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Five tips for building or renovating by the sea

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This recently renovated home in stunning Waiheke ticks all the boxes when it comes to coastal living. A sturdy weatherboard home, a stunning view of the ocean, a pool and plenty of living spaces. After supplying the lucky owners with new Marley Stormcloud® spouting and RP80® downpipes in white, we picked their brains for five tips to having a great coastal home and here they are.

1. Make the outdoor living space a priority

Think about including some functional and inclusive outdoor areas. These will become the centre of any party as you cook or enjoy them. Some ideas might be:

  • An Argentine fire
  • A pizza oven
  • Outdoor kitchen
  • A pool
  • Nooks and chill spots
  • A games area with darts, or pétanque
  • An outdoor dining area
  • A gazebo

  • Having a spot for outdoor dining is essential at a coastal getaway. Just make sure to break up any direct sun so that it’s not too hot during the day.
  • Build these spots for an ideal number, most likely 6 or 8 so they are intimate yet functional. You can use plants and planters to close in spaces to make them cosy.
  • Outdoor fires are mostly illegal now, but if they are a cooking tool, like a pizza oven, councils will often allow them.

  • If you’re lucky enough to have (or fit in) a pool, it’s important to make it blend in with the surroundings. For example, their pool utilises stone from Waiheke helping it blend into the natural rock surroundings.

2. Salt and rust are your enemy

It’s essential that you use durable materials that are rust resistant. This includes stainless steel, powder coated aluminium and uPVC.

  • Marley Stormcloud® spouting and RP80® downpipes are perfect for coastal environments as they are made of long-lasting uPVC which is UV resistant and has a 15-year guarantee.
  • Did you know that the quarter-round Stormcloud® profile is New Zealand’s most popular spouting style?
  • It has clean, strong lines that suits both traditional and contemporary homes.
  • It’s available in white and also Black, Grey Friars® and Ironsand®

3. Think about flooding / storms

Even if your house is well above the tide, you need to make sure everything else is elevated above the possible storm-induced highwater mark.

  • This home is north facing and in recent years they’ve had a dramatic increase in coastal northerly storms with heavy rain. This has prompted them to invest in better-than-adequate drainage to avoid any future flooding.
  • If you do have an area that may be prone to flooding think about practical flooring and emergency drainage (a sump for instance).

4. Frame the view

Think about framing the view, not dominating it. Do it in a way that uses the view as nature’s artwork. This allows you to enjoy the view from many places in your home.

  • White floors, walls and doors allow the view to do the work. Avoid using a lot of colours which will compete with the view.
  • A simple interior with a range of natural timbers, tones and textures will work in harmony with a coastal view.

5. Build an escape from the view

Believe it or not, you will need a break from the sunning sea views once in a while!

  • Build sheltered, shaded inward-looking spaces to occasionally escape from the view.
  • A nook that is dark enough for TV watching during the day allows for a cool escape from the sun.

If that isn’t enough to make you dream of a coastal house for now, or possibly retirement, nothing will!

And if you would like to find out more about Marley Stormcloud® spouting click here.

Or more about the Stratus Design Series® range of colours click here.

Road trip to Richmond

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Though they had never been to Nelson before – when purchasing their next renovation here, Alice and Caleb were confident that this location would be well worth the road trip! When they were scouting out Nelson, anyone who spoke about the location had the same response – people loved it.  Nelson is known as a town surrounded by stunning natural landscapes – lakes, mountains, rivers, native bush, beaches and promising plenty of sunshine. With a pace that is slow enough to enjoy the simple things in life – strolls along the many beaches, backyard BBQs with neighbours and a good flat white at your local. But a growing and developing town, with plenty of thriving local businesses and an easy place to fly in and out of.

A 100-Year-Old Diamond

From the first time they spotted this house’s listing, it stood out. Built by a local builder in 1910’s, it was full of potential – a flat faced villa with a central hallway, high studs, and the lean-to extensions added over her 100-year life. Three roomy bedrooms and an airy front living room, with the kitchen and dining room opening onto a big outside area, screaming for some attention and the chance to create some great outside living spaces. From the front veranda, you can look out to the Richmond Hills and enjoy all-day sun.

