A New Zealand Herald Commercial Publication
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
build, renovate & decorate
AUCKLAND’S GLAM APARTMENTS: NEW CHOICE AT THE TOP-END CREATE THE HOME YOU LOVE: INTERIOR DESIGN TIPS
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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Tuesday, November 15, 2016
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INSIDE SPACES 4
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Auckland’s glam apartments
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Creating the home you love
Taking the indoors out
Editor: Greg Fleming gregory.fleming@nzme.co.nz Advertising enquiries: Ben Trethewey ben.trethewey@nzme.co.nz
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Contributing writers: Graham Hepburn, Dani Wright, Louise Richardson, Leigh Bramwell, Greg Fleming Cover Pic - The Citizen, artist’s impression, supplied. Spaces is a NZME commercial publication
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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Auckland’s glam apartments
Apartment living has come a long way in a short time in Auckland and there’s going to be a lot more choice at the top end, writes Graham Hepburn
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hile it’s been an accepted lifestyle in some parts of the world, in New Zealand, apartment living was looked upon as only fit for students or people who couldn’t afford their own quarter-acre paradise. Part of the problem was developers building cheap, small and poorly designed apartments for the lower end of the market. But now, attitudes towards apartments have matured and developers have begun to realise that there is an appetite for apartments that are well-designed, energyefficient and built from robust materials with quality fittings. In Auckland, buyers are prepared to pay a premium for a spacious, well laid-out apartment in a good location that is close to transport and amenities. According to Peter Evans, national director of residential property marketing at Colliers International, which is marketing the upmarket Alexandra Park development: “People tell me that for a long time nothing that was offered in the apartment market was any good. None of the developers tested the market with a quality product.” “But developers are finally waking up to the fact that there is a market there; that people want to move to a quality new product and have a better lifestyle. New Zealanders have become quality-focused.” He says Alexandra Park is selling well, because it has design and location on its side, as well as the fact it will be a master-planned community with retail and service outlets on site. “The three things buyers say is that they like the location, the masterplan and the decent size of the apartments. They don’t want to have to jump into their cars to get the things they want. “What they like to do is walk out the front door and get everything they want.” And at Alexandra Park that should not be a problem, as what was a car park next to the ASB Showgrounds is transformed into a landscaped, urban village of freehold apartments, terrace homes and penthouses — all with additional outdoor living or
“garden rooms”, with privacy screens. “Indoor-outdoor areas are important because people enjoy barbecues and casual eating these days,” says Evans. The land has been freed up by Auckland Trotting Club for a development that will include shops, restaurants and other retail. Prices range from more than $700,000 for a one-bed apartment to $4.75 million for a 350sq m penthouse with 140sq m of outdoor space. Evans says most buyers are of the older generation who live nearby and want to downsize to an easy lifestyle in a central location. Maria Salmon, of boutique apartment developer Ockham, agrees that buyers are squarely focused on building quality. “Buyers want to feel they are buying well and in a building that will hold its value and appreciate over time,” she says. “As a result, apartments in our buildings are
“ . . . developers are finally waking up to the fact that there is a market there; that people want to move to a quality new product and have a better lifestyle. Peter Evans, Colliers International
tightly held and sales are quite rare — for example, there have only been two sold so far this year in The Isaac on Surrey Cres [Grey Lynn]. Other requirements include good design and defined spaces. “Storage, sunlight and best use of space to maximise living are also fundamental. Amenity within the building, security and a sense of community are high on the list for some purchasers.” Salmon says buyers are also prepared to pay a premium for location as they don’t want to just shut themselves away in their apartments. They want access to community facilities, good public transport and motorway links. She says apartment owners not only want to feel they are part of the local
Clockwise: Alexandra Park Raceway apartments (top); The Dylan; and The Isaac apartments.
