A Labour Of Love
Inspiring home life is what NZ House & Garden magazine is about. Kiwis are our voice: Their houses, gardens and lives are our inspiration. Annemarie and Darrell are both hardworking and creative individuals, who both strive to succeed at any task put forward to them. They have taken it upon them selves to perform a ‘labour of love’ on a run down five-acre property situated on the edge of New Plymouth.
ON THIS Annemarie 1880’s New (Right) Dog
PAGE (from top) Darrell and stand proudly in front of their Plymouth cottage with dog Sarge. Sarge welcomes you into the home.
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The house was fit for sheep, or a bulldozer. Despite the smell and the piles being shot and the filth of the place, it had a rustic charm that needed a polish. Darrell and Annemarie wanted a new project! They knew they would have to roll up their sleeves and put in some elbow grease, but maybe under estimated how much. So their broken house and five Acres of wilderness got a make over, everything had 78 years of neglect, if it wasn’t broken it was about to break. Nothing was straight everything was a mission, everything was over grown. They were on a tight budget and did all of the work themselves with the exception of wiring and plumbing. The sewerage system had collapsed years ago and there was an open sewer running!. The water to the house was fed from a well in the paddock, the dog wouldn’t even drink it!. ON THIS PAGE (Above right) The view from the deck looking out upon the New Plymouth coast. Mount Paritutu can be seen in the distance
HOMES
(Below) This is an image of the 1880’s refurbished cottage that was once derilict. It has been given ‘TLC’ to help bring forward the unique charm of the property.
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Darrell and Annemarie estimate the house age at around 1880’s, with some additions over the years and nothing done well. “We wanted to have a good mix of old and new and added detailing in the architraves which we retrieved from a house being demo’ed down the road and the stonework; which were singularly chiseled off panels acquired from the bridge tavern in Waitara and then individually placed and grouted.” The stone from the panels are featured pg 4 and 5. FEATURED ON THIS PAGE (Top image) A view of the lounge. (Below image left) This image focus’s on the fire place which is a large feature within the lounge space, It had been painted over yellow. Annemaire spent strenuous hours restoring this feature back to
its original Kauri wood finish. (Below image right) This dresser retains the charm of the house as it explores the mix of old and new features within the home.
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HOMES
Darrell and Annemarie liked the coal range that was in the house but it was ‘shot’, so it was replaced with another one found in one of the sheds. Darrell got it inside with the use of his digger, pulling the Coal range through the house with the arm of it to get it inside. The digger was bought to do the hard yards (it paid for itself tenfold!). ‘The coal range is exactly the same as my mothers one in her first home, it was the only thing that made her smile when we first showed her the house -for the rest of the viewing she cried!.’
FEATURED ON THIS PAGE (Top image) this image is an overview of the open styled kitchen area that features the homely style and comfortability of the cottage, notably in the far back right corner of the kitchen you can see a decorated photo board of the property before the renovation. This board is proudly displayed as it shows the evident amount of hours, hard work and love put into the property.
(Above) This image features the Coal range that Darrell replaced with the use of the digger, as well as the stonework detailing that was retrieved from the Bridge Tavern in Waitara, Taranaki.
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For eight months Darrell and Annemarie toiled after work and in evenings on the interior of the house so they could move in and when they did, they started on the outside.. They removed nine truck and trailer loads of scrap metal and became regulars at the land fill. “We found all sorts of things!”. “We discovered we had trees in the orchard! Much to the disgust of the 27 Pukako’s who had taken up residence in the overgrown mass of a kiwi fruit vine that got the chop! We thinned out trees from around the house and when we took out the hedge, there were two full truck loads of rubbish in it!” ON THIS PAGE (Above) Darrell and Annemarie fondly overlook their journey of re-establishing the property and home, recalling the countless hours of work put into the property and the continuous reward of being able to look back on what was and now what is! (Left) This is a photo board featured in the kitchen that recalls the journey that they have taken. It is proudly displayed within the house and often makes for interesting stories to be told as new friends and family visit the house.
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HOMES
The garden is a work in progress. The hedges are grown from cuttings and the majority of plants have been scavenged. It is an ever-evolving living canvas, which gets fitted in around family and work commitments. Darrell and Annemarie got married 6 years ago in their garden and had the most magical day! Again they did it themselves and catered for 80 guests!. They had lights through the trees and around the house, it looked fantastic. “We hope to have a few more weddings here too.” Annemarie’s favourite spot is the courtyard, which they designed and built out of recycled materials (with the exception of the blocks).It looks a picture at night with the lights on, creating patterns from the filigree (see front cover). ‘We have enjoyed many a good meal around the stone table’. “We have some alterations planned for some time in the future , but in the meantime, the sheds need work and the gardens need more structuring... So there is plenty to keep us busy! We love this place, it is our piece of paradise. A labour of love and a work in progress..... Come and have another look in five years!” FEATURED ON THIS PAGE (Top image) Darrell and Annemaire enjoy a coffee and share a laugh in their courtyard. (Image below left) a view looking through
the courtyard and into the back garden. (Image below right) Dog Sarge sitting on the swing chair featured in the garden, that overlooks the house NZ H&G
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