Life + Style - 20 May 2022

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20August, May, 2022 life+style The Weekend Sun 21 2015

Freshen your home ...while keeping its character It’s her clients’ reactions when they see their newly re-designed home that gives Refresh Renovations owner Sharon Giblett the most satisfaction.

Her recent transformations of a bathroom, ensuite and toilet are great examples.

“The spaces were small and dated,” says Sharon. “It was an opportunity to freshen and modernise while maintaining the style and character of the 1970s house.”

Homeowner Julie Kirkland had already attempted to lighten up the spaces in her Maungatapu home.

“There was a window in the bathroom that looked into a garage, so it let in more dust than light.

“We had tried painting but to be honest, they were rooms that I had grown to hate.”

Design partnership

She turned to Sharon to help with her ‘grand ideas’.

“Sharon pulled me into line,” laughs Julie. “She kept our budget in mind and had clever ideas for how to achieve what we wanted to.

“She even thought of details that we’d forgotten like a mirror demister, light switch placement and ventilation.”

“Design is a partnership,” says Sharon. “It’s about asking the right questions to understand how a client uses a room so I can provide them with a space that’s functional, logical, and beautiful. Julie had a clear idea on a feature wall and her vanities. Together we chose white subway tiles, fixtures and brought in an element of luxury with the free-standing bath.”

In love with curves

They also changed the shape of the shower. “I needed some convincing on that,” says Julie. “In fact, I had stipulated in the brief: ‘no round showers’ but Sharon showed me in-store and then when I saw the 3D render of the design, I thought it looked amazing.

“I’m in love with the curves and it’s so easy to clean.”

It’s an example of how Sharon’s clients benefit from her years of experience. “In smaller rooms, the round shower creates the illusion of space and the sliding doors don’t encroach on the rest of the room. I offer smart solutions.”

Sharon cleverly draws inspiration from her clients and their homes. “Quality and creativity are important to me but I don’t want the reno to look out of place.

“One client was a keen golfer, so I chose tiles with dimples like a golf ball. He loved them.”

Before

Communication

Communication was key for Julie and husband, Ian, who had access to the work schedule throughout the project build.

“From start to finish the project ran smoothly.

Sharon’s professionalism, attention to detail, and problem-solving ability saw the project completed on time.

“The quality of the finished product has genuinely exceeded our expectations,” says Julie.

Sharon takes pride in creating spaces her clients want to spend time in. “The big smiles when I’ve made their home more functional and more beautiful…I get a real buzz from that.

“I’m changing people’s lives; and I love what I do.”

Debbie Griffiths

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Before

20 August, May, 2022 21 2015

life+style The Weekend Sun 3

An affordable home facelift

After 20 years in Papamoa, Angela Ewens, realised her beloved home was showing its age.

choose to completely transform their house, both inside and out.

“The aluminium joinery around the windows looked powdery. Against the cream brick of the house, it was washed out.”

With plans to get the section landscaped, it was a great opportunity to contact Restore and Recolour owner Paul Sullivan to give her faded window frames a much-needed facelift.

“In coastal communities, the sun bleaches and oxidises the powder coating of joinery windows, ranch sliders and bi-fold doors.

Garage doors tend to rust in the salt air.

“We rub it back and re-spray onsite, which saves the homeowner thousands. We only charge $695 +GST for a double garage door.”

The process to renew the colour of Angela’s aluminum joinery took four days, starting with a thorough alkaline wash. “The windows were taped up and a clear film put over to protect the glass before the entire frames were sprayed,” says Angela.

“Colour changing is quite popular,” says Paul. “We see a lot of the old 1980s browns, and 1990s greens and blue joinery that needs updating. Some people go dark with charcoals or black while the other end of the spectrum is also popular – like arctic white and alabaster. That’s a bigger job because we mask up and spray the inside as well.

“It means ranch sliders and hard-to-reach panels need to be taken out and sprayed in a mobile booth that we set up while onsite. It’s fiddly work, but we take great pride in the quality and pay a lot of attention to detail.”

