The meaning of Manaaki

Manaaki — to support, care for, extend hospitality, protect, and show respect and generosity to others.

When we named our home Manaaki, it was about more than giving our home a name. It was about how we wanted this place to feel.

A home surrounded by nature. A place to slow down, to create, to gather and to feel welcomed. A space that we could enjoy as a family, but also one we could generously open to others.

As we now share our pool house, pool deck and courtyard with fellow creatives, the meaning of Manaaki feels even more significant.

We hope this becomes a place where you feel inspired to create — where the light, architecture, landscape and quiet moments become part of your own vision and story.

There is something incredibly special about seeing a space we have poured so much love into become the backdrop for someone else's creativity.

That, to us, is Manaaki.

To welcome.
To share.
To care.
To create space for others.

A place where life moves a little slower, where nature surrounds us, and where every corner of our home tells a story of love, gratitude, and creativity.

Here, we share the journey of transforming our forever home—one thoughtful step at a time. Inspired by the charm of the countryside and the elegance of French country style, our slow renovation embraces warmth, greenery, and timeless beauty. From the changing seasons outside to the little details we bring inside, this space is a reflection of everything we cherish.

RATES

OPEN 7 DAYS 7am - 5pm

RATES:
1HR — $200
2HRS — $300
3HRS — $400
4HRS (HALF DAY) — $500
5HRS — $600
6HRS — $700
7HRS — $800
8HRS (WHOLE DAY) — $900

Pool Deck

Our 6m x 3.5m pool is an elegant, French-inspired setting designed for beautifully considered shoots.

A softly curved edge leads into a statement checkerboard wading seat, creating a distinctive backdrop for fashion, lifestyle, product and editorial imagery. The pool is framed by a timeless limestone deck and surrounded by the natural beauty of a protected bushland reserve—offering complete privacy, soft greenery and a serene sense of escape.

Refined yet relaxed, this is a light-filled location where European elegance meets the Australian landscape.

French Courtyard

Our French-inspired courtyard offers a beautifully intimate setting for lifestyle, fashion, branding and editorial shoots.

Set against the textured exterior of the pool house, the courtyard features a soft gravel base, established olive trees and timeless black iron furniture. Bathed in natural sunlight and surrounded by lush greenery, it brings the warmth and understated romance of the French countryside to the Australian landscape.

With views extending across the pool and bushland beyond, the courtyard offers multiple considered angles and layered backdrops—perfect for long-table settings, alfresco dining scenes, product styling and relaxed European-inspired imagery.

Internal Living Space

Our internal living space was designed to be seen differently through every creative eye.

Soft, floor-to-ceiling curtain walls wrap the room, gently diffusing the natural light and creating an ethereal backdrop for photography, film and content creation. As the light moves throughout the day, the space shifts with it—from soft and luminous to warm, shadowed and cinematic.

Neutral finishes, sculptural furniture and movable styling pieces allow each area to take on an entirely new identity. One corner may become an intimate portrait setting, another an editorial living scene, while the curtain walls offer a beautifully minimal canvas for fashion, product and branding imagery.

This is more than a styled interior—it is a canvas. A space created with intention, yet open enough for you to move, reinterpret and bring your own vision to life.

Kitchenette + Bathroom

The kitchenette and bathroom continue the rich, considered aesthetic of the internal living space, offering two distinctive backdrops for content creation.

The kitchenette features deep timber cabinetry and statement stone with dramatic plum veining, creating an editorial setting for product, lifestyle and hospitality-inspired imagery. A coordinating stone shelf and warm natural light add depth, texture and beautiful opportunities for styled detail shots.

Beyond, the bathroom shifts into a moodier palette. Chocolate-toned tiles, antique bronze details, a sculptural vanity and curved reeded-glass shower screen are illuminated from above by a generous skylight. The contrast of light, texture and rich finishes creates a setting that feels intimate, refined and quietly luxurious.

Though functional, both spaces have been designed to photograph beautifully—offering layered, elevated backdrops that can be styled and interpreted through your own creative vision.