Myspace May 2017 by Sun Media

ISSUE 2, 2017 Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M E M TA K E M HO

History heart

Interiors

Outdoor spaces

Retro fit

ZOHAR Exclusive Originals ISSU E 2, 201 7

David Trubridge Flax 800mm

MySpace is a unique free gloss magazine promoting relevant businesses direct to the Bay’s design/build/renovation market, reaching your target audience!

Your local agents of David Trubridge lighting

We are unique in our aim to ensure the magazine is informative and interesting so it is retained as a key reference tool for months to come. In the Bay of Plenty region alone, an estimated $700 million+ will be spent on new builds and renovations in the coming year! This is huge and fantastic for the entire industry.

I’M ME TA K E E HOM

Interiors

History hear t

With this in mind, plus the influx of new residents to Tauranga, this bi-annual magazine is the perfect medium to promote your company.

104 Maunganui Rd Mt Maunganui 07 574 7428 zohar.co.nz

15,000 copies will be distributed within the region bi-annually at key outlets and by subscription. Based on researched industry averages it will have a huge readership of 90,000 readers, plus the extended shelf life offers you maximum exposure. MySpace also has it’s own dedicated website so it can be shared with even more readers and customers!

t Be in

Outdoor spac es Retro fit

Feel free to email kathy@sunmedia.co.nz anytime to receive a Media Kit that outlines the many advertising options available to you.

WIN THIS 12 BOTTLE WINE COOLER Simply ‘like’ our facebook page to be in the draw to win! Facebook/myspacemagazine Competition closes 31 July, 2017. Winner must pick up from No.1 The Strand Tauranga prior to 30 August.

Slim line free-standing wine cooler Holds up to 12 bottles Unique state-of-the-art thermoelectric technology See-through glass door

Soft interior lighting with ON/OFF switch Adjustable thermostat for ideal temperature control Dimensions 260mm x 495mm x 650mm

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Welcome to MySpace, a free magazine launched to capture, captivate and motivate the energetic and increasingly growing local design, build and renovation market. When searching for ideas for your dream home or how to improve existing property with the latest styles and trends, look no further than MySpace!

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Coastal chic

Retro reno

Sitting in style

Real heart in a special house

Furnished with love

Bringing Bali to the backyard

DIY with the right tools

From scrap yard to backyard

Country cabin conversion

Professional Services

For all advertising enquiries contact: Kathy Sellars on 07 928 3053 or 027 211 9193 kathy@sunmedia.co.nz

www.myspacemagazine.co.nz myspacemagazine Editorial: Kerry Mitchell, Rhianna Osborne, Rosalie Liddle Crawford, Karolyn Timarkos Photography: Bruce Barnard, Tracy Hardy, supplied Advertising: Kathy Sellars, Leah Rogers, Aimee-Leigh Brunsdon, Sharon Eyres Graphic Design: Kym Johnson, SunCreative Ltd

MySpace is a SunMedia Ltd publication ÂŠ All material is copyright and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

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A touch of As the nights begin to cool, the thought of relaxing in a nice hot bath becomes more appealing. And when it comes to buying a bathtub, Unique in Tauranga offers bathware with a touch of class. Unique is a designer range of stone composite freestanding bathware designed to transform your bathroom into a unique sanctuary. Even the bathtub styles – Sublime, Haven, and Eclipse – suggest elegance and serenity. “They will not only bring life to the ambience of your bathroom, but also improve your bathing experience. You can turn your simple looking bathroom into an executive suite with a Unique bathtub,” says owner Richard Knight. Unique bathtubs are available in sleek and stylish makes and different colors to suit your interiors. They are also available in various finishes and have the ability to be embedded with virtually any added component. Richard says the special blend of resin and polymers mixed with natural marble creates a material which is warmer to touch and lighter than natural stone. It also helps to form an impenetrable barrier to liquids, making it resistant to staining, heat and chemicals. “The organic look and feel of every Unique product is

class

the result of a skilful hand finishing process, in which the material is hand-sanded. This natural honed effect makes everyday cleaning and maintenance simple.” Richard says Unique stone composite is manufactured from recycled marble, therefore has a minimal impact on the environment. “It is created using a patented stone composite formula, which requires no sealing or treatment during its life, allowing designers to create eco-sensitive bathrooms.” Richard says the beauty of stone baths is that they will last for years. “Stone is extremely strong and durable, meaning that it won’t crack like a cheap acrylic bath might.” Stone baths also retain heat much better than baths made from other materials. “This means that your nice warm bath will last longer since it stops the heat from the water escaping,” says Richard. And, of course, you can’t go past the sensational feel of bathing in stone, says Richard. “Because they’re smooth to the touch, stone baths are a real treat to your skin, allowing you to easily slide in and enjoy a warm bath.”

UNIQUE is a designer range of stone composite bathware designed to transform your bathroom into your unique sanctuary. Suppliers to Elite Bathroomware myspace Issue 2

Coastal chic When living near the sea itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tempting to go for a nautical theme when designing a house, but it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be all anchors and blue and white stripes.

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Coast NZ Construction has worked with the owners of this Mount Maunganui home to create some coastal chic that won’t make you feel seasick. The original house - a 1980s, 2-bedroom, 1 bathroom unit – was demolished to make way for an extended 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home that takes full advantage of its beachfront location. The exterior cladding of the house is Taranakipine bevel-back weatherboards (painted blue) with timber facings, sills and scribers fitted around the modern aluminium windows, creating a contemporary beach look combined with old worlde charm. Coast NZ Construction owner Jimmy Dow says timber weatherboards stand the test of time. “Although they require painting every 7-10 years you can’t deny the quality of the look.” An extended roof covers a wrap-around timber deck that looks out over the Mount Maunganui coastline and features solid pillars in white with boxed corners. A paved courtyard has been created for outdoor living, with a spa pool to soak up the view and a custom-made copper outdoor shower to rinse off the sand. New grey board and batten timber fences angle the eye towards the ocean, with a boardwalk leading across a luscious green lawn which is ideal for backyard cricket and only steps from the beach. The gardens are framed with old railway sleepers and planted with hydrangeas, English box hedging and zinnias to create a colourful backdrop to the ocean. myspace Issue 2

An existing Pohutakawa tree with a bench seat underneath provides a tranquil spot to sit and soak up the ambience. Inside, the house features raked, white grooved ply ceilings with exposed rafters, which help create a sense of space as well as oozing character and charm. The kitchen, lounge and dining areas are tiled with timberlook tiles complete with under floor heating, and the bedrooms carpeted for warmth underfoot. Design details are absolutely everywhere in the kitchen: port holes sourced from an old American ship are set at eye level above the Carrara marble splash-back, and the island bench has an intricate, floral, tin façade, giving it a vintage charm. The bench itself is topped with cool Carrara marble with a butler’s sink looking out to the stunning ocean view and Mayor Island. The German-style cabinetry, assembled and installed by Coast NZ’s joiner, features clean white lines and immaculate finishes, and is off-set with black Smeg appliances. Light floods in from glass frontage from the beach side and brass pendant lights over the island bench. The bathrooms feature floor to ceiling marble-look tiles, including walk-in tiled showers, laid by Coast NZ’s tiler, with under floor heating installed for those cooler months. The bespoke vanities created by Coast NZ Construction are topped with Carrara marble and stone vanity bowls. Black tapware and fittings off-set the natural look of the stone and are teamed with vintage inspired metal mirrors. 8

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Natural light floods the bathrooms through louvered shutters and is complemented with beautiful glass light fittings. In the laundry, the front loading washing machine and drier have been built into the cabinetry at eye level for ease of access. Among the other design features built by Coast NZ Construction is the book shelf in the lounge, internal wardrobe systems, a headboard for the master bedroom and a set of timber bunks in the bunk room that features two double beds on the bottom and two single beds on the top. “The bunks are designed much like those in a yacht with a ladder going up to the top beds,” says Jimmy. The headboard in the master bedroom includes in-built shelves with a colonial style-finish. Large barn-style sliding doors create a chic entry to the master bedroom and hallway areas. Internal shutters have been installed between the master bedroom and living room so the owners can take advantage of the ocean view beyond. They can be closed again for privacy when they have visitors. The entire construction of the house - from floor to ceiling, roofing, joinery and tiling, paving and landscaping - has been completed by the team at Coast NZ Construction. Among the team of 14 builders are a former joiner and a qualified tiler, so the company is able to provide a comprehensive, one-stop building service. “It’s a unique team. You can throw anything at us and we’ll come up with the results,” says Jimmy. Jimmy says the company prides itself on honesty and quality

workmanship, and keeps clients up to date on progress and costs throughout the build so there are no unexpected surprises. “We like to keep an open book with our clients to keep everything transparent. We find this is easier for both parties, especially during a renovation as it enables clients to keep a good hold on their budget.” Jimmy is so pleased with the completed Mount Maunganui house that he has entered it into the Registered Master Builders 2017 House of the Year competition. “I’m really proud of all our boys. The workmanship and attention to detail in this home is visible at every turn. The client is over the moon with the new home we have been able to create alongside them and that is the best outcome of all.”

Phone 021 877 989 email coastnzconstruction@gmail.com myspace Issue 2

create an outdoor room with an opening roof system

all day sun and privacy control with vertical louvres Â®

OPENING ROOFS / SUN LOUVRES / SHUTTERS

visit our showroom at 135 Totara Street Mount Maunganui

Ph 07 574 6040 or email office@louvretec.com for a no obligation site visit & quote

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Depending on your local climate, it’s not always easy to grow a lush green lawn. The next best thing is artificial grass that looks and feels just like the real thing, but without the need for maintenance.

Before

After

Unreal Grass is New Zealand’s preferred supplier of artificial grass and lawn products. Unreal grasses imitate the curled structure and varied colour of natural grass to make it look and feel real. “It’s just like natural grass, only better,” says Catherine (Hates Mowing) in Levin. Whether you want a short pile for the manicured look, or long pile like a flowing landscape, there is an option to suit all gardens. Unreal Grass looks so real, even your neighbours won’t be able to tell the difference. “Artificial grass solved all of the problems that my natural lawn had”, says Scott (Time Poor) in Christchurch. More often than not you’ve got a lawn that’s boggy in the winter and brown in the summer. Then there are those unsightly weeds that just keep coming back, and the endless mowing, fertilising and watering. With the installation of Unreal grasses for home landscaping, you can forget the pain and suffering that is common in natural lawns. Also, you don’t have the ongoing costs of paying someone to mow

Before

After

them, or those dreaded water bills from watering. Artificial grass is particularly useful around pool and spa areas, ensuring loose grass and dirt doesn’t find its way into the water, keeping them cleaner and preventing blocked filters. Another benefit of artificial grass is that it can withstand high levels of wear and tear, and exposure to heavy rainfall. Because it is so much more usable than real grass, it becomes a true extension of your living area all year round. “I don’t have to worry about sending the kids outside to play in the winter and traipsing mud back into the house,” says Andrea (Loves her Swimming Pool) in Nelson. Unreal Grass contains no nasty chemicals or heavy metals, making it safe for kids and pets. It is also protected with anti-UV technology and comes with a 10 year warranty. Whatever your home landscape project, whether it be a back yard renovation, commercial green space or a new home build, talk to the professionals at Unreal Grass about a cost and obligation free quote today.

Enjoy lush, green grass that looks so real your neighbors can’t tell the difference – all year round. RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • PLAYGROUNDS • SPORTS FIELDS

Baz Woodcock National Sales Manager 027 774 4660 • baz.w@theprogroup.co.nz

0800 UNREAL (0800 867 325) www.unrealgrass.co.nz myspace Issue 2

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Add value

to your place

Landscaping is one of the few things that increase the property value more than the installation costs. Good landscaping will add value to a home. As compared to a renovated kitchen or bathroom, which typically dates and whose value declines quite rapidly, a well kept garden actually increases in value as it grows. First impressions count and the best property enhancers are • A well maintained lawn • An inviting social area • Quality paving and pathways • Attractive trees. • Well kept hedges • Good design and structure • Good vegetable garden and seasonal colour So seek advice from an expert and do not cut corners and you will be well on the way to increasing the value of your property . Its as easy as having a good looking garden! Decor Gardenworld myspace Issue 2

The Abron Team

Abron Group is a Tauranga based company founded in 1998 that specialise in both property developing and home construction. Abron is a family business which means that clients are dealing directly with the company’s owners which is a strong point of difference from their competitors. Abron Group takes a lot of pride in ensuring the new subdivisions that they develop and the houses they build are of the very highest standard.

