23 minute read
Gardening
We all need a little help in the garden now and then. Daltons new gardening Q&A column can answer any curly questions you may have. Send our experts your gardening question and be in to win a Daltons prize pack!
Dividing peonies and checking bulbs When is the best time to lift established peonies and other bulbs in the garden?
Herbaceous peonies grow from tubers, and like bulbs, these store the nutrients the plant needs to regrow each year. Traditionally, peonies are divided in late autumn - a process called root division. Peony “clumps” may actually not need to be divided for 10-15 years after planting. You will know it is time to divide your peonies when the flowers become smaller every year. Once the peonies leaves are brown and have died down, dig up the clumps carefully and with a clean, strong, sharp knife, divide the plant ensuring that each section has significant roots. Before planting, make sure your soil is well prepared by incorporating plenty of fresh compost. Plant the new divided clumps 40-50cm apart. Don’t plant them too deep - ensure the crown of the plant (where the buds grow from) sits above ground level.
WIN AN $80 MOTHER’S DAY GARDENING PACK!
This month we are celebrating Mother’s Day and have the perfect gardening pack to give away for our mums who love to garden. To enter, simply email nelsonmag@daltons.co.nz with Daltons prize pack in the subject heading by 31 May 2021. Your other bulbs can be lifted in late autumn as well, and as with peonies, it is important that you let the leaves die off first before removing. The reason for this is that the leaves absorb nutrients which are stored in the bulb, giving it the ability to flower the following season. In general, bulbs can be left in the ground for a number of years before it impacts their flowering. You can take bulbs out and dry them over the season although there is no real advantage in doing this unless you want to move their position. Lift and inspect the bulbs for any signs of disease before replanting into prepared soil as above. Mark the area with a stake where the bulbs are planted to avoid the possibility of accidentally digging them. If you would like your bulbs to naturalise (spread naturally on their own) just leave them in the ground and do not disturb them. However, with some varieties, particularly Irises and Lachenalias it is imperative to lift them every two to three years otherwise their flowering will reduce. You may also find it helpful to read our free How to Grow Bulbs Guides at: daltons.co.nz/how-to-guides.
You would usually spot Jesse Patel in a ute with signature green highlights. It suits his brand – an expert mountain bike mechanic for DVO Suspension, who tests his machines on the hardest terrain possible. His wife is also a professional mountain biker so he tends to take his vehicles up some pretty steep gravel access roads. Hence, a ute seemed to do the job.
But recently he was put behind the wheel of something a little different. It was a 2021 Subaru Outback.
As soon as he was given the keys, Jesse did what he always likes to do to cars. He hooned up gravel roads, testing its all-wheel drive, its suspension and handling. Jesse grew up watching his mechanic father work on cars. That fascination drew him to vehicles and eventually to bikes. He knows what makes a machine tick and this one was impressive. “My ute is a two-wheel drive and, going up some steep roads, it definitely hangs out a bit and struggles. The Subaru just ate those roads.” He even did a roadie from Nelson to Blenheim, which made him appreciate a different aspect to the car. “It’s quite luxurious.” It was the first time he had driven with adaptive cruise control. It allows the driver to set a speed and then sit back as it reads objects in front of it and slow down accordingly. It will also vibrate through the steering wheel if it sees the driver has veered too close to the centre line or too far to the left.
“It’s really smooth,” Jesse says. “It was quite surreal. I really think it’s the future.”
But there was something more practical about it. The waterproof coating on the leather seats means they easily wipe off clean, making quick work of eliminating scuffs, spills, and paw prints from the dog. Jesse was also impressed with the roomy interior. “There’s a lot of space. It’s lockable and secure and there’s heaps of room to put roof racks or bike racks.” That’s a far cry from his ute. All of which was leading Jesse to an inevitable conclusion.
“It made me realise that I probably don’t need a ute.” The Subaru Outback would likely work much better, he thought. It even has highlighter green on part of it.
Casting new light on an old flame
Three generations of one Nelson family have spent an incredible few years building another storey onto the business, which began half a century ago as Brewerton Electrical.
