NZ Herald Spaces Feature - August 2019

A New Zealand Herald Commercial Publication

Monday, August 5, 2019

build, renovate & decorate

All decked out

Living Scandi Style

GETTING READY FOR SPRING HOW TO

SURVIVE A RENOVATION

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Monday, August 5, 2019

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Monday, August 5, 2019

Spaces contents Scandi style p8

Relocate your dream home p4

Clever furniture p5 Renovation p6

Grow to enjoy p9

All decked out p10 Editor Greg Fleming Advertising inquiries Sam Glasswell sam.glasswell@nzme.co.nz

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The next issue of Spaces is on November 11 Spaces is an NZME commercial publication

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Monday, August 5, 2019

Tom and Sarah O’Neil relocated their cute Californian bungalow to their dream location on the coast near Waiuku.

Photos / Ted Baghurst

Relocating your dream home Looking to buy your dream coastal home less than one hour from Auckland Airport, for less than $900K? Tom and Sarah O’Neil did just that by moving one in. By Tom O’Neil.

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leven years ago my wife, Sarah, and I and our two small boys moved to a threeacre lifestyle block just south of Waiuku. Our house was seven years old and had everything on our bucket list that we could afford, except for the sea views that I had pined for. However, we did agree to look around for a new place with an ocean vista in 10 years’ time.

A decade later, with the promise of sea views not forgotten, I started to look for ideal properties near Auckland. To my dismay, any house that even had a glimpse of the ocean was still well outside our budget.

Not giving up, I investigated bare land and a new build, however, these hopes were also dashed when I spoke to a building company which informed me that I had to “pop on another $100K if you are wanting to build in a rural area”.

Desperate to not give up I stumbled across relocatable homes

Smooth your relocation Contingency Have a significant financial contingency for the project in case piles need to be dug deeper, driveways need to be widened or services need to be relocated. Issues like these can take you by surprise and without a good contingency, you could find the stress unbearable.

Get insurance Even though our relocation process was relatively smooth, a storm resulted in a medium-sized insurance claim that would have halted the process without it.

Research the transport company We had a great team with Total Relocation, however, there are a lot of cowboys out there taking shortcuts with your dream property.

Be wise and always get references.

Always some damage Seeing the house on its original site versus viewing it at your new property can be daunting. If your as an option and found our dream property on the wild west coast near Waiuku. This set in motion a plan that today has reaped the rewards I longed for all those years.

On Christmas Eve, 2017, we saw the perfect relocatable house. We soon became the owners of a cute stucco 1930s Californian bungalow, 200km from where we wanted it to be.

Fortunately, it had been moved 10 years earlier, so came with a new(ish) roof, kitchen and internal wiring so

house has been cut into pieces, there will be holes in the walls and damage to the external cladding. Don’t lose heart, a good builder will have it perfect in no time.

Don’t skimp on pre-purchase reports Before the final sign-off on the land, get all the necessary checks and reports so you can make an informed decision. The geotech report is especially important as it will tell you if you can put a house on the site.

We heard of a person who didn’t do this, and then found their piles had to be 15m deep, which forced them to sell the section uncompleted.

Cost of services While we did have an electric junction box 100m away to connect power to, it was still a significant cost to bring the power to the house site. Our selfcontained plumbing and waste-water system was more than $35K. Internet reception was also something we had to factor in.

I stumbled across relocatable homes as an option and found our dream property on the wild west coast near Waiuku.

Tom O’Neil

House PLUS relocation price We found our house on TradeMe, with an advertised price of $29K. A bargain! However, to relocate it to an especially tricky spot right by the sea, we ended up paying $128K more. The cost of the land not included.

It may have been a stressful process, but done with the right team, the right resources and the right attitude, there is a way you can be in your dream home in your dream location.

awesome, cutting our new house in half with a skill saw, then relocating it from Tauranga over two trips.

However, in autumn of 2018 a major storm with gusts up to 212km/h on the coast almost finished the project right then and there.

We were incredibly blessed that our house stood strong on the temporary jacks, with only a short delay allowing us to move out of our on-site caravan after 100 days living with two teen boys.

Prepare and have a contingency budget To get the dream house in the dream location, you need to make sure it is from the right side of the street so the orientation is perfect for your land. Allow a good budget for remedial work, as often relocatable homes require a lot of repairs. We were fortunate that ours was in good shape so we could almost move straight in.

