Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2019 i Your Home and Garden

Welcome to our spring issue – and my first as editor. It’s a thrill to be looking after Your Home and Garden while Kristina Rapley is on maternity leave, especially being a long-time reader and budding renovation enthusiast myself. Putting together a magazine is actually a bit like renovating a house. It involves balancing practicalities, aesthetics and the all-important budget; as well as honouring its past heritage, enhancing its present features and figuring out how it can be better in the future. Once it’s finished you feel immensely proud – and rather exhausted. This issue is packed with inspiring people, from homeowners who’ve cleverly infused stark new-builds with personality to seasoned renovators who’ve overseen total transformations on tight budgets. It’s impressive stuff. I hope you enjoy the issue as much…

Cordis was the perfect choice, thanks to a recent renovation to include family rooms complete with kitchen facilities and kid-friendly services. Check-in was an unexpected highlight, with Cordis mascot Cody the Red Panda there to greet us, step ladders so the boys could check in themselves (once they’d finished chasing Cody’s tail), and a stunning lobby space for me to swoon over. Then it was time to explore. Being in the city meant we could reconnect with what we love about central Auckland, and searching for personalised places (like my favourite shops) was made easy thanks to the hotel’s shuttle service which took me to downtown Auckland. Over the course of the weekend, we took the free Cordis e-bikes to the park and over the pink cycleway. We had a…

MEET + GREET  Margrete Berri, 33 (designer at Nué Group) with her husband and their two children. Follow Margrete on Instagram @margreteberri. Before designer Margrete Berri and her family moved into their small white house in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, it had been a horse stable, workspace and photo studio, so they knew it would take plenty of time and creativity to turn it into a family home with room for two children. “We fell for the large skylight in the living room and the central location, but we were not fond of the rest,” Margrete remembers. “The house needed a whole new floor plan. I was very pregnant with our second child and was doubtful about whether it was the right project for us.” But the couple couldn’t stop thinking about…

HONESTY BOX + Best lessons learned? Jane: Stay on top of the budget (and your building team) to make sure you’re on track with finances and the time frame. + What would you never do again? I wouldn’t install heated towel rails. They’re not something we ever use and we really only put them in for resale value. If I did it again, I’d use the towel holders from Made of Tomorrow. + Any DIY disasters? To save money we chose not to install a wire wardrobe system in our wardrobes as I’m not a huge fan. Instead, we hung IKEA rails, most of which have stayed up, but the ones in our bedroom fell down, leaving big holes in the wall which now needs re-plasterboarding. For now, I’ve ‘installed’…

MEET + GREET  Emma Smaller, 27 (lawyer and owner of catering company), and Josh Smaller, 28 (electrical and instrument technician). With a philosophy of “do it once, do it right”, Emma and Josh Smaller painstakingly restored a New Plymouth villa to its former glory with a few modern touches and a reworked floor plan. The six-month project – which began just three months after the couple had completed their first reno – ended up being more expensive and time-consuming than they’d expected, but the proof is in the light, bright home they have created. “We wanted our home to be classic, elegant and timeless, with reclaimed matai flooring and white walls. Paying homage to the villa’s character and history was important to us” Did you have a plan or did…

1 Do your own wallpapering For a while wallpapering seemed almost a lost art. But with advances in digital printing making any design possible, modern wallpapers now come in an almost infinite range of styles and can make a massive impact in your space. We have become big wallpaper fans and regularly use it in our renovations as it adds warmth, pattern and texture – something paint can’t do. ‘Paste the wall’ wallpaper makes applying and removing wallpaper a far simpler process than it used to be. You don’t need a professional to install wallpaper and you only need a handful of simple tools such as a smoother and a plumb line. This DIY task takes time, patience and planning – if you have those, you can wallpaper. You don’t…

How long have you lived here? What did you like about the house when you moved in? We moved in 18 months ago (with the promise to the girls that the bathroom would be the first thing we renovated). I fell in love with the back garden and the brick fence, Rich fell in love with the two huge gleditsia trees in the garden, and the girls with the pool. The house had good spaces and we knew it would be wonderful for us, with a little work. What changes or renovations have you carried out prior to renovating this bathroom? The girls’ bedrooms were purple and pink and the kitchen was butter yellow. Three days after we moved in, a very kind friend came over and painted all three…

