Timeless style: Maree Hynes
The history and garden tours at Harlau House add an intriguing new angle to a visit to the innovative interiors showroom on the outskirts of Timaru.
Just two minutes south of Timaru lies a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. As you turn down the drive toward Harlau House Café and Maree Hynes Interiors, you begin to sense that something special is unfolding. But it’s not until you round the front of the expansive interiors showroom that the full magic of the place reveals itself – a destination that surprises and delights at every turn.
Award-winning interior designer Maree Hynes and her husband Mike purchased the property five years ago, imagining a slower pace of life. Instead, the opposite happened. Relocating Maree’s design business into an impressive 400sqm showroom and running an increasingly popular café and restaurant created a vibrant hub that attracts visitors from across the South Island and further afield.
INTERIORS QUEEN
Step inside the showroom and you’re instantly captivated. Beautifully curated displays of furniture, lighting, homewares, and décor fill the space. “Things in the showroom are always changing,” says Maree. “Items come in and go out on the same day – nothing lasts very long here.” The range is vast: clothing, gardening supplies, bedding, kitchenware, unique gifts, furniture, and so much more. The sheer scale of the space is astonishing, and everywhere you look, something beautiful catches your eye. No matter your style, there truly
is something for everyone.
At the heart of it all is Maree’s renowned interior design service. Fabric and wallpaper collections fill the design studio, supporting the team’s extensive work in upholstery, curtains, blinds, and full interior design projects. With more than 25 years’ experience and clients spread across the South Island, the business caters to everything from simple advice to the complete transformation of an entire home. “We love helping people create their dream spaces,” says Maree. “I think that, along with our depth of knowledge, is why we’re the first choice for so many.”
CAFÉ CULTURE
If you can draw yourself away from the showroom, just across the driveway is the café and restaurant – another gem entirely. Housed in the beautifully restored original stables building, the space retains its rustic character, from the iron roof to the striking timber beams overhead. Two enclosed indoor–outdoor rooms, fitted with clear outdoor blinds, offer cosy all-weather dining, while a spacious courtyard provides ample outdoor seating. It’s the perfect spot to unwind, soak in the country atmosphere, and enjoy delicious, freshly prepared food. “Many visitors stop in for lunch while travelling through, but increasingly people are turning their visit into a day trip – shopping, dining, and savouring all that Harlau has to offer,” Maree says.
It all sits beside Mike and Maree’s historic homestead, Harlau House – a grand property known for its walled gardens and distinctive architecture. Maree personally hosts garden tours, a highlight for many visitors. For just $75, guests enjoy a guided walk through the grounds, learn the rich history of the homestead and its buildings, sample the famous Harlau cheese puffs, and finish with a delicious lunch.
“It’s an unforgettable way to spend the day. Whatever brings you here – food, shopping, design, gardens, or simple curiosity – Harlau is a place you must experience.”
Open seven days a week, Maree Hynes Interiors is located at Harlau House, 253 Beaconsfield Road, Timaru. Call 03 686 6784 or email info@mareehynesinteriors.co.nz.