Asmall wooden house on a busy Nelson street contains layers of history. This legacy, and a new direction, have helped form the title for the next chapter in the story of a long-running family electrical and lighting business. In recent years, the specialist lighting store has been known as Lighthouse Nelson, but a move to push its furniture and home décor elements, plus the arrival of a new generation in the business, has led to a name change – Storey Collection. The little bungalow in Collingwood Street, which once had a stable out the back, is now the branding on the company’s new logo. It was once the home of the Brewerton family; whose electrical appliance business began within its four walls. It was an offshoot of the electrical contracting business started by Lester Brewerton, at a time when electricity was first installed in rural homes around the region. Daughter Jenny Knight says having electricity in homes for the first time meant people then needed electric ranges, so the Brewertons started a showroom in the little house – a showroom of electric ovens. “Then they moved into washing machines and freezers, and also started to sell glass shades and from there it went to lighting.” Jenny grew up in the house and learned the retail skills from her parents. It began at an early age, she says. “I actually sold a kettle when I was three or four years old. Legend has it that I came through to the shop – mum was busy, and someone came in and I asked if they would like to buy a toaster or a kettle. “They didn’t need one but thought it so cute, they bought one.” From there, Jenny spent time after-school and in the holidays dusting, re-arranging and working in the shop with her mother Joice Brewerton. Jenny’s brother Richard and his wife Tina then took on the business and joined independent retailers, the Lighthouse Group, and re-named it Lighthouse Nelson. Jenny and her husband Dennis Knight bought the business in 2015 and changed the name to Storey Collection, but with a residual link to the Lighthouse name. “The Lighthouse group still exists. We held the name, but we are now moving towards our own branding. “We are pushing out the Lighthouse connection, which the public has known us as for 15 years, and we are pushing the new Storey Collection brand.” Jenny and Dennis’ daughter Serena Harris is now adding her own touches to the business as the in-house lighting design consultant. “I was nearing the end of high school when Mum and Dad took over the business. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I left school, so I worked for Mum fulltime for a year and then discovered I liked interior design.” Serena then studied interior design at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, which triggered her interest in lighting design – an element of home design she says is like a magic trick. “After I did interior design, I did two years’ study at Massey University on lighting and earned my Graduate Certificate.” She says it is a fun, creative career which blends her love of art and science – and she gets to work with her mum. “We work well together as a team. It’s very cool being able to work together. “ Serena says lighting has evolved to become far more technical, from the way it works to the effects it gives to a home. “Lighting has changed so much over the years. You used to put a lightbulb in the middle of the room, meaning the light was behind you when working at the kitchen sink. Jenny says years ago, not a lot of emphasis was placed on the functionality of lighting.
Brewerton Electrical Building. 1982. Jenny, aged 4, with her Dad, Lester.
“In the lounge there was only one light and it was either on or off. Now with lighting, we create layers. Using layers from a variety of sources to get the most flexibility for creating different moods in the same room. “It can make the difference between a stark room and something that is lovely and welcoming. Serena says they are keen to develop links with architectural firms. The aim is to promote the element good lighting has in home design. Jenny says people might spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their furnishings without thinking about ways to emphasise their interior with lighting. “You wouldn’t go and buy something from House of Dior and then grab jewellery from a Christmas cracker and expect it to look fantastic. “That’s what we find people are doing. Often when they’re building, they don’t budget for lighting.” Serena says another aspect many do not consider is the hours of each day they spend at home, often in dimming light at the day’s end. “Many of us are in fulltime jobs and aren’t home during the day, meaning you only ever see your home at night. “During the day it looks beautiful with all that natural sunlight. In the evening you need good lighting to illuminate and bring out the colours and textures too.” Jenny says they can source a lot of products architects like to
Storey Collection also displays a beautiful range of houseware. Serena Harris, Jenny Knight and Estara Naka.
use, from bespoke hand-crafted fittings made in Vermont to copper and brass fittings made by artists in Italy, along with thousands of products from highly decorative to contemporary lighting that suits many different styles. They include the Hampton beach style, or the clean-lined Scandinavian housing designs, that fit well with New Zealand lifestyles. Jenny says it is also encouraging to see the re-emergence of hand-crafted products from New Zealand artists and tradespeople. “When we started, we had hand blown glass from Hokitika, and North Island made fittings, but imports began, and New Zealand manufacturers could not compete. “Now we’re starting to see a re-emergence of New Zealand crafted product. “We have the locally made Switch downlights and I had someone come in the other day who is now making beautiful wooden pendant lights. We love supporting local producers of lighting.” Jenny and Serena say customers are guaranteed trusted knowledge when they visit the store; the little house on Collingwood Street illuminated by decades of family stories.