LINDSAY BARR CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGER

Lindsay joined Abron Group as their new Client Relationship Manager in August 2015. Although not completely new to the industry or to Abron, Lindsay had been previously working in real estate in the local market and primarily selling Abron Home and Land packages. “I was so impressed by the company, the quality of the homes they were building and the value offered, that when the opportunity arose, there was no hesitation in joining the Abron team”, says Lindsay. Lindsay plays a vital role in the company, dealing with clients and suppliers on a day-to-day basis. Her strong background in marketing and sales has spanned out over a nearly 30-year career in both the U.S. and N.Z. Lindsay is very aware that, for some, building a home can be stressful, but what she can bring to the table is consistency, communication, strong attention to detail and ensuring a positive experience for all parties. Having spent most of her adult life in the beautiful state of Colorado, Lindsay has returned home and these days her down time is spent at Mount Maunganui making the most of Tauranga’s beautiful beaches.

info@abrongroup.co.nz 14

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LEATH CRAIG PROJECT MANAGER – CONSTRUCTION

Leath Craig is a proud Kiwi; born and bred in Tauranga, he has watched his city grow to be one of the country’s most sought after destinations to live. Beginning his career as a plumber at the age of 16, Leath spent 15 years in the building industry. After a stint in Queenstown spent improving his snowboarding skills, he returned to Tauranga where he embarked on a career in management within his family’s business. There, he was involved with the management of a large commercial and residential property portfolio and during his 13 years with the family business Leath also project managed the construction of several retirement villages, which is where he discovered his talent for project management. Leath is passionate about seeing a project through from conception to completion; completing them on time and to a high standard is what drives him. He also loves working in with the trades and building strong relationships with everyone he meets; colleagues and clients alike. It was a no brainer for Leath when Abron Group approached him to join the team in the role of Construction Project Manager, and he jumped at the opportunity to continue doing what he loves. “Working for Abron Group feels like working for the family business again. It feels like one big family, really.” Leath’s interests include fishing, kayaking, snow boarding and of course New Zealand’s premier sport, rugby.

www.abrongroup.co.nz

DISCOVER THE LIFESTYLE

NATE NIELD ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER

Abron welcomed Nate to the team in May 2016. Born and bred in Papamoa, Nate got his start as an architectural draughtsman here in Tauranga in 2004. He brings to the company over 12 years of drafting experience, along with a broad knowledge of consent plan requirements and understanding of the entire design process, from initial concepts through to full working drawings. During his career, Nate has worked on a huge range of projects including rebuilds, renovations and new design residential homes nationwide, to meet individual clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specific needs and requirements. In the weekends, Nate enjoys catching up with friends and family and spending quality time with his partner and their young son. He is also a keen fisherman so is never too far from the water! Abron Group is very excited to be growing the design branch of their business and is confident that, with Nate at the helm, the company will continue to expand and flourish.

C O M IN G SO O N HOUSE & LAND PACKAGES

EMAIL INFO@ABRONGROUP.CO.NZ PH 027 595 6237

3 2

WWW.ABRONGROUP.CO.NZ

A DEVELOPMENT BY

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Flooring protection at its best Are you worried about damaging freshly laid floors? Concerned about paint splatters or stains? Then you should try OVABOARD. This is the latest technology in temporary flooring and surface protection – for example, bench tops, stairs – and for making stencils and patterns. It is designed for project managers, builders and tradespeople in commercial construction, residential builds and renovations, and is suitable for wood, tile, concrete, stone, vinyl or epoxy. Reduce the risk of spills and stains and decrease the chance of damaging a finished or curing floor. Save time, money, and the hassle of re-work, giving you peace of mind that the floor underneath is protected. While supplying leading hardware merchants nationally, Ovaboard is proud to be a Bay of Plenty-based business. The innovative product is imported from America and is made from recycled paper products, ply paper fibre and polymer additives, meaning it can be safely disposed of and re-used up to five times depending on

damage sustained during the build. “A lot of waste on construction sites goes straight into a skip and just gets dumped, so we’re trying to add that sustainability aspect to the industry,” says owner Neil Harray. With the added features of a 60-hour spill guard, easy installation – simply cut and shape it to fit the space – and it’s also impact resistant, meaning you can drive heavy machinery over it no problem. It also helps to optimise health and safety by greatly reducing the chance of trips and slips while you work. The product comes in two densities. Medium density is more suited for painting and plastering, because it is easier to manipulate and move around, whereas the higher density is heavier and will firmly stay in place.

Available in 30m rolls and retails between $150-$170, which is much cheaper than paying to repair damaged flooring. “If you have a concrete garage and spill coffee on the floor, that’s stained, you can’t get that out, so by using OVABOARD in a garage space while you’re building takes that cost away,” says Neil. For an effective way of protecting brand new floor surfaces, minimalising trip hazards, saving labour hours and costs, and helping support a sustainable product, then look no further. Ask for Ovaboard by name from your leading hardware merchant.

SAVING YOU TIME AND MONEY A trusted brand sold nationwide, OVABOARD incorporates the latest technology in temporary flooring protection designed for project managers, builders and trades people in commercial construction, residential builds and renovations. Re-work can be the difference between a profitable or non-profitable job. Reduce risk with OVABOARD preventing damage to a finished or curing floor – suitable for wood, tile, concrete, stone, vinyl or epoxy. Save your reputation, profit margins and the hassle of re-work giving yourself and your customer peace of mind that the floor underneath is protected. Available in two densities to match your specific job requirements.

www.ovaboard.co.nz sales@ovaboard.co.nz 07 571 8003

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Retro reno A walk through Jo Dempsey’s Mount Maunganui home is like stepping back into the 1950s – when Elvis was King, Aunt Daisy was on the radiogram, and milk was delivered to your front gate in glass bottles. While the structure of the house is exactly the same as it was when Jo and her former husband bought the house together 17 years ago, she has recently painted the entire house from top to toe in a combination of retro 1950s colours. “When we first bought the house we repainted everything but it’s pretty much been the same since then.” Jo had to have a retaining wall added to the front of the section a few years ago so had left the ground to settle before tackling the landscaping earlier this year. Her unintended interior renovation began with an exterior renovation. Her Dad built a fence for her, which was followed by some landscaping and the addition of a deck. “I had absolutely no intention of renovating inside the house, but after looking at the outside of the house, where there was such a huge change, I thought the inside was looking a bit run down.” Jo had organised for a friend to repaint her internal doors and door myspace Issue 2

“I say let’s improve on what’s there rather than ripping down these unique homes with so much history”

trims but he let her down so she decided to take up a paintbrush herself. “I thought, right I’m just going to do it myself and that’s pretty much how it started.” Sadly, Jo’s Dad passed away before the exterior renovation that he started was completed. “I think the painting was my form of therapy. I painted literally every single day for six weeks.” Jo’s painting spree has included the exterior weatherboards, front and back steps, fences and outdoor furniture. Inside, only her flatmates’ rooms have been left untouched. “I’ve done the walls, the windows, the skirting boards, the doors and door trims.” Jo has been collecting retro furniture for about 20 years, has tattoos of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Munroe and drives a 1963 EH Holden. “I love anything old and I like keeping it original. I hate it when people buy an old weatherboard house and then redo all the gib and make it perfect, or buy an old car and put flash mags on it.” The kitchen was Jo’s first interior paint job and she wanted it to be “absolutely and utterly in-your-face retro”. “It’s a bright but pastel bluey minty green and it’s absolutely awesome. Everybody who walks into the house is just like ‘wow’.” The lounge is apricot, the bathroom mint green, the laundry lemon and the toilet a combination of candy pink at the bottom and white at the top with a band of blackand-white checks in the middle. “It’s a real retro diner kind of look.” With the painting now finished, Jo has brought out all of the retro treasures she has collected over the years and decorated both her lounge and kitchen with them. “I’ve got nothing new. Even my TV is an old VidMatic. It’s a unique kind of style and I can’t stop collecting.”

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Among the treasures are a four-seater couch, a threeseater couch and five chairs, as well as a retro dining suite with formica dining table and vinyl chairs. There are old tea trolleys, radiograms, Singer sewing machines, cameras, roller skates, lamps, vinyl records on the walls, mirrors, magazine racks and an old fashioned child’s trolley, tricycle and scooter. The exterior of the house is a combination of weatherboards and stucco and the interior walls are made of pinex covered in textured wallpaper. “Even one of the bedroom ceilings has wallpaper. Everything in the house is quirky and that’s what I love about it.” Jo also loves her friendly ghost, Tom, who turns up every now and then to throw coins at her. “I just found out recently that this guy actually died in my room but he’s definitely a friendly ghost. “He used to throw five cent pieces at me until they went out of circulation and then it was 10 cent pieces.” Jo is disappointed that many of the old properties like hers in Mount Maunganui have been demolished or relocated offsite. “Why does everything have to be bigger and better? Why can’t it be the way it was? I say let’s improve on what’s there rather than ripping down these unique homes with so much history.” Even though Jo’s house is old, she hasn’t had to add extra insulation, which is partly helped by the floorto-ceiling windows in the lounge that allow the house to get all day sun, as well as a fabulous view of Mount Maunganui.

“The house has wooden floors, which a lot of people think are cold but they’re actually not. The house also has a selfcontained flat downstairs that helps retain the heat in the house upstairs too.” But as with any old house, there is always remedial work to be done. “It gets hard financially, but after this experience I’ve totally found myself taking over all of the DIY such as changing the lock on the back door and replacing broken door knobs.” Now that the painting is finished Jo’s not quite sure what to do with herself,

although there is an old fireplace in her bedroom that could potentially be a new project. “I’ve got an old-fashioned, ornate rimu fire surround so I wouldn’t mind getting it back in working order.” Jo’s friends have suggested she might like to make a career move into interior design but she acknowledges that retro isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. “And that’s really all I’d want to do. I’ve really enjoyed putting the house back to what it should be. “It’s been really good therapy – and I know my Dad would be proud of me.” myspace Issue 2

BEFORE

AFTER

homes

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We’ve got you covered

Photo: Boss Textures

Before

After

AllWall specialise in helping plasterers and applicators of interior and exterior cladding deliver the best-finished surfaces in the Bay of Plenty. AllWall is a friendly, family-owned business located in Tauranga. In the nearly 30 years we’ve been in the plastering game, we have built a solid reputation for our service, quality, and the responsive way we do business. We have worked with some of the Bay’s most recognised architects, builders, and designers to deliver innovative and superior finishes for their clients. With years of experience in applying interior and exterior cladding solutions we’ve built our business around providing the very best specialist products, application knowledge and expertise. From our estimating services to linking trades people with business support we’re all about supporting the industry. We decided to change our business name from The Plaster Centre to AllWall because we supply much more than plastering products. We have a range of building products and solutions available for both indoor and outdoor wall cladding, quality paints, and a variety of natural stone. We’re committed to instilling our knowledge among the most reputable applicators in the Bay

of Plenty region, so specifiers can rest assured they’re not only getting the best plaster and cladding products, but also the best application and finishes. The AllWall experience doesn’t end when you walk out the door; we are committed to not only ensuring you have the best selection of tools and products, but we’ll also provide you with the know-how to guarantee you’re consistently maximising the benefits of our solutions. We’re all about supporting the industry by equipping applicators with training for our specialist and exclusive products, and our established business relationships enable us to link tradespeople with various support services – so you’re getting much more than just the best plaster and cladding products. We are the biggest and most consistent plastering product supplier in the Bay so feel free to come and visit us at our showroom on Maleme Street to check out our products and get a feel for the way we work so you can discuss your building requirements with our team.

The Bay’s Plastering & Cladding Experts 90A Maleme Street Greerton, Tauranga

0800 255 925

www.allwallbuilding.co.nz myspace Issue 2

HOME

Innovation, service and satisfaction to enhance your lifestyle

Section size, orientation to sun, wind and views, vehicle access, lifestyle, materials and budget all require careful consideration. A personalised plan achieves a far better result with little extra cost and ensures your vision is realised. We work with several talented designers to compliment your style of home and personality. A cohesive team of owner, designer and builder has proved to produce the best results quickly and efficiently. Stress is removed by giving you the information to make informed decisions working directly with Stuart the director of Home Builders BOP.