Welcome spring into your home with these lovely homemade cleaners. Making the switch to all-natural cleaning might seem like a lot of fuss, but it’s really simple. The ingredients are cost-effective and easy to find at most organic/health stores (or through online soap-making and aromatherapy stores), not to mention gentler on our environment. My favourite recipe is for this zippy all-purpose spray which will leave surfaces sparkling and your home smelling delightful, plus the addition of citrus essential oils helps to lift your mood. I guarantee that once you make your own, you’ll never buy store-bought again! CITRUS ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY 2 tsp liquid Castile soap (I use Dr Bronner’s) 10 drops wild orange essential oil 10 drops lemon essential oil 10 drops peppermint essential oil Put all ingredients in a…

Chick magnet Flower gardens are beautiful to look at, of course, but they don’t just belong to us – the pollen and nectar found in flowers is crucial for birds, bees and insects too. Attracting fauna to your garden will give you joy, as well as contributing to a healthier environment, so add a bird bath or bird feeder to your patch and plant lots of yellow, orange, purple and blue flowers to attract bees. Turn the page for inspiration in the form of a huge, traditional flower garden that’s infused with heart and soul.…

Gardening can be confusing for beginners. From pruning and making compost, to tying up broad beans and deadheading roses, there’s a seemingly endless list of things to do at different times of year. Some newbie gardeners find it hard to know where to begin, but making sure you have the right gardening tools is the obvious first step. There are many different tools to choose from and deciding what’s best for you will depend on your garden’s size and the time and ability you have to work in it. To get you started we’ve compiled our list of the essential tools every gardener should have in their shed. When you buy, try not to skimp on quality – well-made tools always pay for themselves in the long run. HAND TOOLS…

TRENDING ON HOMESTOLOVE.CO.NZ Tips for decorating with dark colours from those with first-hand experience TOP POST ON INSTAGRAM The open shelves, the vertical tiles, the handles… there is a lot to admire in this kitchen INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS WE’RE LOVING NEWSLETTER Sign up to our newsletter and get a weekly dose of inspiration straight to your inbox. Visit yourhomeandgarden.co.nz/signup. PET OF THE MONTH Now sadly departed to doggy heaven, Buddy the Labrador was much beloved by her family. “She was the best dog, so loving; she’d sleep under the covers with us every night. She was amazing with kids – she loved our boys and they loved her,” says Jane Murray. See Buddy’s beautiful New Plymouth home on page 54. INSTAGRAM We love seeing images from our #yourhomeandgarden community.…

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MEET + GREET Celene Busher-Nepia, 34 (interior designer and stylist at Celene Interiors), Darnell Nepia, 36 (account manager), Kaelan, 6, Aria, 4, and Goldie, 20 months. It’s not unusual for strangers to drive up Celene Busher-Nepia and Darnell Nepia’s north Auckland driveway to knock on the door and pepper them with questions about their big, black, steel-clad home. “This house is an attention-seeker, that’s for sure,” laughs Celene. “I’ve also had people message me through Instagram to ask about our build or even to say that our home inspired them to build a black A-frame, which is amazing.” For interior designer Celene, this is the best sort of feedback. But she didn’t set out to start a trend when she and Darnell began their house build in 2015 – she…

MARGRETE’S STYLE INSIGHTS + The colours on the living room walls are something I often change – it reflects my mood. They have been all possible shades of blue and pink. + Often decor can become very adult but I think it’s nice to allow some room for play and humour in interior design. I like to include slightly quirky elements such as our Vertigo pendant, which is totally over the top and reminiscent of a big hat (in fact, we use the same word for ‘lamp’ as we do for ‘hat’ in Denmark). Lights like this give an Alice in Wonderland feeling that I love. + The best thing of all is when our guests say that our house has such a homely feeling – then I feel good,…

1 BACKGROUND When Jane and Bryan Smith’s family of four began to outgrow their bungalow in the Auckland suburb of New Lynn, they set their sights on Titirangi, a bushclad suburb further west in the foothills of the Waitakere Ranges. “Since moving to Auckland from the US in 2008, we’ve loved Titirangi,” says Jane. “The village, the bush, the views out to the Manukau Harbour, and its closeness to the Waitakeres. When we went looking for a bigger house, we zeroed in on Titirangi.” A particular home caught Bryan’s eye online and he knew instinctively that the house would be theirs. “If this place is half as cool as it looks, I think we’re going to have to buy it,” he remembers saying at the time. With a lifelong love…

