A fresh start See a backyard, living room and front facade transformed

Before

For product details, see the following page

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Inspiring renovations

A fresh start During the new Make It Happen makeover series, three unloved home zones were transformed from tired to terrific by reno expert Lucy Glade-Wright and the MIH team

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Before

Homeowner JENNY (left) and LUCY GLADE-WRIGHT of Hunting for George

Make it!

See page 71

PROJECT 1

BACKYARD MADE BEAUTIFUL

A drab rear garden is now a vibrant entertaining space – thanks to some bright ideas from the Bunnings Make It Happen crew

Sometimes, a change of scenery can be transformative, as homeowner Jenny discovered when the Make It Happen team came to call. The resulting revamp of her garden has led to a revived space. “Now it feels like an extra room, an extension of the house,” she says.

Into the zones Jenny’s brief was for a sleek, lowmaintenance zone. In stepped Make It Happen host and renovation expert Lucy Glade-Wright of Hunting for George (huntingforgeorge.com). “It was tired but a very useable outdoor space,” says Lucy. “It was flat, had a patio and grass area, but it lacked a bit of pizzazz. Jenny just didn’t know what to do with it.” But in a matter of three days the backyard was transformed, on a budget of just over $15,000.

Key to the redesign was creating areas for dining, barbecuing and relaxing. “We designed a really simple layout in terms of the deck, grass, the barbecue space and pavers,” says Lucy. “It was what we added to it, such as the greenery, screens and water feature, that really amplified the garden.”

Above: For similar decking, try SpecRite 140mm x 19mm kwila griptread timber decking, $13.80/linear m, I/N: 0062737•. PPG Paints ‘Weather Tough’ low sheen exterior paint (on weatherboard walls) in Frost Fangs, $79/4L, I/N: 8904862, and (on trims) in Black, $79/4L, I/N: 8904877. For a similar colour (on rafters, posts, fence and beds), try PPG Paints ‘Suntuf’ low sheen exterior paint in Colorsteel Grey Friars, $65/4L, I/N: 8909492.

Left and opposite: For similar festoon lights, try Lytworx multi connectable festoon party lights, $44/20 bulbs, I/N: 0139564. (In hanger) Philodendron cordatum ‘Heart-Leaf’ plant. Mistletoe cacti plant. Various succulent plants in Northcote Pottery ‘Precinct Lite’ 45cm large egg pot in White Terrazzo, $79, I/N: 0096212 (plants sold separately). Brilliant ‘Chateaux’ 240V modern wall coach light, $99, I/N: 7071777 (globe sold separately). Bowls and placemats, Kmart, kmart.co.nz. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

Step one was to lay a new deck, which has been made into a generous dining zone with a new dining setting and festoon lighting woven through the rafters. Empty spaces were rounded out with pots and hanging baskets, filled with succulents for easy-care greenery. Any less-thanfabulous features were dealt with – the tired weatherboards were repainted with PPG Frost Fangs, while screening was installed to mask the hot water system.

Before

Above: Jumbuck 4 burner hooded barbecue with side burner, $369, I/N: 3180779. Lavender plant in Northcote Pottery 45cm large egg pot in White Terrazzo, $79, I/N: 0096212 (plant sold separately). All other products, stylist’s own.

Elsewhere, worn grass was dug up, and the area levelled and returfed. Pavers and pebbles form a neat border around the deck, and create a pathway to the newly created outdoor cooking and seating area. This zone is now defined by a pebbled base, a barbecue and Jenny’s existing garden furniture, revived with specialist oil. A coat of dark grey paint on the fence has brought a flattering backdrop. “If you paint a fence in a charcoal colour, it can really help to lift all of your greenery and the other elements in your garden,” explains Lucy.

Above: Furniture restored using Cabot’s water-based garden furniture oil, $41.50/1L, I/N: 0901456. Solid Energy premium NZ split firewood, $14.98/9.5kg, I/N: 0401829. For similar pebbles, try Daltons 5-12mm fine decorative pebble, $160/0.5 cubic m, I/N: 0237555†.

Before

Above: Dwarf

rosemary plants

and olive tree. Daltons coloured bark mulch in Black, $10.89/40L, I/N: 0242161‡.

Restoring some Zen The overgrown vegetable garden now has raised beds filled with a low-maintenance plant selection: rosemary, lavender and olive trees. The greenery balances the hardscaping, while screens and a water feature make the whole zone an inviting focal point. “Jenny mentioned that she loved the sound of running water in the garden, so the water feature was a bit of a treat for her,” says Lucy. “It’s a nice way to bring a corner to life.” }

Shop the look

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1 Protector ‘Tapa’ 1840mm x 940mm aluminium deco screen in Black, $173, I/N: 0316439. 2 Mimosa ‘Alto’ firepit with wood storage, $149, I/N: 0229246. 3 Northcote Pottery ‘Summit’ 49cm x 35cm x 34cm fountain, $169, I/N: 0138021.

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LUCY GLADE-WRIGHT and resident MAX

Before

PROJECT 2

LIVING ROOM REVIVAL

Removing a temporary divide and a complete repaint have given this lounge room new life

For 21-year-old university student Max, the saying ‘a mother’s love knows no bounds’ certainly rings true. To create a much-needed bedroom for him, his mother sacrificed the living room in their home by slicing it in half. “We put up sliding doors to separate the lounge room, and then I was living in the other half,” explains Max.

Issues with the arrangement emerged almost immediately. “It basically took away the lounge room,” says Max. “It was very claustrophobic. No-one really wanted to use the room knowing I was right behind them. They couldn’t watch anything late at night because then I couldn’t sleep!”