Illustrations / Supplied
Buyers demand quality Kelly McEwan, development director for Urban Collective which is behind high-end city fringe developments The Citizen in Newton and The Dylan in Grey Lynn says the new developments are indicative of buyer demand for quality and thoughtful design. “These developments are a long way from the medium and high-density apartments delivered in the 2000’s. “Most developers are doing more research and being more proactive community but also enjoy interacting with each other, making the communal spaces in the Ockham buildings another drawcard. “For example, at The Isaac buildings in Grey Lynn, the rooftop lounge and landscaped garden are well utilised by the residents.” While communal spaces are seen as a bonus, Evans says facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts and gyms seem to be a thing of the past as apartment owners aren’t interested in paying high body corporate fees for these amenities. “They used to be used to sell a project but these days, people who would use those gyms want to go to a good gym, and people who want to play tennis would rather join a club.” The Isaac resident Guy Hamlin
than before and are trying to differentiate themselves from the poor standard of apartments built in Hobson and Nelson streets and the inner city. “Let’s face it, the fringe developments are surrounded by heritage and character housing stock, and the new kids on the block need a decent alternative.” McEwan says their buyers expect high quality and enduring fit outs with edgy, contemporary design. says he was attracted to the development because of its quality build. This has dual benefits: sustainability and low maintenance, meaning minimal body corporate fees. “Ockham are trying to do it right — they are building on sustainable principles and have a commitment to quality,” Guy says. “And I wasn’t a great candidate for apartment living — I’m a gardener and I had lived in a house for 20 years. “But I didn’t feel boxed in. My apartment has a good stud height and it’s not a long strip, so there is good division of space and you feel like there is somewhere to go.” He has an interest in urban renewal and as a Grey Lynn resident was watching how the old industrial laundry site was redeveloped by
They also like energy-efficient solutions and limited building facilities to ensure low bodycorporate fees. He says, unlike the cheaper inner-city apartments, 95 per cent of their apartments are bought by owner/occupiers. Pricewise they are competitive, offering a city-fringe location and quality appliances. The Dylan apartments boast Caesarstone island bench tops and Zuchetti Pan tapware. — Greg Fleming Ockham. “I’d seen it go up and watched it carefully, then a friend of mine decided to buy one so I helped her with the due diligence on it.” Guy says. “Ockham seemed to be walking the talk and had an ethical underpinning to what they were doing and a commitment to quality.” Guy says he has also enjoyed owning new appliances as he doesn’t have to worry about fixing anything. And as a screenwriter, who sometimes goes through lean times, he can also live quite frugally, because his home is built to modern standards. “Testimony to the fact they are nice is there is a very low turnover. When one does go up for sale, an email goes out to the other residents, there are one or two open homes, and they go.”
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Creating the home you love I nterior designer Sonya Cotter has seen many changes during the 15 years she’s worked in the business. She admits the industry is now busier than ever because people aren’t moving house as often as they used to and would like to update what they already own, rather than sell up. “People used to move from one to the next, to the next,” says Cotter. “But, now they want to create a home they will love for the foreseeable future, rather than for someone else to love once it’s sold on a few years after purchase.” Instead of buying furniture for short-term needs, Cotter’s clients are investing more and using quality products and good fixtures and finishings. They are also now putting much more thought into these furnishings. In terms of colour trends, Cotter believes New Zealand homes don’t have much wall space left, so stronger colours on walls, and darkercoloured walls, have become a real interior design trend. But, if using dark colours, pops of contrasting colour in furnishings is a good idea. “Architects love giving us wonderful windows and sliding glass doors to create indoor/outdoor flow, which takes away walls and also lets in more light,” says Cotter. “LED Lighting has also let us use darker colours on the walls as the whiter light bulb means we can enjoy colour in the home again, rather than it having a yellow tinge of traditional artificial light sources. Open plan has also taken away walls, too.” Open plan is here to stay and very much part of modern home style, but interior designers and architects have gotten better at hiding clutter associated with living, dining and kitchens combined in the one space.
Dani Wright discovers the key interior design trends leading the way in New Zealand homes
Open-plan is here to stay and very much part of modern home style.
