11 minute read
37 My Home
My
HOME
John Martin, known to locals as Johnny Driftwood (he made furniture from driftwood back in the day), sailed to New Zealand from Australia 30 years ago. He bought a house on Rarangi Beach and loved living there so much that he convinced his parents, who were still living in Australia, to come out and join him. He bought a home for them just down the beach from his own.
For the next 20 years John’s parents, Irene and Neil, enjoyed travelling between Australia and New Zealand. Spending summers in New Zealand and our winters over in Cairns with their other son. Sadly, Irene passed away last year after a battle with cancer. Neil continued living at the home where John and his partner Millie have been caring for him, but recently he moved into a rest home, Alzheimer’s has meant he can no longer live by himself. After discovering almost all of New Zealand, John and Millie are ready for their next adventure and are preparing to go back to Australia. John says his parents made the most of life and believed that you need to enjoy what you’ve got – you can’t take it with you! He gives us a glimpse into his parents Rarangi Beach home which is soon going on the market for the first time in 20 years.
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1. The home overlooks the beautiful and rugged Rarangi Beach. 2. Irene enjoyed 'parking up' in her chair where she could keep an eye of the world. 3. Blooming wisteria covers ‘the pit’, a favourite family area where many summer evenings and barbeques have been enjoyed over the years. 4. The wooden seat in front of the house was built by the family. 5. Neil and Irene spent twenty years at their Rarangi home. 6. Irene's favourite room in the home was the kitchen, she loved to bake. 7. It's easy to see what the ocean is doing each day from the comfort of the living room.
Where is your home and how long have you lived here?
Rarangi Beach. My parents (Irene and Neil) have lived here for around 20 years on and off (between NZ and Australia). We are answering on their behalf. What four words would you use to describe your home?
Epic views, relaxed lifestyle. What inspired this look?
A love of beauty, art, different cultures and the relaxed beachy vibe.
What piece would you never part with?
Mum would have never parted with the driftwood copper candle holder I made for her many years ago, it sits on the dining table. When it comes to homewares do you, save or splurge?
Mum would definitely splurge. She loved beautiful things and decorating her home accordingly. Which items or fixtures did you splurge on and where did you save?
Splurged on new carpet, only the best quality for Irene! What was your favourite spot?
Dad’s favourite spot was the garage where he loved wood joinery, which you can still see features around the house.
What’s your favourite room?
Mum’s favourite room was the kitchen, she was always in it cooking, whilst admiring the view out her window. Irene was a great cake baker, every year she made the biggest Christmas fruit cakes. Best seat in the house?
Mum and Dad’s favourite seat was the wooden bench we built, situated near the beach.
What should every home have?
A garden. Do you have any tips on how to keep your living area orderly?
Declutter on a regular basis and be willing to let things go you no longer use or value. Everything has its place! Best memory in your home?
Relaxed family gatherings.
Interior Advice with Aimee Materoa
Kitchen Benchtop Materials
There are many different kitchen benchtop material options to choose from. Colours, brands, textures, wood, bamboo, marble, plate... Finding it hard to make a decision? Understanding the differences is crucial and will ensure you make the best choice for your home.
Porcelain
Although on the more expensive side, porcelain is offered in a range of stunning and luxurious colour options. Known for its durability and longevity, this material caters with its scratch-resistant, fade and waterproof features. One of the biggest advantages of porcelain is that it is unaffected by extremely high temperatures and staining. A great option for outdoor areas/cooking as well. Granite
Each slab has its own uniqueness and beauty which is often a “show-stopper” within the kitchen. Granite is a very hard-wearing material and is tough to damage. This beautiful material comes in an abundance of colour options and textures catering for all individual styles. Unlike porcelain, granite is more porous, so awareness of stains is important. This material is definitely a statement piece, and if you want to impress this is an option not to pass by. Stainless Steel
The first thought that often comes to mind is hospitality and hospitals... however, stainless steel is a very popular choice in modern kitchens due to its functionality. It is heat resistant, so hot pans can go straight on the bench, hygienic and easy to clean, sleek, affordable, but most importantly robust and durable. This surface will scratch over time, but repolishing will make it look brand new. A great option for the scullery/ butler’s pantry as well. Just re-think this option if you are having this surface in an “all sun” area. You may need to wear sunnies all year round. Laminate
This is my go-to material to use in scullery and laundry designs. Laminate benchtops have the widest range of colours and textures amongst all other benchtop materials, this makes it extremely easy to colour match (the kitchen material) or to have some fun. This material option has a range of benefits catering for that affordable price range. Laminate is hard-wearing and practical, easy to maintain, and scratch and stain-resistant. A fantastic choice for the kitchen, scullery and laundry. Engineered stone
This is a very popular choice for kitchen benchtops and like others, it comes in a range of colours. It’s made of a mixture of 90% crushed quartz, bound together by a polymer resin. This creates a highly durable and non-porous surface that is resistant to stains and scratching compared to granite or natural stone. Another benefit of engineered stone is that it does not allow for the growth of mould, mildew or bacteria, ensuring a perfectly food-safe surface to prep on. Acrylic
I have to admit I don’t use this material enough! Acrylic benchtops have some great advantages compared to others. This fantastic material offers seamless joins and can be formed into any shape. Acrylic benchtops are also completely non-porous, making them stain-resistant and easy to keep clean. Acrylic is also more hygienic than many other options. Some of the new colour combos are absolutely scrumptious.