Our house mover, Dave, and his team from Total Relocations were

Relocating saves By our estimates, relocating our house to the coast saved us about 60 per cent of building new, with the added benefit of the house arriving, being put back together and becoming liveable within weeks, not months.

However, the dream is not for everyone as banks will usually only lend up to 50 per cent on bare land and not provide a mortgage at all on relocatable dwellings, until they gain a Code of Compliance.

that was one less cost to worry about.

Our new land was at the tip-top of the Waikato region and the Waikato District Council was excellent, giving us professional and straight-up advice, allowing us to plan ahead as much as possible.

Much to my surprise, I discovered that a relocatable house that has a code of compliance in its original location may not require the same level of inspections a new build does.

Check with your local council to find

out what you need prior to any buying decisions, however.

Six months after starting the project we gained the Code of Compliance.

We are so grateful the relocation process allowed us the ability to now live in our dream property in our dream location. However, it is a stressful process, and many others are not so lucky, running out of money, enthusiasm and marital bliss prior to the project’s completion.

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Monday, August 5, 2019

CLEVER FURNITURE Smart furniture is allowing homeowners to rethink their space, writes Diana Clement

Repurposed uthor Catherine Foster, who A has written books about compact living, has a number of

S

pace saving furniture is becoming increasingly clever.

Inventions such as sofas that transform into bunk beds are pure genius.

With more and more Kiwis moving to apartments and medium density housing, design that solves the problem of small spaces is becoming increasingly important.

Imagine a dining table with a lifting lid to reveal a pool table, or a painting that opens up revealing jewellery or key storage. Clever designers have come up with mirrors that tip down to become ironing boards and all manner of under-bed storage.

Furniture that can serve two or more purposes works harder and smarter and can give buyers more bang for their buck.

Multifunctional furniture isn’t an entirely new idea. Sofa beds have provided that extra sleeping space for decades and are a godsend when guests arrive.

Likewise, drop leaf and extending tables have been popular for generations.

More recent contenders to make the most of small or limited spaces have included rollaway trundle beds, and futons. Children’s cabin beds with

A child’s bed with a desk and chill-out area built in serves multiple purposes; the AskoBed folds up against the wall when not in use (inset).

Photos / Getty Images, Supplied

desks, play areas and even slides built in have become popular over the past 20 years.

Bring on the 21st century and many more inventions to make small spaces feel larger have appeared on the market.

The murphy bed, which folds up against the wall when not in use is finding its way into apartments, units and suburban homes across New Zealand. Popular brands include Hafele, AskoBed and Tiltaway Beds.

Hiddenbed even has beds and bunk sets that transform into desks during the day.

You don’t have to live in a tiny home to use space saving furniture and design. Good storage and multifunctional furniture gives you more spacious rooms and can be a great way to pack away clutter.

Another ingenious invention is the ottoman bed, says Anthea Baker, interior designer of Homebase. For example, BoConcept’s Xtra footstool, which sells for $1032, transforms into a single bed when needed.

The humble footstool can be very versatile and can also provide extra storage, or in the case of the Living & Co folding ottoman at The Ware-

house, folds away for storage if not needed.

L-shaped sofas have started to incorporate chaise storage. They needn’t cost a fortune with the likes of Target Furniture selling them on the high street and online sellers, including TSB Furniture and Idiya, selling versions at reasonable prices.

Ikea’s Friheten sofa bed, which is available from a number of sellers in New Zealand, takes the concept one step further and is a sofa bed with chaise longue storage to house the bedding or anything else you want to store.

space saving ideas in her books.

Multifunctional furniture is featured in Jo Bennett’s “Shapeshifter” home in Beckenham, Christchurch, where the outdoor table on castors pivots into a desk and bar leaner when needed, says Foster.

Multifunctional furniture also excites Homebase’s Anthea Baker. She has seen coffee tables that lift up to become dining tables, and also “lift lid coffee tables” that have lifting lids that can tilt over the sofa to eat off or even work on.

Other multifunctional furniture includes wall-mounted drop-leaf tables, which could be used as desks in children’s rooms as well. A modern take on the drop-leaf table is the space saver set from ifurniture.co.nz, which can store four folding chairs within the folded-down table.

Some new multifunctional furniture resembles transformer toys in the way it morphs from one item to another. For example, the Palazzo transforming sofa that turns into bunk beds.