“We’re working more with butler’s pantries and visual screening, so your world isn’t completely on display,” says Cotter. “We’re also seeing architects play with levels again in new builds, that’s a trend coming back around in things like lounge spaces, where you slightly step down into it as a point of difference.” And if you thought minimalist
Scandinavian styling was here to stay, get ready to adapt to a softer design style. According to Cotter, the harshness of the Scandinavian feel is being warmed up with more fabric, more textures and adding more natural timber to the overall design aesthetic. Bohemian styles are gaining in popularity and Cotter describes the
style as “more collected, encompassing a little bit of personality from your travels”. Rather than the trash-is-treasure feel, it’s more eclectic, yet still curated and a way of pulling together your pieces to tell a story. The leader of the pack in this style is designer and artist Justina Blakeney, who is the author of New York Times bestselling
book The New Bohemians. “I’m a great believer that if there’s a history behind what you’re purchasing, then it’s a future-proofed purchase as you have an empathy towards it,” says Cotter. “If you hold it close to your heart, then you’re less likely to throw it out.” continued on D6
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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Creating the home you love continued from D5
Metals are another interior design trend that is here to stay, and they include copper, bronzes and zinc. Cotter says they started out by bringing out an industrial feel but an adapted ‘cosy industrial’ design has made them softer and metal with shiny brass has also kept the trend moving forward. “The market was flooded with copper tones in every kind of decor accessory, so people have stepped back from that a little, but dark silvers, pewter and zinc are still going strong,” says Cotter. “There is also lots of metal-framed furniture hitting the market, such as black metal legs on coffee tables and sofas.” The internet is opening up information and ideas, so a collective New Zealand style is less prominent, as international styles are sourced by New Zealanders on Instagram to create mood boards for their rooms. However, Cotter warns that jumping on a design trend does have to be done with a certain restraint and only if it works in with the overall design concept. She says decor accessories aren’t too expensive, so trying out the trends in the smaller way means they are easy to change later. “Have some fun and if you love it, do it,” suggests Cotter. Marble has been a trend for a while, but what’s new is black marble for a change to the grey-and-white marble that was used in many decor accessories and benchtops. “The popularity of marble has really opened my client’s eyes to stone and granite, which also has quite a lot of movement,” says Cotter. “A few years ago, it wouldn’t have
been an option, but clients now want things with a bit of personality and lasting power.” Textures are also being used in new ways, such as concrete with a shuttering effect where timber imprints are left on the concrete panels, giving the effect of wooden beams. “Natural products and interesting textures are definitely around to stay,” says Cotter. “It’s all about celebrating nature in its true form and that’s something that is continuing to progress.” “Textures such as velvet and chenille reflect light for a shimmer and sheen, as opposed to natural linen that absorbs light,” says Cotter. “There’s a quality to the new fabrics and textures coming out, such as weaves with different tones within them or flooring that revisits loop pile carpets — we haven’t see that for a while. These textures are pretty stunning and add a design difference to create interest.” Overall, she says that with most things we use being shiny and glossy — such as phones, tablets and cars — our fingertips are desperate for a little bit of texture and touch and the home is where we’re looking to find it. So, if you look for items that give you a sense of nature and texture, you should be ahead of the pack.
Stronger, darker-coloured walls, have become a real interior design trend; Zinc pieces like this table and vase (below) bring out a modern, industrial feel.
The market was flooded with copper tones in every kind of decor accessory, so people have stepped back from that a little, but dark silvers, pewter and zinc are still going strong. There is also lots of metal framed furniture hitting the market, such as black metal legs on coffee tables and sofas.
Sonya Cotter, designer
Picture / Babiche Martens
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Taking the indoors out
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Trends and fashions can change as quickly in exterior living areas as they do on the catwalk — or indeed, inside our houses, writes Louise Richardson
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very new season has traditionally rung at least some changes in terms of colour and style. The last few years have seen an ever-growing emphasis on what real estate agents fondly call indoor/ outdoor flow, and it applies to practically all homes now — including those of a growing number of apartment dwellers, who may only have a simple balcony to decorate but can still enjoy working on maximising its potential. Decks or patios are often enormous, adding loads of extra space to a house. If covered, they can be used throughout the seasons — especially if some form of heating is included. Roofs can be built from a variety of materials, including clear polycarbonate on a wooden framework, while brushwood thatching or waterproof canvas are also popular. Modern aluminium framing with automatic louvres, which you can open or close
Indoor/outdoor flow means maximising whatever outdoor space your home has.
