Myspace Waikato - November 2019 by Sun Media

WAIKATO ISSUE 3, 2019

BUILDING YOUR VISION

Malachi Farrant Homes know that your home is one of your biggest investments. On each project directors Malachi and Hannah work with their team and contractors to ensure their clients are provided with the end product they deserve - whether the project is a complex luxury design or small and simple, you will get to know them on a personal level.

Hannah Farrant

021 119 4106

https://www.facebook.com/mfhomesnz

www.mfhomes.co.nz @malachifarranthomes

BRAND NEW HOMES FROM $599,000

We’re giving away a Showerdome® worth $299!

Be in

Steamed mirrors, condensation on walls and ceilings, slippery floors and mould are year-round annoying home issues caused by shower steam, which can add significant costs to house upkeep. Not to mention that a dry warm house is also a healthy house, as damp bathrooms are the perfect place for fungus and bacteria to grow, causing serious health problems. Showerdome® solves all these problems, controlling steam, reducing condensation and making the house healthier and warmer.

Creating the Ultimate Building Experience At Ultimate Builders, our commitment to you is more than just the delivery of your dream home. Our plans are modern and functional and have all the things you would expect in a great family home. Our homes are designed to cater for family life and allow for modifications to suit your lifestyle.

River Road Estate Don’t miss an opportunity to secure yourself a property

A Showerdome® shower top consists of a clear acrylic dome that prevents steam from forming when fitted on top of an existing shower box. With no on-going costs it is the most effective investment one can make for a home or rental property. Showerdome® also makes mirror demisters and extractor fans redundant and could save the average household around $250 in energy costs alone.

and build your home or investment in the heart of the Waikato. Within 12 minutes’ drive from Flagstaff and 10 minutes to The Base Shopping Centre, this residential development is set in a street-scaped setting and is the newest development in the area. A residential subdivision, with Lot sizes that range between 451m2 and 736m2, River Road Estate makes your new home dream achievable.

0508 2 HOMES (0508 246 637) info@ultimatebuilders.co.nz

www.ultimatebuilders.co.nz

To enter simply email us with ‘SHOWERDOME’ in the subject line to go into the draw to WIN!

win@myspacemagazine.co.nz *Entries close 30 April 2020. Winner will be notified by email and prize despatched to their chosen delivery address. We have 1x DIY Showerdome® kit to give away valued at $299 (installation by a trained local Showerdome® installer is available at standard pricing)

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Welcome to MySpace Waikato, 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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Resort style living

Backyard bathtubs

Scoria Hill project

Vintage style with modern accents

House of the Year feature

Stu Smith - My Favourite Space

Matamata makeover

Colour trends forecast

Japanese style with a Kiwi twist

Building in harmony with the landscape

Relocating a home to fulfil a dream

Hamptons style, Hamilton suburb

Ashley Cooper - My Favourite Space

Building with an eye to the future

The Kiwi kitchen

On trend in black & white

A 70s classic gets a modern makeover

An urban garden haven

Professional Services

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

www.myspacemagazine.co.nz Editorial and Photography: Catherine Fry, Merle Foster, Bridget Jochems, supplied Advertising: Sharon Eyres, Aimee-Leigh Brunsdon Graphic Design: Kym Johnson, Kathy Sellars

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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Resort style living

“What a selfish house!” was the architect’s response when Martin Lee first mooted his idea for a 409m² one-bedroom home. Today, Martin and his wife Peggy are living in the unusual and stunning home that they devised together, incorporating both their ideas, and nods to their extensive travels. After purchasing a 13-hectare property on the outskirts of Cambridge, Rural and Lifestyle real estate agent, and ex-builder, Martin knew that the future subdivision potential of the site demanded something that would set a benchmark for any future development. “It wasn’t so much a selfish house, but more as retirement beckons, we didn’t want to live in a house with lots of rooms we didn’t often use,” says Peggy. After experimenting with initial designs, Joe Cattle from Fowler Homes Waikato was engaged as the project’s builder, and he recommended using The Independent Design Co. to complete the final design. Much of the square metreage is swallowed up by a quadruple garage, and a one-bedroom apartment above it. Although spacious, the actual house consists of vast open plan living, a media room, a master suite, main bathroom, and a large office, which can double as a second bedroom when the grandchildren stay. It was designed to futureproof their retirement, so that both or a surviving partner could remain there with a carer living in the selfcontained apartment. The phrase “resort-style living, every day” is mentioned frequently. “We built the garaging and apartment first, moved in and were onsite for the rest of the build,” says Martin. The design incorporates a concept that the couple first saw during their two-and-a-half years living in the south of France. myspacewaikato Issue 3

The prehistoric Caves of Niaux have an imposing corten steel clad entranceway. Corten is a steel alloy with a high copper content, developed to eliminate the need for painting, and form a stable rustlike appearance after several years’ exposure to weather. The traditional wood framed house is partly clad in painted stria board, and partly in three-millimetre-thick sheets of corten steel. “This was by far the most challenging part of the build, as none of us had ever used the material before,” says Joe Cattle. The pre-weathered sheets were fabricated off-site and the design team had to invent a way to apply them to the home to comply with building code regulations. A friend, Karl Messenger, worked out how to achieve the precise negative detailing look that complemented the stria boards, and is applauded for his accuracy and attention.

Comfortable living for two While from outside the building deliberately looks like four interlinked pavilions, with different roof gradients and styles, inside seamlessly flows from room to room. The main living area has a 5.5m apex, with specially sourced tongue and groove effect ply on the raked ceiling, and exposed scissor trusses, with corten gusset joints. It was no mean feat to back light them with hidden LED lighting. A light white colour scheme and minimalist natural-feel furnishings, works perfectly in this “Viking hall” style space. Martin’s design skills are showcased by the stunning cantilevered hearth stone and double-sided wood-burning fire, with sheets of corten steel behind, towering up to the roof apex. An incredibly heavy barn door, with corten steel on one side and white painted wood on the other, closes off the open plan living area. “The patina on the corten inside is very different to the outside, as the rusting is much slower,” says Martin. Peggy is credited with deciding on the majority of the colour schemes, and pulling together the final minimalist, modern but completely liveable look. The galley style kitchen has clean lines, Caesarstone benchtops, a long island with a waterfall end, and no sink or appliances in the island. It is minimalist with handle-free push open/close cabinet doors, and an abundance of soft close drawers. An initial cabinetry colour scheme of a black and white mix had been changed to all white. “But when it arrived and was being unpacked, there seemed to be a lot of black in there, and we decided to go with what had arrived,” says Peggy. The white provides the clean fresh look, and the black used on the top cabinets creates a visual barrier, defining the kitchen as a specific area of the large open plan living space. Hidden behind the main kitchen is the scullery. This is a small kitchen in itself, and allows for the working end of the kitchen to be out of sight.

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Joe the builder comments on the lighting budget, a cost they all acknowledge went rather high, but there are no regrets. “By the time you take in the extensive lighting in the house, the pool and rill lighting, and feature lighting in the external cladding and the maple trees up the drive, it was one of the largest costs for the build,” says Joe.

Adding features seen on their travels To accommodate Martin’s six-foot-four-inch stature, the doors and windows are a minimum of 2.25m high, and are double-glazed, UV laminated, Low E windows. “We deliberately blurred the lines between inside and outside, using a glazed hallway, stacking sliders, and a large corner slider to really open the house up to the outdoor living areas,” says Martin. The striking extra width and height, front door, in bright yellow glass, opens into a hallway and looks directly through a picture window to a rill pond and the rural view beyond. “The Monaro yellow was the colour of the Mustang we hired to drive around the States, and the idea for the rill pond came from Bordeaux,” says Martin. The master suite has a large bathroom as part of the room. “We were looking at using a glass wall between the two, having seen something similar on a trip to Portugal, but decided to leave it open,” says Martin. Both the bathrooms have tiled floors and ceilings with 1200mm x 600mm Italian tiles that mimic rusting steel sheets. The effect is very eye-catching, and “people either love it or hate it, but they always comment”.

expanse of green all-year-round. Joe from Fowler Homes reflects on this challenging and interesting build. “The finer points of the design changed several times as the build progressed, but the result is well beyond our expectation. “Martin and Peggy were heavily involved in the design, and not afraid to adjust budgets and timeframes if they wanted to make changes. The final house is what they wanted, and as the owner of Fowler Homes Waikato, it was my job to deliver what they wanted.”

Outdoor living A covered portico is accessible on three sides from the house and offers allyear-round and all-weather outdoor living options. A louvred roof controls sunlight, and the outside of the double-sided fire, a multi-purpose fire/ barbecue/pizza oven and an electric heater, warm up chillier days. Combine the extensive cut concrete patio area, pool house and swimming pool, with the seamless indoor/outdoor flow, and the desired “resort style living every day” certainly becomes a reality. Martin is in the process of making corten steel sculptures for the grounds, and Peggy has overseen planting that is sympathetic with the house cladding. Maple trees lining the drive are a nod to her Canadian roots. The 13 hectares has been completely de-fenced internally and planted with lucerne, a crop that requires regular cutting by a contractor, but provides an

myspacewaikato Issue 3

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myspacewaikato Issue 3

Backyard bathtubs

The Proverbs family’s outdoor tub.