How do I inject a bit of personality into my roof? For many designs, the roof is a visual aspect that has a strong impact on kerb appeal. Colour is the obvious way to make a statement and COLORSTEEL® also offers a matte range for a more refined aesthetic. There are also many different profile options, eg tray, trapezoidal and corrugate, which can add interesting lines and different effects. What are the latest looks and exciting developments in roofs? I’m loving the new COLORSTEEL® Matte range, which creates an elegant effect using an innovative new paint technology specially designed for a soft, textured look. Another product that is especially relevant at this time of year is COLORSTEEL® Dridex®, a roofing solution that delivers superior condensation absorption and allows for better…

KITCHENS It’s happened slowly but surely – the kitchen is now the star of our living spaces. What was once a utilitarian room hidden on the fringes of the house has morphed into entertainment central, basking in the limelight of family life. This transition to truly open-plan living has meant that it’s more important than ever for kitchens to blend in seamlessly with the rest of your living area, creating a sense of continuity that makes them feel fully integrated. Whether you’re planning a total renovation, or just want to make some tweaks, there are a few key considerations which will make your design decisions easy. HERE ARE OUR FIVE KEY DESIGN POINTS WHEN CREATING OR UPDATING A KITCHEN: 1 SOPHISTICATION We all know the value of having a chic…

Keeping our homes organised and free of clutter is a struggle for many of us. Creating good habits is the key to having an organised home so you can relax and enjoy it rather than feeling overwhelmed by mountains of paper, wardrobes full of abandoned toys and the mess of everyday life. These 10 bulletproof habits are tried and tested by me and, if you can put them in place and keep practising them, they’ll help you calm your clutter once and for all. 1 MAKE YOUR BED EVERY DAY This should be one of the first tasks you complete each morning. If you manage this one, you’ll find it leads to other good habits and sets the tone for the entire day. Think about how peaceful a hotel room…

For working mother-of-two Kath Gola it’s so important to regularly get back to basics. She simply loves to share her passion for food and nature with her husband and sons, and together they’ve formed a fun-loving and efficient eco-friendly team. In the future she’d love to get chickens and an electric car, but for now, the little things are all adding up. Here, she shares her top tips. KATH’S TIPS 1 START FROM SCRATCH “I’m at my happiest when I’m making and creating. Most recently I made pizza sauce and homemade pizzas, and cooked them in the pizza oven my husband built. It was great for the kids to learn about where their food comes from, as well as the value of hard work. Next time I’ll get out the…

BEAUTIFUL BEDROOMS FOR LITTLE DREAMERS Let your imagination run wild with freedom’s new kids’ range. With six different looks, freedom make is easy to pull together a stylish and playful kids’ bedroom, for any imagination, that your little ones will love now and in years to come. In-store and online at freedomfurniture.co.nz. ADORN YOUR SPACE Artist Ema Frost is a creator of beautiful art objects and specialises in limited-edition prints, resin, ceramics, jewellery and more. Featured here is one of Ema’s classic prints, ‘Little Warrior Girl’ (RRP $525 framed) accompanied by her quirky ceramic pieces.emafrost.co.nz GENTLE HANDS Worried about how to wash your delicates? Ecostore Wool & Delicates is perfect for washing delicate fabrics gently, yet thoroughly, including lace, merino and silk as well as black garments and baby clothes.…

EDITOR Katie Newton ART & EDITORIAL Deputy editor Sally Conor Chief sub editor Stephanie Attwater Art director Fiona Kerr Style director Catherine Wilkinson Gardens editor Carol Bucknell DIGITAL Digital editor Lakshmi Krishnasamy Digital producers Bea Taylor, Olivia Day CONTRIBUTORS Helen Bankers, Anitta Behrendt, Florence Charvin, Sarah Ellison, Pippa Fay, Wendy Fenwick, Lynden Foss, Debbie Harrison, Tom Hollow, Angie Humphreys, Natalie Jane, Eve Kennedy, Claire Mossong, Todd Neal, Juliet Nicholas, Vanessa Nouwens, Pia Olsen, Eleanor Ozich, Alice and Caleb Pearson, Fiona Ralph, Sarah Rowlands, Tina Stephen, Sharon Stephenson, The Virtue, Melle van Sambeek, Liv Wakem PRODUCTION Production co-ordinator Lorne Kay Printer Webstar Distributor Ovato Retail Distribution ADVERTISING | MARKETING | CORPORATE Commercial director Kaylene Hurley Group sales director – directs/Australia Rachel McLean Head of brand – commercial Anna Magasiva Commercial brand…