depending on the weather, is a more expensive option but it’s easycare and tremendously appealing in terms of resale value. Outdoor blinds, which can be custom-made to fit your particular size and shape of deck or bought ‘off
the rack’ are also very appealing as a practical feature. If you have timber decking, keeping it in good order is vital in order to avoid slipping, splintering or — worse still — rot. Modern-wood finishes have come a long way with
a variety of preparations specially designed to counter such problems. Resene’s Karen Warman advises making sure a new deck is painted or stained using quality products, then cleaned and maintained regularly. Avoid water-blasting decks
though, as this can damage the timber. “Dark colours attract a lot of heat, especially on horizontal surfaces. Choose a light to mid colour and opt for a Resene CoolColour continued on D8
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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Taking the indoors out continued from D7
variant, where available, to reduce heat build-up. “Decks can be very slippery when wet, so you could consider using a non-slip finish like Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path.” Before re-staining, she advises removing any moss and mould, otherwise it will simply come through the new finish. Washing isn’t enough. These nasties can only be banished with an appropriate ‘killer’ product. Garden lighting is another 21st century essential in terms of outdoor living. Complex systems of LED bulbs can be used to illuminate outdoor living areas — and also the plants themselves. Nothing looks quite as dramatic as a tall palm tree, completely lit up at night. As far as furniture goes, this was typically once just a couple of rickety deck chairs and an aged wooden table on a tiled concrete patio, or if you were very flash, a pretty white wrought iron set with seats that were uncomfortable to sit on. A small barbecue on legs had to service a whole family and the fire was forever going out, much to the cook’s frustration. Nowadays, we’re looking at fullscale lounge suites made from weather-proof materials, daybeds with their own sun canopies and, on the catering side, fully-equipped outdoor kitchens with all mod cons are increasingly common. Built-in or mobile, they’re often superior to their indoor counterparts, with pizza ovens, sinks and even beer and wine fridges to complete the al fresco dining experience.
Screening is a current landscaping favourite with home-owners and landscape designers, and again, the choice has never been better with most large hardware chains carrying an extensive range. The idea is to divide the garden into discrete spaces
As far as furniture goes, this was typically once just a couple of rickety deck chairs and an aged wooden table on a tiled concrete patio, or if you were very flash, a pretty white wrought iron set with seats that were uncomfortable to sit on. — or rooms, each with its own personality. Materials that are being used include brushwood and bamboo, breeze blocks, and intricate metal trellis panels. Many homeowners now choose to have more than one deck or patio so they can follow the sun around their property on summer days. Another popular addition to modern gardens is the cabana. This can be as simple as a basic roof held up by four posts or something more substantial, often constructed in the Balinese style featuring bamboo sides and a brushwood roof. Inside can be used as a seating area or you could install a spa pool for soaking year-round.
A chaise beckons in tropical garden.
And finally, the star of the show, the garden itself and the plants that make it look so good. Award-winning landscaper Mark Reid of Natural Habitats has been working in the horticulture business for more than 30 years now and has seen lots of changes. “I think that the birth of awareness of landscaping really began in the 1980s,” he says. “Nowadays, we find that most home-owners are keen to develop their properties but they are also being careful not to over-capitalise in case the bubble bursts.” “Currently, there’s also a strong trend towards getting out of town — where sites are small — and moving to areas such as Albany, Coatesville and Karaka, then really investing in
developing the grounds,” he explains. “Back in central Auckland, we’re noticing that there are certainly many high-end projects but there are also people with really small gardens, who want to make the most of them and we think that will only increase as sites get smaller still.” Gardens themselves are structured, often with strong architectural lines, while easy-care is king. Large plants such as banana palms, strelitzia (bird of paradise), coleus, heliconia and taro always look spectacular, yet require relatively little attention. Sub-tropicals, including palms, bougainvillea and hibiscus, all put on a good show and do particularly well in our northern region, where the
climate has warmed up noticeably. This year, some have continued flowering well into winter as a result of favourable weather conditions but the small possibility of frost is still with us until at least September, so vulnerable plants such as the currently ultra-popular bromeliad — and even humble vegetables — should be covered at night if the temperature looks set to drop below 5-6C. Mark Reid has also noticed an increased interest in environmentally aware gardens and planting. “People are using native plants in order to attract birdlife,” he says. And does anyone still want an oldstyle English country garden with roses, stock, pansies and violets? “No, not often. That went out long ago!”