Despite these issues, the family lived with the layout until Max’s sister moved out and the Bunnings Make It Happen team moved in. “Max wanted to create a living area his mum and family could really enjoy,” says MIH host Lucy Glade-Wright. “It ended up being a simple cosmetic fix.”

Removing the makeshift doors that divided the living room and bedroom brought in much-needed natural light. Holes were patched, the walls and ceilings were painted, the old carpet was ripped up and new laminate floorboards were installed. “That’s one of the best parts of the renovation,” says Max. “The floor is much easier to keep clean – and it looks a lot nicer, too.”

Fixtures and fittings were refreshed with a modern ceiling fan and wall light, while stylish sheer curtains add softness, texture and gently diffused light as the perfect finishing touch.

The main living area walls were given a fresh coat of British Paints White Beam

Top: (In hanger) Philodendron cordatum ‘Heart-Leaf’ plant. (On table) Succulent plants. (In plant stand) Monstera plant. Artwork, Adairs, adairs.co.nz. Pear ornament, Kmart. Above: African milk tree. All other products, stylist’s own.

Make it!

See page 73

An inside job As a key focal point, the non- working fireplace was given an instant update by painting its interior black and refreshing the white exterior. Mantels matter when decorating a fireplace surround; here, simple works best with a few stylish accessories and, of course, some greenery, all sitting below a pill-shaped mirror.

Before

Porter’s Paints Aniseed helps define the study/gaming zone

Let the games begin An enthusiastic gamer, Max had often coaxed his mum into playing too. “We had the idea to have a desk where they could still play games together, but it would be an inclusive space,” says Lucy. Defining the area was as simple as painting a feature wall (see page 72 for instructions), adding a desk and installing storage above – actually a Clever Cube floor unit secured to the wall with strong angle brackets. 

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Shop the look

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1 Verve Design rattan drum lamp shade, $78, I/N: 0021463. 2 Verve Design ‘Mardin’ 36cm lamp base in White, $19.98, I/N: 4371011. 3 Porter’s Paints ‘Eggshell Finish’ paint in Aniseed, $149/4L, I/N: 0162933. 4 Windoware ‘Globe’ 120-210cm expandable curtain rod in Black, $42.26, I/N: 0266567 (rings not included). 5 Flexi Storage ‘Clever Cube’ 1 x 4 storage unit in Oak, $86.90, I/N: 0086361. 6 British Paints ‘Clean & Protect’ low sheen interior paint in White Beam, $149/10L, I/N: 0093368. 7 Tuscan Path ‘Jasper’ 46cm extra large pot in Rust, $89.98, I/N: 0119310. 8 Euro Home 2000mm x 192mm x 8mm laminate flooring in Valley Oak, $72.63/pack of 7 (2.69sqm, $27/sqm), I/N: 8902075. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

42 Update it

PROJECT 3

FRONT GARDEN REFURB

This facade refresh has seen a brick ugly duckling transformed into a beautiful home

For their next makeover, the Bunnings Make It Happen team moved on to a tired 1960s brick bungalow. Although she loved her neighbourhood, homeowner Lisa says she used to cringe when directing people to the “ugly house at the end of the street”. But when Lucy Glade-Wright arrived on the scene, she saw its potential. Painting the mint-green brick in light grey, and the window frames, eaves and gutters in white, gave the house instant kerb appeal. “We switched out the door’s hardware to modernise it and it worked a treat,” says Lucy, who also weaved in a country look with two farm-style wall lights.

British Paints Status Cloud and PPG Paints Cotton Sheets combined for the facade facelift The bench seat was sanded and repainted for a fresh new look

Great storage

Homeowner LISA (left) and LUCY GLADE-WRIGHT

Before

Above, on brickwork: British Paints paint in Status Cloud. On trims: PPG Paints paint in Cotton Sheets. Lavender, standard ficus, armeria and grevillea plants and S-shaped bay tree. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

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Shop the look

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1 Feast Watson timber and deck stain in Grey Mountain Ash, $99/4L, I/N: 1520597. 2 Arlec ‘Bristol Farm’ 60W wall light in Black, $58.99, I/N: 0315111 (globe not included). 3 Ring 2020 release video doorbell in Satin Nickel, $198, I/N: 0192691. 4 Eden ‘Stonelite’ 22cm round self watering planter in White, $19.98, I/N: 0086670. 5 Ikonic entrance knob set in Matte Black, $12.95, I/N: 4010542. 6 Axton 75cm x 45mm PVC coir debossed flock mat, $20.97, I/N: 0047670.

Watch it!

To see the makeover team in action, visit

youtube.com/bunningswarehouse

Hamptons meets country Lisa loves the Hamptons look but Lucy, conscious that they were in the country and not by the beach, decided to give the style a twist. “For our colour scheme, we opted for neutral greys and whites to create a Hamptons beach-house style, but we also brought in timbers and warm tones and textures to add some farmhouse charm,” she says.

The unattractive concrete front porch was covered and widened to create extra outdoor space, using timber decking which was whitewashed using a deck stain. “We put planter boxes around the edge to give it structure,” explains Lucy. Seagrass baskets, potted trees and fragrant lavender were added for a warm and homey ambience. And with the existing hedge already fitting the theme, there was just one last thing that needed attention: the letterbox.

“People can forget about how important a letterbox is to a house. First impressions count!” says Lucy. Installing a freestanding letterbox is an easy DIY job – see page 74 to learn how. ◆