Whether you have romance in mind, or you just want to have a soak under the stars, there’s something intoxicating about an outdoor bath. A popular offering at luxury retreats, it conjures up images of bathing in wild open spaces, be it on a cliff-top overlooking the sea or on a remote hill amongst country farmland. But a dramatic landscape is not a prerequisite for having an outdoor bath. Whether you’re inner city or off the grid, a bit of privacy and the stars above are all you need. Outdoor baths are now popping up in suburbia, in spaces designed to bring this luxury experience into everyday life. Suzie and Keith Edmonds included an al fresco bath when they renovated their outdoor living space. “I wanted an outside bath because my

aunty had one and my cousin had one,” says Suzie. “They’ve got theirs in the hills in Waikanae, and I always wanted one. “I didn’t want a spa pool because I don’t like all the chemicals.” Having bought the grand, cast iron, clawfoot bath on Trade Me, they painted it bright red and created a nook in the garden, outside the bathroom. The tiled shower inside the house has a floor-to-ceiling window looking onto the bathing area, creating a synergy between the two spaces. Set on timber decking, the space is screened from the neighbours with trellising, over which trails a glossy, green passionfruit vine. An antique-style brass faucet with a hand shower is mounted over the bath, in keeping with its Victorian design. “I love it because it’s old fashioned and a lot of us had these baths as children, so there’s a nostalgia that comes with it,” says Suzie. “I like the cool fresh air and the serenity – the peace and the relaxation. You tend to lie in

it and soak longer because it’s more than just a bath, it’s an experience. There is nothing more perfect than bathing under the stars.” Adam and Julia Proverbs set an outdoor tub into their deck after a bathroom renovation left them without a bath. “We wanted to make the most of the bathroom, which wasn’t a very big space,” says Julia. “So we got rid of the bath and put in a nice big shower and double vanity. We’ve got two girls, who will soon be teenagers, so we thought that was a better use of the space.” During a ‘bath versus no bath’ debate on Facebook, a friend suggested an outdoor bath and the seed was planted. “We still wanted to have the option to have a soak now and then, so it seemed like the perfect solution,” says Julia. “At night you can look up at the stars through the maple tree and it’s just beautiful. In the summer, the girls fill it with cold water and sit in it in their togs to cool down. We’ve used it a lot and we love it.”

Suzie and Keith Edmonds’ al fresco bath.

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Scoria Hill project

Alice Gironella stands on the bare land.

It is always inspirational when someone passionately embarks on a house project, putting their heart and soul, blood, sweat and tears into making their dream home a reality.

Luke Lennox starts the foundations.

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Husband and wife, Luke Lennox and Alice Gironella, are no exception. They have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into a project to build a healthy and comfortable home with minimal environmental impact, on the off-grid piece of land they own near Raglan. Luke, 33, has an extensive background in numerous trades, but has considerable residential building experience. Alice, 33, is an architectural designer with 10 years’ experience from concept to completion, and is also a qualified Homestar Assessor. “I’ve always wanted to build my own home, and Alice has always wanted to design her own home,” says Luke. A lengthy country-wide search for suitable land ended in November 2014, with the purchase of two hectares of hilly, bare land just outside Raglan. The north-facing section with stunning elevated rural and ocean views, and proximity to Raglan’s surf breaks, ticked the boxes. The section cost had cleaned out the budget, so the couple had to re-group to plan the next stage.

“With such an inspirational setting and jaw dropping view, we had to go all out!” says Alice. Re-grouping involved three years of living in a “makeshift campsite” with a composting toilet, a few solar panels, saving in earnest, until they could afford to start building. They spent many hours researching options for solar power, and this led to further research about energy efficient, passive homes. During this time Alice’s original design plans for the three bedroom, 232m2 home evolved as they incorporated new ideas. Alice commuted to Hamilton daily for work, and Luke worked away from home for weeks at a time. Luke was able to give up paid work on October 15, 2017, to tackle the build. While part-time on the tools, Alice continued to work in Hamilton and later started her own company, Rubix Architecture. Luke works on the house as a foreman under the project management of Matt Nichols, Ryse Construction. Alice also works on the house and according to Luke, “she can definitely swing a hammer”.

The foundations The foundations use the Cupolex, 100 per cent recycled plastic dome system delivered on a standard trailer. The domes easily clip together. “Being an engineered system, the slab provides an incredibly strong base, allowing a final polished floor with no saw cuts and minimal cracking. “It’s like a floating foundation adapted to NZ conditions,” says Luke. Before the concrete was poured on top, the hydropipe from Solar Rosa for the underfloor heating was laid over the mesh. Three core, plastic and aluminium pipe was chosen for its rigidity and durability. The external, exposed perimeter of the concrete foundation slab has been insulated with PIR foam to stop heat escaping.

Luke mills the macrocarpa himself.

The frames In keeping with their environmental goals, the couple used treated pine from a sustainable source for the external framing. The timber was 140mm x 45mm, rather than the usual 90mm x 45mm. “This allowed for the thickness of the proposed wool insulation,” says Alice. The couple were delighted to acquire a substantial amount of fallen macrocarpa trees from a neighbouring property. Luke milled the macrocarpa himself, using Alice’s design and the engineer’s calculations and dimensions for the rafters and beams. It was signed off by a timber auditor.

Alice works on the treated, sustainably sourced pine framing.

The roof has several different levels and the main pitch is five degrees.

Luke’s method of working out what goes where.

Photo: Guy Mac.

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“It was a real pleasure to work with wood at that level, completing the whole process from logs to profiled boards. I learnt so much,” says Luke. The home’s general stud height is 2.55m, with 3.6m raked up to 4.5m in the cavernous open plan living area.

The roof

Solar Rosa Home Ltd. Advanced German Solar Heating Technology

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The roof has a five-degree pitch causing it to look almost flat from ground level. It was lined with Pro Clima Mento 3000+ roofing membrane. “It’s like the luxury version of roofing membrane. It’s strong, selfsupporting watertight, breathable and self-taping,” says Alice. Dimond Roofing 0.55mm Trimline profile, was used in Gull Grey, a light colour to reflect the heat. The roof design involves internal guttering outside the building line. “To avoid any concerns, we used Viking Enviroclad TPO waterproofing membrane, which is heat welded to ensure complete water tightness,” says Luke. In other areas copper guttering and downpipes have been used and the couple are looking forward to the verdigris patina that will appear over time as the copper oxidises.

External cladding Instead of a normal building wrap, the outside of the building has a layer of homeRAB (Rigid Air Barrier), that not only braces the house for the high wind zone, but keeps the house more airtight, and quieter and drier inside. The external cladding is vertical shiplap on a 20mm cavity which provides airflow and drainage. The macrocarpa shiplap was milled, machined and hand-sanded by Luke, and Alice spent many hours staining all four sides with Dryden Wood Oil, in Elm, before it was hand-nailed on the house. For contrast, some of the elevations are clad in 12mm treated ply and macrocarpa battens, stained in Dryden Black Teak. Luke has painstakingly cut lengths of Japanese cedar, stained with Dryden Birch, for the soffits. The stylish result is worth the effort, and the same effect has been used on the sectional garage doors.

The joinery While on a mission to Tauranga to buy some machinery, Luke met Graham – a master craftsman and very experienced joiner. Unable to make the joinery in his own small workshop, Luke is very grateful for the many weeks he was able to spend with Graham in his workshop, making the joinery together using totara Luke had previously accumulated. “It was a very big job. Alice’s design had one six-panel and one four-panel, extra height bifolds, three sets of French doors, and numerous large windows, designed to accentuate the panoramic views,” says Luke. 10

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Luke glues totara planks to the ply inner of the front door.

Luke painstakingly cuts lengths of Japanese cedar for the soffits.

Macrocarpa shiplap, Japanese cedar and painted totara joinery.

All the windows are double-glazed with Low-E (low emissivity) glass, oiled on the internal faces, with light coloured paint on the outside to maximise protection from moisture and temperature changes. “Luke did an amazing job with the front door, meticulously placing 150mm totara boards to laminate both sides of an 18mm thick sheet of marine ply like a big sandwich,” says Alice. The pivoting masterpiece has pride of place at the front entrance.

The insulation The walls have been insulated with R3.2 and the ceilings R5.1premium wool blend insulation from Terra Lana. “It was a no brainer,” says Alice. “It’s healthy, sustainable and warm, acting like merino by holding moisture and releasing it naturally. It’s also safer and less irritating to install.” On top of the wool insulation the house has been wrapped internally with Pro Clima Intello, a high performance humidity-variable vapour retarder and airtight membrane. “It creates a moisture-proof, airtight layer for the bones of the house,” says Luke. To complement the airtight nature, a true heat recovery and ventilation system from Zhender by Fantech, has been ducted through every room. Now that the house is structurally finished, Luke and Alice are turning their attention towards the interior and will be inviting MySpace back in six months to see the finished house in all its glory.

Luke making the joinery.

Custom-made Totara timber joinery double-glazed Low-E glass. (The cutest scullery coffee window!)

Mac batten on ply stained with Dryden wood oil, creating great definition fixed with stainless steel rosehead nails. myspacewaikato Issue 3

You’re on to a winner.

If you’re looking for a home that you can be proud of, with exceptional pedigree and a trusted reputation, look no further. But don’t just take our word for it. Our recent success in The Registered Master Builder House of the Year Awards 2019 is a testament to our passion, workmanship and commitment to delivering the perfect home for you. If you’re thinking about building a new home, we’d love to chat. Contact us to find out more about our home plans. 0800 VERSATILE versatile.co.nz

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Versatile proudly won the following Master Builder awards in 2019:

Be at ease Designed with ultimate functionality in mind, this four-bedroom, two-bathroom Cambridge abode makes low-maintenance living look good. The design is perfectly positioned for sun and light. Expansive living areas – an open-plan and formal lounge – plus an impressive raking ceiling and a 2.7m stud height, all exude an open, airy feel. With a built-in bar, large covered alfresco area and multi-zone AV sound system, this home is an entertainer’s dream. There’s no shortage of elegant spaces in which to dine or simply recline with a wine. Easy living features abound, from the large scullery with sensor lighting to the in-built storage and furniture. A large laundry serves family life. The design, fittings and furnishings all exude a mid-century modern vibe. Clean, fresh lines and nature-inspired elements – flooring, curtains, colours – create a calming retreat. If you think you’ve got this house figured out, step right up for a closer look. The underfloor heating should keep you on your toes.

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Strong finish You won’t know what you’re missing until you visit this high-end Waikato display home. Designed to entice and inspire, the four-bedroom abode with two living spaces can easily be adapted to suit taste and lifestyle. Dark-stained cedar details add depth alongside sleek white cladding and sharp landscaping. Ebony joinery and steel roofing give the home strength and definition.

