Best asset

Founder of creative ideas agency Tradecraft, Morven McAuley, says her Auckland home allows her complete freedom of expression. In a world in which so many people struggle to buy a house, she’s acutely aware that having one to make her own is a real privilege, and figures that if she stays content in her little spot, she’s also leaving another house free out there for someone else to make theirs.

So Morven, how did you find your slice of urban paradise? I bought this house in 2006; it checked all the boxes. A 1930s build, it’s sound and small, so the maintenance is affordable, and it has great off-street parking and a relatively private backyard. Its location in Sandringham appealed to me too for its cultural hum and diversity.

What was your vision? At first, it was about getting on the property