Bloom with a view

BLOOM WITH A VIEW

Paul Roper-Gee of Canopy Landscape Architects plants some tips on how to make the most of space in a hillside garden with considered retaining, platforms and planting.

STRIKING CONTRAST BETWEEN NATURAL PLANTINGS AND DECKING.

Christchurch’s volcanic past has created our hill suburbs with varied topography and aspect, making for unique and individual gardens. The dramatic views to the Southern Alps, estuary and seascape together with nearer views of the Port Hills are a key feature of Christchurch hillside gardens. Creating successful gardens on these slopes comes with design opportunities and challenges.

One trade-off is the strong winds. To resolve this, consider where your key views are and make them open, while creating sheltered and intimate spaces in other parts of your garden. Use plants for wind shelter, because solid walls do strange things with wind funnels.

One approach to gardens on a slope is to work with the hill. Think meandering paths and steps across the slope. This approach works well with creative planting to provide an immersive garden experience.

Another approach is to create flat space through terracing or decking. For terracing, try planning for several low walls with level terraces between instead of one big retaining wall. This way you can create individual garden ‘rooms’. A comfy outdoor entertainment area in the right position provides a great place to sit and survey the rest of your garden. Decking can create flat space that floats above a slope, and a multi-level deck can add valuable outdoor living space. The contrast between natural plantings and decking is always striking.

Most Christchurch hillsides are formed from loess soils over volcanic bedrock. The loess can be boggy in winter, and then bake rock hard in summer. Plan drainage carefully and add organic material into the soil to improve the growing conditions for planting. Bedrock can be just below the surface or metres deep, and can vary considerably across one property. The depth of bedrock can determine the most suitable construction methods for the site – for example whether you use timber piles or concrete foundations for retaining walls.

Be conscious of council planning requirements – there are limits on the amount of earthworks you can do before you’ll need a resource consent. When building a new house, try to factor garden earthworks into the consent application for the house. canopy.co.nz

A GOOD TIME TO THINK ABOUT DESIGN Anna Dick from Anna Margaret Interiors reveals the little things – and the big things – that can trigger a home revolution.

It all started with steam. A client called in an extraction expert because she was sick of stepping into the bath to open a window when her bathroom steamed up. Once she started to look around, the operation turned into a full bathroom remodel and modernisation. I often find the transformation begins with a niggly problem – the oven breaks down, the fridge isn’t big enough, the kids have moved out, the beige walls are too much, there isn’t enough seating. In this case the problem wasn’t a big one, but the solution changed my client’s environment, functionally and aesthetically. Good design creates positive change, giving people a renewed love for their homes. There’s psychology embedded in change, and transformation can provide fulfilment, satisfaction, and control.

Interior design is made up of two parts: the structure of a space; and the products that go into the space. The structure includes the architecture (walls, doors and windows); the layout of kitchens, bathrooms and laundries; and how people move around in the spaces. Products are the colours, textures, materials and even lighting that make the spaces home for you. Interior design can mean bringing about change with a product or two, remodelling and renovating an entire kitchen or bathroom, or working alongside your architect or architectural designer and builder to create a brand new home.

For any number of property choices, the

ANNA’S SPRING DESIGN TIPS Brighten and simplify by bringing more natureinspired colours, patterns and textures into your homes. Freshen a room instantly by wallpapering two walls for a feature with depth. Muted joinery colours paired with warm-coloured benchtops create interesting and beautiful kitchens. Brushed tapware and handles are like jewellery for the kitchen. Change the grout colour on bathroom tiles from mid to dark to give the space a pattern and impact. Outdoor cushions, rugs, and fun colourful chairs instantly feel joyful and can be elevated with tree lights and plenty of table candles.

journey of design and discovery should be shared with the people you trust, who will help interpret your desires.

The best time to engage in a conversation with an interior designer is right at the start of your project. For my client with the steamy bathroom, having the conversation with a designer at the outset meant creating a space everyone could enjoy. Creating a trusted team at the beginning of a project is paramount for cohesive and smooth design. annamargaret.co.nz

RESENE TUSSOCK

RESENE NEPAL

RESENE AMERICANO

THROW A CURVE After years of boxy edges and clean lines, the interior design world is once again embracing curves. And nothing celebrates the curve better than an amazing arch. From mirrors and ceilings to entryways and fireplaces, the arch design trend is in full swing. A shape that has stood the test of time, arches continue to be a classic design element that can take a mundane space and transform it into something marvellous. They can be funky, sophisticated, understated or dramatic. If you don’t have any arches built into your home, an afternoon and a tin of your favourite Resene paint colour might be all you need to transform your space. Cut an arched headboard out of a large piece of plywood and paint it in a gorgeous earthy tone like Resene Tussock and play it up with layers of luscious clay-coloured bed linen. RESENE resene.co.nz BLANK CANVAS RESENE RESENE TRIPLE MERINO SMOOTH OPERATOR