A rustic pivot front door opens to reveal a steel sliding door through the entrance. The mix of organic and industrial elements carries into this executive home. The designer open-plan living space is well connected to the outdoors via extensive glazing. The raking ceiling features the same timber profile as the exterior. Designed for elegant entertaining and easy everyday living, the foodie’s haven flows freely

to outdoor living. A lime plaster concrete-look feature wall creates a standout feature at the end of the living area. Two distinct, yet complementary, bathrooms show you just what can be achieved. Every aspect of this 298m2 home has been executed to perfection. Now it just needs your finishing touches.

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Kiwi classic Classic yet contemporary, this 277m2 home basks in 5077m2 of private scenic countryside just outside Hamilton. The home looks quintessentially Kiwi in its outfit of bevelled-back timber weatherboards capped off with corrugated roofing. The interior layout incorporates four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a formal lounge and a separate kids’ lounge. A media room has the potential to be closed off from the rest of the home for movie or sports nights. Large bifold doors to the northern side of the house open the interior to the great outdoors. All living areas gather round a generous patio and deck where you can sit back and watch the sun set. A bifold window off the family kitchen streamlines serving when entertaining alfresco. Beautiful stone benchtops and a generous butler’s pantry are just two more great features of this contemporary kitchen. A simple yet striking colour palette flows throughout, enhancing the home’s light, open feel. All four bedrooms offer loads of personal space with the bonus of walk-in wardrobes.

New home builders and renovation experts

Glen Armstrong started building from a young age, learning the trade from some of New Zealand’s top building companies. With the qualifications and passion for creating beautifully designed homes, Glen Armstrong Builders have grown to specialise in full design and build services, with a range of concept plans to pick from or design from scratch.

Phone 0274 626 101

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myspacewaikato Issue 3

Vintage style

with modern accents

When Waikato couple Tania and Paul Bartosh were house hunting, they spotted one of the iconic, 1920s railway houses in Morrinsville was on the market. With a lovely rural outlook, and an appealing price, they were excited to take on a bit of a renovation job and move out of the city. “It’s the first house I’ve owned and I really enjoy doing up houses and putting my own stamp on them,” says Tania. After a quick cosmetic makeover for the outside, they tackled the bathroom. It had the laundry crammed behind the door, and needed some attention. “We went with the same clean, classic black and white theme that we have started on the outside of the house.” As a wedding present to the couple, Paul’s sister Elizabeth assisted with the design, and her husband, Richard Hansen, completed the work. Paul Bartosh.

Without the laundry appliances, the bathroom offered a 4m x 3m space which easily holds a bath, vanity, toilet and 1200mm x 900mm shower cubicle. “The toilet and the shower unit with all its fittings, tapware, tray and lining, from Trade Depot. “We shopped around, and we’re very happy with the quality.” They re-used the old vanity, but added new tapware. Paul already owned an original ball and claw foot bath, which fits perfectly in with the house era. The outside is a smart, matt black, and the inside is awaiting re-enamelling. The cottage has a 2.8m stud and Hydro Panel sheets in a glossy white tile effect have been used to completely cover the walls from floor to ceiling. They reflect light and give the bathroom a light, airy feel. On trend matt black tapware has been used throughout, and complements the era of the house beautifully. An eye-catching waterfall spout from Bunnings fills the bath. “I’ve picked up lots of black accessories to match in with the theme,” says Tania. Suction metal shelves and a heated towel ladder from Bunnings, an elegant black mirror on special from Bed, Bath and Beyond, and containers and artificial plants from Kmart. “We also used black light switches and door handles and will continue this look throughout the rest of the house.” After seeing the idea on Facebook, the quirky toilet roll storage was made from a

piece of rimu by a friend in Auckland. The unusual toilet roll holder was an unexpected buy, when Paul “accidentally added it to his cart” while buying sunglasses on Wish! Although the vinyl plank flooring they laid themselves looks great and has good grip, the wood grain grooves attract the dirt and the floor requires scrubbing rather than just mopping. Tania feels a darker colour may have been better. Now to tackle the rest of the house... myspacewaikato Issue 3

xterior wash

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Stu Smith

Relocating can be quite a process, as Stu Smith found out in 2016 when he took the position of co-presenter on Waikato Breeze’s breakfast show with Camille Guzzwell. When his family visited from Wellington to view 11 houses, nothing appealed. Stu had to come up to Hamilton alone to start work, under strict instructions not to buy anything without his wife Trudi. “Which of course is exactly what didn’t happen,” says Stu, slightly smugly. With only photos and her husband’s enthusiasm to go on, Trudi bravely agreed to go ahead without seeing the house in person. His smugness is completely justified, as the family love their North Hamilton home. The couple, and Riley, 13, Cooper, 11, and Milla, 9, share the 266m² brick home that offers ample room for everyone, but it is the outdoor area that is enjoyed the most. Perched on the edge of a gully, with lovely views, and only two neighbours, “it feels like you really are in the middle of nowhere”.

Ranch sliders open out to a large covered portico area, with rustic beams, and sarked wood ceilings. Resort-style outdoor furniture, and a heavy steel and timber dining set – originally built by Trudi’s father for “windy” Wellington – complement the surroundings. Extensive kwila decking and a boardwalk path around the house are surrounded by well-established palm trees and evergreens in different heights, textures and colours. “A green fingered friend thinks some of the palms are 50 years old, so they must have been brought in as mature trees.” The boundaries are planted with native trees, which have grown to offer complete seclusion, and are home to numerous birds. “In the heat of summer, we feel like we could be in Fiji, and we spend a lot of time out there eating or relaxing.” The raised beds and large half barrels that make up the sunny veggie garden are a hit. “We’re really into it. I’m the veggie gardener and Trudi’s more into flowers.” Apart from general maintenance, the only change the couple has made is the addition of a much-wanted spa pool, which has been placed amidst the palms, with glimpses across the gully. myspacewaikato Issue 3

Matamata

makeover After eight months of searching for a new home, in a bid to escape Auckland, Gary and Gayle Dickson fell in love with their Matamata property the moment they laid their Before

eyes on it. “We wanted out of Auckland and we were considering moving anywhere between Kerikeri and Taupo. “We knew this place was for us as soon as we saw it. We loved the quarterThis sliding door was between the kitchen and living room. Gayle moved it to between the lounge and the hallway.

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acre section and the feel of the house, and we knew that we liked Matamata as we had been through the town plenty of times when looking at other places,” says the couple, who bought and moved into the home two years ago. But for the three-bedroom and onebathroom home to be ideal for their type of living, some renovations were needed. The kitchen was closed in and lacked natural light and the bathroom had seen better days. And with the couple both working from home as publishers, they needed two good workspaces as well.

Own plans Gayle says it was difficult to find a draftsman in Matamata who wasn’t super busy, so with the help of a computer program and a concept drawing, she drew her own plans, then advertised the job on ‘Builders Crack’. “We had to ensure that we got on with the builder personally as we both work from home and would be spending a lot of time together daily. So we were delighted with Alex from Silverstar.” This wasn’t their first renovation, so Gary and Gayle knew there would be surprises behind the walls. With this project they found the house wasn’t square. “Obviously, we knew it was an older house but we didn’t suspect that it was as out of line as it was. It looked square.” For instance, the bathroom walls were so out of plumb, that they could only fit a single vanity unit in the bathroom when a double had been planned. “I had measured and check measured that the double would fit but it just didn’t,” says Gayle. “It was only by a matter of millimetres but it still wasn’t going to fit.” Freestanding bath Other than looking great, another reason the couple chose a freestanding bath was it posed no issue in placing it in the not-square bathroom. The couple, with the aid of Plumbco, also installed a second toilet in the laundry and converted the cooking and heating to gas. The Dicksons also had to contend with a mono-pitch roof. “There just isn’t much room between the ceiling and the roof and so where we took a

Before

wall out – between the kitchen and the dining room – the beam had to be exposed, so we had to completely rearrange our kitchen layout from our original plans,” says Gayle. She says a renovation while living in the home is challenging too. “We didn’t have an operational toilet or bathroom for six weeks. “But we’re super lucky to have great friends and neighbours, who were happy to lend us a key so that we could use their bathroom when we needed.”

Re-used and kept Challenges aside, this renovation is impressive – not just due to what’s been added or replaced, but because of what’s been re-used and kept. Gayle thinks the house was built in the 1950s but with some Art Deco touches. And so it has interesting details in the ceilings and some curved internal walls. “It was important to us to keep the ceiling in the dining room intact, because it is so intricate and interesting. It was really challenging for Alex to manoeuvre the beam into place without damaging the ceiling. It took heaps of patience, skill and strength.” The renovation was kept to the quoted amount except for changes made to the original plans. One change was to modernise the bathroom with floor-to to-ceiling tiles. “Originally, we were only going to do them halfway up but when it came down to it, it was going to be quicker to get an operational bathroom if we tiled all the way, instead of waterproofing walls and then painting,” says Gayle. “And as kind as our friends and neighbours were, we were keen to have our bathroom operating again.”

After

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Check out the colour trends forecast

Wall and Floor: Resene Suits Fireplace: Resene Noir 22

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Resene Factory 111 Textured Wallpaper Collection

When you’re planning to decorate your home, looking to the latest colour and decorating trends is an easy way to get new ideas and inspiration. Here’s a few of the new trends to help you get inspired. Embracing the dark

Dark hues are cocooning in bedroom and living spaces, creating spaces to hunker down and relax in, away from busy life. Use a tone on tone palette where the darkest colour leads the design and progressively lighter versions are added to complete the look. Remember to add in texture too. The trend to darker colours is best emphasised by matte finishes, like Resene SpaceCote Flat, which helps emphasise the depth and moodiness of dark hues. Battens up

Dimension and design are being added to dark feature walls using battens. Battens can be arranged in a variety of designs and add sophistication, style and beautiful shadowing to enhance dark feature walls. Battens are increasingly popular in bedrooms for an ultra-luxe look, living areas and bathrooms. Battens can also be combined with lighter colours, such as weathered blues and greys like Resene Dusted Blue and Resene Silver Chalice for a timelessly classic look. Tone on tone

While neutral colours are still popular, there is a trend to using more variations of a colour to avoid a bland colour scheme.