In a mini kitchen the plate draining rack may double as storage, which saves on puttingaway time. Elfin Kitchens and Mini Kitchens NZ offer units with features such as fridges and/or microwave ovens and even cooktops built into sink units.

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Monday, August 5, 2019

Try to keep the renovation within a reasonable time frame — the wall colour you choose now will only be trendy for so long; Raewyn Court and her husband, Chris, are at the tail end of a 15-year renovation (below).

How to renovate and stay married

Photos / Getty Images, Ted Baghurst

before we’d done up her bedroom so it became the guest room, and I had planned on taking over my son’s sunny bedroom for a craft/writing room but in true Gen Z fashion, he’s moved back in.

Stoic Raewyn Court tells you what it’s really like to live through a major reno

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henever I watch a home renovation show and the homeowners wrinkle their noses at the idea of living through a twomonth renovation, I snort into my coffee. “Try 15 years!” I shout at them.

My ex-builder husband, Chris, and I are at the tail end of 15 years of chaotic living arrangements. We extended and extensively renovated our dated three-bedroom home while working, raising kids and living in it the entire time. We’ve had weeks of boardedup windows, months of wind howling through unfinished walls, and years of living on bare plywood floors.

If you’re a would-be renovator thinking of embarking on a major renovation, there are a few things you need to know that should ease the process and hopefully stop you heading for the divorce courts.

Time frame Try to keep the renovation within a reasonable time frame. Taking too long means trends can change faster than you’re able to keep up with. We have taupe walls downstairs and white and grey upstairs. I’m now grateful we left the kitchen till last, as it would already have been looking outmoded if we’d done it early on.

Council regulations change over time too, meaning early renovations may not measure up when you finally apply for your Code Compliance Certificate.

Should you even renovate?

We have undoubtedly increased the value of our home but, had we left it as it was, the Auckland property market’s upward trajectory over the past 15 years means it might have increased nearly as much if we had done nothing to it. Undertaking such an extreme renovation cost more and took longer than we ever imagined.

It meant missing out on time and money that we could have spent on enjoying family time with the kids. In

Noise and chaos Living through a major reno means piles of building materials in the middle of the lounge floor, tools to trip over, sawdust and plaster dust coating everything, and ear-splitting noise. Power tools each have their own unholy sound. The skill saw has a piercing scream, but the worst offender is the impact driver. Known in the trade as a rat-a-tat, the benign nickname belies the soul-destroying noise. Earplugs are no match for it.

hindsight, we would have been better off doing a superficial renovation and moving on, or building from scratch, because one of the dangers of renovating is that one thing leads to another and before you know it, you’re replacing everything.

If Chris ever started using the rat-atat while I was working, I’d have to close the laptop and walk away.

Plaster dust gets everywhere and it destroys electronic equipment and vacuum cleaners. You can buy rolls of plastic sheeting to cover furniture and electronics, but a more planetfriendly option is to use old bedsheets, curtains and towels. Chris is a stickler for site tidiness and at the end of every day, he’d sweep up sawdust and make neat piles of tools and building materials. Having a relatively clean and comfortable environment in the evening is a sanity-saver.

Flexibility Living among renovations requires

going with the flow. As each room is being worked on, other rooms have to do double duty or take on alternative uses. The dining room was our bedroom for months and later became a temporary mini-kitchen. It was convenient being able to use the en suite while the family bathroom was being done, but not so convenient when the kids had to tramp through our bedroom to take a shower. And when a reno is very drawn out, the intended use of a room can change. The kids were primaryschoolers when we started, but by the time we’d finished the rumpus room they weren’t interested in building forts in it, so it morphed into the media room. Our daughter left home

Keep calm and carry on One year we had a tarpaulin over the lounge extension instead of a roof, and the rain splashed over the gutter on to the coffee table. We joked about our “water feature”, because if you don’t laugh, you’ll scream. I’m pretty tolerant, but I’ve done my share of internal screaming over the reno years. I realised early on that being impatient wasn’t going to serve any practical purpose. There was no point in complaining because (a) he was suffering too, and (b) a hissy fit wasn’t going to get it done any faster. Chris is a perfectionist, which means measuring, adjusting and rechecking on repeat. Spending hours on the end of a tape measure or string line while he got levels and measurements just right was frustrating, but it did pay off when new kitchen, bathroom and laundry cabinets fit perfectly into their prepared spaces. Inevitably, of course, there were times when emotions boiled over. The only thing to do at the end of the day is apologise and hug it out before sweeping up the sawdust.

