An Elevated Escape: Inside Marty Fox's Queenstown Retreat

We sat down with Marty to discuss the inspiration behind the renovation, the importance of choosing the right flooring, and the lessons he's learned from renovating and selling homes over the years. From creating lasting value to making smart investment decisions, he shares his top tips for anyone planning a renovation or searching for their next property.

Tell us about this Queenstown project. What made you choose this property, and what was your vision for it?

Queenstown has become one of my favourite places in the world. Every time I’m there I’m reminded why people travel from every corner of the globe to experience it. I wanted a home that wasn’t just somewhere to stay—it needed to become somewhere people remembered.

The vision was to create a luxury alpine retreat that worked on multiple levels. A place where my family could build memories together, where friends could gather, where guests from around the world could experience Queenstown at its best, and where we could host meaningful WHITEFOX events that inspire people.

It’s already been everything I hoped it would be. We celebrated Dad’s 60th birthday there with our entire family, it’s become an incredibly successful Airbnb attracting guests from around the world, and next up we’re hosting our WHITEFOX Leadership Summit followed by an immersive week for six business owners through my WTF with the Fox program. To me, that’s the ultimate measure of success. Great homes don’t just generate returns—they create moments.

This home serves as a holiday retreat, an Airbnb, a place for family gatherings and even WHITEFOX events. How did those different uses influence the way you approached the renovation?

Every decision had to pass one simple test: would it work equally well for our family, a luxury guest or a leadership event? We wanted it to feel warm rather than sterile. Comfortable enough for the kids to enjoy, sophisticated enough that executives flying in from Australia would feel like they’d arrived somewhere special, and durable enough to withstand constant use. The spaces had to flow naturally for entertaining, the finishes needed to age beautifully, and every material had to balance luxury with practicality. When you renovate with multiple purposes in mind, every decision becomes more intentional.

Flooring is one of the biggest design decisions in any renovation. What led you to choose timber flooring and a wool loop pile carpet for this home?

Flooring completely changes the feeling of a home. Timber creates warmth, texture and timelessness. It connects perfectly with the alpine environment and gives the home that premium feel from the moment you walk through the door.

The wool loop pile carpet was equally important because Queenstown is all about comfort. After a day skiing, hiking or exploring, there’s nothing better than kicking your shoes off and walking onto a beautiful wool carpet. It adds warmth acoustically, physically and visually, while bringing a level of luxury that synthetic products simply can’t replicate.

Did the intended use of the property affect your flooring choices?

Absolutely. Because the home functions as both a family retreat and a premium Airbnb, we needed materials that looked incredible but also performed exceptionally well over time. Timber is resilient, easy to maintain and actually develops character as it ages. Wool carpet offers incredible comfort while also being naturally durable and surprisingly forgiving for a home that sees regular guests. We weren’t choosing flooring just for today—we were choosing materials we’d still be proud of in ten years’ time.

Having renovated and sold so many homes over the years, what improvements consistently deliver the best return on investment?

The biggest returns almost always come from kitchens, bathrooms and flooring. They’re the three things buyers immediately notice because they’re expensive to replace themselves. Great flooring, in particular, lifts every room simultaneously. It ties the entire home together and creates a perception of quality before people have even processed the finer details. It’s one of the few investments that improves both liveability and resale value.

When you’re looking at buying a property to renovate, what are the first things you look for?

I always start with what can’t easily be changed. Location will always be number one. Then I look at orientation, natural light, ceiling heights, floor plan and whether I can add value without fundamentally fighting the home. Cosmetic improvements are relatively straightforward. Fixing a poor layout or a bad location isn’t. If the bones are right, almost everything else can be improved.

Renovation costs can add up quickly. Do you have any tips for homeowners wanting to create a high-end result while staying within budget?

Spend your money where people see, touch, and experience it every day. Invest in flooring, quality joinery, tapware and lighting because they’re the things that elevate the entire home. Then simplify everywhere else. You don’t need every finish to be expensive—you need everything to feel cohesive. A restrained palette of quality materials almost always looks more luxurious than trying to include too many statement features.

What are some renovation mistakes you see homeowners make that can impact a property’s value?

The biggest mistake is renovating for yourself instead of understanding the market. People often overcapitalise on highly personalised choices that don’t appeal to future buyers. The other mistake is trying to save money on the things that matter most. Inferior flooring, poor workmanship or inconsistent finishes become immediately obvious and can undermine an otherwise great renovation. Quality doesn’t have to mean excessive spending—it means making smart decisions.

From a real estate perspective, how important is flooring when it comes to creating a great first impression?

It’s one of the first things people subconsciously notice. Buyers may not walk in and say, “The flooring is amazing”, but they’ll absolutely notice how the home feels. Great flooring creates continuity, warmth and quality. It makes furniture look better, improves natural light and gives buyers confidence that the home has been thoughtfully renovated. First impressions happen in seconds, and flooring plays a much bigger role than most people realise.

Finally, what’s one piece of advice you’d give anyone embarking on a renovation or purchasing an investment property today?

Think beyond the renovation itself. Ask yourself whether every decision will still make sense in ten years’ time. The best renovations aren’t driven by trends—they’re driven by timeless design, quality materials and creating spaces people genuinely love spending time in. If you get those fundamentals right, you’ll enjoy the home more while you’re there, and the market will usually reward you when it’s time to sell.