November gardening guide
Don’t you just love this time of year? The weather is heating up and the days are getting longer – which means more time to be spent in the garden. This month is about filling up the garden with plenty of delicious vegetables and greens and planting colour – especially important if you’re hosting the big day this year.
In the vegetable patch:
Keep continuously planting this month. It’s important to get as much in the ground as you can. As you harvest salad, plant more. Gain more space by planting young seedlings beneath established crops. Earlier in the month plant broadbeans, peas, spinach, kale, parsley, onion, beetroot, brassica, lettuce, leek, celery, beans and tomatoes. As it gets warmer plant sweetcorn, cucumber, pumpkin, zucchini, pepper, eggplant, and melon. It is hard to beat fresh corn on the cob in summer. When planting sweetcorn remember it is windpollinated from plant to plant, therefore plant seedlings in blocks and keep plants relatively close together. Fertilise with organic material, such as sheep pellets. Set up some robust frames for growing tomatoes and beans on. An effective and simple option is teepee structures made from bamboo rods.
Bring out the nets or wondermesh – cover tomatoes and berries before they ripen to protect them from the birds.
Keep weeding throughout the season – as your seedlings flourish, so will the weeds. Plant insect-repellant plants. Garlic chives will deter insects and marigolds will help to repel nematodes, whitefly and aphids. Fancy up your summer salads with microgreens. Grow packets of mixed microgreens inside in a sunny spot.
In the fruit garden:
Your berry plants should all be in the ground by now. Keep regularly fertilising and watering them, come December you will benefit from the fruits of your labour. Citrus will be mostly finished fruiting by now. Prune back your citrus trees to allow the light in. Fertilise and add a good layer of mulch to help keep them moist over the summer.
Now is a great time to plant passionfruit. Choose a spot that gets plenty of sun and is next to a sheltered structure, passionfruit is a vine that needs to climb. Prepare the soil with organic matter. Once planted, mulch, fertilise and water well throughout the summer.
In the flower garden:
With the weather warming up you’ll be spending more time in your outdoor living area. Beautify the area with instant colour, such as petunias. Petunias do well in pots and hanging baskets. The threat of frost should now be behind us, meaning dahlia tubers can be prepared and planted. Choose a sunny, good-draining position and plant the tubers with their eye facing up at least 5-10cm below ground level, and 30-60cm apart, depending on their variety. Water regularly. In just a couple of short months, you will enjoy lush foliage with colourful blooms.
Solar you can count on
One hundred per cent locally-owned and operated, the founders of Goodyer Solar, Chris and Simone Goodyer are hugely passionate about helping Marlborough homes become more energy efficient. Starting out as contractors, Chris says that as soon as he installed his first Enphase solar system with iGenerate, his passion for solar began. Very quickly the couple recognised a gap in the market for providing solar energy and seized the opportunity to become one of the region’s most reliable, grid-tied solar energy providers. Goodyer Solar have now installed hundreds of systems all across the region, including Bragato Research Centre and the Enphase Design Studio in Christchurch. The team at Goodyer Solar are the only registered Enphase Gold accredited installers in the top of the South. Focused on delivering top-quality customer satisfaction to each and every project, the team never compromise on their workmanship, safety, and delivery of premium products, aligning themselves with innovative industry leaders Enphase. To become Gold accredited installers Goodyer Solar went through the Enphase University. They had to uphold a certain level of customer satisfaction, which is measured by Enphase themselves and then complete a large number of installs at a high-standard to be awarded this accreditation. “We choose to only install Enphase products as we believe they have the most advanced technology, quality product, best warranties and find their core values align with ours.” Says Chris. The couple believe there is no other product on the market that can compare with the safety level of an Enphase product. “We choose to specialise in what we are passionate about which is grid-tied solar energy only,” Simone says. “We believe in focusing on one thing and doing it exceptionally well. Solar is clean, renewable energy that is not going to run out anytime soon - in a world where inflation is at its highest, with solar you have the ability to take control of your individual energy usage.” Chris and SImone are always your point of contact at Goodyer Solar, seeing each job through from the beginning to the end, and always going the extra mile for their customers. “At Goodyer Solar, when you walk through the front door or give the team a call, you are dealing with Marlborough locals from start to finish,” Chris says.
Chris and Simone from Goodyer Solar.
Once the Goodyer team install a system for you, you are a customer for life.