I will say that one of the few upsides of living through a years-long renovation is that when the room or feature you’ve dreamed about for so long is finally done and you can stand and admire it, it’s sweeter by far than any old quick-turnaround project.

wardrobes • home office • garages laundry • shelving • doors

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Monday, August 5, 2019

CHECK OUT THE COLOUR TRENDS FORECAST When you’re planning to decorate your home, looking to the latest colour and decorating trends is an easy way to get new ideas and inspiration.

Here’s a few of the new trends to help you get inspired.

Resene Indian Ink with Resene Grey Seal and Resene Wishing Well.

Embracing the dark Dark hues are cocooning in bedroom and living spaces, creating spaces to hunker down and relax in, away from busy life.

Use a tone on tone palette where the darkest colour leads the design and progressively lighter versions are added to complete the look.

Remember to add in texture too.

The trend to darker colours is best emphasised by matte finishes, like Resene SpaceCote Flat, which helps emphasise the depth and moodiness of dark hues.

Battens up Dimension and design are being added to dark feature walls using battens. Battens can be arranged in a variety of designs and add sophistication, style and beautiful shadowing to enhance dark feature walls. Battens are increasingly popular in bedrooms for an ultra-luxe look, living areas and bathrooms.

Battens can also be combined with lighter colours, such as weathered blues and greys like Resene Dusted Blue and Resene Silver Chalice for a timelessly classic look.

Tone on tone While neutral colours are still popular, there is a trend to using more variations of a colour to avoid a bland colour scheme.

This started as just single variations of one colour, such as full strength Resene Black White for the walls, quarter strength for the ceiling and double strength for the doors. The look is now going deeper and starting with the darkest colour, then adding lighter variations of that hue, such as dark grey walls, lighter trims and lighterfloorcolours,thenaddingafew pops of colour in accessories such as cushions, throws and artworks. It’s an easy look to replicate and allows you to use a range of tones to get just the right depth of colour in your room.

For the love of timber Timber has been increasing coming indoors and helps connects us to nature. Rather than painting over it, the latest trends are to clear finish timber, in products such as Resene Aquaclear Natural, to protect the timber and keep a natural sheen.

Or use Resene Colorwood stain to rejuvenate or enhance the colour before clear finishing.

From feature areas to flooring, timber brings a sense of relaxed, craft vibe into a home.

choices,popsofcolourinaccessories such as plant holders and furniture and remember to soften the look with comfy cushions.

Classic complements Colour blocking has evolved from a myriad of blocks of different colours into more randomly placed blocks of colour, larger and used in place of art as a feature on their own. Whether it’s a large square of colour on a wall, a vertical wide stripe or a circular shape, the size and focus on the colour draws attention. Paired with a neutral background, the accent colour is given the freedom to sing.

For those yearning for more colour, multiple colour blocks can be used, but the key is to give each colour block some space to breathe rather than filling up the whole wall with blocks or shapes of colours.

An easy way to create a multi coloured colour block feature is to use classic complementary colours — such as orange and blue. These hues naturally contrast each other well. Or opt for a tone on tone look with variations of the same colour.

For small areas use Resene testpots, or opt for Resene SpaceCote for larger blocks of colour.

Unleash your inner artist Who said you had to be an artist to paint all over your walls?

The trend in hand-painted wall murals is for a relaxed, anything goes, freehandstyleincludingsmallpainted features that meander over your walls to sections of colour, doodled lines and curves that move across spaces

Interiors going out As nature comes indoors, we also see our interiors start to head outdoors, with outdoor living spaces and rooms that look like they could be inside a home, but are designed to be enjoyed outdoors. If you’re lucky enough to be blessed with an outdoor living space, think about decorating it like you would an interior, with interesting colour

Resene Just Dance

Resene She’ll Be Right

from wall to floor, wall to wall or wall to ceiling. Gone are the days where you needed to fill the whole wall for the work to be finished. All you need is a small collection of Resene testpot colours and a little imagination.