PHOTO: MELANIE JENKINS

PREMIUM APPLIANCES SHOW AND TELL

New Zealand-owned premium home appliance retailer Kouzina Appliances has opened a beautiful new Christchurch showroom in Victoria Street. Established in 2004 with stores in Auckland and Queenstown, the company launched the new Christchurch premises this year. It’s an inspirational space for residential and commercial projects, where the knowledgeable staff collaborate with you to bring your vision to life. With an extensive range of top international brands, Kouzina can help create a stunning, modern look. kouzina.co.nz

FLORIST

PERFECT POSIES

Delight with Court Florist’s brilliant bouquets. Blooming since 1937, they’re an iconic Christchurch brand and one of the city’s foremost florists. Be enthralled by the beauty of stunning fresh flowers, creatively arranged by the talented team. For every day or special occasions, for yourself or someone else, Court Florist brings you inspiration in spades. Pop into the beautiful inner-city store on Victoria Street today or simply order online. courtflorist.co.nz Inspired by the vintage markets of Europe, Cosi Fan Tutte’s extensive range of clothing, homewares, gifts, and jewellery is personally sourced locally and internationally and selected for its uniqueness, natural beauty, and Old World charm. You’ll be surrounded by gorgeous wares, delicious scents and beautiful sounds. cosifantutte.co.nz

GIFT BOXES

LIFTING THE LID

Barrelli is a Christchurch-owned and operated business presenting an elegant and contemporary twist on a timeless classic – luxury roses and gift boxes beautifully packaged and delivered in Barrelli’s signature boxes. Showcasing an appreciation for thoughtful gift giving, Barrelli has a range of collections covering all special and corporate occasions, or you can customise your own gift box. Barrelli ships nationwide and the full range can be browsed online.

GIFTS

EMPORIUM OF DELIGHTS

barrelli.co.nz

Give Give the gift of a book. Doesn’t matter if it’s a special occasion or a regular day, it’s always a good time to give someone a handheld adventure. See page 53 for some top city bookshops and reading ideas.

GIFTS

THE GIFT OF GIVING

One of the most special things about life is there are so many reasons to thank people and to celebrate milestones. Crowe & Co’s purpose is to spread happiness, surprise and delight through the art of giving. With a range of luxury gift boxes to suit all occasions, it’s easy to let colleagues, friends and whānau know you care. croweandco.co.nz

ANNA MARGARET INTERIORS

Interior design

Imagine how you’ll feel in a home that cleverly blends your personality, travels and lifestyle with timeless, elegant interior design. Specialising in kitchen, bathroom, and whole house interior design, Anna weaves a cohesive aesthetic ensuring your experience throughout the journey is extraordinary. Learn how to save time and energy for a fun and successful project with Anna Margaret Interiors.

FLOORING FRONTIER Flooring/Home | Woolston

Flooring Frontier is a family-owned business that provides excellent flooring services to residential and commercial properties. Owners Tyson and Dani Tia and their amazing team at Flooring Frontier welcome you to their relaxed home-styled office, located on the boardwalk at the beautiful Tannery. Open Monday to Friday and by appointment. Flooring Frontier’s spring/summer gift basket promotion is on now. For more information visit the website.

FROGMORE Gifts | Merivale

Step into Frogmore and prepare for a visual feast. You will be spoilt for choice with a range of gorgeous pieces, from homeware and décor to a special gift for a friend. Beautiful clothing includes labels such as Italian Closet, Imagine, and Helga May, all from Italy. The store also carries a large selection of jewellery and scarves, as well as new handbags and overnight bags from Vera May. Gift vouchers and gift wrapping available.

027 672 3364 annamargaret.co.nz

The Tannery, 3 Garlands Road, 03 925 8772 flooringfrontier.com FB/Instagram @flooringfrontier

University Drive, 03 364 2043 ubscan.co.nz

021 0295 1714 bespokedcycles.co.nz

UNIVERSITY BOOKSHOP

Bookshop | Ilam

UBS Canterbury is your independent community bookshop. It caters for all ages and interests, with an extensive children’s section and a diverse range for adults, from the latest fiction to tomes on politics or history. New Zealand titles are strongly represented and you can find unique gifts as well as cards. The special order service will track down those hard-to-get books, and UBS’ experienced staff are always ready to offer suggestions.

BESPOKED CYCLES

Bikes

Switch from four wheels to two with one of Bespoked Cycles’ sleek custom-built bikes. Starting with one of four different framesets, Bespoked Cycles rocks a huge number of build combos including unlimited colour options. You can design your bike from scratch with high-quality components to fit your style, adding flip-flop hubs so you can switch between fixed and freewheeling, or take your pick from the range of primo prebuilt bikes.

MOFFATT’S FLOWER CO.

Florist | Halswell

Moffatt’s is proud to be New Zealand’s leading family-run flower business for 70 years. Backed by an amazing, talented and friendly team, Moffatt’s stocks an extensive range of fresh flowers, indoor house plants, selected gift items and cards. Moffatt’s is committed to ensuring that all your floral requirements are met, whatever occasion arises. Pop into the boutique retail store, visit the website for easy online shopping or give the lovely team a call or email.