Photo: John Borren
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Seamless garden Winter and a notably hot summer has passed since we last visited Sally Blockley’s tropical Greerton garden – and it has thrived through the changing seasons.
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Sally’s bird of paradise plant well surpasses the height of the house, her ‘river’ of succulents continues to expand, and vining pink flowers almost cover the entire pergola, rather than just one side of it. “The one thing that didn’t survive is the grass, which has recently been replaced,” says Sally. “Besides that, the entire garden has really held its own.”
New additions
Sally Blockley with Before
pup, Oscar
Sally’s appetite for renovating is also alive and well. The latest addition to the garden is tall double doors, which separate the front garden from the entertainment area. With its dark timber and rustic steel features the doors look like something from a fantasy movie, and complement other industrial accents in the garden, including an accent copper art feature and charcoal pergola. Sally has modernised the weathered roof over the back terrace by adding white painted timber panels that continue through to the adjacent dining room, creating continuous lines between the indoor and outdoor space.
Clear vision
Sally works with Zones landscape architect, Nichola Vague, to keep the developing vision for the garden clear.
Maximise your outdoor living Maximise your outdoor living
As outdoor living specialists, Zones aim to enhance the things you love to do outside. Whether it’s cooking or dining outside with friends and family, playing backyard cricket with the kids, reading a book in the sun, or pottering around the garden, we can design and build a landscape to suit.
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As outdoor living specialists, Zones aim to enhance the things you love to do outside. Whether it’s cooking or dining outside with friends and family, playing backyard cricket with the kids, reading a book in the sun, or pottering around the garden, we can design and build a landscape to suit.
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• Decks • Paving • Pools • Planting and much more...
Talk to us today about how we can transform your outdoor living area. Contact Nichola Vague at Zones Landscaping.
Talk to us today about how we can transform your outdoor living area. Contact Nichola Vague at Zones Landscaping. 0800 004 339 | www.zones.co.nz
0800 004 339 | www.zones.co.nz
“Having a plan is really important especially when creating a garden in stages, as it helps to remind you of the big picture,” says Nichola. “It’s hard to explain but you can tell if a garden has been well planned – it just feels right.” After an initial consultation, Nichola gave Sally several detailed sketches of what her new garden may look like. This has continued to guide Sally as she renovates her outdoor space, balancing the art deco, industrial and modern styles. “Nichola and I get on like a house on fire,” says Sally. “Even though the bulk of the renovation is done, we continue to bounce ideas off each other.”
Art-Deco influence
Nichola is the brains behind Sally’s favourite part of the garden – the concrete ‘lily-pad’ circles that lead up to the house. She took inspiration from the sundial painted above the front door, as well as the home’s art deco style. “Circles are a re-occurring theme in art deco architecture,” says Nichola. “My main goal was to create an inviting front area to the home, and the concrete circles leading up to the doorway definitely achieve this.” There are no straight lines in Sally’s front garden, and that’s exactly how she likes it. “My uncle is a builder, so it took him a while to get on board with the idea,” laughs Sally. “I absolutely love the way it looks.” MacKenzie Dyer
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From a house to a home “In the evenings, we find ourselves sitting down in the courtyard and literally exhaling. It’s such a nice place to relax.”
When a home has uninterrupted water views, making the most of them is usually the focus of any renovation project. But for Vanessa and Shawn Wistrand, designing a private and enclosed back courtyard was just as important. “We wanted a private space for our family to enjoy, a space where we could relax during the day and entertain at night,” says Vanessa.
Homely renovation
No strangers to the renovation and build process having undertaken projects before, Vanessa and Shawn have transformed their family home, bringing the 2002 house into the present decade. “We really wanted to make a point of difference in a line of houses that were all built around the early 2000s,” says Vanessa. “We have two young children and the location and views suit us well. We knew we didn’t want to move so we changed the entire house instead.” Recladding of the property came first, with BGC fibre cement sheets chosen to contrast with cedar panelling. Polished concrete also added to the modern style of the home’s surrounds, reinforcing the subtle industrial look that Vanessa and Shawn wanted to pull through. “There are industrial tones both inside and out. “We really like the grey and nautical colours and chose Resene Colour for our internal walls. “But we’ve been very minimal in our approach to bringing the industrial look through. “We haven’t gone overboard because we wanted to keep the comfortable, warm family home feel we’ve got too.”
But the piece de resistance is the transformation of the former tired looking courtyard into an extension of the home, achieved by the installation of an Archgola and some beautiful outdoor furniture and finishings, completed with Vanessa’s own design flair. “We have given ourselves a dining room, an extra lounge outside and an evening entertaining area, all in one.” “In the evenings, we find ourselves sitting down in the courtyard and literally exhaling. It’s such a nice place to relax. “We still have a lot of work to do to complete the renovations, but we’re getting there and the year of work has been worth it!”