Talking points Wallpaper features are continuing to be popular with a fresh line-up of designs to choose from. Styles range from faux finishes through to quirky conversational pieces that bring a sense of energy and life. Collections like the Resene Portobello Wallpaper Collection use fun designs in sophisticated colourways to work well in a wide range of homes and add a little levity to otherwise serious spaces.

Interesting wallpapers are an instant conversation starter and the perfect way to express your personality on your walls.

When it comes to trends, don’t just choose a colour or wallpaper because it is trendy. Make sure you love it too. Always pick and choose the ones that suit your own tastes and lifestyle. You don’t need to completely redo everything — like you would bring in a new jacket or scarf to freshen up your wardrobe, so too can you accent your home with new trends colours and wallpapers to give your home a fresh new look.

For more inspiration on fresh trends, see the latest looks on the Resene website, www.resene.co.nz/ latestlooks and visit your Resene ColorShop.

Resene Quarter Bokara Grey with Resene Eighth Bokara Grey and Resene Virtuoso.

Dress up your walls with stylish combinations of Resene colour and Resene wallpaper!

To help get your next decorating project started, simply bring this page into any Resene owned ColorShop and get a free Resene testpot in the colour of your choice!

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Monday, August 5, 2019

LIVING

SCANDI STYLE

While Swedish homeware giant Ikea hasn’t found a suitable site for its first New Zealand store yet and the amazing ABBA avatars haven’t hit the stage, Scandi style is already here, and this spring it’s among the most popular themes in furniture and homeware stores, writes Louise Richardson

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here are said to be three distinct streams within this general decorating theme: a 17th-century Gustavian look, uber-cool mid-20th-century modern style and what’s often referred to as Swedish country style — but, of course, it isn’t actually unique to Sweden.

Some of the most stunning Scandinavian homes feature an eclectic mix of all three.

Maximising light One of the significant principles behind Scandi interiors lies around the need to maximise light. Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland are close to the Arctic Circle and in winter, the days are very short.

When the weather is icy-cold outside, having a comfortable and cosy living space is extra-important.

Many Scandinavian homeowners paint almost all of their dwelling’s interior white to reflect whatever sun is available, bouncing it off the walls to deliver an enveloping atmosphere in winter — and a simple, airy way of living in summer.

The Nordic countries (a classification that also includes Iceland and Greenland) also do home heating very well, compared to Kiwis, who until very recently thought it was character-building to shiver in cold houses, lighting poorly performing open fires, then putting another layer of clothing on when the chill became unbearable.

The importance of effective and economical home heating, ventilation and insulation is finally being recognised here, so if you’re wanting to emulate Scandi style you’ve probably already taken the first step.

What is Scandi style?

■ Scandinavian design is marked by a focus on clean, simple lines, minimalism, and functionality.

■ Focus on “hygge” or creating a cosy, comfortable environment.

■ Scandinavian interiors are typically painted white to help keep spaces bright.

■ Decor is kept to a minimum.

Quarter Stonewashed.”

Karen says these colours are timeless and can be easily dressed up to suit each season.

Scandi colour Whitewashing is another favourite decorating technique and can be applied to furniture, walls or floors for a clean and relaxed effect.

When colour is introduced in Scandi schemes it’s essentially as a “pop”, and a very effective one too, as fans of legendary Finnish Cut the clutter homeware design house Marimekko, Minimalism is the essential heart of with its iconic red poppy pattern Nordic living, which means that, Unikko (which is the Finnish name ideally, there’s no clutter. The for the flower) know well. It’s been Swedish homeowners prefer natural, around since 1964 and today still wooden floors accessorised with a looks stylish and modern. cosy wool or sisal rug or two, rather Nikita at Bolt of Cloth in Christthan carpets. church agrees that Unikko is especiWhile bright colours sometimes ally beloved, even when Marimekko appear in their living spaces, the is producing exciting new styles, colSwedes, Danes ours and patand their One of the significant terns every year. neighbours tend “Our cusprinciples behind Scandi tomers tell us towards monochrome, and a they get a interiors lies around the that stylish blend of nice sense of need to maximise light. nostalgia when black, white and neutrals is far they look at more common.

Unikko and they Nature plays an important role in like the fact that it’s so bold and Scandi style and many aspects reflect playful too. its gentle colours in shades of soft “I think Kiwis, in general, want a grey, duck egg blue, beige, and light relaxed and casual lifestyle, and these blond.

Scandi prints fit in really well.”