Building from your own blueprint
Key Property Pix Words: Jonty Dine
Many first home buyers feel their dream house is out of reach, but a young Nelson couple has proven you don’t need to compromise or work within the confines of the industry. Tash Krammer and fiancé Gabe Marshall reflect on their two-year journey as they relax in their rustic, modern, black barn.
When driving through the Berryfield subdivision in Richmond, one unique house stands out among the others.
The late afternoon sun fills the house with light, accentuating the living rooms high ceilings and floor level window. A seamless indoor-outdoor flow leads to a stunning barbecue area surrounded by lush greenery, while inside the mesmerising LED fire feature makes the perfect setting to crawl up onto the couch and admire the complementary colour palette of the room.
With some adaptions, extra cabinets, new paint work and appliances it is brilliant! It’s exactly what we would have hoped for in a brand-new kitchen and to repurpose and reuse is fantastic.
Tash and Gabe’s dream of a high-quality, cost-effective designer home, which began with sketches of houses on a pad, has become reality.
The project has been a family affair with designer, and Tash’s father, Phill of PK Design, integral to its success.
Phill says many people building are hampered by being told their only option is to work with a big building company and choosing from a selection of standard designs. “People think it must be the most cost-effective option, but that’s not always the case. You have to challenge the building company’s systems and ways of thinking.”
The section was purchased through Bruce Design & Build and both Russell Bruce and Phill ensured the build process was a stress free one.
“There’s been a lot of shift work, helping as much as we could to try and keep the costs down. People’s interpretations might be that this house isn’t to their taste, but that doesn’t matter because it’s exactly what Gabe and Tash wanted.”
Gabe says both Russell and Phill made things very straightforward and always kept the couples’ best interests at heart. “We were kept in the loop for decisions, and it was very enjoyable to be involved. It wasn’t just phone calls and emails either, but regular meetings on site.” Gabe says he and Tash were keeping an eye on the project and their thoughts were always well received. “This was important to us and we were very happy that we were heard.” To help save on rent costs, the young couple opted to move in with family for six months and agree that saving the deposit was probably the hardest part. Neither Tash nor Gabe were afraid to roll their sleeves up either. They painted the roof panels themselves, planted the gardens, installed the fireplace, and built the schist stone surround.
Set out to do exactly what you want and what will make you happy. Don’t live within parameters set by others. Be it suppliers, builders and councils. Explore your options and push for what you would like to achieve.
A quality kitchen was imperative for Tash. Though you would not know by looking at it, her kitchen is actually 16 years old. It came out of a house Phill had previously worked on and he bought it knowing he would find the perfect use for it in the future. “With some adaptions, extra cabinets, new paint work and appliances it is brilliant! It’s exactly what we would have hoped for in a brand-new kitchen and to repurpose and reuse is fantastic,” says Tash. The stainless-steel bench allows for easy meal preparation and clean up, and you can do the dishes without having your back turned to the living room. They have also set up facilities for an outdoor kitchen including hot water and electrical connections. “Being a Kiwi home, you want to be outside in the summer, so we wanted a really good outdoor entertainment area.” The house has a deceptive amount of space. At their recent engagement party they invited 50 people and it easily held everyone. It boasts plenty of unique features including low sitting windows and a Forté Millboard feature wall in the bathroom, which they are the first people in New Zealand to use indoors. “We just love how rustic it is – it looks like sleepers, just without the weight.” For Gabe, the key architectural elements were layout, design and functionality. “We know the type of living that we enjoy and when buying, it became very evident that there were some things we really liked and some we disliked. We wanted to tick all the boxes.” And while the couple made small compromises, they largely stuck to their vision.