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Entertainment space
Vanessa and Shawn’s selection of the ebony Archgola reflects the home’s contemporary look, and with the addition of curtains enables the courtyard to be used at any time of the day or night, and in all weather. “In the evenings we pull the curtains down and get great indoor-outdoor flow with the heated courtyard. “It becomes a real entertaining area. “The polycarbonate roofing is great acoustically for when the boom boxes are going!” she laughs. With just the garage, the spa pad and a bit of landscaping to go, Vanessa and Shawn are on the home straight to achieving an incredible transformation of their family home. For anyone hoping to undergo a renovation, Shawn and Vanessa have some tips: “Choose your builder wisely, be patient and take your time to get things right and when people have got good advice, be sure to listen.”
Style your outdoors Custom designed to enhance your lifestyle. 0508 272 446 l archgola.co.nz
Ann Graham
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April, ˜˛˜° 2021 life+style The Weekend Sun ˜°1° April, August, ˜˛°˝
Renovating for Turning a large bathroom into a separate ensuite and laundry has made all of the difference in Dale and John Wilson’s Mount Maunganui home.
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“Both spaces are smaller now, but they are much more comfortable and tailored to us,” says Dale. “The two rooms are much more functional than before, we love it.” Knowing the ins and outs of pipework is a major advantage that Dale and John had going into their renovation – the couple own Laser Plumbing in Te Puke. “John has owned Laser Plumbing for the last 35 years. He project managed our whole renovation and we had our team work on it, too. “It was my first renovation and our Laser Plumbing team, Conrad from Shaw Builders, as well as all of the other local tradies we had in, made it seamless.”
Walls up, walls down Busting down the upstairs master wardrobe to create access into the bathroom, and building a wall to separate the bathroom in half, was the first stage of the makeover. Dale and John have had this renovation in mind since they
purchased the home almost three years ago – it’s even something the previous owners planned to do. “The old bathroom was beautiful and had a gorgeous bath that I wanted to keep, but in the first 11 months of living here we only used it twice. “We had to accept that even though it looked great, we just aren’t bath people – so it was time to do the renovation.” The result is a new ensuite featuring modern grey tiles, a large walk-in shower, vanity and toilet.
Prioritising practical
Besides the bath, the only other feature they had to compromise was a double vanity, but they made up for this by making their single vanity as space effective as possible. They chose a basin sink to allow for more space on the bench, and a mirror that doubles as a cupboard. “The mirror has an extendable attachment that is a magnified mirror, which is perfect for doing makeup in.” Inspired by their travels to Europe, the Wilson’s also installed a bidet. Everything in the laundry, bar the dark grey flooring from the original bathroom, is brand new. “Our original laundry is down stairs in the garage. By keeping it there, downstairs has become self-sufficient.
A refreshing approach to renovations Your style, your budget, our Tauranga renovation specialists expertise! Refresh Renovations grew out of a desire to provide homeowners with a practical solution to their renovation woes. Before Refresh existed, the typical renovation experience included disorganised schedules, blown budgets and homeowners all but pulling their hair out from the stress of trying to manage it all on their own.
These previous renovation projects have differed in size, budget and overall ambition. But despite the contrast, Sharon ensured each was finished to the highest possible standard. From this experience, she has gained abundant industry expertise and a wicked sense of organisation. Project management indeed comes to Sharon as a sixth sense.
With Refresh involved our renovation specialists follow a process that supports a bespoke design and build: a renovation tailored to your lifestyle requirements and taste. Your local renovation specialist will manage every aspect for you working to keep everything on track.
Driven by her passion for property renovation, she also brings a notable spirit to Refresh Renovations. You’ll find this apparent within moments of working with her. She’s wonderfully enthusiastic and very much dedicated to the trade.
Introducing your renovation specialist Sharon’s love of property, renovations, and landscaping dates back to purchasing her first home at the age of 20. Since then, she’s completed outstanding renovations on several homes in the Wellington and Bay of Plenty regions.
Now a Renovation Specialist, her ambition is to get things done in the smoothest, most stress-free way possible - all while developing innovative solutions to create the best possible outcomes. No matter how difficult the project, Sharon welcomes homeowners to approach her with their renovation dreams and trust in her professional ability to make them a reality.
I look forward to hearing your ideas, helping you with your renovation journey, and transforming your property into a beautiful, functional home that you will love. Sharon Giblett Renovation Specialist
Projects of all types and sizes, no job is too small or big for Refresh
For more info call: Sharon Giblett 0800 004 298 | www.refresh.co.nz
° April, 1 April, ˜˛˜° 2021 ˜˛°˝ ˜° August,
functionality “This will be great for when we have friends and family staying, or if we wanted to Air BnB it out in future. The laundry is now my favourite room in the house – we don’t miss traipsing up and down the stairs to do our washing!”