Paul uses top of the range HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) spray equipment.

“That allows us to work close to the surface of the window frame with very little overspray. Four or five fine, precise coats build up layers for a superb surface finish.”

Angela “couldn’t be happier” with the restoration. “I love the reaction when clients see the finished result,” says Paul.

“They don’t realise what a huge difference it makes, so the ‘wow’ factor when we reveal is just priceless.

“We tend to get a lot of neighbours watching while work takes place then they ask for quotes. It really just sells itself once the before and after transformation is seen.”

Fraction of cost

“Paul was flexible when it came to spraying when it suited us best, which was especially important with a baby in the house. I really appreciated that.”

The new-look joinery was a fraction of what it would cost for brand new windows to be installed. Paul says other homeowners

Colour changing

Smarter solutions when you need more space.

Debbie Griffiths

After The end result: fresh, vibrant, recoloured window frames that totally transform the look of the home.

Before The typical old green shade on aluminium windows, before Restore and Recolour work their magic.

Ranch sliders and hard-to-reach panels are taken out and sprayed in a mobile booth that Restore and Recolour set up onsite.

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Windows are taped up and a clear film is put over top to protect the glass before frames get sprayed.

4

20August, May, 2022 life+style The Weekend Sun 21 2015

Capture the heat, not the glare!

With the seasons changing, it’s not just the cold creeping into our homes.

Bay Blinds’ Gail Christie says the sun’s angle will soon drop and start pouring into our homes too.

“In winter the angle of the sun drops lower – lower than the eves of our homes. Which is why, oddly enough, some of us face more issues with glare from the sun in winter than we do in summer!”

We’ve all seen how intense sunlight can damage our carpets, sofas and soft furnishings.

You may notice sun streaming onto your sofa in winter, whereas in summer it wouldn’t be an issue.

“This is where the practicality of installing blinds in your home really shines,” says Gail. “Blinds work to keep harmful sunlight

Bay Blinds director Gail Christie.

out and the warmth in during those winter months.”

The blinds expert predicts rapidly advancing window treatment innovations will continue to make life easier and smarter for Kiwis.

“Window treatment technology is really continuing to progress. For example, wifi and cellphone applications have opened up new possibilities for motorised roller blinds.

“Using a cellphone app and a plug in wifi smart hub, I can control my motorised roller blinds from anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand. Actually, from anywhere in the world!

“Then there’s smart options; like scheduling when and how your rollers open and shut,” says Gail.

“You can be sitting at your desk at work at 2pm while your bedroom blinds automatically drop halfway. Blocking the sun from fading your favourite duvet cover, while still allowing warmth in for the night ahead.

It’s really useful!”

The motorised rollers work on a long life, rechargeable battery-operated system removing the need for custom wiring.

“The batteries will last nine to 12 months depending on use,” says Gail. “And the recharge is simple and quick. No need for an electrician to install expensive wiring! Thanks to the pace of technology, motorised blinds have become a lot more economical.

“Five years ago motorisation was for the rich and famous, now customers are surprised at

Photos: Salina Galvan Photography.

Changing seasons

Your Bay Blinds design consulting and installation team, from left: Chris Corney, Mark McGarva, Vinnie Smith and Niki Adams.

how affordable they are!”

Gail says it’s crucial to consider both functionality and aesthetics when choosing blinds. Bay Blinds provide free in-home blind design consultations supplying expert advice and guidance.

“Our locally-based experts Vinnie, Chris and Niki come to your home to discuss all options – including motorisation to help you select the right solution for your home.”

Bay Blinds has a wide range of colours, textures, and fabrics performing different functions – “this is what the experts talk to you about when they visit your home,” says Gail.

“We’ve had customers come to us for help after buying purely on aesthetic appeal however, when winter came they were freezing! That’s why it’s crucial to have an expert provide the right guidance on satisfying your home’s functional requirements as well

Bay Blinds’ local team members Liana Hotham and Dan Arnell, at work in the Greerton factory.

as your design goals.” Bay Blinds customdesign all orders and make the blinds in their Tauranga factory.