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Herschel is changing the way we heat our homes How does Herschel infrared work? Herschel infrared heats your home the same way the sun heats the earth. It uses far infrared energy to warm up the fabric of the building and all the things inside it, including you. This turns the very surfaces of your home into part of your radiant heating solution, delivering you a consistently warm and comfortable environment. What is the difference between radiant and convection heat? Simply put, convection heat is heating the air and moving it around the house. Radiant heat travels through the air and is instead absorbed by objects and the room materials itself. Once the objects and room have been heated enough, they radiate the heat as well, and your whole room becomes part of the heating system giving you a wonderfully cozy environment to enjoy. Why is radiant heat better? Heating the air is an inefficient heating solution because air cannot hold much heat. This is why a cool draft can cool your room quickly, or if you switch off your heater or heat pump the warmth seems to disappear. Convection requires that warm air continually be created to maintain a given temperature, so it consumes more energy. Using convection to heat a room, you need to heat the entire volume of air, and convection heat rises, meaning most of the energy you are creating is sitting over your head where you can’t feel it. The heat that does reach you gets chilled by your windows or absorbed into the cold surfaces of the room. This does not create an ideal environment for heating a person. If you’ve ever been in a room with a convection heater on and the air seems warm but your feet are cold, this is why. Radiant heat on the other hand is ideal for heating people, as we are radiant ourselves. We absorb radiant heat into our bodies far better than when hot air is blown around us. Once the environment around us has reached our selected temperature it is surprisingly easy to maintain a comfortable, warm environment lower in the room where you actually sit, without losing heat unnecessarily or being forced to run your heater continually. Have you ever sat in front of a fire and marveled at the way it heats you all the way through? This feeling is radiant heat at work. Herschel far infrared heaters get you this result with consistency, accuracy and the minimum of effort from you, making it the best electric heating solution available.
Something else you may not have realized, but warm air attracts moisture (if you don’t believe us, check with your local weather reporter). Heating the air inside your home actually contributes to moisture and dampness issues. Heating the home itself dries it out, reducing dampness and mould. Does Herschel Infrared cost more to run? Actually no. When installed and operated correctly they can be more cost effective to warm your home over a 24 hour period than a heat pump. Once your home is up to temperature, it radiates that heat back out slowly. When operated with a thermostat, the heaters will heat the environment, then switch off and let your home radiate that warmth back, only coming back on to recharge it again. We call this running time the cycle time. Once your home is heated up, the cycle time drops dramatically over a 24 hour period, depending on what your home is made of this could be as little as 4 hours a day for a home that is warm day and night.
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Did you know Herschel Infrared is good for the power providers too? Home heating is estimated at being as much as 40% of the peak load to the power network, coming in the evenings of course, when we all get home from work and turn our heaters on high. With Herschel Infrared, this load gets spread evenly throughout the day, warming your home up during the day, to release that warmth into the evening. Thinking solar power? Lets discuss free heating. Herschel delivers exactly what you need, low wattage, and the ability to heat your home up during the day, while the sun is shining.
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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Abide by the rules of colour Give your house some street appeal with a lick of paint, writes Leigh Bramwell
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friend of mine, who was about to put her 80s chaletstyle, board-and-batten house on the market was recently advised by her real estate agent to paint it black. She did, and not only did it look amazing, but it enabled her to lift the asking price by $50,000. Perhaps the real estate agent had read the advice of landscape designer Chris Owen, who wrote: “The colour palette trend for house finishes and built landscape is sitting firmly in the white/grey/black spectrum for the moment, which is far more pleasing than anything in the beige/brown spectrum that was splashed over the rendered monoliths in the previous decade.” If you’re not the adventurous type when it comes to colour, it does require a leap of faith to paint a house black — or any colour out of the ordinary for that matter. It’s certainly a speedy way of improving the street appearance of a house but for many of us, it takes longer to decide on the colour than it does to do the job.