While having an open plan living area with indoor-outdoor flow was a priority, Tash and Gabe were also keen to keep the two bedroom areas separated so they could have guests stay with a sense of privacy. The main bedroom, walk in wardrobe and ensuite are privately placed adjoining the living room, which could be considered apartment style living. The biggest appeal for Gabe is the homes sense of space. “It is a small home, but it feels big which was a factor we were trying to achieve, and the freedom the place provides, it is very spacious.” Tash is delighted to have her vision realised and says their journey was made incredibly enjoyable thanks to Phill and Russell. Gabe echoes his fiancés sentiments about the designing and building process. “It has been amazing, but it’s nice to have it all behind us. We can now enjoy what we have achieved.” Russell Bruce from Bruce Design & Build says his team really enjoyed working with Gabe, Tash and Phill. Bruce Design & Build encourage all of their homeowners to be a part of the design and build process so that the home is very connected to them. They don’t use standard plans and understand that the building site strongly influences the layout. “Standard plans just don’t do justice to some very lovely sites.
Looking for the right builder for you? Looking for the right builder for you?
For a quality Nelson Tasman builder and access to the peace of mind of the Master Build For a quality Nelson Tasman builder and access to the peace of mind of the Master Build 10-Year Guarantee, choose a Registered Master Builder. 10-Year Guarantee, choose a Registered Master Builder.
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We work with a wide variety of budgets and endeavor to deliver a one-of-a-kind build, specific to the requirements and personality of the clients.”
Bruce Design & Build have worked on several incredible homes with Phill as the designer. “Phill has a great eye for the detail, he thinks outside the box, and he considers the overall ambience of the home. Phill is also very organised, he thinks ahead, and his input makes the process very easy for our builders and the project manager,” says Russell. “Phill, Gabe and Tash are a dynamic team, and we are proud to be a part of their build.” Gabe has some sound advice for potential home builders, urging them to be different and be bold. “Set out to do exactly what you want and what will make you happy. Don’t live within parameters set by others. Be it suppliers, builders and councils. Explore your options and push for what you would like to achieve.” “You don’t need to compromise on what you want, or settle for what you’re told to have, the reality is when you build you can tweak things to suit you.”
Mapua Village Bakery
Come and experience their warm, friendly atmosphere with the delightful aromas of a homestyle bakery and cafe. Bring the kids, have your meeting, or just indulge in one of their many delightful food options. Try their gourmet pies, artisan breads or lavish cakes. They serve supreme coffee which will add a bounce to your day.
68 Aranui Rd, Mapua Ph: 03 540 3656 www.mapuavillagebakery.co.nz
Ambrosia Café
As soon as you step inside, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the delicious daily fare sets your mouth watering. Ambrosia Café is licensed, so whether you want a quick coffee and something sweet, brunch, lunch with friends, a business lunch or a glass of wine and a snack, it’s all here. Open every day.
226 Queen St, Richmond Ph: 03 544 0025 www.ambrosiacafe.co.nz
Anchor Restaurant and Bar
Top quality food is best served with amazing ocean views! Blessed with a fantastic spot on the water, you will feel welcomed and won’t want to leave.
Specialising in local seafood and steaks, there are also delectable choices for non-meat eaters, people with special dietary needs and kids.
62 Vickerman St, Port Nelson Ph: 03 546 6614 www.anchorrestaurant.co.nz
McCashin’s Tap Room
Calling all steak lovers! We’ve extended our menu to share the very best and most flavoursome beef steaks.
Choose from dry aged Angus sirloin, T bone, ribeye or sirloin served with your choice of four delectable sauces and your favourite sides. Best served alongside one of our own locally made brews. Open breakfast until late 7 days.
660 Main Rd, Stoke Ph: 03 547 0329 www.mccashins.co.nz
The Indian Café
With three great locations you can enjoy Indian Cafe’s delicious food no matter where you are. Head in and find out why Indian Café is the favourite choice for anyone looking for the highest quality food and a memorable cuisine experience. All venues offer intimate restaurant dining and courtyard settings and takeaway options.
94 Collingwood St, Nelson | Ph: 03 548 4089 266 Queen St, Richmond | Ph: 03 544 8979 201 Songer St, Stoke | Ph: 03 547 0008 www.theindiancafe.co.nz