This started as just single variations of one colour, such as full strength Resene Black White for the walls, quarter strength for the ceiling and double strength for the doors. The look is now going deeper and starting with the darkest colour, then adding lighter variations of that hue, such as dark grey walls, lighter trims and lighter floor colours, then adding a few pops of colour in accessories such as cushions, throws and artworks. It’s an easy look to replicate and allows you to use a range of tones to get just the right depth of colour in your room. For the love of timber

Timber has been increasing coming indoors and helps connects us to nature. Rather than painting over it, the latest trends are to clear finish timber, in products such as Resene Aquaclear Natural, to protect the timber and keep a natural sheen. Or use Resene Colorwood stain to rejuvenate or enhance the colour before clear finishing. From feature areas to flooring, timber brings a sense of relaxed, craft vibe into a home. Interiors going out

As nature comes indoors, we also see our interiors start to head outdoors, with outdoor living spaces and rooms that look like they could be inside a home, but are designed to be enjoyed outdoors. If you’re lucky enough to be blessed with an outdoor living space, think about decorating it like you would an interior, with interesting colour choices, pops of colour in accessories such as plant holders and furniture and remember to soften the look with comfy cushions. Classic complements

Colour blocking has evolved from a myriad of blocks of different myspacewaikato Issue 3

Walls in Resene Twilight Zone. Floor in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash

colours into more randomly placed blocks of colour, larger and used in place of art as a feature on their own. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a large square of colour on a wall, a vertical wide stripe or a circular shape, the size and focus on the colour draws attention. Paired with a neutral background, the accent colour is given the freedom to sing. For those yearning for more colour, multiple colour blocks can be used, but the key is to give each colour block some space to breathe rather than filling up the whole wall with blocks or shapes of colours. An easy way to create a multi-coloured colour block feature is to use classic complementary colours â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as orange and blue. These hues naturally contrast each other well. Or opt for a tone on tone look with variations of the same colour. For small areas use Resene testpots, or opt for Resene SpaceCote for larger blocks of colour. Unleash your inner artist

Who said you had to be an artist to paint all over your walls? The trend in hand-painted wall murals is for a relaxed, anything goes, freehand style including small painted features that meander over your walls to sections of colour, doodled lines and curves that move across spaces from wall to floor, wall to wall or wall to ceiling. Gone are the days where you needed to fill the whole wall for the work to be finished. All you need is a small collection of Resene testpot colours and a little imagination. Wall and floor in Resene Merino with accents in Resene Swiss Caramel, Resene Route 66 and Resene Indian Ink.

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Talking points

Wallpaper features are continuing to be popular with a fresh line-up of designs to choose from. Styles range from faux finishes

Wall and floor in Resene Alabaster with colour blocks in Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Peace and Resene Helix

Resene Portobello Wallpaper Collection

Wall in Resene Grey Seal with painted ribbons in Resene Mystery and Resene Remember Me, floor in Resene White Pointer

through to quirky conversational pieces that bring a sense of energy and life. Collections like the Resene Portobello Wallpaper Collection use fun designs in sophisticated colourways to work well in a wide range of homes and add a little levity to otherwise serious spaces. Interesting wallpapers are an instant conversation starter and the perfect way to express your personality on your walls. When it comes to trends, don’t just choose a colour or wallpaper because it is trendy. Make sure you love it too. Always pick and choose the ones that suit your own tastes and lifestyle. You don’t need to completely redo everything – like you would bring in a new jacket or scarf to freshen up your wardrobe, so too can you accent your home with new trends colours and wallpapers to give your home a fresh new look. For more inspiration on fresh trends, see the latest looks on the Resene website: www.resene.co.nz/latestlooks and visit your Resene ColorShop.

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myspacewaikato Issue 3

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Tucked down a right of way, off a typical urban street in Matamata, Chanelle and Chris Wilson have created an eye-catching and tranquil oasis on their property which is enjoyed by their family and friends. The garden demonstrates that mixing re-purposed and brand new materials, along with local knowledge of suppliers, you can create a space that gives your property the ‘wow’ factor. Chanelle and Chris were delighted when they found a property in town which boasted a beautiful old villa, on a sought-after 1600m² section. It was when the couple built a small unit for Chris’ father on the property, that experienced landscape gardener Chris’ creative juices began to flow. “There was just this stretch of boring grass between the two houses,” says Chanelle. “We’ve always loved Japanese-style gardens, and Chris had a whole plan in his mind.” Even when he started working on the project, there were no drawn plans. Chris just started digging and Chanelle trusted him completely. He has been running his own excavation/landscaping company, C Wilson Contracting Ltd, for years. “He went for a teardrop-shape pond, with the shape evolving as he dug.” The pond ended up with several different depths, the deepest being under the council’s requirement for a pool fence. The base is sand with contoured and smoothed concrete laid over the top. “We struggled to find a paint for the concrete, as they all came back toxic for fish, so we decided to let it age naturally, and waterblast it yearly.” The pond materials were a mixture of new and second-hand. The schist slabs were once stepping stones and bought off Trade Me, the river stones were from Daltons, and the large pebbles around the pool rim, were from a newly-dismantled pond. myspacewaikato Issue 3

The pond has a few dozen goldfish, but very few plants as they tend to rot and make the water go green.

Water features The waterfall feature adds some height to the project, as well as providing a relaxing and calming background sound. Once again, the waterfall shape and construction evolved as Chris worked with the schist and river pebbles. The water is pumped up, filtered, and then falls back down to the pond. The ‘crow’s nest’ in the centre of the pond was a later idea. It proved useful during the first winter, when the pond froze down the far end from the waterfall. “We added a wooden water feature on the crow’s nest which keeps the water circulating, so it can’t freeze.” A typical feature of a Japanese garden is little bridges spanning over ponds. The Wilsons deliberately left this feature out. “While we have a family member living in the cottage, future owners might use it for other things, and the physical barrier of the water would have its advantages.”

New Zealand plants “Our winter frosts are too much for Japanese plants, so we went for New Zealand natives.” Frost-hardy, evergreen and easy-care plants were used throughout the landscaping. New Zealand pungas, zebra flaxes, ferns, Manuka, rimu, cycads, pseudopanax, golf ball pittisporum, and ice plants, have been thoughtfully planted for maximum effect. The plants conceal the pond edges giving a less manmade look. The variety of heights, textures and colours further enhance the natural look, as well as giving the garden a secret and private feel. The landscaping materials are an eclectic mix of colours and textures, which work well together. “The edging bricks came from an old fireplace that was taken out of the villa, and the railway sleepers were on the property.” The sharply contrasting dark brown bark, and white lime chip 28

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were brought new from Kaimai Garden Centre, along with all the plants. In Japanese tradition, Chanelle and Chris installed decking that over hangs the pond edge. This gave them the opportunity to extend the deck of the main house, giving them a wonderful, all weather outdoor living space. “We decided to put a pergola over some of the new deck, and roof it with clear, UV protection sheets, and we spend so much time out there now,” says Chanelle. The deck planks were flipped to use the smooth side, and stained with an oil based stain Wattyl Redwood, to match up the old verandah, the new unit deck, and the new house deck. “There’s no green slime growing in the deck grooves, or splinters when we waterblast each spring.”

Lighting the garden At night the garden is magically lit up, with certain plants lit as features, and recessed lights in the boardwalks, all controlled by a dawn-to-dusk timer. “While we spent a considerable amount on lighting overall, it all came from Mitre 10, so the individual pieces were reasonably priced.” The rustic style spa house was a later thought, with its view over the pond framed by glass-less picture windows. Chanelle has tied together the three buildings on the property by using accents of New Denim Blue on them all, and staining all the decks the same colour. Throughout there are little inexpensive touches, where Chanelle has painted cheap terracotta pots using metallic test pot paint, and an imposing 800-millimetre-high hollow ‘Easter Island’ statue. Looking back on the project, which evolved between mid-2017 and late-2018, both Chanelle and Chris are very happy with the way it has turned out, and apart from “maybe putting in a bigger waterfall”, they wouldn’t change a thing. myspacewaikato Issue 3

Building in harmony with the landscape Working closely on a business level with a life-long friend can test the relationship, but in the case of Todd Hagan and his friend Andy Spiers, of Aspiers Building Ltd, it was an enjoyable experience. Todd and his wife Kasia engaged Andy to build their dream home on their 18-hectare maize and support block near Te Awamutu. The couple and their two children, Quinn, 12, and Mela, 10, had been living in the house on the opposite hill for a number of years. “We’d spent 10 years looking across at this spot, so we knew it well, how the wind blew, how the sun went around it.” Chris Wilson who is also originally from Te Awamutu, designed the house. The couple started their new build, using Timmos ITM as the main materials supplier. “We wanted a modern take on a rural building, which fitted into the landscape,” says Kasia.

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The design had a long and thin building shape so most of the rooms benefit from all day sun, and there were recessed pockets in the building line creating sunny spots away from the wind. The final 311m² floor plan was for a four-bedroom home, with open plan living, separate media room, office and laundry, and internal access double garage. A detached 153m² workshop built next to the house, has the same roof pitch and blends seamlessly into the house roofline. “We designed the house as our forever home,” says Todd. “When the kids are gone, the main bathroom and three bedrooms can be shut off, leaving us with the rest of the house.” This future proofing means the master bedroom is the closest to the living areas, and the ensuite is large and has the only bath in the house. Thought was put into the feature tiling from Impact Tiling to make the ensuite more of a main bathroom.

