NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Food
  • Win
  • Recipes
  • Video
NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Food
  • Win
  • Recipes
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Celebrity

EXCLUSIVE: Lisa Chappell: ‘I live in a tiny slice of paradise’

No clutter here! Life is now all about minimalism for the McLeod’s Daughters star. - by Joshua Joynes
  • 07 Feb 2022

“More trees, less people!” This has been Lisa Chappell’s mantra for the past few years – and when New Idea pays a visit to her home in Puhoi, Auckland, it’s clear she lives and breathes by it.

WATCH BELOW: How McLeod’s Daughters paved the way in Australian TV for female leads

Like so many, the McLeod’s Daughters star decided to chase her dreams when the pandemic struck two years ago. While these aspirations were big, the results were small.

“I’m living in a tiny house!” Lisa proclaims, revealing that, after years of coveting a simple space, she finally made it her reality.

“I’m a minimalist, and the simple life really makes me quite happy. The complexity of too many things throws me off,” she says, noting her space is just over 30 feet wide.

“There you go, it’s 33 feet ... well in my size 10, 41 European feet,” she laughs, after walking across her home to measure it for us.

READ NEXT: McLeod’s Daughters cast: Where are they now?

lisa chappell

After starring as Claire in McLeod’s Daughters, Lisa is honoured by the fanfare that still exists.

Michelle Hyslop

Given Lisa’s 35-year-long acting career in Australia and New Zealand and life in the spotlight, some might find her desire for a pared-back life surprising.

However, she explains that she found great comfort in building a life that serves her wants and needs.

“The last space I was living in, I was quite surrounded … there were bands, skate parks – it wasn’t for people living, I was too close to noisy bars,” she laughs.

“I’m noise sensitive. I just thought to myself, ‘I’m not enjoying this – maybe I’ll take a year-long sabbatical and take an artists’ retreat in nature and do some writing,’ but then this tiny house idea came up, so I did it!”

lisa chappell

With beautiful views, plenty of animals and places to relax, Lisa’s life is full of bliss.

Michelle Hyslop

While global lockdowns made many people interiors obsessed and the pursuit for the perfect home office space felt like a race, Lisa went the other way and cut everything back, albeit with some initial apprehension.

When Lisa’s tiny but perfect home came up on the market, she reveals she hesitated because she had only just purchased her dream furniture items that were too large.

“I had the most beautiful lounge, a gorgeous coffee table and my dream Southern- American-style sideboard … but then I thought, ‘Do I really want my life dictated by a sideboard?’”

Thankfully it was this realisation that put her on track to her new life in her “serene and meditative paradise”.

lisa chappell

What her tiny new home lacks in space, it makes up in charm and serenity.

Michelle Hyslop

A part of taking up a smaller residence has meant Lisa is no longer able to collect, store or keep excess belongings. This has made for some very brutal culling.

“I have a charity bag constantly on the run,” she says, revealing she has had to donate an excess of things and has only taken into her home exactly what she needs.

“I have not missed a single thing after taking a few key pieces out of storage for my house. I had many clothes, throws … and now I have just what I need and use regularly.”

While her home life is leisurely, Lisa’s professional life is still very much on the go thanks to a recurring role in New Zealand soap, Shortland Street, and an upcoming new TV project. 

lisa chappell

‘I’m a minimalist – the simple life really makes me happy.’

Michelle Hyslop

As for her beloved character Claire McLeod, who was sensationally killed off in the show’s third season, Lisa admits she’s so humbled by the fact fans still adore the Aussie soap all these years later.

A McLeod’s film is in the works, but Lisa says it’s unlikely she will be involved.

“It’s up to the creativity of Posie Graeme-Evans [McLeod’s creator] to work that out,” she says. “You can’t unpick the character… I never want to ruin Claire’s legacy,” she clarifies.

Interestingly, Lisa says fans shouldn’t rule out the prospect of seeing Claire in some form or another.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed seeing dead characters pop up in shows, [like] Six Feet Under … Who knows,” she teases. Indeed, the pressure is now on Posie.

Read more in this week's New Idea, on sale now. 

  • Celebrity
  • TV
  • Homes and Lifestyle
Joshua Joynes
Joshua Joynes
Josh Joynes is New Idea's Associate Editor and is the mag's celeb obsessed, reality TV guru who loves nothing more than chatting to the country’s biggest stars.

Subscribe to New Idea & save!-+ save!

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to New Idea & save!

Subscribe to New Idea & save!-+ save!

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to New Idea & save!

Recommended to you

Home and Away opening title
Watch 1:09

Home and Away opening title

{headline}

{headline}

McLeod's Daughters' filming locations REVEALED

McLeod's Daughters' filming locations REVEALED

EXCLUSIVE: Jessica Napier leads tributes for McLeod's Daughters star

EXCLUSIVE: Jessica Napier leads tributes for McLeod's Daughters star

McLeod's Daughters star, Marshall Napier has died aged 70

McLeod's Daughters star, Marshall Napier has died aged 70

McLeod's Daughters star Michala Banas has been quietly killing it since leaving the show

McLeod's Daughters star Michala Banas has been quietly killing it since leaving the show

{headline}

{headline}

James Stewart and Stephen Peacocke are steaming up the screen

James Stewart and Stephen Peacocke are steaming up the screen

Princess Mary returns to Australia ahead of Christmas

Princess Mary returns to Australia ahead of Christmas

Jana Pittman shares easy ways to beat the silly season burnout

Jana Pittman shares easy ways to beat the silly season burnout

{headline}

{headline}

EXCLUSIVE: Meet the newest star of The Real Housewives of Sydney, Dr Kate Adams

EXCLUSIVE: Meet the newest star of The Real Housewives of Sydney, Dr Kate Adams

Inside New Idea's annual Woolworths Carols in the Domain Songbook photo shoot

Inside New Idea's annual Woolworths Carols in the Domain Songbook photo shoot

Shannen Doherty learned of her husbands 2-year affair just before undergoing brain surgery

Shannen Doherty learned of her husbands 2-year affair just before undergoing brain surgery

Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic celebrate five years of marriage

Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic celebrate five years of marriage

Farmer Wants a Wife couple Brad and Clare share exciting personal update

Farmer Wants a Wife couple Brad and Clare share exciting personal update

Robert Irwin and girlfriend Rorie step out at glamourous awards night in Sydney

Robert Irwin and girlfriend Rorie step out at glamourous awards night in Sydney

Seven Kids, Four Mothers: Jimmy Barnes And His Children

Meet all seven of Jimmy Barnes' children!

NewIdea
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions
NewIdea Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions

Brands

  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting
  • That’s Life
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • Hard to Find
  • Australian Women's Weekly
© 2023 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Are Media and its brands may have generated text partially using generative AI. Upon generating draft language, our editors review, edit, and revise it to their own liking. We take ultimate responsibility for the content of our publications.
Get more from New Idea

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to New Idea & save!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to New Idea & save!