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B U I L D E R S B O P. . .

Location can be everything and hard to replace,

• Inspirational Design

• Effective Communication

whether it be an extension, modernisation or

• Functional layout

• Low Stress Processes

redevelopment, the expertise and experience

• Low Maintenance

• Flexibility

Stuart Wood Home Builders can call on to inform

• Superior Quality

• Proven History

you will make your options clear. A renovation

• Future Proof Systems

• New Build Finance

you can’t detect is one of our measures of success.

• Comprehensive Documentation

Almost anything is possible; our skills lie in

• Master Build Guarantees

transforming your property to provide the quality of life you require well into the future while being honest on cost and complexity.

Stuart Wood & Home Builders BOP have been members of Tauranga Master Builders Association since 1992 having received many awards in all areas of residential construction, we maintain a very experienced team of licensed builders and quality local suppliers who build your home like it was their own.

Innovative Design • Award Winning New Homes • Stunning Renovations Ph: 07 577 1552 www.homebuilders.net.nz Mobile 0274 470 988 myspace Issue 2

Lifestyle Law We are excited to announce that Lifestyle Law has recently changed owners and is now Jacobsen & Co. Incorporating Lifestyle Law with Kylee Jacobsen at the helm. Our firm is a boutique law firm in the heart of the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Regions with offices in Cherrywood, Tauranga and Te Awamutu, and strong ties to both regions. We are experienced lawyers providing services in property and finance law, business and commercial law, trust law, relationship property law and wills. We are driven to build authentic relationships with our clients through greater connectivity and communication. Jacobsen & Co. focuses on building strong and enduring relationships and really do care about our clients and their respective issues. The result is a long-lasting relationship coupled with high-end legal services. We pride ourselves on being a little bit different and we’re confident you’ll like us. At Jacobsen & Co we take great care when it comes to keeping our clients happy and satisfied through the use of effective communication, authentic actions, and staying connected with people and organisations that support us and the services we provide. So put us to the test; we’re ready to change your mind about the stereotypical desk-bound lawyer, and promise to provide a progressive and fresh approach to any and every problem you need help resolving.

COMMUNICATION AUTHENTICITY CONNECTIVITY Te Awamutu | 38 Rickit Road | P 07 777 8013 Tauranga | 489 Otumoetai Road | P 07 576 0016 www.jacobsenandco.co.nz

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Outdoor leisure on display If you’re looking to liven up your outdoor entertaining area, perhaps with a spa pool or new barbecue, you may not think to visit your local garden centre.But Palmers Bethlehem, while offering the usual plants and garden supplies, also offers a wide range of outdoor leisure products. One of these products is Trueform Spa Pools, a high-quality New Zealand-made brand. “We’ve sold a lot of these during the last four years and display about six of the most popular of the 30 models they have on offer, from those ideal for a couple through to those suitable for a family,” says owner Peter Wayman. “There’s a range of sizes and styles, and we can offer the option

of an ozone sanitising system that cuts down on the amount of chemicals used.” All of the spas are clad in cedar wood but you can choose the colour of the inner shell and lid, with custom orders taking just three weeks. For those who’ve never owned a spa pool before, Peter says the benefits are wideranging. “There are health benefits for people with bad backs, or who have trouble sleeping at night. They are very relaxing.” Palmers Bethlehem also stocks the full range of Weber barbecues including the Weber Q gas range, consisting of the Baby Q, Weber Q and Family Q, and is the only specialist stockist in the Tauranga area. “The Baby and Q models are portable so you can chuck them

in the car and take them away for the day,” says Peter. “You can also grill, roast and bake in them – whatever you can do in a regular oven.” The Weber barbecues, made of aluminium with an enamel top, stand up well to the coastal conditions in the Bay, says Peter. “The framework is a heat-resistant resin, which means there is nothing there to corrode.” And if it’s a charcoal barbecue you prefer to cook on, Palmers Bethlehem also stocks the Weber kettle barbecues. Palmers Bethlehem currently holds the title of ‘New Zealand Garden Centre of the Year’ – an accolade Peter says acknowledges the team’s outstanding service and quality product range, including Trueform and Weber.

Cnr Bethlehem Rd & SH2, Bethlehem

Open 7 Days from 8.30am Ph 07 579 3925 www.palmers.co.nz myspace Issue 2

Architectural

Structural

Mechanical

Electrical

FLORENCE & CO. HOME FURNISHINGS AND DESIGN 55 Ninth Ave, Tauranga 07 281 1409 www.florenceandco.com

Beautiful Omokoroa

Sections selling now! CALL JUSTIN ON 021 414 159 visit www.armadale.co.nz for more information 26

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Sitting in style When Bridget Aitken first moved into her Papamoa home the “dinky” deck at the entranceway was rotting to pieces – not a great first impression. She saw the potential, however, and 12 months later she has a new deck complete with a built-in bench seat – and it has effectively added another room to her house. “It was my entryway to the house, so I wanted to have something a bit more expansive. I had a vision of what I wanted to do with the deck, then the bench seat idea came from the table because once the deck was built I realised I didn’t have a lot of room for chairs,” says Bridget. Bridget’s bench seat both maximises the small space she has, and encloses the area to create an outdoor room. She was able to cantilever it out to create more space. “The design of the bench seat kind of evolved – I knew I wanted the shaker style front panels to the inside, and originally wanted to do weatherboards on the outside, but the shadow ply was a lot less expensive, and laying it horizontally tied it to the fence. “I also painted it the same colour as the fence so it blended nicely. Using the same shadow ply for the back rest, but vertically just made sense, gives it a tongue and groove look. I painted all the inside panels white to tie it to the house.” Once the bench seat was completed Bridget

added some planting to provide wind and sun protection, soften the hard edges, and aid privacy, as the deck is elevated and in full view of the street over the fence. “I bought some plastic pots and designed the whole back section of the bench seat around the size of those, so the plants fit snugly, and once they grow a little more, will be a nice hedge. “Somehow I managed to construct it all in such a way that there are a couple of gaps perfect for inserting umbrellas.” Bridget is proud to say she built the bench seat herself. “Although I design kitchens and cabinetry, I’d never designed anything like this before and I definitely hadn’t built anything before. “I started it in the factory of our family business, Mount Joinery, thinking my father or brother would step in at some point and take over, but they were busy with their own projects. And as I got more into it I really wanted the satisfaction of completing it on my own and –with a bit of saw cutting assistance and advice – I did. It’s added a whole new room to my house – I just love it.” Bridget’s advice to wannabe DIYers is to get the scale right. “I ended up having to cut down one section as it was just going to be too long. And also, pay to have the squabs done professionally. “I spent way too long not getting anywhere making my own, so dropped all the foam and material to a lovely upholsterer in Te Puke who did them in two days and they’re fabulous.” myspace Issue 2

Real heart in a special house Elegantly nestled next to the Maungawhare parkland in Otumoetai, a 139-year-old private kauri homestead is being prepared for the fourth generation of family residents.

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Hilary Revfeim’s family has owned the historic house and property, now reduced to 2 acres from its original 23 acres, since 1939. The house, originally known as Woodhill, was designed by Hamilton architect Isaac Richardson Vialou, and built by S.H Brabant in 1878 for his magistrate brother H.W Brabant. Situated on the highest point in Otumoetai, and visible from surrounding land, distance communication was often by semaphore. The two-storey house with steep gables mounted by finials features delicate verandah fretwork that give an air of lightness. Brackets secure canvas screens in summer to enable people to sleep on the verandah. There have also been interior modifications to the house. In 1884, new owner H.B Johnston, and the first president of the Tauranga Men’s Club, renamed the area Maungawhare or ‘house on the hill’. Brabant took the name Woodhill to a new residence at 167 Grange Rd, now the site of Woodhill Funeral Home. “In the 1910s, TC Maltby who was the commodore of the yacht club, did a lot of entertaining here,” says Hilary. “He used to like the English hunt, so he’d lead a group chasing rabbits on horseback. They’d meet at Waihi Rd, gallop around the estuary, come up Coach Drive and call here for breakfast. “There were also garden parties and tennis on the lawn. He overextended himself so sold off the library and billiard room to repay debts.” The two south wing rooms were dismantled and removed to 13th Ave, becoming absorbed into what is now Ultimate Care Oakland, a resthome. Four large Norfolk Island pines, seen on the skyline from many points throughout Tauranga, were planted between 1884 and 1890. The northernmost, once the tallest in the Bay of Plenty, was struck by lightning in 1978. A covenant for the protection of trees was signed with the Tauranga District Council in 1997. The house was entered into the NZ Historic Place Register in 1983. Hilary says most of the house was prefabricated, arriving in a package from Sydney. “The kauri was shipped there, manufactured

then shipped back. The bay windows were inserted ready-made into the walls.” Hilary has been managing recent house renovations and maintenance. There are seven exterior doors and four original brick chimneys. Separate quarters include a kitchen with a wood stove where servants cooked and ate more than 100 years ago. It’s now a sitting room. Historically significant is the unpainted kauri board and batten ceilings that feature throughout the house. Canes and walking sticks from the 1920s are propped up in one corner. Furniture dating from the 1840s that arrived with the Revfeim family from Whanganui mixes with furniture that came from Auckland in the early-1900s. A grand piano graces another lounge off the library, where leather-bound books were once housed. The table, dresser and old oak furniture go back to the 1930s. Oak becomes the theme. myspace Issue 2

Hilary incorporated pieces from the old shed into the bathroom. Cladding around the chimney features a Norwegian bell pull. Upstairs, the spaciousness is a pleasant surprise. Four bedrooms look out onto the flagpole, a grass tennis court, a hundred year old creeping wisteria, and the rebuilt shed. “This is what I like about old houses. You can withdraw into the bedroom, shut the door, be quiet and read, and nobody is looking for you.” Under the stairs, Hilary keeps a collection of flags – Australia, New Zealand, Sweden. “It depends on which people visit, the latest one was a British flag.” Major Hugh Wright rebuilt the house’s southern wing in 1931. Extensive work on the western side was done in 1972 by architect Geoff Keyte. The outdoor toilet is still in one piece. Recently sanded and painted it has two doors, originally with a lower toilet seat for children and a higher one for adults. Turned into a playhouse it is now used for storage, housing pig branding irons. The pig and house cow have long gone. Work in progress is the taking up of the last of the original verandah. “The kauri had to be removed because the boards were not supported properly. It was so old it was splitting.” The boards were replaced with Australian hardwood. Outside is an old pew. “It was given to my mother-in-law. It rocked, so a mother up the front of the church could rock her crying baby. I think it was rescued from the fire at Holy Trinity.” A third generation resident, Hilary is an enthusiast, preparing the house for the fourth generation. “You’ve got to have real heart for it and commitment. You’ve got to put time into managing the whole property.” 30

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Prenup Protection In recent times, there have been significant column inches dedicated to first home buyers and the (in) accessibility of residential housing for these people (in particular the millennial generation). Parents are stepping in to help, often with little thought to the longer term. Generally media reporting focuses on the Auckland market and its (in)accessibility to first home buyers, put down in some quarters to an over indulgence in smashed avo. However, the issues are equally applicable to the Tauranga and Bay of Plenty markets. Long gone are the days where you could sidle up to the Bank with a 5 percent deposit, borrow 95 percent of the purchase price, and easily access financing. The process is now much more difficult. Kiwisaver, First Home Start Grants, 20 percent deposits, and other rigmarole all make the process of buying a home burdensome, especially for a first home buyer. One scenario we often see is parents or other family members providing a “gift” to ensure the 20 percent deposit is available. In many cases these loans or “gifts” remain undocumented

because of family relationship. Although there is no requirement for the loan or gift to be documented, issues may arise if you are in a committed relationship and the house that you are purchasing with your partner or spouse is your family home. If the relationship breaks down, the amount gifted or loaned by the family member could be in trouble. When couples separate (“couple” meaning those who are married, in a de facto relationship or a civil union), each person is usually entitled to a one half share of the family home upon separation, irrespective of who paid the purchase price or who owned the home in the first place. There are very few exceptions to this rule. Unsurprisingly, perceptions about money seem to change when experiencing the trauma of a break-up, and funds from family can get caught up in the mix. Documenting arrangements legally by way of a “pre-nup” between couples can save time, money and grief if the love doesn’t last. Those who don’t think they’ll crash their car still take out insurance. A gift given out of love for a family member needs protection, and the best policy is to achieve this certainty. For assistance, call Clare Murphy or Tom Elvin at Mackenzie Elvin on 578-5033

44 Brown Street Tauranga

Tailoring solutions for your individual needs SPECIALISING IN

· Property · Relationship Property · Trusts and Wills

· Business · Governance and Succession · Agri-Business

t 07 578 5033 reception@mackenzie-elvin.com www.mackenzie-elvin.com

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Rejuvenate your kitchen Tauranga-based kitchenmakeover.co.nz specialises in rejuvenating kitchens with the same materials and fittings found in designer kitchens. But their simple and professional kitchen makeover approach saves thousands of dollars by using your existing kitchen. Owner Nelson Tkatch says kitchenmakeover.co.nz had great interest at booth 314 at the Tauranga Home Show where staff happily discussed options and offered advice on how an existing kitchen can be made over. “Many attendees booked their free no-obligation consultation at the time – and we would be delighted to do the same for anyone who wasn’t able to make it to the show this year.” Nelson says experience making over hundreds of kitchens means clients get a renewed kitchen based on a time-tested process with beautiful results – without the cost or fuss of a replacement. “A kitchen makeover includes lacquering all the cabinetry to change colour and texture and updating your benchtop with laminate, natural or engineered stone – and often adding a modern glass splashback.” “Lacquer is still the choice of most designers as seen in print and online magazines.”

