The Oyster Inn: Three Guest Rooms on a Remote Island in New Zealand

Andrew Glenn and Jonathan Rutherfurd Best are two Brits who, fed up with their careers in marketing and event management, escaped to Waiheke Island in New Zealand to open a boutique hotel.

Glenn and Best enlisted the help of stylist and designer Katie Lockhart for the interiors and Special Group for graphics and branding. The result is the Oyster Inn, made up of just three guest rooms, a restaurant that seats 80, and a beach boutique. True to form, Lockhart’s calm and minimalist interiors highlight some of our shared favorite designers, including furniture by Another Country and Falcon Enamelware in the guest rooms.

Above: The 80-seat restaurant offers veranda dining under the shade of surrounding palms, where worn metal chairs give a sense of the saltwater air of the island.

Above: Lockhart opted for cane seating in the main dining room with vintage Thonet Era Chairs and a few shelves displaying groupings of objects sourced from the sea: abalone shells, white coral, and seaweed.

Above: Era Barstools surround the bar where guests of the inn and wanderers from beyond can find sangria, lemonade, and a selection of wine chosen by sommelier Clare Dunleavy.

Above: A 20-seat private room called The Pearl is available for special events catered by chef Cristian Hossack (former head chef at London’s Providores). True to its name, the Oyster Inn is the spot to find local Te Matuku oysters.

Above: Room One (of three) has a super king bed and a daybed from Another Country that can be converted to a child’s bed.

Above: In the guest bath, white square tiles set into dark grout contrast with a large circular mirror and accompanying shaving mirror.

Above: Next to the apron sink, guests find white enamel Falcon tumblers and products from Aesop.

Above: Rattan ottomans and wicker furniture sit beneath a black barn pendant lamp and a wall-mounted Marlin.

Above: Graphics from Special Group add a whimsical note.

Above: The Shop at the inn is stocked with clothing and accessories for the beachgoer, including shirts from New York’s Saturdays Surf, white-and-yellow Havaianas sandals exclusive to the inn.

Above: The Oyster Inn on Waiheke Island is located just 40 minutes from Auckland by ferry. 

For more of Lockhart’s work, see our post on her shop, Everyday Needs. On the hunt for more antipodean design? Find our other favorite places to visit in New Zealand and Australia in our City Guide section.

This post is an update; the original ran on April 22, 2013, as part of our Clean Sweep issue.