How did your career begin? I started my career in London, working on a wonderful weekly architectural magazine called The Architect’s Journal. I started as a secretary to the editor and worked my way into an editorial job. I loved it all: the subject, the quirky, interesting people I worked with, the lovely Georgian buildings in St James’s Park where our offices were. I became assistant features editor and my boss, a lovely man called Dan Cruickshank, was an expert on architectural history and would walk around London detailing the history and merits of each building we passed. I learned a lot about architecture and he helped me develop my writing skills. Did you know you wanted to be a writer? What was your inspiration? I knew when I left…

TOP STYLING TIPS + Celene: Always anchor your bed with a headboard, a large piece of artwork above the bed or a feature wall. Then add cushions – I use two euros at the back, two standard pillows, and one or two small cushions at the front. + When styling a living area, find your focal point, whether it’s a fireplace, a large piece of artwork or an oversized mirror. Style your room around this. I love using occasional chairs in living rooms because they enable the flow of conversation as well as allowing easy movement through the space. + Make sure colourful soft furnishings relate to something else in the room, such as the drapery, wallpaper or an artwork. If you want to keep your furnishings neutral, add interest…

MEET + GREET  Jane Murray, 37 (stay-at-home mum), Marc Murray, 37 (engineer), Arlo, 6, and Herbie, 3, plus Buddy the Labrador. If there were a crown for New Zealand’s Best Bargain Hunter, it would belong on Jane Murray’s head. Not only is this stay-at-home mum an expert at upcycling and recycling, she’s also got a knack for finding super-stylish items on sale. It’s a skill that came in handy when Jane and husband Marc built their house in Whalers Gate, a new subdivision in New Plymouth. “When you’re on a limited budget, you have to get clever about doing things,” says Jane. The couple are no strangers to renovation, having previously done up a villa in Dunedin (where Jane is from) and a 1980s house in New Plymouth after Marc’s…

HONESTY BOX + What do you love about this home? Emma: The history it brings with it. We genuinely feel we are custodians of this beautiful home and hope the original builders/owners, Oscar and Agnes Janett, would approve of what we’ve done to the old dame. + Best lessons learned? Trust your vision and go with your instincts – sometimes the house and gardens are really speaking to you. + What’s one thing you would change about the home if you could? We’d love to add another ensuite, so that each bedroom would have its own bathroom. + How do you find the experience of hosting people? We love it. Guests are in holiday mode so are in great form (mostly!) and that’s infectious. + Most memorable experience you’ve had…

FINISHES Kitchen floor Sequoia tiles in red cherry from Tile Depot Exterior Resene ‘Triple Masala’ Kitchen walls Victoria tiles in white gloss from Tile Depot Bunk beds Dulux ‘Goat Island’ Interior walls Dulux ‘Mt Aspiring’; trim in Dulux ‘New Brighton’ FLOOR PLAN KEY 1 Entry 2 Toilet 3 Bathroom 4 Bedroom 5 Office 6 Deck 7 Family 8 Dining 9 Kitchen 10 Lounge 11 Master bedroom 12 Ensuite 13 Wardrobe 14 Storage 15 Carport 16 Shed TIMELINE MAY 2016 Moved in. AUGUST/SEPT 2016 Installed heat pumps and shed. FEBRUARY 2018 Started renovating the kitchen. MAY 2018 Kitchen finished. HONESTY BOX + Best lesson learned? Jane: It can take time to find good tradies, but taking that time is well worth it in the end. When we moved into the house,…