Using natural colours “The colour scheme of the house is a combination of raw, natural materials, and black accents to give a modern look,” says Kasia. As a result, the house is clad in three different products. Plain grey

concrete blocks, which have been stack bonded to accentuate the vertical aspect of the masonry, will be sealed. Accent walls of vertical cedar weatherboards have been stained grey to subdue their natural orange colour. Vertical Coloursteel in Ebony rib 50 is used extensively as the main cladding and applied in reverse profile. The roof has one narrow gable across the width of the house, and two pitches spanning the length of the house. The media room has a feature flat roof. Ebony Coloursteel was used to co-ordinate with the cladding. “We made use of the roof height inside, with a maximum stud height of 4.1m sloping down to 2.5m, and 2.7m in other areas,” says Todd. “Due to the high wind zone, window plans had to be reconsidered, but there is plenty of glass in the house, and a mixture of double and triple stackers and corner stackers,” says Andy.

Getting outdoor living right Kwila decking, which totals 165m², has been built at the same level as the 330-millimetre-deep concrete rib raft floor. When the sliders

COLLINS

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are opened up, the inside and outside become one space. The couple love entertaining and the spacious covered outside barbecue area was a must. Glenn Mark Pools installed the swimming pool, and use of grey concrete blocks walls, kwila decking, with a simple glass pool fence, has created a smart but minimalist outdoor space. A project that the couple took special interest in was the hearth in the main living area. The unusual and impressive, 5400mm x 850mm concrete fire hearth was poured in situ and polished up. It is cantilevered so it appears to be floating, with a woodburner sitting on top and storage drawers underneath. “It was a mission getting the heavy hearth at exactly the right height for putting the concrete wall blocks above it and fitting in them exactly 11 high without the need to cut any. It just looks so much better,” says Andy.

The heart of the home The kitchen had one main requirement – “tonnes of storage” – and this was partly achieved by putting in a large pantry at one end, that is open, but subtly around a corner. Kasia worked with Got It Made Kitchens to achieve her dream kitchen. The lower level has mainly drawers, in matt off white, and the

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upper level is a combination of American white oak and black, all working together. Black appliances add a modern twist. Kasia loves the “glamorous but quite raw” vintage mirror splash back in the scullery. “I was really open to colours in the kitchen and I feel that mixing the materials created a modern, sleek, but warm look that really is the heart of the home,” says Kasia. The kitchen colour scheme blends with the Majestic Woodland wood laminate flooring and Cavalier Bremworth wool loop pile carpet from Collins Flooring Xtra. With such sleek, modern lines in the house, a hidden heating system, with vents for heating or cooling in every room, was a priority. “Waipa Heatpumps were involved very early on, installing everything while the house was still at the framing stage,” says Andy. Todd and Kasia appreciated how Andy worked on the tools and was onsite daily, as well as overseeing the project. “We both felt we could voice any questions with confidence,” says Todd. “He also really had our backs, and acted quickly if any problems arose, advocating on our behalf,” says Kasia. www.aspiersbuilding.co.nz

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Relocating a home

can fulfil your dreams When Sarah O’Neil, husband Tom and their two children fell in love with 4 hectares of bare, coastal land, their instinct was to build new. “After discovering how little distance our money would go, we thought we’d never be able to have what we wanted.”

The O’Neil family’s three-bedroom, one-bathroom home sits beautifully at Otaua, facing the West Coast ocean. 34

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The house was cut in half to transport it to its new home.

But a Christmas Eve search on Trade Me changed everything. “We stumbled across relocatable homes and found a 1930s stucco California bungalow-style home for $29,000.” It was compliant, insulated and came with a heat pump, curtains, cushions, and a beautiful old cast-iron roll-top bath. “All up, it cost around $200,000 to build the services, relocate the home and pay for it,” says Sarah, who today loves the outdoor living environment and built-from-scratch garden they’ve been able to create by funneling less funds into their ‘dream house’. “The house had been moved once before – 10 years prior it had come from Onehunga to Tauranga. Then circumstances meant the property got sold to a developer,” says Sarah. “So we were really blessed – we didn’t need to do any rewiring, stripping back scrim etc. It was gibbed, had a useable kitchen with new electrics, and a nice new roof. We just had to move it.” Sarah says there’s still “bit and pieces” to do – “but we spent all of our remaining money on the garden”. She’s carved a career out of her passion – she’s authored three gardening books, is a gardening columnist and brand ambassador for Yates and Gardena – so required a garden pronto to keep her ‘day job’. First, her family lived in a caravan on-site until their home was transported and placed – with one side placed either side of Easter 2018. Sarah says the key was getting a good relocation company. “We had a fabulous team in Total Relocation. They did such an amazing job. You can’t even see where they cut the house in half [to transport it].” A nasty storm with winds up to 212km/hr blew through when the house was up on jacks. Amazingly, it didn’t move. “But we realised it was really good to have such a windy experience right at the start – because now we’ve built everything to worst-scenario.” The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home at Otaua has all kitchen/ living areas facing the ocean, while bedrooms face the garden. This resulted from choosing a home with the right orientation, says Sarah. “We wanted our living areas facing the ocean, so the house had to come from the right side of a street. “Also, this style of home has really beautiful fronts but the rear

sides are ugly. And we wanted the main entrance by the sea to be beautiful so when you pull in the driveway, you see a nice front door.” Another upside was the home was compliant in its former location – so Tom and Sarah weren’t required to bring it up to today’s building code. “You only have to bring it up to the standard of how it was at its former site or better. You don’t have to jump through today’s ‘new building’ hoops, but such projects do still need to be signed off by your local council once all the relocation work has been done.” myspacewaikato Issue 3

The 1930s stucco California bungalow-style house had been relocated before, so was already compliant and only required sign-off by council once moved to its new home.

The O’Neils wanted their kitchen/living areas facing the ocean, so they had to choose a home with the right orientation.

With the house fully compliant, it allowed Sarah to keep character features of the home – like stained glass and high ceilings.

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This also allowed them to keep character features of the home – like stained glass and high ceilings. But Sarah warns people considering a relocatable home should ensure they have the funds for it first. “Banks don’t really lend on relocatables until they’re compliant. So you do have to consider this.” And while most people renovate kitchens and bathrooms first, Sarah’s focus was her garden. “Our philosophy is we’re going to be here forever – the kitchen, bathroom and laundry are serviceable, and you’ll always find money for a new bathroom if you need one. “We also did it this way because the land offers such an outdoor living environment. In summer it’s absolutely amazing – so it’s more important to us to get the living of the home right as our kids are teenagers. “They don’t care about a nice bathroom but having a nice outdoors area they can enjoy – that’s more important to us as a family. And my dream kitchen will come one day.” Sarah spent months transforming her coastal block of kikuyu, boxthorn and gorse into her dream garden – 36 raised beds with the main feature a geodesic biodome. The project began May 2018 with a neighbour’s bulldozer clearing kikuyu. With sandy soil not ideal, Sarah says the beds were the ideal solution. “The sand is fine so it does hold moisture better than expected – but it’s not as good as swampland. So I brought six truckloads of swamp soil with me from my old property to fill the beds, which works well in combination with the sand.” So well last summer Sarah discovered she only needed to water her garden for nine minutes every five days.

Sarah O’Neil, at home in her Otaua garden.

Sarah says planning a new garden or renovation before picking up the spade is crucial. “I was able to sit down and think about what I wanted from it, and ask myself: What does it need to give me? How many plants can I fit in a square metre? Where will it be situated? That sort of thing.” She also planned her garden’s look. “Gardens don’t need to be ugly, they can be aesthetically pleasing too. Vegetable gardens are usually utilitarian things out the back, but they can be beautiful.” Now she just manages it. “I know what my plants need, so it’s not trial and error. It’s a cohesive, well-designed system.” Sarah also says gardens don’t need to be hard work. “What I learnt from my last garden is if you go from weedy bed to weedy bed, you’re chasing your tail. “What I did – and this can be downscaled – is divided my garden into five sections. Tending to each section once a week means weeds and maintenance don’t get overwhelming.” Another message from Sarah is grow what you love. “So many people grow things just because it’s on the list. I say if you don’t like them, don’t grow them.” With her home and her garden in place, Sarah believes relocating a house offers an affordable way of creating a ‘dream home’. “If you get the right home that you can site the way you need it – and you have the funds to finance it – absolutely!” She says grand old homes on large sections are being pulled out all over the place to make way for housing developments. “Our house was replaced in Tauranga with 17 townhouses. “It is criminal really because so much work and craftsmanship has gone into these homes – and they have such beautiful character and things you don’t find in modern homes.”

Sarah’s new garden – before it became a garden.

The Geodesic biodome, where Sarah grows her seedlings from seed, is the main feature of the garden.

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INSPIRATION Whether you are looking to decorate just one room or your entire home, we know you want top quality, real choice and inspiration, as well as expert advice so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done right the first time. The team at your locally owned Guthrie Bowron store are ready to help, so pop in and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chat! Hamilton 631 Te Rapa Road Te Rapa (07) 849 9230

Cambridge 91 Victoria Street Cambridge (07) 827 6445

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Te Awamutu Mega Centre, Shop 8 670 Cambridge Road Te Awamutu (07) 871 8540

Matamata 17 Arawa Street Matamata (07) 888 8119

Bold and Beautiful

A new decorating project is always exciting, but knowing which bold prints and pops of ontrend colour will work well within your space can be one of the toughest decisions to make. Curtains are the finishing touch that completes a room, providing warmth, comfort and privacy. Coloured or patterned curtains can add a pop of personality and neutral curtains blend to soften the space. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re after a modern, minimal, classic or contemporary look, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find it at Guthrie Bowron.

