FEATHER AND OAK

Save or splurge? Renovating 101

AFTER BEAUTIFYING INTERIORS FOR MANY RENOVATIONS AND NEW BUILDS, KATY HUSBAND FROM FEATHER AND OAK SHARES HER SECRETS ON WHERE TO SPEND OR SAVE YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS.

Renovating a house takes a lot of time and money. There can often be tension between splurging on statement pieces and saving money by cutting back where we can. After many years with our wonderful clients, I’ve cultivated some key areas where you can make the most of your budget.

Save Splurge

CABINETRY Keep internal cabinetry simple and standardised to keep the price low. Save your pennies for things like your cupboard fronts and benchtop, which are visible and in high traffic areas.

SOFAS AND CHAIRS If you have a young family or a busy household, don’t spend large on sofas! Wait until the messy moments are less frequent. Alternatively, invest in a great quality sofa with a cheaper, washable fabric and get the sofa reupholstered when the kids have grown up.

CUSHIONS AND THROWS Mixing cheaper and custom cushions together is a great way to fill your sofa or bed on a budget while keeping a high-end look. Replace the cheaper cushions frequently to keep your room looking fresh.

LIGHTING Carefully select and mix high-end and more budget-friendly pieces. Keep investment lighting to a few key areas and replace budget lighting in the future when the budget allows. Layer in ambient lighting such as floor and table lamps to give a custom feel. Repurposing a cheap vintage light is a fun DIY project for all! WINDOW TREATMENTS Splurge-worthy! Get the best you can afford because this does save money in the long run with your heating and cooling bills. Windows are a feature that take up a large amount of real estate in the room, so it’s essential to get this right!

FLOORING Flooring has a significant influence on the look of a home, and it’s not easily changed. A durable, good-quality flooring product will not only wear well, but it will also stand the test of time and hopefully remain beautiful for many years.

BENCHTOPS Yet another hard-working surface, investing in a product with longevity is cheaper in the long run and will elevate the look of any kitchen and withstand everyday use. If you invest wisely here, it will last well.

WALLPAPER With so many breathtaking wallpaper designs from around the globe, I highly recommend spending more to get a custom and bespoke feel to your space. Typically, wallpaper is only placed on a few walls and gives maximum impact – like your very own personal artwork! While most of your renovation decisions will come down to personal budget and preference, knowing where to spend and where to save can help you stick to a budget and come out on the other side with no regrets.

KATY HUSBAND of Feather & Oak Interiors

Embracing the change of season

EMILY HASTIE FROM KAMO MARSH LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS REFLECTS ON HOW AUTUMN’S ARRIVAL AFFECTS OUR OUTDOOR SPACES.

Autumn is a lovely time in O ¯ tautahi when we enjoy bluebird skies, crisp air, and the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot. Even the ever-present easterly takes a step back, leaving us with calm evenings flooded in golden light as the sun lowers its arc.

At this time of year, the deciduous trees prepare for winter by dropping their leaves. They do this to conserve the energy and water needed to sustain leaf growth, leaving only the evergreens behind to weather the harshness of winter.

In Aotearoa, our temperate climate means we have less distinct seasons in the northern parts, and we often experience four seasons in one day rather than in a year. The result is only five per cent of our native trees are deciduous or semi-deciduous. To survive our climate, many of our native trees have evolved as evergreen, resulting in most having weather resistant small leaves or needles which are not damaged during cold weather. In contrast, deciduous trees often have broader leaves which are easily damaged in cold weather – so they shed them to survive the winter.

For a small country there is considerable variability in our climate across regions. In the ‘subtropical’ north there are fewer seasonal markers, naturally a much greener, lush landscape and not the harsh winters as in the south.

In the south the summers can be hot and dry and the winters harsh. For the plentiful fruit trees in the region, the lower temperatures are welcomed with many requiring a certain number of cold days to successfully fruit. A cold spell also helps to disrupt the life cycle of pests and diseases.

The changing seasons bring welcome variation to the home garden. Depending on the look you prefer, choosing largely native plantings will give you a consistently green, textured garden throughout the year whereas most exotics will create a stunning display of colour in autumn.