Central Ruru Retreat.

Tucked into the gentle folds of the New Zealand countryside, Central Ruru Retreat is a thoughtfully transformed self-contained cottage designed for short-term guests and the future comfort of elderly parents. The purpose was to craft a space that feels both welcoming and practical—a place to eat, rest, sleep, and bathe with ease, while maintaining a strong visual and emotional connection to the surrounding garden and birdlife, including the namesake Ruru (morepork owl) whose call gently echoes at dusk.

The client’s objective was to breathe new life into an existing cottage by updating its interior to reflect natural beauty, durability, and comfort. The design had to support independent living with zones for meal preparation, dining, relaxation in wool-covered preloved armchairs, sleeping, and bathing. Key values included a respect for nature, minimal environmental impact, and a desire to retain original features where possible, such as timber floors and windows, which were repaired and insulated. All purchase decisions considered landfill impact, which meant durability and end of life disposal were important to the client.

Informed by both practical needs and emotional resonance, the design strategy prioritised removing barriers—literal and visual. Doors that restricted flow were taken out to open the space, while mirrors enhanced light and gave a sense of expansiveness. The kitchen area was reimagined for simplicity and efficiency, housing a fridge, plug-in induction cooktop, sink, and storage making it possible to prepare your own meals. Zoning was achieved through carefully chosen floor rugs made from recycled plastic bottles, and soft furnishings created a rhythm inspired by the colours in William Morris’s Pomegranate bed linen. Deep teals, warm reds, and thoughtful blues echo the bedlinen’s palette while offering a bold alternative to Scandinavian minimalism.

This retreat embodies sustainable, small-space living. It includes a heat pump for quick and efficient heating or cooling, ensuring comfort year-round. Lighting is layered, including wall-mounted fittings, a preloved floor lamp with new shade, for ambience. Fabrics include natural wool and linen, aligning with the client’s values of chemical-free, durable materials. Storage challenges, in a compact bathroom, were resolved with a mirrored cabinet and vanity drawers. Clothes storage allows for both hanging and folded garments. Where possible we recommended forms with soft, round edges to be kinder with bumps in the night on the body and add soothing rhythm elements.

Central Ruru Retreat questions how much space we truly need to live well. It moves away from impersonal, uniform aesthetics and instead embraces richness—pattern on textiles, texture on floors, and colour that reflects the depth of the natural world outside. It is both elevated and grounded: refined in detail, but humble in purpose. The result is a space that doesn’t just meet practical needs, but invites guests to slow down, nestle in, and take in the birdsong, with 13 stunning lakes and a magnificent redwood forest just a short drive away.

This is a place of comfort, care, and quiet beauty—designed with both heart and foresight.