Many new kitchen suppliers offer wrapped surface technology that is supposed to look like lacquer. While it looks very nice when new, the colour and finish choice is limited. “And we seem to be making over more and more kitchens with cracked and lifting wrap,” says Nelson. “Our approach allows clients to make over their kitchen as a single project or in stages. Many start with lacquering, which offers a limitless choice of colour and a wide variety of finishes and is normally completed in two weeks.” “We can update benchtops with one of the available ranges of laminate or granite as well as quartz or other engineered products. Nelson says a glass splashback is often used by clients to add a splash of colour, a mirrored effect or even a striking graphic – providing that bit of ‘wow’ to their kitchen. “We’re happy to provide options and help people save money,” says Nelson. Visit kitchenmakeover.co.nz or call the team on 0800 48 77 48 to book your free no-obligation consultation and quote – and you can still receive the Home Show special of up to a $500 credit towards new handles when you book a kitchen makeover.

KITCHENMAKEOVER.CO.NZ Make over your existing kitchen with designer finishes and save THOUSANDS compared to replacing it!

Call 0800 48 77 48 for your free no-obligation consultation and quote Mention this advert for a credit of up to $500* toward the cost of new handles (*GST Included, terms and conditions apply)

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Before

After

Showroom: 48 Birch Ave, Tauranga Mon - Fri 8.00 - 4:30 Sat 9:00 - 12:00

Kathryn Clout Kathryn Clout is an educator who cherishes and treasures her family. Owner of the Treehouse Private Kindergarten, and wife to Tauranga City Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout, the warmth in her home evokes feelings of permanence and beauty. The sitting room is her favourite space. “It fuels my love for beautiful things, and it links us to the past.” “When I was a little girl I used to visit one of my mother’s closest friends, and her lounge smelt of antiques, polishes and beeswax. It’s been something that I’ve carried with me all of my life.” The smell of soft rose oils blends with the richness of cream against red. Mustard and greens, accents of black. Elegant chairs. A cow hide rug. Significant and cherished family moments caught in a collection of Sid Dickens memory tiles. The birth of a grandchild. Love and romance. Roses. These are dominated by the grand piano, gracing the classically-styled room that doesn’t date. The concrete walls breathe relaxed, cool elegance. “I come in here and sit in the quiet, and feel energised by the depth of the colour and beautiful furniture. I just love this room.” Technology-free and intimate, and trimmed with candles, a nativity set and tree ornaments, the red and green room lights up

perfectly at Christmas. In one corner stands a rare circular cabinet filled with fine china, a collection started by her mother. “When my staff come for Christmas breakfast I set my table with the Royal Albert cup and saucers.” On Sunday mornings, before church, she pauses there, sipping coffee. It’s also a decision space. “After New Year’s Day this is where Kelvin and I come together for a goal-setting day. Here, we have talked through concerns about the children and Kelvin going into local politics.” A strong musical family, Kathryn’s aunt was an accompanist while her mother played the church organ. Kathryn has passed the music tradition on. “As an educator I know the value that music does for children’s brain, and the discipline required.” A cherisher of memories Kathryn’s room is filled with expressions of beauty, linking family members, both past and present to each other. myspace Issue 2

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For most people, building a new home or taking on a renovation is a major event. We recognise the level of trust our customers place in Certified is to be us and we’llNew doZealand everything weBuilders’ can togoal make it arecognised rewarding experience. and respected as the premier association of qualified building professionals inour Newoffer Zealand. We have also strengthened through partnering with Our visionto is toprovide be seen as the industry leader,in providing Lloyd’s of London further support the form of enhanced confidence to customers through superior workmanship independent home guarantee insurance. and business practices.

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“She’ll be right” Research done by New Zealand Certified Builders Association found homeowners are too laid back when it comes to written contracts for building work and assume being licensed means builders have a higher standard of training, skills and experience than is currently required under the Licensed Building Practitioner scheme. The survey found that 51% of homeowners who had used a builder in the last ten years didn’t have a written contract for work done by their last builder. Of the work done without a written contract, 22% was for work over $30,000, 18% was for work between $10,000 and $30,000 and 48% was for work under $10,000. The survey highlighted the importance of consumer protection measures, such as the change introduced through the Building Act 2004. Although this law has been around for several years now further work the Association has done recently highlights the lack of understanding amongst practitioners and homeowners on such requirements as the mandatory use of a building contract for residential building work over $30,000. Certified Builders recommends a building contract on all work, it’s important to communicate how the working relationship will work. The survey found that 46% of homeowners think it’s the builder’s responsibility if something goes wrong with a build or renovation. The reality is if there’s no written contract in place, this makes it difficult to resolve issues. When the working relationship becomes challenged it’s helpful to be able to reference back to a building contract which spells out the duties and obligations of both parties involved.

This will help to get the building work and relationship back on track. That’s why Certified Builders provide template contacts for members to use, ensuring they adhere to the highest professional standards. More recently Certified Builders introduced a mandatory building guarantee, which applies to every new home build or home building alteration over $30,000 that is undertaken by a NZCB member. The Guarantee is called Halo Building Guarantee Insurance and is underwritten by Lloyd’s of London, offering 10 years of protection to the dwelling which transfer with each owner of that property. The survey also found that when asked about what they thought was a requirement for a builder to be a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP), 90% of homeowners thought that having a formal building trade qualification was a requirement and 80% thought that undertaking formal professional development was required to maintain registration. Trade qualification isn’t currently a requirement under the LBP scheme, and in terms of professional development. In the absence of any strengthening of the LBP scheme, consumers can have confidence in choosing a builder who is a member of NZCB because all our members are trade-qualified – we are the only building trade association in New Zealand that requires trade qualification as a pre-requisite for membership. myspace Issue 2

Furnished with

love

When you own three designer furniture stores, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a given that your home is going to feature some spectacular pieces of furniture.

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Grant Furniss and Paul Tanner, owners of Contemporary Classics in Mount Maunganui, own a “kitset Canadian” home in a quiet culde-sac near the beach at Papamoa. The house itself could do with renovating, says Grant, but with three stores to run and regular buying trips overseas not leaving a lot of time for DIY, the couple have instead made their home stand out with unique designer furniture, both indoors and out. Home is definitely where the heart is for Grant and Paul who like to entertain in their large, private garden. “Outdoor living is a priority when you live in the sort of climate we do. We encourage the use of our outdoor space by offering comfort and furniture with the ‘wow’ factor,” says Grant. The 12-seater Sparta lounge is a focal point of their outdoor space, allowing for both outdoor dining and relaxation. The dome-shaped structure with matching glass-topped coffee table features a polyethylene open weave fibre over an aluminium frame, large acrylic cushions and bright scatter pillows for added style and accents. A large Buddha water feature adds a tropical feel to the paved courtyard outside their living room and relaxes with its soothing trickle. Indonesian-made, it is mounted on a bamboo fence and complemented with a small Chinese wagon wheel table and two chairs in the same weave as the lounge in the back yard. The cushions, like those in the outdoor lounge, are made from quick-dry foam so they can stay outdoors in all weather. Inside, Grant and Paul’s furniture is an eclectic mix of pieces they have collected from their travels over the years and what they sell in their stores. An oval-shaped, reclaimed elm coffee table is a stand-out piece in the living room and is practical as well as stylish, says Grant. “It’s wonderfully textured wood and is very forgiving. It’s good for putting feet up on and dancing on.” And with no corners to it, it’s great for eating dinner on in front of the 75 inch television. A matching side table sits in the corner of the room with a Moroccan hand-cut fretted brass floor lamp. “Most of my buying is about what the hand can do, not what a

machine can pop out. To me there will never be more artisan hands in the world. At the end of the day these items will become far more valuable than a disposable machine-made item,” says Grant. The Deville chaise lounge features removable, washable natural linen covers and because it is natural you don’t have to worry about colour fade. “Because you can take the covers off and wash them, grubby kids, cats, and dirty husbands can get on there and enjoy it and then you can make it look new again,” says Grant. The living room also features a Berger sheepskin chair with oak legs (Grant calls it his “lambikins” chair) which is light enough to be moved around the house when an extra chair is needed. Grant and Paul have been importing furniture from Asia for 27 years. They choose the furniture for its classic styling that will stand the ravages of fashion and time. An example of this is their Italian-designed dining table, which is one of the first pieces Grant imported 27 years ago. Made in Indonesia from hand-carved mahogany, it features a grapevine with bunches of purple grapes hanging from it. myspace Issue 2

“This is a one-off. I lived in my warehouse for many years so having it in this house has been the first time I’ve been able to use it,” says Grant. The table is teamed with wicker outdoor chairs, which as well as being easy to clean and able to be used both indoors and out, don’t detract from the detail of the table. Grant is a firm believer in buying furniture that is suitable to be used both indoors and out. “If it’s only good enough for inside it’s a bit of a waste. Why not get double purpose and get double the value?” He also believes in the value of a quality rug, of which there are several in bright colours in his home. “Carpet isn’t made to last but if you put down a rug made to last 100 years in an area you walk on often, your carpet will still look good when you take the rug up.” In the living room they’ve used a rich, classic red rug to offset the cool colours of the walls and give it a cosy, warm feel. It also meets Grant’s design philosophy that every room needs a splash of red. Grant and Paul have a number of hand-carved artisan timber mirrors in a variety of shapes and styles to create a feeling of space, catch the light and reflect their vibrant personalities. “They’re wonderful pieces of art rather than square machinemade shapes,” says Grant. Sadly, Grant and Paul will be saying farewell to the house soon as they move back to a warehouse. “But the furniture is going with us, so when we move, the house actually goes with us rather than the walls. It’s not going to be too difficult to set up a new home where our hearts will be,” says Grant.