“Customer orders go straight to our factory in Greerton, where our trained, local manufacturing team assemble the blinds with expert care. Next, our local installers will pop out to you to fit them. Our blinds are made in the Bay of Plenty, for the Bay of Plenty,” says Gail.

20August, May, 2022 21 2015

life+style The Weekend Sun

Light, bright and modern New laminate benchtops make a world of difference to kitchen refresh

After living in their Pyes Pa home for eight years, homeowners Ronnie and Tony decided they wanted to bring it into the 2020s.

The original kitchen was in good condition with doors and panels in blue Melteca and tops in a dappled blue-grey, but the kitchen looked dated.

“The terracotta tiles on the kitchen floor were my number one hatred,” says Ronnie. “It made no sense to pull out a ‘perfectly good’ kitchen and flooring. A kitchen refresh was the best solution.”

The solution was to add new benchtops, a new sink insert and tap, repaint the doors and panels, add new handles and leave the existing floor tiles in place.

They were referred to Simply Surfaces by a local kitchen design company.

While the cabinet doors and panels were painted with Resene Half Black White by a local painter, they chose their new benchtops.

“Kirsty at Simply Surfaces was amazing. She was patient, listened, and helped me narrow the samples to a few,” says Ronnie, “I took some large samples home to look at in our kitchen.”

“I was after a dark colour that would not overwhelm the space. I settled on Wilsonart – Black Alicante for the benchtop laminate colour, which looked amazing! It worked with my budget too,” says Ronnie.

“I’m thrilled with the final selection.”

New benchtops were manufactured and installed by Simply Surfaces.

Their installer carefully removed the old benchtops

The old, tired-looking kitchen before the renovation.

The end result: a refreshed, bright, stylish-looking kitchen that Ronnie loves.

and replaced them with the new ones without damaging the existing tile splashback.

“The terracotta tile floor tiles remain in place and have now been given a new lease on life. I really don’t mind them now,” says Ronnie.

Adding new benchtops as part of a kitchen renovation has added value to Ronnie and Tony’s home.

They would recommend anyone looking to rip out their kitchen and replace it with a new one to take a step back, look at its condition and consider a kitchen renovation with new benchtops, fixtures and paint.

“I now like being in my kitchen – and want to cook in it! It’s light, bright and modern. I love it – I absolutely love it! I couldn’t be happier.

“It can make a world difference at the fraction of the cost.” says Ronnie. “I now have enough of my budget left over that I can put towards refreshing the bathrooms.”

The kitchen during the transformation, with the cabinets painted white but the old benchtop still in place.

Redecorating Renovating or Building?

Transform your kitchen, bathroom or laundry A new benchtop and splashback in your kitchen, bathroom or laundry, will add value to your home.

Bay of Plenty’s leading manufacturer and retailer of high-pressure laminate (Formica) and acrylic solid surface benchtops and splashbacks can create a fresh new look that will help transform your home for many years to come.

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6

May, 2022 life+style The Weekend Sun 2120August, 2015

Colour connection Taking a holistic approach to decorating makes your home feel more harmonious. But visually connecting rooms isn’t always easy. There is, however, one fail-safe unifier: colour.

How easy it is to fall in love with colour? Who wouldn’t get a mood-boost in a room painted in Resene Outrageous, a bright orange? Or feel calmed by the dreaminess of Resene Blue Moon?

But the saying ‘the more, the merrier’ doesn’t always apply to colour. “Colour affects how rooms in a home flow,” says interior designer Melle van Sambeek. “To help them flow seamlessly the easiest thing is picking a consistent colour, so the spaces feel connected.”

There’s no official limit to the number of hues to use in your home but creating cohesion through colour will make it feel more restful. You don’t have to stick to the exact same palette – a matchymatchy house can feel soulless. But be mindful of your colour choices. It’s about viewing your home as a single entity and ensuring each room connects to adjoining rooms.