To make the decision easier, don’t consider colours, consider the rules of colour. Colour consultants say these are as follows: ● Plan around existing colours that you can’t change, such as the roof, or stone or brickwork. ● Use crisp combinations with a restrained number of colour choices. ● Let the architecture, natural building materials and landscape context speak. ● Use colour combinations that are respectful to the architecture of the house. ● If you want to give your house a classy look, choose darker colours. You may not need to paint the whole house black to give your property some sexy street appeal. Painting the front door or the fence may be enough. And if your house is a neutral colour, you can express yourself with something vibrant over a small area. Cast a critical eye over the lighting outside your house. If there’s a 10-year old swivel spotlight above the door, replace it, or get rid of it
The garden at your entranceway and the colour of your house can say a lot about you.
altogether and splash out for bollard lights or similar. In an entranceway, your lighting should come from low down — you may want to dazzle your visitors, but not blind them. Unless you’ve just bought new house numbers, put them in the bin with the swivel spotlight. No, do not buy cheap plastic numbers. If you want your home to look classy choose metal — brass, copper or brushed chrome. If your house is handcrafted and funky, make your own from recycled timber, or buy tile numbers. If there’s something ugly near your front entranceway that you can’t shift, camouflage it. For example, buy a panel of timber trellis, fix it in place in front of your bete noir, and plant a good-sized shrub in front of it, or place a garden seat there. The garden at your entranceway
can say a lot about your property. If it’s weedy and unkempt, that impression will extend to your house. Weed the garden and spread it with a good layer of fine, dark-brown mulch. Stay well away from woodchip or post shavings. Where there are bare patches, either plant new plants, or add a good-looking pot or a piece of garden sculpture. Pots can go a long way towards giving the front of your house an edgy look. In a larger space, buy three identical pots and plant with formal plants like buxus or golf ball pittosporums. In front of a cottage you can afford to use pots of different shapes and sizes and plant them with colourful annuals. If you have a lovely old villa, plant up a window box or a basinshaped container. It pays to put some serious thought into which plants you
use. Foliage comes in a wide range of colours and textures, so you can create real garden art by using the right combinations. For example, grey and silver foliage, such as astelia or convolvulus, and bright lime-green plants like puka work well against dark charcoals, dark blues and black. Very dark green foliage works with off whites and creams. There’s not much point creating street appeal if nobody knows how to get into your place. Make it obvious. If this means putting an edging on driveway, make it substantial. Small rocks or random pieces of timber look amateurish. Define the way to your front door. If it’s not clear which way to go, inset paving stones into the gravel to show the way, or create a guide with timber posts and rope.
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S
ince 1901, “Made in Germany” has been a recipe for success for the mixer and shower manufacturer. Around 80 per cent of production takes place in Germany: at several plants located in the vicinity of the company’s headquarters in the Black Forest. The five-year guarantee that comes with every single one of our products shows just how convinced we are of quality. We work with passion to keep creating new, better and more efficient solutions for water. Our focus is on innovative technologies and products that increase pleasure while treating the resource water with care. The wide range of shower elements and entire shower systems provides for tailored shower pleasure and visual harmony. Whether you wish to increase your shower pleasure with a
The bathroom has long since progressed from being a purely functional room into a comfortable living area. refurbishment, the various options for surface-mounted or concealed installations offer the right solutions — from shower head to thermostat to elegant drainage. The bathroom
has long since progressed from being a purely functional room into a comfortable living area. Elegantly rounded shapes create a warm, inviting atmosphere in the
bathroom. With a wide range of fittings and features everyone can create their own personal well-being room. This sensuous symbiosis of discerning design and individual
style is what transforms a standard room into a dream bathroom. For more information visit chesters.co.nz or call 0800 700 601 — Supplied editorial
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Heat Pump Air Conditioners
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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Tuesday, November 15, 2016
A lot of building work needs licensed people on the job,
right?
Yes, you’re right!
If the work affects the structure, weathertightness or fire safety design of your home, it may be restricted building work. You MUST use a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) for this work.
Go to > building.govt.nz/lbp Understand if you need an LBP If you do, check they’re on the register
NZ HERALD
Ask to see their LBP ID card