Living in a Renovation

Alice and Caleb, along with their two children Alek 5 and Mika 3 moved in and started renovating. The strategy was to renovate two rooms at a time containing all of the renovation mess into one place. It allowed them to be productive, in seeing a whole room was completed before moving on to the next project. The huge benefit in this approach is having time to live in the house and consider the flow and feeling of the house. Knowing how you live in a house, makes it easier to design and renovate.

Old World – New World

Alice and Caleb consider it a true privilege to be able to give new life to a house with so much history. The design and workmanship of the last century is still impressive today, so the objective is to add elements that enhance the features of the old villa while still giving it a fresh modern look. Wallpaper provided the perfect way to do this, using patterns that were inspired by the trends of the past but designed to be on trend in 21st century.

First Impressions Last

The entrance to their Diamond was an opportunity to add a design statement and make a strong first impression of the house. They painted the exterior “Umber White”, the trims and fretwork “All Black”, the concrete porch and roof “Grey Friars” and the front door a strong pop of “Coral Tree”. Then they replaced all of the spouting with Marley Stormcloud® spouting and RP80® downpipes in white. The versatile quarter-round spouting profile with clean, strong lines suits the traditional exterior but also gives a modern look. Not to mention, it will serve this old beauty well into the future!

We have people in the neighbourhood constantly stopping us to thank us for giving the villa it’s new look, it has made an impression and a nice exterior doesn’t just impact your house but the whole street.

Full Time Renovators

After years of doing renovations in weekends and weeknights – this house has been renovated with Alice and Caleb’s full attention and DIY skill set. Alice single-handily hung most of the wallpaper in the house and took charge of the interior design and planning. Caleb has developed his DIY skill set, to now include cabinetry making, kitchen installation, tiling, floor sanding and installing new spouting and downpipes. Caleb says

replacing the spouting for your whole house is easily achieved in a weekend and is a straightforward DIY task with the correct planning and tools.

To watch Alice and Caleb’s how to video – click here.

This house has been renovated to sell, but also renovated to last. With the new uPVC spouting and downpipes, upgrade to the electrics, addition of gas for water heating and cooking, unovent system, heat pump and floor and ceiling insulation – Alice and Caleb hope this house has another 100 years of life in her yet!

About Alice and Caleb

Alice and Caleb are expert renovators, having completed 9 house renovations – with their winning renovation on the Block 2013 being what they are most known for. They started 9 years ago when they purchased their first home together, with a project on their hands and no DIY experience. But since then their passion for projects, property and learning has only grown.

Alice and Caleb are currently in the middle of their Renovation Road Trip. Having left their jobs, packed everything into a car, they set off to travel around NZ doing renovations. The concept being that they are taking time off from normal life to do something completely different. Buying a house that needs a makeover in a completely new town, travelling the country to get there, renovating it, selling it, and sharing the story and their life as they go – all the time with 2 kids on board for this adventure. They have finished up their previous project in Alexandra, Central Otago, and this is their 10th renovation in Richmond, Nelson. They share this journey through their website and social media channels, Pearson + Projects.

Social Accounts
Facebook @AliceandCaleb
Instagram @PearsonandProjects
Pinterest @PearsonProjects
Website www.pearsonandprojects.com

Mooch Style’s St Albans Cottage

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It’s amazing what a little imagination can do
And when you have lots of imagination, the sky’s the limit. When Shayden and Georgia found their little, 96 square metre cottage among the villas of St Albans, Christchurch, they could see its potential. Even though it had been battered and bruised by the earthquakes it stood out as a survivor. Armed initially with just cleaning and paint brushes, plus lots of energy and ideas, Shayden and Georgia gradually transformed the house into what it is today.

DIY is aok

As they didn’t have a big budget, they made do with heaps of can-do attitude and a creative eye for colour. Shayden and Georgia immediately went to work and made liberal use of Resene Black White throughout. This instantly added freshness and light to the interior. Then for contrast, they added strong coloured feature walls in their bedrooms and living area to create drama and interest.

