We just spent two days here and were very happy. The space we had was attached to the house but had it's own entrance so we could see as little or as much of our hosts as we wanted. That said, Julie and Silas were extremely welcoming and we were invited to use their living space if we wanted. The house has a beautiful garden, and there were two chairs and a table we could use by our own entrance.
Our bedroom and bathroom were spotlessly clean, and there were numerous little touches - chocolate, fruit etc. - that added to the whole experience. The space was very comfortable, and we could park our car right next to the house.
I highly recommend this location to anyone looking for a extremely comfortable stay in the heart of New Plymouth.