are anchored by stunning European oak parquet flooring – a work of art in itself. “The team who did it said it would take 3 weeks, and 3 months later they were still finishing it! I love the big blocks and it’s not too dark or heavy.” 

Fired up about the finished product 

As for the suspended fireplace, Sue had seen one years ago in a magazine and stored the idea away for a future abode. “We decided on the ethanol burner (a fuel made from Chelsea Sugar Factory waste material) which sounded the most sustainable. We love it because it provides a nice warm glow in winter, and throws out a bit of heat too! It’s enough to keep the place warm through winter as the apartment’s very well insulated.” 

Dark wood panelling accentuates the main bedroom, kitchen and the hallway gallery. “The works in the hallway are by Robert McLeod, which I have owned for decades and love for the richness of colour; Jacqueline Fraser, who does these extraordinary works with plastic piping; and the Māori woman holding a patu – her facial expression and the colours and detail are superb – that’s by Harry Linley Richardson, an Englishman who ended up living, painting and teaching art in New Zealand.” 

Sue and John have customised their home to perfectly suit their needs and create the lock-and-leave bolthole of their dreams. “Everything in it has been built around our lifestyle and what we both wanted. We love water and the beach, and we very much enjoy having friends and family over and to stay. It also means if we want to walk out the door and travel, we can do that without hassle.” 

Sue’s top tips for budding renovators 

• Make haste slowly. The more time you spend at the start trying to get things right the better. 

• Set a budget – then double it! 

• If it’s a big job and you don’t live in the same city, get a project manager. 

• Choose an architect you can work with. That was invaluable to us. 

• Choose a builder carefully and make sure you shop around. 

• Renovations can be stressful – remember to breathe! 

Interior timber advice from Resene 

It’s easy to enhance or rejuvenate timber walls if they need a little more colour with Resene Colorwood wood stain. Apply directly to bare timber and finish in Resene Aquaclear Natural for a matte natural look, or make it more of a sleek finish in the higher gloss of Resene Aquaclear Gloss. If your timber is old and yellowing, refresh it with one of the colours from the Resene Colorwood We Speak Beach range. You can apply it over the top of the existing varnish – no stripping needed. 

For more colour ideas and inspiration, visit your local Resene ColorShop or use the free Resene Ask a Colour Expert service. Resene Black White is Resene's most popular shade of white and is ideal for a wide range of homes. See Resene’s top 20 colours at resene.com/top20. 

Are you house proud?  

We’d love to feature more Members with a passion for interiors in our ‘at home with Resene’ series. Email us at onmas@mas.co.nz. 

Finally got your home looking its best? Make sure your hard work is covered with MAS House Insurance. Get an estimate or talk to a MAS Advisor on 0800 800 627.