Space and savings
To maximise storage, Dale and John had cupboards custom-made to fit the space, including a wall-to-floor and over-bench cupboards. Extra plumbing was completed so a condensation dryer could be installed. “The beauty of a condensation dryer is that you don’t have to empty out a water compartment, as it is connected permanently into the plumbing system. “I don’t use my clothes line nearly as much now, because the condensation dryer uses only a small amount of power.” Having a front loading dryer and washing machine has maximised space, as they can sit under the bench. “We also added a hanging rail above the tub, which creates even more space.”
it comes to purchasing whiteware. “The laundry is now my They recommend choosing quality amenities with a warranty, as it can favourite room in the save plenty of money in the future. house – we don’t miss Dale says consulting with professionals before buying any traipsing up and down amenities is also a money saver. the stairs to do our “For example, many people washing!” purchase their new toilet or tapware before talking to a plumber, only to find out that it won’t work with the pipework in their house and adapting it becomes an additional cost. “It always pays to get a quote first.” Almost everything bought for renovation is from businesses local to Dale and John’s business in Te Puke, or their home in Mount Maunganui. “There are so many great people and products around here – proven by the immaculate end result.” MacKenzie Dyer
Seeking advice
From their plumbing experience, Dale and John know the tricks when
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Laser Plumbing Te Puke
Corner Dunlop Road and Jellicoe Street Te Puke 3119
Call us today!
07 573 8249
Laser Plumbing Te Puke Looking to upgrade your hot water system? Perhaps a new wood or gas fire? Gas appliances needing to be serviced? Considering a bathroom renovation? We are more than just plumbers and we can help with it all. We've been in business since 1983 and have vast industry experience. We offer our customers expert advice and a friendly reliable service.
Give us a call or come visit us at The Tauranga Home Show at Stand 483 on the 6th, 7th and 8th of May!
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April, April, ˜˛˜° 2021 life+style The Weekend Sun ˜°1° August, ˜˛°˝
Lawn to lavish
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The Telford family love spending the long summer days together in their back yard. Mum, CJ Telford, says that’s all thanks to an outdoor renovation at their Papamoa home, which turned a bare lawn into a kid-friendly pool and deck area, with added access into their home. “The pool brings everyone together,” says CJ. “We’ve had it for over a year now, and the novelty hasn’t worn off. “We’ve just finished the last few bits of garden work – it’s awesome to see it all come together!”
DIY mindset
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Moksha Yoga director CJ and motor insurance manager Dallas are no strangers to a renovation. They have owned four houses, and have renovated each of them. “Our first deposit was about $5000 and we went from there. “We want to show people that you can do some pretty cool stuff with not a lot. “Our biggest tip is know when to DIY, and when to call a professional.” CJ and Dallas have always wanted a pool. “We grew up in Dannevirke and I had a perception that you had to be a certain demographic to have a pool. I got over that old story and now we’re stoked
to have one of our own.” The pool had to be suitable for CJ and Dallas’ four kids, who are aged 9-15. “We went to Logan McLaughlin from True Style Pools and Landscaping BOP and said we’ve got four kids, they’ve got mates, and there’s going to be water going everywhere. “He guided us from there.”
Manu-proof pool With this in mind, Logan knew the pool had to be as big as possible in the available space. “The pool we chose is 8x4m, 1.3 to 1.8m deep and the shape means the steps are out of the way, so it’s safe for the kids to jump CJ Telford in,” says Logan. The pool is locally made from fiberglass and uses salt water system, which CJ says “pretty much runs itself ”. True Style pools and Landscaping took care of the entire installation process – from digging the hole, to organising a crane to lift the pool over the house and into the back yard – as well as the landscaping and finishing touches. Upgrading the space surrounding the pool was the next task on the list, starting with a new deck and pergola built by John Hamblin and the team from J Hamblin Carpentry.
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“We want to show people that you can do some pretty cool stu° with not a lot.” The business specialise in renovations and recladding in the wider BOP area. After having a pine deck previously, CJ and Dallas knew that using hardwood was the way to go, which perfectly aligned with the J Hamblin Carpentry ethos. “As a company, we try to avoid installing pine decking,” says John. “It looks great the day you walk away, but in three months’ time you’re almost guaranteed a call back because of how much it warps and fades and in the weather. “Hardwood is sturdy, looks great and lasts 15 to 20 years.”
True to character After seeing a few samples, CJ and Dallas settled on Vitex hardwood – a J Hamblin Carpentry specialty. However, pine made for CJ and Dallas’ perfect pergola, also built by John, which they painted white to mirror the home’s front fence. “The timber suits our home’s character. She’s a 1950s house, so it’s nice to keep her feeling like that,” says CJ. Improved indoor outdoor flow has been created by the installation of two timber and glass doors, which connect the master bedroom to the backyard. “Originally, it was just a full wall. “Now we can look out onto the
pool from our room, so it feels like a real retreat.” The installation turned into a much bigger task than CJ, Dallas and John expected.
Door dilemma “Basically someone had removed the original piles in the middle of the room and just poured 100ml of concrete in between what was already there. Structurally, it was no good,” says John. “As it was a council consented job, we had to work with engineers to reinstate the footings correctly. “Luckily we managed to make a few calls and get the project back on track with only a week’s delay. “It’s just one of those snags that come with doing a renovations that no one can foresee.” Like the deck, CJ chose timber doors to match the character of the house. The front yard has been transformed with new grass, garden beds and cottage-style plants, all completed by CJ and Dallas. To avoid the dead grass and dust that Papamoa is renowned for, the couple have installed a bore. The outside may be complete, but CJ already has her next renovation in mind. “The bathroom is next!” MacKenzie Dyer
Photos: John Borren
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