Milking cows is not something Wayne Good ever imagined he’d do, but life in the country suits this former chef and interior designer whose creativity is transforming a quiet rural block north of Hamilton.

Words Kim Newth  Photos Helen Bankers

Just past Gordonton village I reach my destination, turning left by a small olive grove to arrive at a dark-painted barn where graceful perennials gently nod in the morning sun. To my left is a gorgeous country bungalow, with another old building next to it linked by a deck, surrounded by beautiful hedges and flower gardens. It all looks very settled and peaceful.

Wayne Good comes out to greet me, and as we head over to the barn, he fills me in on the history of his home and ever-evolving business, Arkanda Living & Antiques. Five years ago, the barn was a grey, unpainted tractor shed and there was nothing else here but open paddocks and grazing stock. The 1940s bungalow is a former air force house from Hobsonville, purchased for $1 as a relocatable dwelling in a very rundown state and trucked down in two pieces in early 2020, just before the first Covid-19 lockdown. Now fully renovated, it is Wayne’s home where he also hosts cooking classes and demonstrations. The other building, currently used for storage, is a former school classroom that was moved here at the same time.

We step into the barn and into a wonderland of antique furniture, ceramics, glassware, paintings, clocks and books. The former dusty old barn, which used to be open along one side, has been closed up, tidied and relined to create an uplifting space for displaying antiques. ‘I’ve always loved antiques and then this opportunity came out of the blue,’ explains Wayne. ‘When this place came up, I thought why not take it on as a project. Then Covid happened, but the silver lining is, it gave time for sourcing and buying all the stock I needed.’

A recycler at heart, Wayne abhors waste and has long seen value in old things. Part of the fun for him is researching items and piecing stories together. For example, items like early 19th-century porcelain don’t come with maker marks. ‘So, you have to look at the shape of the handle, that sort of thing. Working it all out is hugely interesting and I’m constantly learning.’

Wayne’s love for antiques started in childhood during family visits to his grandparents’ home in Takapuna and that passion blossomed further during his subsequent career as an interior designer. ‘Nana was gorgeous; everything was always perfect and there were a lot of beautiful things in their house.’

France also loomed large in Wayne’s young life. He first travelled there as a 10-year-old boy to visit family and has been back countless times since. He regularly takes small group tours to France to share his love of French heritage, food and culture. Travel in itself is a huge passion for Wayne, who has also taken tours to Spain and Portugal in recent years.

His first career was as a professional chef but ultimately the experience of running his own café in Auckland left him feeling jaded and in need of a fresh start. Enrolling in a decorating and design course at Whitecliffe, taught by designer Kerry Darke, paved the way to a second career as an interior designer in the Waikato, where he moved in 1995.

‘In my first life in the Waikato, I ran a business from my villa in Cambridge for 17 years, doing interior designing, cooking demos and trips to France, Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia and China. Eventually, I reached a point where I needed some time out, so ran a soft-furnishing department for several years.

‘Now I’ve started again. I have a silent partner in this business and also work on his farm, milking six days a week in the season. Last year I was involved in calving too!’

After exploring Wayne’s antiques barn, I’m excited to see how he has transformed the relocatable house. He remembers seeing it for the first time on a wet day with rain coming through the ceiling, but says it had a lovely feeling from the start.

Getting it how he wanted took eight months. Wayne employed a builder to gut the house, put in new insulation, repair damage, reconfigure rooms and make the necessary alterations. The roof came as a separate piece and had to be put back in place and redone.

Wayne’s years as a chef, traveller, interior decorator and collector of art and antiques all come together in this characterful home. A former bedroom is now a stylish country kitchen, where he regularly hosts intimate cooking classes and demonstrations. A large mirror suspended over a stainless-steel bench enables participants to see what he’s doing. Wayne has eclectic tastes in all things, including cuisine. Whether it’s making Portuguese tarts or pasta, he aims to make cooking fun and achievable for people from all walks of life.

The French influence is everywhere, from a gorgeous French dining table and 18th-century French country dresser to various French porcelain pieces and an armoire in Wayne’s bedroom. Many paintings in the kitchen and formal lounge area – through to the hall hung like a gallery – were sourced from dealers in France.

Wayne is an avid art collector of New Zealand art too, with works by Gaston De Vel, Garth Tapper and Shona McFarlane adding interest and delight.

There’s a harmonious blend of eras throughout, from Edwardian era wing chairs, a Victorian sofa and a beautiful Charles II era oak sideboard to modern blinds made from a bargain roll of linen. A Georgian grandfather clock quietly ticks in the hall. Nearby is a smaller clock that once stood in Wayne’s grandparents’ home. ‘I can tell you about everything here – where it came from and what I love about it.’

Bed drapery in the guest room again reflects the French influence. Alongside are French lithographs. There’s an old photo of Wayne’s grandfather above the bed and, on the opposite wall, framed textiles from various trips. A gold-painted chair contrasts pleasingly with walls of soft blue (Porter’s Paints, First Light). ‘I love colour and texture and using them in interesting ways so that everything sits in harmony.’

In Wayne’s bedroom – formerly kitchen/dining – a wall was pushed out to create more space for his bed. This impeccably decorated room has a lovely rural outlook. Designers Guild wallpaper in the adjacent bathroom features garden florals. His pet dogs Barney – ‘our company mascot’ – together with partner in crime Holly have their beds in this end of the house too.

Along the hall from the guest room, an old timber door – from Egypt – opens onto a deck and outdoor dining area with beautiful flower-garden views.

It is a haven for bees and a feast for the eyes, complemented by a fragrant herb garden and fast-establishing trees. ‘I got a landscaper in to help me achieve what I wanted as I had never gardened at this scale before.’ A thriving orchard of plums, peaches, citrus fruit, apples, figs and feijoas produces a seasonal bounty, much of it used in Wayne’s cooking classes.

In a paddock by a shed made from recycled materials are Clementine, a rescue pig, and Humphrey, a Kunekune, basking in the sun and keeping a sleepy eye on the antics of resident Indian runner ducks, guinea fowl and chooks.

Ask Wayne what he loves most about life here and he’ll tell you he loves it all. For him, the recipe for a simple, happy life is to live here on his own terms, sharing his boundless passion for travel, fine food, art and antiques.

Buying Antiques

Buy what you love – Wayne says it’s important to know your style and tastes: choose what captivates you, rather than focusing on whether it will increase in value over time. ‘If you appreciate quality and craft, there’s so much choice out there – not just antiques, but cool vintage and mid-century items too.’

Do your research – The more you plan to spend, the more it pays to do your homework. ‘Make sure you research in the right places and talk to the right people; they need to be an antique dealer.’

Don’t expect ‘as new’ perfection – If you’re looking at something that’s 200 or 300 years old, it could well have a little crack or a few scratches. Wayne says a certain amount of wear and tear is acceptable when buying antiques. ‘My 18th-century French dresser has had woodworm and looks like it’s lived a life. That’s what I love – you think about who else has owned it, where they lived and how it got here.’

 

More Than a Holiday

If you are ‘an active relaxer’ like Wayne, chances are a lazy beach holiday sounds a little boring. He prefers busy trips stacked with interest and loves sharing his passion for active travel with others, having led small group tours to various places around the world over the past 25 years.

Currently he takes twice-yearly trips to France, savouring places off the main tourist routes, exploring old chateaux, historic villages and charming gardens, soaking up markets brimming with craft, food and antiques, and sampling local cuisine.

Wayne often sources treasures along the way. ‘Fortunately, I have a generous luggage allowance!’