Karen Warman, marketing manager at Resene Paints agrees that there Death cleaning is a clear trend towards these sorts No discussion of Scandinavian of shades and that some of the com- homes would be complete without a pany’s most enduring, best-selling quick look at Margareta Magnusson’s paint colours exemplify the pared- Swedish death cleaning, which has back Nordic vibe. become a global phenomenon.

“Traditionally these hues were It involves clearing your life of any used in bedrooms in New Zealand for detritus that could be a headache for their instantly relaxing feel, but more your loved ones after you’ve gone. recently they have become popular People of all ages who try death for living spaces, and even exteriors. cleaning, report having a cathartic “They create a soothing and restful experience and if you do it systemstyle, which is a welcome respite from atically and convince yourself to be busy lives, and this ‘coastal’ vibe also ruthless, you can end up with exactly extends into weathered soft greys, what we’ve been talking about: a and bone and beige hues that hint of crisp, cool, uncluttered home in perwashed driftwood, such as Resene fect Scandi style.

Swedish homeowners prefer a cosy wool or sisal rug or two, rather than carpets (above). Nature is reflected in Scandi Photos / Resene style in gentle shades of soft grey, duck egg blue, beige, and light blond (below).

D9

nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Monday, August 5, 2019

Set to work creating a garden you’ll love, writes Louise Richardson

Good to grow

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pring’s almost here after a remarkably mild winter for many of us, and the prospect of summer days ahead, relaxing on the deck and in the garden, is tantalising. Still, there’s no doubt groundwork to be done and planting to plan at your place.

Some of us have a love/hate affair when it comes to gardening. We love the finished product, admiring it in magazines and online, but we find the process of establishing and maintaining our own patch difficult — or at the very least, somewhat challenging.

The good news is that gardening isn’t actually hard, when you choose a style and theme that you enjoy — and take advantage of outside help for any tough stuff.

Here are some popular current trends to consider.

In an English country garden This isn’t a garden style that does particularly well in northern New Zealand climes, because it relies upon a certain amount of chill in the weather. However, in places like Hamilton, then further south as far as Christchurch where it is traditionally popular, and even beyond to Invercargill, where it’s a perennial winner, the call of Old Blighty is strong — albeit with distinctive Kiwi twists.

Hedging is one of the most integral aspects of a classic country garden and on an exposed section it’s the second major thing you should consider, after establishing a shelter belt of trees. There’s a bit of bad news here, because traditional buxus hedging in New Zealand has fallen prey to a fungal blight in recent years, so you

For your English country garden, choose lavender, violas and pansies, jasmine, honeysuckle and sweet peas for their constant, intoxicating scent — and vasefuls of beauty.

Photo / Getty Images

may need to consider alternatives such as azaleas and camellias.

They’re more expensive, but with good care, they should do just as well.

In terms of flowers, look to Stratford-upon-Avon, and Shakespeare’s wife Anne Hathaway’s legendary plot for inspiration because almost every bloom ever grown there was intended to be picked. In your version, lavender, violas and pansies, jasmine, honeysuckle, sweet peas and other fragrant delights guarantee a constant, intoxicating scent — and a regular vaseful of beauty.

Nasturtiums, marigolds, borage and other pretty, edible varieties can be added to salads in summer for a

spicy note in terms of flavour, while looking divine, as a bonus.

Subtropical is topical If you’ve ever visited Pacific islands such as Fiji, Rarotonga or Tahiti, chances are that you were blown away by the gardens, with their intoxicating floral perfumes and lush, humid beauty.

You won’t be able to recreate every aspect of an island garden, but you’ll come close — especially north of Auckland — with plants that yield the same level of drama.

Broad-leaf plants including taro, banana palms and aloes establish the scene, along with other palm varieties

such as cabbage trees, various palms, and New Zealand native puka, which is a large-leafed, evergreen tree that somehow manages to fit into a subtropical landscape perfectly.

Bromeliads are an increasingly popular plant species, and as long as you can keep numbers under control, they look amazing as massed plantings, amid a tropical setting.

These exotic beauties are part of the pineapple family, with colourful leaves and spectacular flowers. They recreate regularly in the form of “pups”, which divide to form new plants. Some bromeliads are very hardy while others are more coldsensitive and need to be covered with

frost cloth in winter.

