My Home

My

HOME

Lorraine Larcombe and Di McAllister have always loved Christmas. Their passion for the festive season peaked when they designed, owned and operated the bed and breakfast Mulberry House. After selling the business the two friends decided it made sense to continue living together and built their new home in Blenheim’s Rose Manor. With an abundant collection of decorations from their bed and breakfast days, they were spoilt for choice when it came to decorating their new home this year.

Sarah Brown

Where is your home and how long have you lived here?

We live in Springlands. It’s a new build and we have been here for about 18 months.

What four words would you use to describe your home?

Welcoming, comfortable, warm and peaceful. What’s your decorating style?

Contemporary, classic, sophisticated design that meets fun and casual vibes. Much like us!

What inspired this look?

We totally designed our last house ourselves; this is a new plan and even though it has a smaller section and house size, it has a similar feeling. We like the modern contemporary look.

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Where do you shop for homewares?

Mainly Cinnamon House here in Blenheim and a variety of places throughout New Zealand. What piece would you never part with?

Lorraine: My Waterford Millennium wine stand signed by the head designer Jim O’Leary from Ireland, as well as lots of little treasures from my mother and grandmother. Di: My beautiful hand-blown Lava glass vase from Taupo depicting the Huka Falls. What’s next on your interiors list?

Get our two rolled armed chairs recovered to match our recently recovered colourful sofa. What’s your favourite spot in the house?

You will have to ask our animals, Fergus our ginger cat and Gracie our 18-month-old cocker spaniel, they know all the special sunny spots.

Best seat in the house?

At our beautiful oak dining table with a group of friends.

What should every home have?

A covered outdoor room. We enjoy ours often with friends around and the outdoor fire going. Best budget tip?

Always buy quality.

Have you done any renovations?

No, just landscaping as it is a new build. We’ve created a couple of different outdoor areas for entertaining. Best memory in your home?

Having our friends visit. We usually have a big Christmas party with around 50-60 friends. Do you have a favourite Christmas decoration?

Lorraine: Christmas lights and some of my childhood decorations. Di: An animated carol-singing Father Christmas. Where do you find your decorations?

Collected through the years and even from all around the world. We acquired a lot more when we did the Christmas Peek for Hospice Marlborough. What is your favourite part of decorating for Christmas?

When the Christmas decorating is finished and we can sit back and enjoy the atmosphere of Christmas. We usually put our decorations up quite early – around the beginning of November! Do you find inspiration for your Christmas decorating from somewhere?

It’s a gut feeling, if we put something up and it’s not right, then we change it. When we did the Christmas Peek, we went from really traditional to modern blues and silvers. But in this house we have quite a mixture of both. It’s just what suits the house.

ABOVE: Di's favourite Christmas decoration is her carol-singing Father Christmas.