For design and quality that stands out

67C Totara Street & Central Parade, Mt Maunganui and Queen Street, Cambridge

Ph 07 575 5573 or 07 827 0539 www.contemporaryclassics.co.nz

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A spa for every occasion

If it’s relaxation you’re looking for, you can’t go past a Passion spa pool for its therapeutic benefits. But if you want a good workout first, you might want to try one of the latest Passion fitness swim spas. Poolpac in Mount Maunganui is the exclusive New Zealand distributor of the Passion spa range, which includes cosy, intimate spa pools for two, through to high-tech fitness swim spas where you can work out and relax in the same pool. Whatever pool you choose, all Passion spas are designed for maximum therapeutic benefits. The massage effects range from pulsating jets to Passion’s exclusive Aqua Rolling Massage that provides an invigorating massage experience. Passion has four spa pool collections, including Pure, Signature, Exclusive and Sport, which includes Fitness swim spas. As well as those with standard features, Passion spa pools offer extras such as waterfalls, LED lighting, aromatherapy, built-in music systems and Wi-Fi capability. The Sport collection is ideal for those that like to swim, but don’t have the space for a swimming pool and a spa, says Poolpac owner Anita Horan. The pools provide ample swimming space in a swim lane, while at the same time offering comfortable seating for quiet relaxation. Powerful pumps generate a strong current, allowing you to swim in

place for an exceptional workout. The Fitness swim spas feature Current-Lift Technology, designed to provide an authentic swimming experience that adjusts to the intensity of your workout. Because the swim and spa sections of these pools are separate, you can vary the temperatures in the two units, experiencing a lower temperature workout in the swim lane before soothing your tired muscles in the hot water of the spa. Anita’s personal favourite is the Euphoria spa which includes a Levitation Bed that allows you to lay face up, or face down for the “most relaxing spa massage you can imagine”. “It’s amazing. You’re floating and getting massaged at the same time.” Other advantages of the Passion spa range, says Anita, is the pools are low-maintenance – the durable synthetic exterior doesn’t need re-staining like a timber exterior – and they come with a heavily insulated ‘walk-on’ cover for maximum insulation to keep the heat in on those cold winter nights.

LOVE YOUR SENSES We offer you an exceptional spa experience. From the wide array of features and massage experiences you can be confident in your purchase of a Passion Spa from PoolPac.

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19A Newton Street, Mount Maunganui Ph: 07 575 5906 | www.poolpac.co.nz Mon – Fri 9am-5pm Sat 9am-2pm

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Property law at Seaview When it comes to property matters, making sure you’ve got all of the legalities sorted is a must. And if you’re sorting through a property matter, it is best to seek professional legal advice. Seaview Law is a small firm based in Tauranga that is able to assist on a large range of property matters, estate planning including Trusts and estate administration. Seaview Law is a small team made up of one solicitor, Chris Fotheringhame and two legal executives Kaylee Firmin and Satinder Sohal.

Chris prides herself on her ability to solve problems and help people, be it someone purchasing their first home, business or someone adding a commercial building to their portfolio, there is always the opportunity to add value and make this process as easy as possible for the client. “Gone are the days where people would come and sit in the office and wait half an hour for the lawyer to eventually attend to them.

Seaview Law Ltd 235a State Highway 2 Bethlehem Tauranga 42

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We respect that people are busy and need to get to other appointments or back to work. We appreciate with todays lifestyles that time is precious,” Chris says. Most of her clients come from referrals and word of mouth “I have helped three generations of a family for each of their separate legal issues” Chris and her staff work together as a team to ensure a more personal service and will visit her local elderly and unwell clients at no additional cost. With 14 years experience under her belt, Chris has earnt the reputation of a hard-working and compassionate lawyer. She has a wide knowledge of different kinds of law, but her career has been focused on property and trust law. Chris has lived in the Bay of Plenty for much of her life and is proud to call it home Chris offers a free 15-minute initial consultation so you can make sure you’re comfortable with her before making your decision. So for all your legal queries and issues talk to the ladies at Seaview Law. (Pictured below is Satinder Sohal, Kaylee Firmin and Chris Fotheringhame.) They are approachable, friendly, client-focused, and promise to provide excellent customer service.

Wonderful windows Things to consider with window treatments 1. Think of your needs and what you want to achieve with your window treatments. Do you need privacy during the day or night or both? Do you need to consider warmth and insulation? Are you wanting to cut down the glare and heat of the mid-day sun? Your consultant can discuss all of your needs and provide the best solutions for your home. 2. Consider different options for different rooms. You could opt for a beautiful fabric in your main living areas and then a well priced option in your guest bedroom. 3. Is this your â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dream Homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or will you be moving on? If you are hoping to stay, spend a little bit more to create a look you absolutely love, and that will stand the test of time. If you may be selling up in the near future, still choose something you love, but also consider the overall cost, and suitability for a different family. 4. Trust your consultant. Choose someone who listens to you, who you are comfortable with, who can share your vision and work with you to bring that vision to life. You may not be able to visualise the finished product, but your consultant can. You just need to trust them. By The Design Depot

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Dream Scaping If you’re looking to design your dream garden or outdoor living area, it’s always a good idea to get a landscape professional involved at an early stage. Hamish Brooks Landscapes moved from Christchurch to Tauranga a year ago and the team is already making an impact on local gardens and landscapes. With more than 20 years’ experience in the landscaping and agriculture industry, and having won a number of garden awards, Hamish knows how to make outdoor dreams come true. “We’re passionate about landscaping. We want to add value and impact to your property, whether it’s a small or large project. We pride ourselves on providing the ‘whole package’ for our clients.” Hamish can meet you on-site to discuss your ideas, requirements and budget and he will keep you involved in the process every step of the way. He also provides a landscape consultation service where he can give advice and suggest ideas, and can do a basic sketch on-site so you can visualise the changes. This can then be taken through to a concept plan or full landscape plans if required. It might be that no plans are needed. “You might want to do the work yourself, or make a few changes to your existing garden and need some ideas to get started. Or you might want us to complete the whole project from planning and design, through to construction, planting and ongoing maintenance.” Hamish Brooks Landscapes is experienced in formal garden design, contemporary designed outdoor areas, cottage gardens and informal gardens. The team can also build decks, fences, pathways, rock formations, pergolas, and water and art features. A plant-sourcing service is also available. “We provide top quality plants at an affordable price, ensuring you get the best results,” says Hamish. The company has completed various work throughout the Tauranga region, including a new showhome, work on new-builds and reforming many existing gardens. “We are honest, affordable and we create outdoor living spaces that our clients enjoy and are proud of. There is nothing more rewarding then seeing someone’s garden and outdoor area being transformed. We are about making people’s outdoor dreams come true and we love it.”

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:: INTERIOR DESIGN :: FURNITURE :: HOMEWARES :: GIFTWARE :: CURTAINS :: WALLPAPER 46

13 Totara Street, Mount Maunganui :: 07 572 0215 :: www.thedesigndepot.co.nz

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Getting the perfect interior While you might have a good idea of what you want when it comes to designing the interior of your home, sometimes it can be hard to pull it all together. That’s where the professional team of interior designers and curtain consultants at The Design Depot come in. As well as having an edgy design store in Mount Maunganui, The Design Depot offers a complete design service offering expert advice on everything from new home decorating to sourcing a one-off piece. “We’re a one-stop-shop for professional advice on colour, curtains, flooring, furniture and accessories,” says interior stylist Kylie Marsh. The Design Depot offers a full window treatment service, from design consultation through to the making of custom-made curtains. A curtain and interior consultant will come to your home for a consultation, or provide an assessment and quote from your building plans if it’s a new build. “I take a selection of fabrics and linings and do an on-site measure and consultation so you can see what the fabric looks like in

your home, in your colour scheme, and in your light. Fabrics can often look different in your home than what they look like in store,” says curtain consultant Rachael Horne. The Design Depot works with a number of window treatment manufacturers to ensure there are plenty of options to choose from, and stocks an extensive range of stunning curtain fabric in store. “We’ve got a great relationship with our fabric reps so they come in and show us all the latest trends and fabrics so we can create something special for our customers,” says Rachael. In store, customers can also choose from a wide range of beautiful furniture, homewares, lighting, soft furnishings, bed linen and giftware. “We’re the destination for those requiring a regular inspirational fix and looking for unique items not seen elsewhere.” myspace Issue 2

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Think flooring first If you’re about to start a renovation or building a new home, it might pay to think about your flooring options before you decide on your colour scheme. Flooring specialist Steve Ferris from The Flooring Room in Tauranga recommends choosing your flooring first. “Flooring forms the foundation of any interior scheme. There’s a lot of it in a home so choosing one you love, and then picking the colours around it, is a great way to start,” says Steve. The Flooring Room team includes flooring colour consultants who work with customers on other elements of their new build or renovation, such as choosing paint colours or the colour of their kitchen cabinetry. “We want to ensure their flooring looks absolutely stunning once it’s laid. We have paint swatches on hand so often people will spend a few hours working on their whole interior solution.” The Flooring Room showroom is also fitted out in such a way that you can walk on the carpet before you make a decision. “We’ve laid large pieces of carpet on underlay so customers can see what it looks and feels like en-masse instead of trying to choose off a

little sample,” says Steve. The Flooring Room offers a wide variety of flooring solutions including carpet, vinyl and vinyl planking, timber, laminate, bamboo and cork. Steve says while New Zealand has always offered an extensive range of wool carpets, more recently there has been a demand for stain and fade-resistant fibres. “You don’t need to sacrifice the environmental attributes of wool carpet to have those new technologies. We’ve got carpets that are made out of 100 per cent recycled drink bottles or fishing nets and others that are made from 37 per cent corn starch.” The Flooring Room also offers environmentally-friendly hard flooring options, including a product made from linseed oil and sawdust on a jute backing. Despite the move away from wool and the massive variety of synthetic carpets available, The Flooring Room also stocks a wide variety of wool products – and Steve has chosen to renovate his own home using wool flooring. “I’ve chosen a multi-coloured loop texture that’s a bit funkier than the traditional carpets. As long as you choose the setting and colour correctly, you won’t be disappointed with the performance of wool.”

WHERE REAL VALUE COMES WITH REAL FAMILY VALUES

Phone 07 571 1114

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Bringing Bali to the backyard Jenny and Garth Spain may have lived at Papamoa Beach for 17 years, but it’s only recently they’ve been able to have the tropical garden they’ve always wanted. ‘The harsh seaside environment of their first home never really lent itself to a lush, green garden but when they moved inland slightly a few years ago it was time to get the Balinese pots out of storage and give it a go. The backyard of their new home had good bones, with five large Queen palm trees, bangalows and a giant bird of paradise plant, so the renovation was configured around these. With the beach no longer on their doorstep, Jenny and Garth wanted to ensure a fun, entertaining environment for their grandchildren – so the first task was to install a swimming pool. Because there was no vehicle access to the yard, the dirt from the hole had to be transported via conveyor belt up the side of the house and out to the road. The 7m by 3m saltwater, heated pool was then lifted into place via crane over the top of the house. “That was the easy part,” says Jenny. The pool is fenced with frameless glass panels and cyclone wire, which is both architecturally appealing and has the added safety benefit of see-through visibility to keep an eye on the grandchildren. Garth had previously covered the existing wooden fence with bamboo panels, setting the backdrop for a Balinese flavour. Between the pool and the back fence Jenny and Garth have kept the existing large plantings and planted three-tier hedging, including griselinia, Mexican orange blossom and clipped teucrium. The planting sits behind a low, bond-stacked polished block concrete wall with Balinese pots at either end kept in place with 50

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“We know what we like and we wanted a tropical vibe” internal steel rods. Various small Balinese statues peek from foliage in other parts of the garden. Garth had some macrocarpa planter boxes built, which he assembled around the base of the palm trees, to add stability and visual balance. These are under-planted with orange and yellow vireyas, hibiscus, tropical white impatiens, sugar palms and gardenia. The couple have tried to keep the orange and yellow colour scheme throughout their garden, with a touch of blue added by the pool, a large cantilevered sun umbrella and blue uplights that illuminate the palm trees at night. Pride of place on the fence in the yard is a retro 1960s Dunlop longboard that Jenny’s mother rescued from a neighbour’s rubbish bin in Auckland many years ago and has been in the family ever since. “It’s a classic board and a part of our family history. Surfers have offered to buy it but I will never sell it. If it falls apart over time, due to exposure to the elements, so be it. It’s better than languishing in the garage unseen,” says Jenny. The outdoor furniture is predominantly white, with sun loungers and chairs with colourful scatter cushions around the pool, and cafestyle chairs around an aluminium-framed table with a wooden top. Along the side of their house Jenny and Garth have installed an outdoor shower and fish filleting station. “In summer we rarely shower indoors and the grandies don’t have to traipse through the house all wet,” says Jenny. A courtyard with a small lawn area with raised planter boxes sits on the north-easterly side of the house, offering an alternative seating and barbecue area when the westerly wind makes its presence felt. It also serves as a sunny breakfast spot. Both Jenny and Garth tend to the garden although neither are “real gardeners,” she says. “We fly by the seat of our pants really. We know what we like and we wanted a tropical vibe.” The thing that Jenny enjoys most about her garden is she can walk straight out of her house into the garden. In her previous home the living area was upstairs overlooking the garden. “Even though we had a garden we couldn’t enjoy it like we enjoy this one. It’s nice to be able to walk in and out, and our family, who live close by, love the pool. En masse we create a delightful ruckus for the neighbours!” Jenny recommends www.houzz.com.au and magazines such as ‘House and Garden’ for design inspiration in the garden. Having a “handy hubby” is a bonus too. “With Garth’s engineering background he can turn his skills to almost anything. He is the artistic one, with foresight and vision.” River stones and weed mat are two things that Jenny recommends avoiding in the garden. “Weed mat is my pet hate – weeds grow on top of it over time anyway.” She also recommends using compost and sheep pellets when planting, and using plenty of water. “Our water rates are high but we have the greenest lawn in the street.” Jenny is happy with her new garden but says it is still a work in progress. “It’s still a young garden so it’s got a way to go yet to become as lush as we envisaged. “This season we’ve added about 30 hibiscus, which will eventually come into their own. We’re just starting to get some lovely blooms.” myspace Issue 2