After completing a traditional villa renovation in Auckland in 2001, Rachael and Kip Matterson moved south to the Waikato, where Kip grew up. While the perfect home eluded them for over a decade, the couple had time to work out what they wanted. “It needed to meet our needs throughout the various stages of our lives,” says Rachael. “We wanted a forever home.” The design was inspired by piazzas in Rome and ancient caravanserai on the old Silk Road, lofty ideals for a slice of farmland that also needed to be merged with the Mattersons’ desire for an energy-efficient, eco-friendly home. 1 SUSTAINABILITY The design brief was fulfilled with a central courtyard, snug internal spaces and a central living space with large windows and doors on the north and south…

It’s official – you’re now a homeowner! Congratulations for making it onto the property ladder. If this is your first house purchase it might not be your dream home just yet, but with a bit of imagination, Kiwi ingenuity and elbow grease you can transform it over time into a home that proudly showcases your unique style. If renovating will play an important role in turning your home into your dream home, you’ll be looking for ways to fund your refurbishments (obviously you’re too late to apply for this season of The Block NZ!). And the good news is you can often get that little bit extra you need from your current home loan. With a home loan top-up, you’ll get a lower interest rate than you’d get from a…

If you love the colours and patterns found in nature and want your interior to bloom beautifully year-round, introducing floral patterns to your home is an easy decision. The only hard part is choosing between the many flower-strewn textiles, wallpapers, accessories and artwork now available. Flowery motifs have left the safety of Nana’s front room and rambled their way onto a wide range of stunning contemporary prints and patterns. Moody, dark, vintage florals – large-scale, luscious and full-blown – suit both contemporary and older homes; while nostalgic 1970s-style daisies and simple flower shapes rendered in earthy tones are also having a moment (see page 26 for more on this trend). There are numerous ways to incorporate florals, the key is getting the balance right with your existing decor. If you…

YOU WILL NEED + 2 pieces of 1900mm x 600mm x 18mm MDF (if you wish, you can use slightly thinner MDF to make screen lighter and easier to move) + 1 piece of 2100mm x 600mm x 18mm MDF + Pencil, string, drawing pin + Hand-held jigsaw + Sandpaper + Paint roller and tray + Paintbrush for edges + Paint in colour of your choice + 4 hinges + 1 packet screws (for hinges) + Screwdriver INSTRUCTIONS 1. Tie 600mm length of string round a pencil. Measure 600mm down 1 side of an MDF board (measuring from top) and fix loose end of string to that spot with a drawing pin. Tighten string and draw a curve from top corner to the other side. Repeat on other boards. 2.…

Vintage furniture can sometimes need a little TLC before it’s displayed in your home, and pieces you’ve had for a while may also be ready for a spring clean. A quick wipe-down or wash will suffice for some things, but how do you tackle those harder-to-clean items? CANE Cane chairs, tables, shelves and bedheads, with their small crevices, can be dust magnets. Fortunately, you can remove dust with a feather duster, or a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, and use an old toothbrush for hard-to-reach areas. To get rid of dirt, most items can be wiped down with a damp cloth, and stains tackled with a soft-bristled brush dipped in a mix of gentle dishwashing liquid and warm water. Make sure not to leave your cane furniture wet after…

“I love putting together new colour combinations and textures, foraging around the garden and experimenting with what I can find” Top tips for fresher flowers 1 CARRY ON CUTTING Keep cutting back the stems of your flowers to extend their life. Make the first cut an inch or two from the bottom of the stem. 2 HANDLE THE ANGLE Use sharp scissors to cut stems diagonally and create a larger surface area through which the flower can draw water. 3 FIND YOUR PLACE Place flowers in a cool spot out of direct sunlight to prolong their life, but also somewhere you can gaze at their beauty. 4 KEEP IT FRESH Replace vase water about twice a week or when it starts to look discoloured. Adding bleach or sugar won’t make…

NOTEBOOK Give a notebook a luxe makeover by adding a velvet cover. Open up the notebook and measure the total width and length then add an extra 8cm to both measurements. Cut your velvet to this size and lay right side down. Place the open notebook on top, fold fabric over edges of notebook and glue to inside cover with clear craft glue. At the corners, cut fabric on an angle to get a flat finish. Trim velvet at either end of spine. SHOPPER BAG Take an 88cm x 54cm piece of velvet and sew a 4cm hem along the top (long edge). Fold in half, right sides together, making a bag 44cm x 50cm. Sew along bottom and side. Cut 2 x 80cm lengths of canvas heading tape (38mm…