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Hamptons style,

Ange Demchy’s family have frequently benefited from her considerable restoration skills. The purchase of the latest family home in October 2018 gave Ange the opportunity to tackle a 1990s, six-bedroom house with several living areas, and stunning elevated views over a North Hamilton stretch of the Waikato River. Ange has developed a very characteristic style of décor, and gets straight down to business knowing exactly what she wants to achieve. “I love that Hamptons/Farmhouse look, and was inspired by the almost all white interior of the home in the movie ‘Something’s Gotta Give’,” says Ange. Her signature look uses white and black, with tones of grey and charcoal. She has an extensive collection of furniture and homewares following this colour palette. “I constantly watch stores online and scour Trade Me for second-hand pieces that I can upcycle and paint myself.” “We rarely buy high end or branded items, unless they are on special or a bargain.” Both Ange and her husband Tony very capably do much of the work themselves, only calling in contractors for specialist tasks. “We prefer smaller, family-run businesses for our tradies.” As each renovation progresses, they learn more and more, both from successes and mistakes. “It’s really important to have the right tools if you are going to tackle something yourself as that makes the job so much easier, and the result so much more professional.” The couple avoids houses that need too much behind-the-scenes work done. “We prefer to spend our budget on things that can be seen.” 40

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Hamilton suburb

The North Hamilton house Ange was drawn to the colonial style windows, spacious rooms and the potential she could see past the dated décor. “I’m really lucky, Tony just lets me get on with it. If I can see potential, he’s happy to help.” The entrance hall had lead light panels in the doors to the main lounge, but once the dark wood had five coats of white paint, it looked very Hamptons. The dark wood on the staircase and trims looked much brighter when painted. Ange always uses a basic vivid white. “Before painting over stained wood, it’s important to sand it and seal with a stain blocker.” The entrance hall and some other rooms were wallpapered as “sometimes the work to prepare a previously papered and stripped wall for painting isn’t worth it, and even though more expensive, wallpaper is a better option”.

Informal dining, living and garden room These rooms flow openly into each other, and Ange has put her beloved wainscoting on the lower half of the walls, for that farmhouse look. In these rooms, the wainscoting is MDF boards with MDF planks for the raised relief, and wide picture framing for the top rail – a simple and cost effective way of achieving this look. “It just takes the right tools and careful measuring,” says Ange. The changes in flooring define the start and end of each room. The slate floor in the garden room was left in place, but the main living area was carpeted. The dining area has vinyl plank flooring, that extends from the kitchen.

Formal dining and living In contrast to the more homely and relaxed informal living areas, these rooms have that luxurious wow factor. myspacewaikato Issue 3

The fireplace was one feature where outside help was brought in. A large in-built gas fire sits in a specially constructed chimney breast, that hides the flue. To top it off a rustic railway sleeper has been used as a mantelpiece. “This was probably the least successful part of the renovation,” says Ange. “We were going to use schist pieces to clad the chimney, but we couldn’t quite make it work with the way the fire had to be fitted, so decided to go with the wood panel look instead.” Once again, Ange has used her skills to bring together higher end bargains, High Street brands and her impeccable taste in colours, to pull off an expensive, elegant look on a budget.

as were some of the other lights in the house. Ange couldn’t use a classic ceramic butler sink, as she wanted an insinkerator, so she settled for a stainless steel version, with black tapware which is “so far, so good”.

The kitchen

There’s no utility feel to this room as it has the same attention to detail as everywhere else. The existing tongue and groove style cabinetry has been painted in Resene Quarter Tapa, and wainscoting effect applied to the lower walls. Subway tiles, new Formica benchtop, a new sink, and a vintage patterned vinyl floor give the laundry a country character all of its own. Now that the ground floor is nearly completed, Ange will be turning her attention to the upper floor and we will be returning to see how she has applied her magic touch to those renovations.

Following the same plan as the original dark wood kitchen, Ange chose the white Shaker style cabinetry from the Mitre 10 Designer Range, and Tony installed it. Simple white subway tiles and engineered stone benchtops make the kitchen look a lot more expensive than it was. Some of the original cabinetry remains, and has been painted in Resene Half Tapa, which contrasts nicely with the white cabinets. The beautiful, industrial style light was a bargain from Early Settler, 42

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The guest room Ange has introduced touches of pink into the colour palette for the soft furnishing, and the light fittings and painted furniture have a French feel. The wainscoting in this room uses picture frame wood, cut to size, and stuck straight onto the Gib in squares as “the walls were in good enough condition to do this”.

The laundry

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Ashley Cooper

She has been singing from the age of 11, but Ashley Cooper’s name came to the public eye as a finalist in 2005’s ‘NZ Idol’ contest. Ashley went on to have a successful career in country music, teaming up with her now husband, musician and singer, Michael Tipping. Michael works as a glazier during the week, and the duo, known as Cooper’s Run, perform all over New Zealand each weekend. Michael is president of the New Zealand County Music Association, and Ashley is the marketing officer. This year the pair is settled in a modern home in Matamata, with their two daughters Mikaela, 6, and Lucy, 3, and Michael’s daughter Sophie, 14. “Our landlords are friends and we were able to watch the house being built and be the first to live in it,” says Ashley. Her favourite room is the kitchen/ dining area as the couple love to entertain. The room just contains a dining suite, wine cellar cabinet, and a beautiful old style desk from Michael’s parents, all in 44

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Ashley’s favoured wood style. “Entertaining is important to us, and this room provides the perfect space.” Bifold doors open onto the patio area and guests can move easily between indoors and outside. Keen gardener Michael uses his time outside to de-stress and maintains several beautiful rose bushes that Ashley can’t resist buying for him when she sees a new colour. “I like to cook to de-stress, and the kitchen island set-up makes it easy to cook while talking to people.” The pantry is much appreciated as she can close the door on any mess. Ashley loves the stag horns that her brother gave her. She has turned her hand to making a vintage style photo frame from an old window left at Michael’s workshop. “I distressed it a little and cut all the frames to go behind the glass panes, and I’ve put it photos from a recent family shoot in them.” While Ashley and Michael are performing the children spend time with Ashley’s parents on their Cambridge farm. “We couldn’t continue in the music industry and have children without the amazing support we have from our families,” says Ashley.

New natural-look tile

Phomi tiles can be applied over existing tiles as this bathroom shows.

Love the look of natural stone but don’t have the budget? Now get the look of travertine, sandstone, granite and other sophisticated stones at prices you can afford. An exciting new product has been launched onto the New Zealand market, which is set to revolutionise interior and exterior design. Hamilton-based VersaTiles New Zealand Ltd has secured the exclusive rights to sell Phomi Tiles, which are created using Modified Clay Material, or MCM, technology. The tiles can be used on almost any surface, from exterior or interior walls to ceilings and floors, and even fences, providing a cost-effective option for renovating an existing space or adding a design feature to a new build. Made from a combination of clay, sand, stone powder, ash and acrylic, Phomi Tiles mimic a range of materials, including stone, brick, wood, metal and leather. The different shades are created using natural clay colours and, being much lighter than traditional materials, they have a greatly reduced carbon footprint. They are also crack resistant, fire retardant, stain-resistant, breathable and able to withstand extreme temperatures, as well as being sound-absorbent and gentle on the environment when recycled. Already popular in overseas markets, they have a wide range of residential and commercial applications, both indoors and out. “I’m extremely excited about bringing this product to New Zealand,” says director Jane Eyre.

“Phomi Tiles have a good international track record and I think Kiwis will take to them well.” “One of their beauties is their application to existing tiles. This makes a bathroom refresh much more cost efficient. Their use is limited only by people’s imagination,” says Jane. “They can dress something up quite quickly. For instance, they are perfect for updating concrete block, or creating an interior feature wall. The red brick makes a very effective New York warehouse look,” she says. “They are cheaper and less messy to install than the real thing. Either use a professional tiler or DIY it.” Make an appointment to view the range by calling Jane on 0274 526339 or order samples through the website: www.versatiles.co.nz. For further information, email: info@versatiles.co.nz

Phone 0274 526 339 www.versatiles.co.nz info@versatiles.co.nz

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Building with an eye to the future Julie Brown, eHaus Waikato

As we look to a future of an uncertain climate, and rapidly reducing natural resources, it is essential that we embrace change in the way we construct our buildings. We New Zealanders are becoming more aware that the standard of our new buildings is falling behind the rest of the world. Many other countries, especially in Europe, are mandating higher standards of quality and energy efficiency for their buildings, which deliver healthy living spaces and are robust, yet comfortable in all climates, and very low-cost to run. Imagine a home where every room was at a constant temperature no matter the season, and uses a fraction of energy to run? A healthy home with no mould, no condensation, and a constant supply of fresh, filtered air. Is this even possible? Yes! By utilising PassivHaus building technology developed in Europe more than 25 years ago, a warm, healthy, energy efficient home can easily be achieved here in NZ.

eHaus Waikato ExpoHaus.

For the last 10 years, eHaus has brought this building technology to the NZ market. More and more of these high performance homes are being built all over NZ. There are several key principles essential to PassivHaus design and construction. 1. Super Insulation - the right amount matched to the needs of your local climate. 2. Airtightness - an airtight house provides a robust structure free of moisture, improves performance of insulation, and provides a quiet indoor environment. 3. No Thermal Bridges - the building envelope is like a cocoon, with no elements exposed to both the interior and exterior environment. Energy leaks are eliminated. 4. High performance windows - the weakest points in any building envelope are the windows, so by using high performance window and door joinery, airtightness and thermal performance are maintained. 5. Ventilation - A Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation system constantly and silently introduces very high quality air into the home which is free from dust, pollens and pollutants.