They discovered ways to recycle what was already there. For instance, the old rimu skirting boards found a new life as shelving in the master bedroom and kitchen. Original features such as the oversized architraves were retained if they added to the character of the house, otherwise the look they were after was simple, elegant and contemporary.

Getting a bigger bang for a buck

The old kitchen was well past its use by date but rather than designing a new one from scratch Shayden and Georgia simply went to Placemakers. Their off-the- shelf kitchen delivers everything they wanted in terms of style and practicality yet saved them considerable money compared to a custom-made kitchen.

The old gem already had Marley Classic™ spouting and RP80® downpipes like many of the traditional style homes in the area. Shayden and Georgia were happy about this as it suited the house perfectly, and it was made of uPVC, which meant it would still have many years left of life, and they were able to repair any damaged portions themselves. Whether repairing, or replacing, Marley uPVC spouting is easy to handle, easy to cut, and simply glues together.

Early adopters

Shayden and Georgia have also installed Marley Twist®, a compact rainwater diverter that turns your downpipe into a free source of water for watering the garden, topping up the pool, general cleaning or emergency use.

Twist® can be easily installed on existing or new RP80® uPVC downpipes and can quick connect to a collection tank via any standard garden hose fitting. A simple “twist” on-off control lets you access rainwater from your downpipe as and when you need it. Twist is designed to connect a single downpipe to a small collection tank of up to 1,000 litres.

It’s a work in progress

What Shayden and Georgia have done in just 6 months is truly impressive, but there’s still a way to go. All the new lawns and planting on the 680 square metre section need time to bed in and mature. There’s a new bathroom in the planning stages, and who knows what’s in store for the backyard. To keep an eye on their progress you can check Mooch Style out online anytime: Facebook or Instagram.

Mangawhai

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Colin and Wendy find purity in white

When Colin and Wendy planned a house to replace their old 1950s Mangawhai Heads bach, they had a very clear vision from the outset. The new house would be pure white. Or Resene Black White, to be precise. Crisp, elegant and beautifully detailed, the house borrowed architectural references from both the coastal homes of the Mediterranean, as well as classic New Zealand houses. With its large eaves, gabled form, verandahs, and corrugated iron roof, the house sits perched in a stunning location looking out over the estuary, sand dunes and ocean.

The only colour on the exterior is a flash of lime green on the front door, in Resene Wellywood. The window joinery is white; even the spouting and downpipes are a Kiwi favourite – Marley Typhoon® spouting and Marley RP80® downpipes in white.

The couple’s love of white continues inside, the walls and ceilings painted in Resene Half Black White. Much of the furniture is black and the colour accents in the décor are lime green, orange and aqua.

One room of the house where colour is celebrated – the owner’s purpose-designed art studio. See www.wendyleach.com for more information.

How did the build go and what where the challenges?

It was quite a technical build as the house has essentially been built on a sand dune. The retaining walls and piles involved some serious engineering. We had to consider the coastal environment too, so choosing exterior components like the white spouting which won’t corrode or degrade from the salt air, was important. It also has a profile that’s clean-lined so suits the house. We also used Resene X-200 on the offset concrete block cladding, which is a thick paint known for its protective and water-proofing qualities.

What part of the house are you most happy with and why?

We love the whole package but we are particularly pleased with:

  • The view right through the house from the pool out to sea. Also from the front door through the house out to sea.
  • The white kitchen, which has a five-metre island bench and a scullery. The splashback features Wendy’s painting ‘Kuaotunu’ printed on the back of the glass. It is dynamic and monochromatic.
  • The bathrooms, and the master ensuite in particular which we designed with two quite separate vanities.
  • The vaulted ceilings in the main upstairs living area, master bedroom and Wendy’s studio which also features internal and external floor-to-ceiling windows.

Have a comprehensive vision of what you want. Don’t compromise. Collaborate with the right design and trades people.

What is your advice for somebody trying to achieve a similar look?

Have a comprehensive vision of what you want. Don’t compromise. Collaborate with the right design and trades people. Understand the cost and time drivers of the project to ensure you enjoy the build and to avoid any surprises or disappointments. We worked in collaboration with architectural designer, Martin Harnish, from Warkworth, on the design elements of the structure.

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