Everything in its place Whether it’s a walk-in wardrobe or a hallway closet – without the right storage these areas can become a nightmare. Di Sherer from Wardrobe World has been in the storage business for 20 years and knows how important it is to have a storage space designed to suit your needs. “Everything we do is custom-made, from full consultation, measuring, manufacturing to installation. “We sit down with our clients and discuss their needs and wants – be it for their wardrobe, walk-in or reach-in, linen cupboard or sliding doors.” Wardrobe World offers a range of options to suit all budgets, from high-end Melrobe and Eurobe systems – complete with woodgrain shelves and drawers – to the Classic and Super Slide wire closet systems, made using American-made Ventilated Wireframe Closetmaid Products which come with a 25-year warranty. The Classic system offers a functional, cost-effective whole-house solution from the bedrooms to the storage or linen cupboards. The SuperSlide system is a great option for someone on a budget, and also great for children’s wardrobes. “They look great with large, stackable basket towers, which are great for clothes or toy storage.” The key feature of the Melrobe and Eurobe systems is the ability to build towers of shelves for folded garment storage in your wardrobe, or to add banks of drawers. “Shelves or drawers in your wardrobe system can potentially save the space and expense of a chest of drawers in a bedroom. There is also a range of accessories from trouser racks and laundry hampers to shoe shelves that can easily be incorporated into your design.” Wardrobe World also has great storage ideas for the garage. “Most garages are under-utilised, messy or cluttered. With a storage solution from Wardrobe World, you can organise the space, and customise it for your needs.” All of the products at Wardrobe World are designed to simplify your life. “You walk into a wardrobe and everything is in its place. They are easy to keep tidy, durable and will double your hanging area, so you can get twice as much into your space than your usual shelf and rail.” ED ESIGNS D M O M CUST YSTE LITY, ORAGE S A U Q & ST BLE, DURAARDROBE W

www.wardrobeworld.co.nz | (07) 578 2313

bayofplenty@wardrobeworld.co.nz | Showroom: 62 Courtney Rd, Gate Pa 52

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NO ION IGAT & L B O E SUR MEA OTE QU

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Building consents are now online in Tauranga

On March 31 2017, Tauranga City Council moved to Building Consents Online making it easy for industry professionals and DIYers to lodge building consent and code compliance certificate applications electronically. Once accepted, customers can manage and track applications from processing to granting from anywhere, at any time. All correspondence, requests for further information and invoices will be electronic too and managed through email. To make consenting easy, the Build+ Portal provides a set of online tools to assist customers in checking property details, working through some key calculations and accessing relevant public information. The goal is to make it easy to lodge, manage and track consents - saving time coming into Council to drop off paper or calling to check progress. The online consenting system comes from a New Zealand company, which is already meeting the needs of building industry up and down the country, so we know it is trusted and reliable.

GET THE MOST FROM ONLINE BUILDING CONSENTS Register

Sign up for building consents: • Visit building.tauranga.govt.nz • Click on ‘Go to Building Consents’ • Select the green button to sign up Get started

Follow these steps to save us both time: Check if you need a consent: • Visit Build + at building.tauranga.govt. nz • Check your property information • Use the calculators to validate your design requirements Lodge applications

• Complete the simple online form • Ensure details entered in the application correctly match the documents supplied – owner must be the owner listed on the Certificate of Title 54

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• Keep the Description of Work concise and relevant, e.g. ‘New 3-bedroom Dwelling’ Upload documents

• Upload documents into the correct category – e.g. Plans into the Plan Folder • Make sure your documents meet the file size requirements • Bookmark the contents of the plans

Make building consent processing easier

There are a couple of small things you can do to ensure our processing staff can access the information they need quickly. If we can find the information easily, it can reduce requests for information. Bookmarks

Your building consent application should be split into four PDFs: 1. Application 2. Plans 3. Specifications 4. Supporting documents Inserting bookmarks into these documents is an easy way of finding information, particularly in very long PDFs. A bookmark creates a link that enables you to name specific pages of your building consent application, the various plans and specifications. Bookmarks enable us to go directly to the pages that we may want to review, rather than scrolling through each page. In most PDF viewers, bookmarking options are under the View tab in the main menu. Scroll to the page you want, bookmark it, and give the bookmark a name – this is a small change that will help our processing team immensely.

Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

If we can easily find words within a document, we can process it more quickly. If a document has optical character recognition applied, we can get the computer to hunt for a word rather than doing it ourselves. This saves a lot of time when we’re searching for particular sections or phrases. Most PDF creation software, CAD software and Word-to-PDF conversion tools have OCR built in. However, sometimes you may need to scan a document to add it to your plans. Scanned documents don’t usually have optical character recognition, unless you’re using a specialised scanner. To test whether your document has OCR already, try searching for a word in the document by pressing CTRL + F. A search box will pop up where you can type in a word such as “window”. If your document scrolls down to a place where the word “window” has been used, your document has OCR. Some PDF software tools, including modern versions of Adobe Acrobat, will allow you to enhance scanned documents with features like OCR. Adding OCR usually takes just a few minutes and saves significant time. We recommend high accuracy and at least 300 dpi quality. Finishing the job

Apply for CCC • Upload your documents early to make your inspections easier • Complete the online form • Book your inspection on 07 578 666. If you know you’re going to submit an application more than once, bookmark the consents page to quickly enter applications and track progress. Got questions? building.tauranga.govt.nz 07 577 7000 info@tauranga.govt.nz

The burning issue Wood is one of the world’s most sustainable fuels, it’s carbon neutral and running a wood fire is one the cheapest forms of heating.

‘Dry’, or as ‘Seasoned’, as possible. Pine for example will season quickly (6-12 months) while Manuka will take significantly longer due to the density and cell structure (18-36 months).

A number of things should be considered when using wood for heating. An understanding of the various types of fuel wood that is available including its advantages and limitations, and it is essential to know how to light and maintain a good fire.

Green wood can hold up to its own weight in moisture and sap and it takes a while to get rid of this. While surface water does not really matter because it evaporates quickly, it is important to reduce the sap levels within the cell structure of the wood itself. Softwoods will season quite quickly, in about 6 to 12 months, but it can take 18 -24 months for hardwoods such as manuka to dry to an acceptable level.

Fuel wood ranges from soft woods like pine, to hardwoods like Manuka. But whatever wood is chosen, the key to a successful fire is to ensure the fuel is as

Gathering and stacking wood in the open air over the summer period is advantageous because the warmth of the sun and good air circulation will automatically evaporate some

Wood fires offer great performance, styling and make any home warm and cosy.

of the sap. When the wood gets wet from seasonal rain, the rain water replaces sap and because water is more quickly evaporated, the fuel dries faster. Don’t worry too much about the surface water from rain, as this will burn off quickly if the wood is wellseasoned. 3 ways to determine a dry fuel • The most accurate way is to purchase a digital moisture meter, (available online at www.pyroclassic.co.nz). Split a large log and spike the centre. • Knock two pieces of seemingly dry wood together. If it ‘rings’ rather than ‘thuds, then it is likely to be dry enough to burn. • Look for circular splits at the end of your logs. If these are present it indicates wellseasoned wood

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Sitting on

the shelf Top tips for styling your shelves • Not just for books. Shelves are great for showing off personal items, collections, curios and unusual keepsakes. Mix these in with your books to make your shelves more interesting. • Story telling. Group together objects to a theme or genre like travel or vintage to tell a story. • Odd numbers. Try pairings of three, five and seven within a vignette to create balance and harmony. • Layer with texture. Using a number of different textures across your shelves will add depth and interest. A mix of reflective and shiny, a little bit of timber, rustic and woven, all look great grouped together. • Short and tall. Items of different heights will give the eye something interesting to follow. Use an imaginary triangle when grouping objects together with taller at the back and shorter towards the front. • Colour it up. A collection of books and objects in the same colour can a splash of interest. Louise Blackmore, Blackmore Design Ltd

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Shutter sensation Whether you’re renovating or planning a new build, shutters are a fantastic option for window furnishings. Dion Townsend, owner-operator of Venluree Tauranga and Coromandel, says shutters are becoming increasingly popular. “The contemporary design of shutters makes them a versatile solution that will stand the test of time. It’s one of the features that really appeals to our customers. “It’s not unusual to work with people who have spent considerable money on curtains, but found them to be restrictive when they want to update soft furnishings. “Shutters look great whether they’re teamed with loud patterns, varied textures, or restful neutrals, says Dion. Shutters can be used as either window or door coverings, as well as room dividers. They can be opened or closed completely, with the louvres adjusted according to the level of privacy required. Shutters enhance the feeling of space adding elegance and value to any home, says Dion. “Unlike curtains, shutters don’t take up a lot of room, but because

Call now for an inhome consultation

0800 836 587 58

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of their customised design they provide excellent functionality. Shutters can be used with absolute confidence in any setting, blending effortlessly with both modern and antique designs.” Jenny Oliver has just had Venluree shutters installed throughout her home and says they are “absolutely amazing.” “They look stunning, they’re easy to keep clean and they just dress the whole house – it would look quite plain without them.” Jenny says the shutters are great for privacy and provide excellent light control. “My husband often works at the kitchen table so he can tilt them to let in more light.” While Jenny loves the shutters, she loves the service provided by Venluree most of all. “Their after-service care is outstanding.” Venluree shutters are custom-made, ensuring a perfect fit. They are available in either painted or stained finishes, and can be custom coloured to suit your decor. Venluree has been New Zealand’s specialist manufacturer and supplier of quality window furnishings for more than 45 years and offers a three-year product warranty. Book an in-home consultation with Dion now and save up to 20% on shutters, plus 12 months’ interest-free on your purchase.

dion@venluree.co.nz

www.venluree.co.nz

Lynne Brown One of the biggest advantages of artist Lynne Brown’s studio is that she’s able to “splosh” her paint about without worrying too much about making a mess. The studio, which overlooks Lake Taurikura in Tauranga, has polished concrete floors inside and a paved area outside the French doors which makes cleaning up a breeze. Lynne is well-known for her contemporary, semi-abstract acrylic landscapes and describes her creative process as “very splashy.” “I’ve got a hose outside the doors so I can hose things down when they’re not going right, which is important. Most of the time I don’t have a fixed idea when I start so there’s lots of sploshing and layering and waiting for something to come out of it. I put it on and take it off and something will talk to me after awhile.” Lynne says the most important thing about the studio is its excellent natural light, and the addition of a sink means she doesn’t have to use her kitchen sink or laundry tub for washing up her brushes. As you would expect in an artist’s studio the walls are dotted with artworks, some her own and some of other artists. There aren’t

a lot of furnishings, but Lynne sits on an antique optician’s stool that used to belong to husband Ross’ grandfather. The stool makes a “swishy squawk” every time she sits on it, but it makes her smile. “It’s really ugly blue vinyl but I love it because it’s a bit of history. I like having a connection to previous generations.” While Lynne says the best thing about the space is that it’s hers, she does share it with her grandchildren and the odd house guest. “We recently put in a Tiltaway bed which comes out of a cupboard in the wall so the grandkids can sleep there when they come to stay, and then it folds away again.” Her grandchildren are also allowed to use her studio to create their own art when they come to visit. “They’re allowed to come in and make a mess - there’s pencils, card, glue, scissors whatever they could possibly want. It’s important that our next generation is encouraged to be creative as well.” myspace Issue 2