An essential part of the design of every eHaus, is computer modelling using the Passive House Planning Package. This is where the performance of the home is very accurately predicted while it is still in the early stages of design. This complex process involves thermal analysis of the construction elements of the building, assessment of energy gains and losses, utilising the local climate data. Valuable information from this process is used to tweak the design to maximise performance of the home, giving you the assurance before the build even starts that your home will perform. Building the PassivHaus way requires a whole team approach, where these specific design details are executed by a construction team who can ensure that the building methodology is strictly followed. This is especially necessary to achieve the airtightness requirements, which is verified by a blower door test. A Passive House can be internationally certified with a performance verification which is a guarantee of quality. Progress of the construction is documented and photographed, and this information, along with the energy modelling predictions, are independently reviewed. Once verified, the home is awarded with the Passive House Badge. eHaus Waikato has completed several Passive House projects around their region, and has a growing number of projects underway. They regularly host Open Construction Days where the homes are open to the public for one day only when the project is at airtight stage. The specialised construction is able to be viewed before the internal wall linings are fitted. The team enjoy these days as an education opportunity to bring Passive House to the attention of as many people as possible. Building to the Passive House standard is a viable option for all types of buildings, whether a home or a highrise. Investing into a building which will deliver low energy bills and a healthy living environment for all who will pass through its doors, for the lifetime of the building, is not just creating a home, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creating a long lasting legacy. To find out more information, call 0800 4eHaus or 0800 434 287. Visit: ehaus.co.nz Or email: info@ehaus.co.nz myspacewaikato Issue 3

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A Little Something Special If you’re searching for original home décor ideas, look no further than Hamilton’s brand new Paisley House Furniture & Home Interiors. Paisley House is renowned for stocking an eclectic mix of vintage, rustic, industrial and country charm pieces, along with a touch of bo-ho. “We aim to stock classic pieces that won’t date,” explains owner Linda Murphy. “We mix them with modern contemporary wall art in store so you can actually see how that works with vintage furniture.” Linda opened her new Victoria Street store in April following the run-away success of her original shop in Tirau. Paisley House is unlike anything else on offer in Hamilton, and feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive. “Our Hamilton store has a wide range of beautiful furniture including sofas, dining tables, sideboards, coffee tables, cabinets and rugs,” says Linda. Paisley House sources its range from India, as well as New Zealand and Australian wholesalers. Each piece of furniture is either a high quality original which has been lovingly restored or has been reproduced with its own unique character using recycled materials or wood from sustainable forests. Those with discerning tastes will be pleased to know stock is always limited – there’s

virtually no chance of seeing your item in someone else’s home. “We do vintage furniture pieces which are one-offs – they’re not going to be replicated anywhere. And we only ever order two or three pieces of other items.” There’s a continuous flow of new arrivals in both Tirau and Hamilton stores, and Linda strives to keep up with seasonal and European trends. Paisley House’s range of handcrafted furniture and home decor is also available online, and Linda offers free delivery of furniture around Hamilton, as well as Auckland once a month (terms and conditions apply). “It’s important for us to source quality pieces and pass those reasonable prices onto the customer as well. Because we are a direct importer, we can offer that.” Free parking is available outside the Hamilton store so if you haven’t been to visit Paisley House yet, make sure you pop in soon. The Hamilton store at 856 Victoria Street (North end of Victoria Street next to The Curtain Studio) and is open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm; Saturday 10am to 4pm & Sunday 11am to 3pm. The Tirau store is located at 28 Main Road, SH1, Tirau and is open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm Items are also available for viewing and online ordering at: www.paisleyhouse.co.nz

Direct importers of quality handcrafted furniture & unique home decor

furniture & home interiors

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The Kiwi kitchen

Mark Bruce, CKD, Dip KD, Designmarked Kitchens

Theme kitchens in New Zealand have a very narrow field, with perhaps only a handful of recognised styles to follow. Labels such as traditional, contemporary, French provincial are used to describe certain styles but even within these more

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common themes the boundaries are blurred. Perhaps the most “blurred” theme is, what is the Kiwi kitchen? If you asked a designer in Europe to design a New Zealand kitchen what would they design?

Following trends For our modern/contemporary design we tend to follow European trends but are required to fit in American-sized

appliances. The big fridges and ovens can dominate this type of design and take away the European sleekness. For our traditional kitchens we follow English country style with timber-framed doors and pelmets. America is still very much entrenched in this type of design, it’s not a theme for them it’s their stock and trade.

Kiwi icon So how does New Zealand differ, what’s different or unique about our kitchen designs? I would hate to think our legacy to the design world is our infamous corner pantry or the rimu, bullnose laminate top. Our style of cabinetry may not have a unique theme but the way we use our kitchens does. Over the years we have modified the Italian al fresco dining phenomenon to something quite unique to New Zealand and perhaps our Australian neighbours. Barbecues and outside dining is very much a Kiwi icon and our kitchen designs can reflect this. Designers are very conscious of the relationship between the kitchen and the barbecue area. Direct access, if possible, to the barbecue area should always be considered. Fridge placement so that the working triangle is not compromised,

storage for platters and serving dishes, pass throughs and landing zones for platters. There are many other uniquely different design elements that need to considered for the kitchen to interact well with the barbecue area. I think another link to a “theme” we have is kitchen colours. In the last 20 years we have seen a progression of kitchens go through burnt oranges with brown mahogany, rimu, pink and greys, blues, greens, sage, tawny and naturals. Through all these changes the whites have remained popular with subtle base changes from yellow, red, brown to grey. It is far easier for us to date a kitchen by its colour than its style. Whether you’re putting a very minimalist kitchen into a 100-year-old villa or following the theme of the home with a ® timber paneled kitchen, the most important consideration is don’t let form over-ride function.

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in black & white Sharon Robinson enjoys the challenge of a renovation, and in 2019 she tackled her fifth property, a typical 1996 house in North Hamilton. She tackled the decorating first in the living areas and bathrooms, getting A.P. Smart Painter and Decorator to paint the walls Dulux Blanc and the ceilings Dulux Merino. Window furnishings were updated to white wooden blinds, and fortunately, the carpet was a neutral speckled beige in good condition. Sharon approached three different kitchen companies to assess and quote on her kitchen, and chose TopLine Kitchens Ltd for the job. “It really pays to get quotes as there is a big difference between competitor pricing, hidden costs and levels of service,” says Sharon.

• • • •

Initially Sharon had her heart set on the same old L-shaped design with breakfast bar at the end, however, when she was shown another galley style design as a realistic 3D image on a laptop, she decided to go with that instead. “It was great being able to see what it looks like and I’m glad I followed their professional suggestions and opened my mind to other options.” Sharon was adamant that she wasn’t going to have a black and white kitchen, but again when she saw some design options in front of her, and looked over samples, she really liked it. The cabinetry is Snowdrift Satin White, which is great for hiding fingerprints, with smart matt black handles. The cabinetry goes right up to the ceiling, eliminating the cupboard top dust trap issue. “I hate corner cupboards, so there are a lot of drawers providing lots of storage with

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myspacewaikato Issue 3

soft close hinges, and a wide pantry where everything is reachable.” The overhead cupboards have finger pull handles which provides a seamless and modern European look. Black negative detail around the cabinet doors and drawers, with black toe kicks create an illusion of a floating benchtop and cabinetry. These are two design features that Sharon really likes.

The undermount, black granite, 1.5 sink is set in a Fox Glacier engineered quality quartz stone benchtop, that has two waterfall ends framing the kitchen cabinetry. “While I love the black sink for not showing dirt I would really recommend checking that your largest bowl fits in the sink before committing to a size.” The fridge, oven and stove were re-used as they were white and in good condition and to save money, but Sharon installed a new dishwasher. Although she was originally thinking about floor tiles, she settled on vinyl flooring in Cliff Oak, for a fresh, neutral look. Looking back on the whole experience, Sharon muses that she often just looks at her kitchen with pleasure. “I know that’s weird, and I’m sure it will wear off, but at the moment I’m really enjoying it, and it’s great for socialising!”

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The meth testing industry has gone through a significant shakeup during the last year. While this has had the positive effect of stripping down an overcrowded industry, some of the changes have left property owners shaking their heads. The release of the Gluckman report created a huge amount of uncertainty around whether landlords need to test for methamphetamine contamination in their rental properties. Currently we are in a situation where we have two documents that are referenced in relation to meth contamination: the New Zealand Standard (NZS8510:2017), which has the acceptable contamination level for high use areas set at 1.5ug/100cm2; and the Gluckman report, which has the acceptable level of contamination set at 15ug/100cm2. So which document should you use? It is this uncertainty that has created a situation where landlords are often taking the

risk of not testing properties prior to renting them out. This produces a poor outcome for all involved. On the one hand, landlords are often left not having met their insurance obligations of being able to produce a “pretenancy test” should things go awry. And on the other hand, tenants face the risk of being placed into a rental property that may well contain methamphetamine contamination and as such are exposed to the associated health risks. With the Tenancies Amendment Act 2019 changes coming into effect on August 27, we now know new regulations will be developed to prescribe an acceptable level for methamphetamine contamination, processes for testing (including when to test) and decontamination of rental properties. The regulations will be developed during the next year. More information can be found at: www.tenancy.govt.nz Landlords have had a tough time of it lately. They have faced the bright-line test, ring-fencing, insulation requirements, the Healthy Homes Standard, or HHS, and

the list goes on! With all of this happening, it is no surprise that the legislation, which came into effect in April 2018 and relates to asbestos risk management, has completely flown under the radar. Most property management companies are now realising that it is the landlord’s responsibility (and the property manager as a PCBU) to identify Asbestos-Containing Material, or ACM, in their property, prior to having work done on site. The reason for this is that the legislation states it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that an Asbestos Risk Management Plan is created prior to any working being done in a rental property that may disturb any ACM. It is for this reason that we are encouraging landlords to have their rental properties put through a Non-Invasive Visual Inspection for asbestos. This will allow them to identify all the potential ACM in the property, which not only allows them to ensure that they are meeting their legal obligations but assists in ensuring the safety of their tenants and their contractors.