Those floral perfumes we talked about earlier tend to come from classic gardenia and frangipani genres, as well as from heavenly night-scented Jessamine (or Queen of the Night) and, of course, jasmine, which is often — unfairly — regarded as a weed.

Sometimes difficult to grow outside of the islands, where the gentle, warm and humid environment is ideal, gardenia and frangipani can succeed in Northland and even Auckland and its environs, if owners make an effort to move plants — ideally in pots — in and out of shelter according to annual weather cycles.

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Monday, August 5, 2019

Greg Fleming tells you how to get your outdoor living spaces shipshape for barbecue season

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s the evenings lengthen and the weather improves, many of us are thinking about hauling that barbecue out of storage in anticipation of summer nights at the grill. This is a great opportunity to take a fresh look at your outdoor living spaces. Perhaps you’ve taken them for granted and they look as tired and bedraggled as you feel after the long, wet winter — but with a little effort and thought, these areas can be transformed into smart, functional and fun spaces.

Clear the decks Your first task is to clear and clean the decks and starting from a blank canvas is always easier. If you have a large deck, waterblast it and then scrub with the recommended cleaning agent that suits your decking surface. Smaller decks will require just a little elbow grease with a stiff broom or wire brush. Once you’ve cleaned and cleared, take a minute to think about your lifestyle and entertaining needs. The idea is, after all, to create a tranquil, peaceful haven that is easy to maintain — a place you will look forward to using.

Accessorising Thankfully, the next step is a lot more fun — accessorising. The right furniture, lighting, planters and features can refresh and reinvigorate even the most modest outdoor spaces.

Investing the same amount of energy here as you give to your home’s interior design will see you reaping the rewards. Most families start and finish an interior remodel before moving to an exterior plan, often without considering the relationship between the two places — a big mistake. Far better to think of your deck or patio as an extension of your home — another room that just happens to exist outside — and not as something separate that only requires attention in the spring and summer months.

Accessorising requires you think a little outside the square by using familiar objects in new ways. A mirror, for example, can make a stylish addition to your patio or deck by placing one in a dark corner, creating space and directing light to an uninviting spot. Even something as simple as putting tealights into jam jars or votive holders can add instant ambience to a neglected exterior.

Tying in outdoor accessories with your interior scheme is another good idea. This enables an easy flow between the two spaces. Pay special attention to furniture and colours. If your interior design shouts modernist minimalism, echo the effect outdoors with sleek outdoor loungers and tables, and clean lines and muted

All decked out

colours. If boho chic is more to your taste, find some outdoor pieces to match — there’re a wide range of pieces available in speciality outdoor shops and on the internet.

Today many of our al fresco zones are small so it’s a good idea to use what space you have efficiently by making it multifunctional.

Furniture No matter what type of furniture you choose — wood, wrought iron, wicker, aluminium — think first about how you entertain and the overall look you wish your deck to have. Remember, shop for value over price. Flimsy materials, and furniture which requires complicated assembly are not worth the trouble and frustration.

Where possible, thoroughly test and inspect the furniture before buying — sit on benches, lie back on the chaise lounge and pull chairs up to their table to make sure you’ll be comfortable. While mix and matching styles can be effective, aesthetically it is a fine line to tread.

Flowers and features On a grander scale, if size permits you

may wish to maximise the use of your deck by building in a hot tub or by using trees to help decorate the area.

Make use of screens, trellises or planters to create cosy areas to ensure privacy and shelter from prevailing winds. Another tip is to insert patterned glass blocks into a trellis to give the area pattern and light. Raised flower beds filled with plants can provide extra seating as well as adding fragrance and colour. If you have an aspect or view you want to block, grow flowering vines up trellises or hang potted plants in hanging baskets in strategic positions.

Consider buying one large item, say a bird bath, sculpture or interesting planter, to give your patio or deck a central focus around which you can plan the rest. And remember a fountain or small pool not only becomes a feature of the area but has a freshening and cooling effect on summer evenings.

Putting in the extra effort will add to your home’s resale value as well as creating a safe environment where your family and friends can relax and make the most out of all that summer and the outdoors offer.

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Create an inviting space that is easy to maintain (above); think of your deck as an extension of your Photos / Getty Images home.

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Monday, August 5, 2019

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Monday, August 5, 2019

Before After

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE THIS WINTER

SEE WHAT A LITTLE MORE NATURAL LIGHT COULD DO FOR YOU. Contact your local daylighting expert today.