DIY with the right tools

Sleeves up and gloves on was how Papamoa’s Cilla Walker dealt with a house the same as all the others around it. “They all had a very, very blue kitchen, the same layout and that fake-marble laminated benchtop look,” says Cilla. “I never liked it.” A huge DIY project ensued, starting with turning that eye-hurting kitchen into a cream-with-red-accents fresh and modern room featuring wooden benchtops to replace the laminate. “When you first buy a house you don’t have many funds, so I started a bit of DIY renovating room by room.” The house was built in 2000 and, thanks to the property being relatively young, there wasn’t a need for any structural changes or electrical or plumbing work. So Cilla was able to do everything herself. Cilla’s a self-taught DIY-er. While living in Italy, she and husband Claudio Semeraro renovated the hundred-year-old house they owned “We wanted to get some tradies in to do the renovations. We called around, booked some to come in, they said they’d be there in two weeks and they never showed. In 60

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Italy it’s very much, ‘Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow’. I got fed up with that and wondered if I could do it myself.” Around this time, Kevin McLeod’s Grand Designs began screening on Italian television. “I watched that and thought, ‘Yeah, maybe I can do it by myself ’ – and that’s how it started. My father-in-law is pretty handy with DIY, so he gave me inspiration and help. Cilla says in Italy it’s all just limestone bricks, mortared with a kind of clay. She started doing a bit of stone masonry, learned how to build outdoor stone walls, before progressing to the interior. “It was all very scary at the beginning. You just have to have a bit of willpower and a bit of Kiwi can-do attitude.” Everything in the house is bespoke. “Because money is an issue, my motto is to use what I have. I’ve used a lot of recycled wood I collected at council throw-outs and garage sales over the last couple of years.” The designer-looking furniture is also the product of Cilla’s DIY skills. “I went op-shopping, and then upcycled – changed the material, changed the layout, cut some legs off, added some legs, changed a base to rustic wood, and so on. With a mortgage, I don’t want to pay anyone to do anything.”

One of the quirkiest renovations is the upcycled horse float into a bar and camper; a population talking point at camping grounds. “I started looking at caravans and campers, but even the broken, run-down caravans were expensive. I bought the horse float for $3000.” Cilla says a horse-float is lighter than a caravan, and not burdened with rules. “I googled it, checked with council, and as it’s classified as a light trailer, there are no real [heavy vehicle certification] rules, like you have with caravans.” The carefully designed camper has furniture and features that all fold in and out as required. “The bottom of the bar top lies down on the ground. I put a couple of beams on top of it and a mattress on top. Gone are the days of having to break down the tent in the rain and come home sopping wet.” The best advice Cilla can give to others starting a DIY project is have the correct tools. “That’s a big one. And map out all your building materials first. It was different for me as I used recycled materials, so if I wanted something a certain length and it was too short, I’d have to adjust. But if you’re using new materials, plan it all in advance.” myspace Issue 2

Build with the winning G.J. team Whether new to building or youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve built before, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find a team of people who are more passionate about designing and building your new home. Call us today

0800 42 45 46 visit us online

gjgardner.co.nz

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National Awards • National Show Home of the year • Most passionate Franchisee • Construction Supervisor of the Year • Estimator of the Year • Administrator of the Year • Sales Rookie of the Year

International Awards • Best performance by a Sales Team NZ • Outstanding Display Home • Runner up Sales Person of the Year

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Cutting edge blinds, awnings and shelter If you’re after a modern solution to standard roller blinds and shutters then the team at Weathermaster has exactly what you’re looking for.

Awnings

Outdoor shutters

They offer a full range of indoor blinds as well as a selection of awnings and drop screens for optimum sun and weather protection, shade or privacy. Weathermaster pride themselves on quality and service, which is what differentiates them from their competitors. “You don’t want to be putting cheap-looking blinds in a new house,” says Bay of Plenty Weathermaster owner and operator Steve Pene. They guarantee the best in design, function, performance and longevity and most importantly service. “Forty-nine per cent of Weathermaster is owned by Hunter Douglas, who are the biggest blinds manufacturer in the world. “We use their componentry and technology to ensure we stay up-to-date with leading innovations,” says Steve. Research and development are a big part of what Weathermaster do and for customers that means cutting edge design, functionality and enduring materials. As both the owner and operator of the Bay of Plenty franchise, Steve will likely be your go-to man throughout the whole process. “I will more than likely be the person measuring and quoting as well as installing, so the customers have the added bonus of only dealing with one person.” Steve is also the Bay of Plenty agent for Flexiroof, a simple and sophisticated shelter for decks and patios. The aesthetically-pleasing design means no bulky timber purlins or beams – just clear sheets that allow you to see the clouds, the rain, and the stars. Flexiroof is Kiwi ingenuity at its best. Flexiroof shelters are durable and quiet during gusty weather because all of the sheets are supported along the edges, meaning you won’t be left with dirt, lichen or mold build-up that is often seen with other systems. Thanks to a small arch in the sheet, Flexiroof shelters are strong, easy to assemble, and are able to expand and contract automatically according to the unpredictable New Zealand weather. “All of our products are completely customisable and our team ensure we deliver the very best result to suit your home.”

The latest in design function and performance

Call us to book a free consultation

07 572 3671 Indoor shutters

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www.weathermasterbop.co.nz

Flexiroof

Jens Mueller Jens Mueller, who teaches MBA students globally from his base in Tauranga, has found his favourite space outdoors at home in Pyes Pa. “Open space, open mind,” says Jens, who has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his outstanding service to business and education. The Waikato University professor’s work also makes him popular in China, the United States and Colombia. He serves on the board of Pharmac, and provides governance expertise to companies, business leaders and iwi. Loving the Tauranga outdoors, Jens derives inspiration from the trees and artworks that surround his al fresco office. “My work is looking for opportunities for companies and leaders. This is a nice space and backdrop where I can use my imagination and generate concepts that can be translated into the context of a client firm. That usually develops a good product.” Sitting in the spacious outdoor room, overlooking a young vineyard and art park, Jens reflects on the many sculptural pieces collected from around the world and spread for view.

“It’s absolutely lovely to be outside. Every time you look at an art piece you see something different. It depends on your mindset, on the context; on what you are occupied with at the time. I draw inspiration from the energy the artists put into their work. “For me it’s a way to clear my mind out and to have a chance to develop some fresh ideas around challenges my global clients throw at me.” At night the garden and sculptures light up. Ever the strategist, Jens finds this too triggers the creative thinking process. Leaning nearby, an ox cart wagon wheel from Costa Rica, his dog Georgia at his feet listening attentively, but really just waiting for the next bone... In the distance is the site of the Gate Pa commemorative pou erected during the 2014 150th Gate Pa Commemoration. Jens, a trustee director on the Pukehinahina Charitable Trust, asked the pou’s carver, Whare Joseph Thompson, to carve two pou for him. “One is a protection pou and one is a welcoming pou.” He also enjoys entertaining groups of friends and students, from eight to 200. “The fireplace is going and the kitchen cranking out.” myspace Issue 2

Can you tell if this room is contaminated?

Meth contaminated properties Methamphetamine or “P” as it is commonly called is a major problem in New Zealand and really took hold in the early 2000’s. In the last few years meth use has risen sharply and with the increased use comes increased contamination from manufacturing and smoking of the drug. We see numerous photos in the media that show destroyed properties and possessions, but the reality is that you cannot visually tell if a property is contaminated by methamphetamine. So how do you find out if a property is contaminated? The answer is you need to have reliable, concise and consistent testing undertaken. There are a number of companies that offer testing services but they can differ considerably. A good start is to only use a testing company that uses an accredited laboratory for sample analysis. Not all contaminated properties are methamphetamine labs where the drug was cooked. Properties can be left toxic, if someone

has simply smoked methamphetamine a few times in the property and this unfortunately can include new or renovated properties were there is anecdotal evidence of construction workers smoking “P” during work hours and creating contamination issues. The drug can leave behind toxins that cause respiratory and other serious illnesses. New Zealand will have a standard released this year to guide both testing and remediation. It is called NZS 8510 – Testing and decontamination of methamphetamine-contaminated properties. In the meantime the Ministry of Health released recommendations for methamphetamine contamination clean-up dated - 26.10.16. “Meth can be detected in properties after a small number of uses, and the residues persist for many years, meaning that if anyone ever smoked meth there in the past, it may show up in a test. So, while most people do not use meth, many properties are still affected.” If you are buying, renting or leasing property (landlord/renter/ lessee) or have any reason to believe meth may have been used or manufactured in your property, then don’t take the risk, have the property tested. Meth testing has become an integral part of keeping yourself and or your investment safe.

New Zealand’s Gold Standard Methamphetamine Testing Company

Book a Test Today

0800 005 321 www.activetestingsolutions.co.nz 66

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support@activetestingsolutions.co.nz

Keeping snug Coming home to a warm home is one of the best parts of winter, and Green Sheep is ready to help make your home snug for the colder months. Green Sheep can provide sheep’s wool insulation for ceilings, walls and floors and you can either install it yourself, or bring in Green Sheep’s team of professional installers to do it for you. As a starting point Green Sheep will come to your home and give you a free insulation and home comfort assessment. Owner Ben Small says this is about assessing a home to find out where the heat is escaping from. “This is about talking to the customer and finding out where they think the problem areas are.” Ben says the average home loses 42 per cent of its heat through the ceiling. “Our most popular ceiling insulation product is GreenWool100%NZ which is 100 per cent natural sheep’s wool.” Green Sheep also offers GreenWool Roll-Form insulation, a wool and polyester blend, which is suitable for ceilings, walls, underfloors, and garage doors. “Underfloor insulation is a great way to keep your feet warm. The insulation acts as a thermal barrier and stops draughts,” says Ben. Green Sheep takes pride in offering products that are sustainable, natural, non-irritating and non-toxic, and are made right here in New Zealand. “The wool is sustainably farmed in the North Island, and is a mix of pure white wool and recycled wool.” Ben guarantees families will be able to feel the difference with wool insulation, especially those that suffer from allergies. “Unlike fibreglass products, wool will not release small fragments of fibre into the air which can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive people. Wool doesn’t produce toxic fumes and unlike fibreglass, can be easily installed without any special safety equipment.” Wool has a natural crimp or “springiness” which makes it a perfect natural insulator. It also has the unique ability to moderate the humidity inside your home. “When the external temperature drops and the amount of moisture in the air increases, wool absorbs this increase, keeping the indoor environment stable and comfortable. “In summer wool helps to create a cooler, pleasant living environment,” says Ben.

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From scrap yard to backyard There’s nothing more mesmerising than looking into the flames of a fire – especially if it’s in your own backyard when the temperature starts to dip at the end of a summer’s day. Tauranga builder and artist Hagen Lemmer has tapped into the Kiwi love affair with outdoor fires by creating one-off outdoor fireplaces, or braziers, made from scrap metal and other recycled materials. “I build one fireplace and never build it again so the customer is getting a unique thing,” says Hagen. Most of the fireplaces double as outdoor grills – Hagen likes cooking food over wood and charcoal as opposed to gas himself – and these too are one-off designs. German-born Hagen is new to Tauranga, but it’s his second time living in New Zealand. He owned two restaurants in Christchurch before the earthquake of February 2011 put paid to his Kiwi dream. One restaurant was destroyed and the other red-zoned for two years so he returned to his native Germany and the building trade. Hagen moved to Tauranga last year after his New Zealand-born daughter Eunice, 12, pleaded with her dad to return to the country of her birth. An old friend from Christchurch was living in Tauranga and Hagen was impressed with what he saw of it on the internet. He started building the outdoor fireplaces in Germany, where they were a hit with his customers. “In Germany I renovated old houses, castles and mansions so I was used to working with sandstone and steel. I’m also an artist – I paint pictures – so I thought I would combine the two.” Hagen is always keeping an eye out for pieces of metal he can fashion into a fireplace. “I get some from scrap metal merchants and from farms, anywhere I see stuff I can use. I talk to people, get the stuff and turn it into something beautiful.” He doesn’t always put his designs on paper first but has been known to leap out of bed in the middle of the night when an idea comes to mind. “Sometimes I just find a piece of metal I like, put it in the ground, walk around it for awhile and start.” One of his recent pieces is made from the wheel of an old World War II truck, while another features a copper hood. Hagen’s work is largely sold by word of mouth. If you’d like to see some of his work, or talk to him about a design of your own, contact 022 027 7927 or email: hagen.alpha@icloud.com 68

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Doing your

homework

Many of today’s jobs can be done from home. The top design tip for a home office is usually to keep your work and personal spaces separate. But what if you don’t have a spare room for an office? Other spaces can be utilised – a lobby, a corridor or hallway, a corner of the lounge or dining room, the attic, basement, or garage. A traditional office desk won’t make you any more productive, so consider double-dipping if necessary. Many successful businesses started life on the dining

table. Consider a standing desk that can easily be achieved with two beer crates and an old door. If none of these spaces are available, then set an office up in your bedroom and separate it from the rest of the room with a wardrobe, bookshelves, a curtain or a screen. To make the best use of space, build up rather than out. Narrow bookshelves extending from floor to ceiling take up less room, and offer more storage space, than chunky chests of drawers.