Pick a palette, then repeat

Working with a streamlined palette makes rooms feel unified and helps with transitions between them. “Repetition is key to a cohesive colour scheme whether you continue with the same family of neutrals throughout your home or select décor to reference your bold feature colours,” says Resene senior architectural representative Rebecca Long.

Creating tie-ins, so your home feels like a total package, is an approach taken by stylist and

Trust a Resene Eco.Decorator to do your job just right!

When it comes to your decorating projects it helps to know you’ve got the right painter for the job as well as the right paint.

So when you choose the services of an approved Resene Eco.Decorator you can be sure that the paintwork will be just as good as the paint.

Visit ecodecorator.co.nz to find out more.

designer Vanessa Nouwens. “You can link colours between rooms in many ways,” says Vanessa.

“It can be through painted walls in one room to the same shade appearing in furniture or window coverings in another.”

Resene design advocate Brooke Calvert says those sticking to a neutral scheme can mix things up by using different tones. “For example, use Resene Half Sea Fog as your main wall colour with Resene Quarter Sea Fog in darker areas like the hallway; and soften bedrooms with Resene Double Sea Fog.” Accent colours will tie it all together, says Vanessa.

“The golden rule with accent shades is to apply them three times in a space. So, if you have a dark feature wall, add that same shade at least twice more in the room to make it feel cohesive. Or consider adding the colour at three different heights. Or integrate colours in a cohesive scheme with Resene FX Paint Effects.

A balm for the eyes

Also, pay attention to sightlines. What other rooms do you see when you’re standing in your living room? “If you see into your kitchen and dining room or hallway, pick colours from the same palette or complementary ones,” says Melle.

In her home, walls are painted in Resene Rakaia.

“But in smaller, darker rooms, I used a quarter strength (Resene Quarter Rakaia), so it feels lighter and brighter…the main bedroom, I used a triple strength (Resene Triple Rakaia) to make it cosier; and in my husband’s man cave I created a dado line for more visual interest and used a quarter strength (Resene Quarter Rakaia) above, and a double strength (Resene Double Rakaia) below. This means all rooms are harmonious but also flow beautifully.”

20August, May, 2022 21 2015

“You can link colours between rooms in many ways”

Make it a family

Some homes seem like a riot of colour – look more closely and you’ll realise they have a tight palette. The secret? Choose hues in complementary colour families.

Say you love the mix of blue and orange. Use complementary shades of blue – cobalt, navy, turquoise – and harmonising shades of orange – coral, tangerine, peach – throughout.

Vanessa says tonal schemes are taking one colour and using different shades of it, from light to dark.

While one room has a moodier colour palette, a connecting room could have the same colours but in lighter shades. You can also play with texture.

Mix different sheens of the same colour to create depth.

Five tips for connecting rooms Colour scale One way to link a bedroom and ensuite is to balance light and dark. If you prefer your bedroom light and airy, go for darker complementary colours in the bathroom. Vice-versa to create a moodylooking bedroom and fresh-looking ensuite.

Remember wallpaper To connect a hallway with a room leading off it – ie. a guest powder room – use the same pattern in different colourways. Resene wallpaper designs often come in several shades; the pattern itself can be the common denominator.

Floor it Homes look best if one consistent look travels from room-to-room. The same flooring throughout ties rooms together and improves flow.

Indoors out Blur the boundaries between a home and garden by linking indoor/outdoor via flooring. Flooring that extends to the exterior will draw the eye outdoors.

Paint the joinery Mouldings and trims help define a room’s style – so paint all trims throughout your home’s main areas in the same colour for a unified effect from room-to-room.

Projects: Vanessa Nouwens, Melle van Sambeek.

Words: Tracey Strange.

Images: Bryce Carleton, Wendy Fenwick.

life+style The Weekend Sun 7

life+style The Weekend Sun 21 August, 2015

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