A beautiful Britten life
by Metropol | November 26, 2025 8:40 am
Lifestyle content creator, entertaining whizz, home makeover maestro, keen green thumb, and the daughter of the legendary John Britten, Isabelle Weston is on a quest to make every moment beautiful – especially during Christmases she can’t spend with the late visionary engineer. She shares lessons learned with Metropol editor Nina Tucker.
The time we had with him still feels far too short,” Isabelle Weston says. “His passing taught me a valuable lesson: there’s no project more important than my children. I bet he would agree.” The middle sibling of three, she was eight when cancer stole her father away. The disease struck again in Isabelle’s thirties, taking a dear friend’s life. It was a powerful wake-up call to her busy work-focused lifestyle, which mirrored her father’s relentless work ethic (“He was an incredible man, dedicated yet often absorbed by his many projects, putting in huge hours, which included the Britten bike”). “My drive was all about setting myself up for success through hard work, while family inadvertently came second,” she says.
The tragedy was a reminder that life is finite and time with family is the most important thing.
Isabelle says her pursuit to live with such purpose is not a hobby but a philosophy. In practice, “It means seeking out moments that inspire joy and curiosity, not focusing on all the negatives.” She calls this living life beautifully. Isabelle references her grandmother, and John Britten’s mother, Ruvae, who turned 100 in November. “She only stopped driving at 96, she practised and taught Ikebana, swam daily, threw parties of all wonderful manors to connect with her community and friends, these led to a wonderfully enriched life.” For Isabelle, it’s cooking, nature, exercise, crafting, conversations, coffee, and wine that fill her cup… literally.
Her day begins with a swim or a run, a commitment made a few years earlier to ensure her health sticks around as reliably as her morning coffee. Wrapping up her part-time role as activity and events coordinator with the Canterbury Horticultural Society, she’s turning her focus to an exciting new project she plans to unveil next year.
Whatever the weather, Isabelle aims to fit in an hour of gardening between getting her children to and from school, “running errands, folding laundry, making beds, and all those other little tasks that keep the household ticking and waste 80% of my day.”
“I am still starving for balance and struggling to fit everything I want to do into a day. Perhaps I am too curious and enjoy being busy too much. Maybe there’s a lesson here… choosing things to work on moment by moment, not trying to do it all,” Isabelle ponders. The determination and fearless ‘dream-chaser’ genetics gifted by her father might contribute. “His influence and drive left a lasting impact on me.” Isabelle’s mother Kirsteen always told her children anything was possible with hard work and a focused mind. “This inspired me to pursue my own passions and to see challenges, including failure, as opportunities for personal growth.”
“I want to say our childhood was like any other, but it really wasn’t. Growing up with such a visionary dad was unique, though at the time, it felt normal because we didn’t know anything else. He was a very gentle guy, softly spoken and generous with his ears.”
“Our daughter Adaline has ADHD, dyslexia and digraphia, traits that run in our family. When she’s feeling down on herself or feeling left behind, I like to remind her of what our father, John Britten, accomplished despite being told he was ‘stupid’. Being smart does not mean you have to be the best at school. It’s about having passion and the drive to work towards your goal. I tell our children that their grandad would be proud of them.”
With husband Tim Weston, the pair’s restoration of the iconic Britten Stables, and her childhood home, was showcased on Grand Designs New Zealand, and their most recent renovation, their family home, has become a famed Christchurch project, winning Canterbury Supreme Renovation and Renovation over $1million at the 2025 House of the Year awards. The couple garnered a generous following on social media after documenting both renovations on Facebook and Instagram, @izzywest.co, catapulting them into the home and lifestyle spotlight. She shares one of her secrets. “First, I uncover the personality of the home or space. Some buildings are never going to suit a super modern makeover and need their heritage honoured. The second thing I think about is how I want to feel in that space.”
INSIDE A BRITTEN CHRISTMAS
An adept hand in entertaining (and a degree in project and operations management) complements her design skills. “I adore the entire process, from planning to execution, integrating my love for creating inviting spaces with entertaining.” It might be a magical unicorn birthday or Halloween-themed party for daughters Raphaela (6) and Adaline (10), or an elegant Christmas soirée for 40 guests. Isabelle’s heart sings watching people celebrate in a perfect space. The same goes this year – she wants it to be unapologetically silly. “Our Christmas tree décor sets the tone on arrival, it’s absolutely ridiculous. My husband says it looks like Christmas vomited all over the tree,” she smiles. Silly presents, crazy costumes, and funny lawn games are all on the agenda. Her advice for those who don’t hold the same degree? “Plan. having a very helpful husband who does all the last-minute things like picking up ice, balloons, and cake also plays its part.” Nice one, Tim.
Christmas inside their home will be beautiful, no doubt. As are the words she lives by. “In essence, life is a beautiful work-in-progress.” Her father’s legacy is a reminder to cherish every moment, make a positive difference, and “live with purpose, live life beautifully”.
QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS
The best trait you got from your father? My drive.
Your go-to comfort meal? I love a curry. But our go-to family meal is pasta!
Best flower to grow and have in the house? Dahlias.
Your biggest life hack? Advanced prep and a visual calendar!
Your favourite space (or the one you’re most proud of) in your home? Our kitchen, it’s the heart of our home.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/a-beautiful-britten-life/