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Smart living .... technology made easy

In today’s busy society, we’re always looking for ways to be more efficient, including around the home. Home automation systems can enable us to have a ‘smart home’ where our basic home functions can be controlled automatically, and even remotely. Synchronized Audio in Tauranga is able to look after all of your home automation needs as well as audio visual, data, electrical, home theatre, security and lighting. They are also registered electricians. Owner Kerry Ross says home automation systems allow you manage lighting, gates, garage doors and electrical services such as pumps and audio visual devices at the touch of a button. “From simple on/off functions to variable controls, home automation allows you control via remote, web/smart phone, making family life more convenient technology made simple. “Think of pressing a ‘Welcome Home’ button as you pull into the driveway the automatic gates open, pathways, front Entrance and hallway lights turn on.

“Your air-conditioner begins to warm or cool your living room, your favourite music starts playing throughout the house and you feel the stress of your day diminish. “Want to watch a DVD? push the ‘Watch DVD’ button, this activates not only your home cinema, but dims your lights ready to watch the movie. Last of all a ‘Goodnight’ button that turns everything off when you go to bed. Now that’s a smart living!” Kerry says as more devices rely on IP and network based technology, a reliable cabling infrastructure that provides the ability to build a strong network for the future is important. “We always recommend pre-wiring as much as you can when you’re building a new home so you can add extras later.” Home theatre installation is also a specialty of Synchronized Audio and involves physically integrating the equipment with your home. “We provide all levels of installation, from mounting TVs to walls or installing a screen and speakers with hidden internal cabling, to dedicated home theatre rooms or completely integrated home entertainment systems.” Synchronized Audio is an agent for

different brands of Multi Room Audio. The team at Synchronized Audio can also help you monitor your property using CCTV. Images can be stored to a hard drive to review at a later date, or viewed realtime remotely via a web or smart phone application. And all of this wonderful technology wouldn’t be complete without some fantastic lighting to complement it. Synchronized Audio works with ECC Lighting in Auckland as well as other lighting suppliers and designers to ensure the best lighting solution for your home. “LED is pretty standard these days and is much more cost-effective to run. An LED bulb will last 15,000 to 40,000 hours compared to a standard bulb that might give you about 2000 hours.”

www.synchronizedelectrical.nz response@selectrical.nz 07 543 4269 or 021 605 360

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TANZ - giving a voice to the tiling industry

The Tile Association of New Zealand (TANZ) was established in 2016 for tilers who appreciate the trade and want to uphold professionalism and quality standards within the industry. Commonly a small business trade, TANZ provides a forum for its members to come together and collectively discuss issues, encourage progress and change, and offer training and support to tilers throughout their career. TANZ is a voice for the tiling industry – one that can educate tillers about common tiling terrors, provide customer confidence, and strengthen the industry’s reputation. TANZ is working with a significant

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portion of New Zealand’s tilers, which means we have the exposure and responsiveness required to monitor and successfully support the people working in our industry. TANZ will eventually become the preferred membership organisation who can provide continuous support and training, is nationally recognised, protects customers through workmanship guarantees and trade standards, upholds a positive industry reputation, and creates industry benchmarks that add value. TANZ is proud to be an organisation that will cater to all the tiling needs of a number of construction companies and commercial properties within the

Bay of Plenty and wider area. You can feel confident knowing that a TANZ tiler is a skilled professional. Prior to membership approval, TANZ checks for financial, technical and service standards so that you can avoid rogue traders. We advise that you always check the credentials of your tradies before work begins – and if you can, speak with previous customers. For more information go to www.tanz.net.nz

Tile Association of New Zealand (TANZ)

fancy footwork To ensure the best result and longevity of your flooring, several factors need to be considered. Moisture – if installing in a basement or bathroom, choose flooring suited to a high or medium-moisture environment, such as tiles or concrete. Installation is the hidden cost in flooring, so don’t forget to factor it into your budget. DIY installation can halve the cost of flooring, but repairs to incorrect work can be expensive. Durability – if you have pets or kids, or someone in the house wears heels a lot? Then you need to consider: • Concrete – highly durable and great looking when polished or coloured. • Natural stone – especially ideal for high-moisture areas. • Bamboo – a highly durable and long-lasting material, which can rate as hard as Brazilian cherry and teak. • Resilient or vinyl flooring – laboratory-engineered to last for a very long time. • Ceramic and porcelain – durable against scratches and spills, but prone to cracking when heavy objects are dropped. • Laminate flooring – surprisingly scratch-resistant, but less resistant to moisture. • Solid hardwood flooring – tends to scratch, but can be restored to perfect condition when required.

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Country cabin conversion Buddy Harwood and Stephanie Saxton are living proof that hard work and determination really does pay off. Nine months after buying a “completely unliveable” 1960s house, the young Athenree couple have turned it into a cosy Canadian-style country cabin with beautiful timber ceilings, bi-fold doors that span the front of the house and an office with “sea peeps” to the Tauranga Harbour. Buddy met Stephanie in Canada and brought her home to Athenree where they initially lived in their 27-foot fifth wheel camper on Buddy’s parents’ property. The landscape designer and apprentice builder was working on a house in Athenree when he spotted a house across the road he thought the couple might be able to do up themselves. “The house needed a lot of work but we could see the potential. It wasn’t for sale but being a small town we were able to get the owner’s number and asked him if he’d be willing to sell. “Thankfully he was happy for us to take it off his hands,” says Stephanie. Like many couples in their early 20s, Stephanie and Buddy thought the cost of owning their own home would be beyond their reach. Because the house needed lots of work they got it for an affordable price. “It’s almost impossible to get into the market at our age. I don’t know how people do it without doing what we have done and renovating from scratch,” says Stephanie. Apart from the piles and the roof, which was in relatively good condition, the rest of the house was demolished. “It was full of borer so we had to replace every single frame in the house. A lot of the rooms didn’t even have floors in them,” 74

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Before

says Stephanie. When the sale went unconditional, the couple celebrated by taking a sledge hammer to the walls. “We just got straight into it, demoing for a couple of days before drawing up a floor plan. The house is only 107m2 so utilising all the space was key.” The three-bedroom, two-bathroom house has a “woodsy” Canadian cabin effect with rusticated, double-splayed wood cladding finished with a redwood stain and copper nails and matt black joinery. Inspired by the sarked ceilings in Buddy’s parents’ home, the couple sourced some Japanese cedar from the Tauriko sawmill and used it to create sarked ceilings in their own lounge, kitchen and office. A unique feature in the house is the macrocarpa bathroom vanities – also sourced from the sawmill –which give the bathrooms a rustic touch. The cost of both vanities, which they sanded and polyurethaned themselves, was less than the cost of one cheap vanity at a homeware store. “Some of the really neat features that we have, like the ceilings and bathroom vanities, actually cost less than doing what is ‘normal’,” says Stephanie. The couple chose a white, country-style kitchen, and plan to add an island bench with seating for six and up-lighting underneath to give it extra emphasis.

Their new chestnut wooden floor panels are about to go in and a wood burner will also be added with a rock schist surround. Future plans for the property include building a garage and installing a mezzanine floor in the office –accessible by a wooden ladder – to provide an extra sleeping space for guests. Buddy also wants to add a ‘secret garden’ with a fire pit and loungers, and a water feature throughout the garden that will surround a wrap-around deck. Stephanie is inspired to add a ‘Bali bathroom’ off the master bedroom. “I’d like stepping stones out to an outdoor shower surrounded in greenery. Our master bedroom has a ranch slider on one side and we are going to build three enclosed walls with an open ceiling. “We want to look out to a forest, rather than our neighbour’s shed.” The couple brought in some outside help for gib-stopping and spouting and were assisted by both their dads, but otherwise the house is largely their own work. “We knew it was going to be a lot of work and we were going to have to put a lot of sweat into it but we didn’t think it would be that bad. It was brutal,” says Stephanie. The experience has not only given the young couple a house of their own, it has also enabled Buddy to tick off many of the boxes on his builder’s apprenticeship. “What we’ve done has proved to be a lot

Things have come a long way since the couple began.

more work than building the house from scratch,” says Buddy. Stephanie says they were flexible with the floor plan, which allowed them to make changes along the way. YouTube and Pinterest provided them with plenty of design inspiration. During the renovating and building process, the couple thought they’d never do it again, but now that they’re living in the house they’re already looking into more projects. “There is just such a sense of fulfilment and pride in doing something like this,” says Stephanie. The couple have kept a journal of their renovation journey and hope to turn it into a book. Stephanie’s advice to others tackling big renovation projects like this is to “never give up”. “There were a lot of times when we thought: ‘What are we doing?’, ‘Why are we doing this?’, ‘Is it worth it?’ We were also given a lot of advice. You take it all with a grain of salt, but in the end we just went with our gut.”

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Into the next millennium

When Kelly and Bryce Phillipson moved into their two-bedroom attached unit in central Tauranga four years ago, it had great bones but was essentially a throwback to the 1970s. Fast-forward a few years and the old wallpaper has been replaced with fresh paint, the wooden windows have been ditched in favour of stylish aluminium and the light fittings have been brought into the next century. The starting point for the couple’s renovation was getting rid of their old faithful purple lounge suite – a wedding present from Kelly’s Great Aunt – and buying a newer, fashionable model in steel grey. This set the colour scheme for the rest of the renovation. Next it was off with the “old Grandmastyle” patterned wallpaper and on with some fresh paint in a light grey colour. While the

couple stripped the wallpaper themselves, they decided to hire a professional plasterer and painter to get the perfect finish. “We didn’t want to get it wrong and regret it later. We didn’t have all of the equipment, which would have added to the overall cost.” Kelly says the fresh paint has made a huge difference to the house and picks up different colours from the furnishings in each room. “In our bedroom it looks quite blue, but in the hallway it looks greyer.” The couple replaced their old timber window frames with white, flat-face aluminium frames and double-glazing. “We didn’t want to worry about rot getting into the timber because we’d already had a little patch we had to repair. With aluminium, there is much less maintenance required, and you also don’t have to worry about repainting.” says Bryce. Old cream-coloured curtains were replaced with a custom-made soft grey, and floor-toceiling shears were added in the bedrooms. The kitchen has green cabinetry, which was

originally offset by “mossy” green tiles on the wall. These were removed and replaced with a light grey subway tile. The lights in the lounge were old-fashioned three-bulb fittings with patterned glass shades. The couple had these changed to single bulb fittings and replaced them with matte black shades and LED bulbs. In the hallway the couple went for a feature light – an eye-catching white bamboo shade that filters light in different directions. The couple used online sites such as Pinterest for design ideas, but mainly picked up ideas by browsing shops. “There was lots of trial and error and testing things out, like the paint colour.” Kelly and Bryce used professional tradespeople for the tough jobs, which meant they had to be patient when they weren’t able to meet the renovation schedule they had set. “We feel relieved that it is finished, and after months of no couch, curtains, wallpaper and precious things packed away we are enjoying the finished product. We love showing it off.” myspace Issue 2

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