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Classic 70s home gets

With one successful house renovation under their belts, Stewart and Lucia Best were keen to tackle another big project. The candidate was a three-bedroom, typical 1970s home on a 3.5-acre lifestyle block in Karamu, with an awkward dated layout. The minute Stewart walked into the house, he could visualise exactly what could be done. Lucia went to visit family in Europe for three weeks, while Stewart gutted the inside back to the framing, and started again. “I also re-did the plumbing and the wiring, and replaced all the windows with double-glazed units,” says Stewart. Stewart knocked down the wall between the old lounge and kitchen, creating a light, bright open plan living area. A triple stacker replaced the ranch slider, and new French doors now give outdoor access in the kitchen area. Painting the new walls and ceilings was a quick job. “We taped plastic over all the windows and doors and used a paint sprayer with Resene Barely There,” says Stewart. There was no particular budget in mind, more a desire to “do it right and learn from any previous mistakes”. “Stewart had the kitchen layout all in his mind. He measured it out and taped the floor to show me where everything would be,” says Lucia. 56

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a modern makeover

The white cabinets in Malibu Naturale brought the kitchen up to date immediately. The placement of the island, with waterfall ends which Lucia had been sceptical about, proved to be perfect. Dispensing with a breakfast bar allowed room for storage on both sides of the 2.4m x 1.2m island. Taking the cupboards right up to the stud height of 2.7m cost a little extra, but eliminated the dust trap found on the top of kitchen cupboards. Granite benchtops, stainless steel handles, and new appliances complete the modern look. Stewart and Lucia chose the colours together, and love the striking Resene Outrageous Orange splashbacks behind the hob and coffee nook. The glass had to be specially sprayed to match the orange of the wall behind it. The bricks around the existing woodburner were painted black, and on the wall behind, the industrial steel sheet effect wallpaper looks incredibly realistic. A feature wall in Resene Ebony Clay houses a state-of-the-art sound system designed by Stewart, and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s planning to recess the TV into the wall. The new vinyl, plank-effect flooring is to be replaced already, because it dented and ripped easily, but the couple have acquired a supply of Swedish tongue and groove, wood floor planking which they are looking forward to using. The next project in the Best house is to develop the 60-odd square metres of decking into a lovely outdoor living area. myspacewaikato Issue 3

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... what home buyers should know For most Kiwis, your home is probably the single biggest purchase you’ll ever make. It’s a stressful process and it makes sense that you’d want to secure insurance to protect yourselves and your new home from natural disaster, fire or any other accidental event. Real Estate Authority chief executive Kevin Lampen-Smith says: “Adding ‘insurance’ near the top of your checklist when hunting for a house is now very important as the insurance market is changing”. “A bank or lender will want proof that you have arranged property insurance before settlement, even if you have conditional preapproval with your finances.”

Obtain quotes To work out if a property can be insured, contact different insurance companies to get a quote. It can also be a good idea to talk to an insurance broker. They are independent insurance experts, who work for you and are not attached to an insurance company. They will give you advice on what might be best for your situation – identifying risks and recommending cost-effective solutions. “If you already have contents insurance, get in touch with your insurer first to see if they’ll offer you property insurance,” says Kevin. Insurers often ask lots of questions about your personal insurance history and whether you (or anyone who will be living at the property) have any criminal convictions. “This is because they want to be sure that you are a ‘good risk’, especially since this will be your first home. Having an existing relationship with an insurer means that you have already been assessed in this way,” says Kevin. An insurer will want to know as much as possible about the property you want to buy – its address, age, condition, size and the materials it is made from. If the house is being sold by a licensed real estate agent, they should be able to help you out with this information. “You can ask the agent if the property is currently insured and whether there have been any issues with the property that could affect its chances of being reinsured in the future,” says Kevin. “If you are aware of other risks to the property that an insurer is unlikely to know about, such as landslip issues – even if there has not been any damage to the home yet – you need to tell the insurer when applying for a quote or for cover. “For example, if the house is in an area that has been flooded before, an insurer may limit or exclude any cover for flood damage. If this is the case, it’s better to know as early as possible,” says Kevin. “You can contact the Earthquake Commission directly to see what information they might have on record regarding potential damage to the property from natural disasters.” “I also suggest seeking legal advice before signing a sale and purchase agreement as you may need to make confirmation of insurance an important condition of your offer,” says Kevin.

runs through the options. Insurance companies are reassessing how they cover coastal or clifftop properties or properties in low lying areas that may suffer from seawater inundation due to the increasing risk of environmental damage or rising sea levels. This means that the cost of premiums may increase, exclusions may be added, or insurance cover may be withdrawn for some properties as the risk changes. EQC doesn’t cover damage to land from coastal erosion (although it does cover storm and flood damage to land), or damage to residential structures or contents from storms, floods or coastal erosion. “While earthquake damage is covered by EQC, you must have private home insurance first to qualify for it,”says Kevin. The premium you pay is broken down into the cover that goes to the company and a levy that goes to EQC and Fire and Emergency NZ. From July 1, 2019, EQC no longer covers contents – affecting policy holders on the anniversary date of their existing policy, which is generally the annual renewal date, or if you take out a new policy. “If an insurer agrees to cover a property you wish to buy, let your lender know immediately. You will need the insurance to start on settlement day, when the property officially becomes yours, even if you aren’t moving in that day. In most cases you can set the insurance up around six-to-eight weeks before you settle – arranging it early means one less thing to do close to your settlement day.” “If you can’t find an insurer willing to insure the house you are keen to buy, it may be safer to walk away. If you do find an insurer for the property, make sure you read and understand the policy. And, don’t leave any insurance matters to the last minute or fail to read the fine details in documents the insurer sends you once cover has been arranged,” says Kevin. For independent guidance and information on buying or selling, check out: settled.govt.nz

Amie Paston, Real Estate Authority

Different types of insurance There are a few different types of insurance – ‘sum insured’ is the most common in New Zealand. The Insurance Council of New Zealand has a great guide to house and contents insurance, which myspacewaikato Issue 3

When real estate agent Debbie Towers first saw her future Cambridge home, she was actually viewing the house next door. The friend she was with urged her to look at the one over the fence, which was also for sale. “I wasn’t really interested in a 1960s house, but was convinced to take a look,” says Debbie. The house was a complete shambles. The garden was completely overgrown with trees and shrubs and the driveway was a mixture of weeds, sand and gravel. Debbie, however, has a keen eye for interior design, a passion for houses and renovation, and a love of gardening. She was able to see through the mess and visualise what she could do with the place. She concentrated on the house and a new deck first, before turning her sights to the garden. “While my children were growing up, we were always on farms in worker’s houses,” says Debbie. “I used to put in gardens and then have to leave them behind, so I was excited about planning one that I would stay to appreciate.” The 90m2 house, and the detached garage, were positioned right up against the back boundary, making the 578m2 section seem a great deal bigger than its measurements would indicate. Debbie had plenty of ideas around what she wanted, but decided to employ her landscape designer friend, Debbie Brookes, to draw up some plans. “After some initial consultation, the plans arrived meticulously hand-drawn on a huge sheet of tracing paper,” says Debbie.

Bringing the plans to life The garden had been cleared, levelled and fenced soon after Debbie moved in. She had also planted nine Iceberg standard roses by the front door, a line of blue sapphire dichroa evergreen hydrangeas up the driveway and had started her cottage garden. The new plans included Debbie’s wishlist items – different zones, a small lawn, a utility zone, raised and rustic veggie beds, French inspiration and a black and white colour palette.

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“I wanted all the plants to be green, silver, white and blue, with a little pink,” says Debbie. Her initial thoughts around the plans suggested that it may have been too formal for her taste, but after discussion, she understood the reasons for certain ideas and was on-board. “I would say about 90 per cent of what Debbie designed has ended up in the final garden. “A few things were added as it became a reality and I could see the need.” A handyman friend and landscaping contractors were employed to do the heavy work. “I think if you have good bones to a garden, it makes it easy to build from there.”

Different zones Every area of the garden has been planned and used. Even behind the garage there’s a pretty seat and fence ornaments, while a couple of garden sheds hide all the implements tidily away. The deck was constructed from smooth pine planks, which have been left to silver naturally. The white pergola, with ornate brackets sourced via Trade Me, provides a vintage feel. The pergola roof is tinted with UV protection. “To have a covered outside room was something I have always wanted,” says Debbie. The non-grassed areas were covered with 19 onesquare-metre grey flagstones, interspersed with Waikato mix, medium river pebbles. The shades of grey coordinate with the smart black stained fences and sturdy trellises that hide the utility areas. Star jasmine is being trained over marine wire diamonds, across the whole back fence. This more formal paved and pebbled area blends seamlessly into a softer zone, with a large cottage garden and the only lawn area. During summer, the cottage garden has been planted with silver foliage plants, white daisies, white petunias, blue salvia and aquilegia, and these are allowed to seed for next season. A cluster of raised veggie beds can be found at the other end of the lawn. The front beds are planted with silver teucrium, which will soon form a hedge making the veggie garden a hidden zone. Five michelia gracipes trees have been strategically planted to screen out neighbouring houses, and buxus green gem balls, liriope muscari and white hydrangeas will fill out in the stoned areas. Neatly trimmed buxus and griselinia hedging is maintained at different heights around the new GAP 20 metalled driveway, giving a formal entrance and parking area.

The finishing touches Debbie is a keen hunter of second-hand items that appeal to her. Some of the items that give her the most pleasure are rescued or upcycled pieces. “In my job as a real estate agent, I am often the first to see unwanted items put in a skip as vendors prepare to sell their property,” she says. “Other times, I know they want to sell something and I’ve bought it from them.” One of her most appreciated pieces is a second-hand, weathered teak Lutyens bench she bought from a client. The long wooden ladder hung on the fence in the veggie area was rescued by a friend from a rubbish heap who “thought it was a bit of me,” and it was. The four-piece patio set, cream cans and preserving pans were all sourced through clients, and have been used to good effect in the garden. Neighbours often walk past and comment on the huge improvement Debbie has made to the property and how much they have enjoyed watching the transformation. Throughout last season’s long, hot summer, Debbie has been able to fully enjoy the garden she had visualised all those months before.

myspacewaikato Issue 3

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myspacewaikato Issue 3

Margaret Troughton

MargaretResidential Troughton & Lifestyle Sales Residential & Lifestyle Sales 07 881 9291 / 021 766 407 07 881 9291 / 021 766 407 margaret.troughton@bayleys.co.nz margaret.troughton@bayleys.co.nz

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Sam Troughton Rural & Lifestyle Sales Rural & Lifestyle Sales 07 881 9292 / 027 07 881 9292 / 027 480 0836480 0836 sam.troughton@bayleys.co.nz sam.troughton@bayleys.co.nz

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WAIKATO ISSUE 3, 2019

BUILDING YOUR VISION

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