Durham | Before + Afters

December 6, 2021

Sometimes a client will come to us for a colour consult, which then organically grows into a much bigger project. That’s what happened when we worked on this super cool home by Don Pitt Design. Our clients, Dana and Maia, with their two gorgeous kids (one who arrived mid way through this project), wanted their home to be calm and restorative. It had to be practical for their family that includes two dogs as well as the two kids, welcoming to their friends and whanau who they like to entertain, and a sanctuary to retreat to after a busy day.

Once we had selected paint colours for outside and in, Dana came to us for help choosing rugs and coffee tables for the two living areas. The existing sofa in one living area wasn’t proving very practical either, so we chose a custom sofa that would suit the style of the house and covered it in an amazing fabric with a built-in stain resistant technology. We then added custom made Bibby + Brady cushions.

We love the concrete fire surround and window ledge that Don Pitt designed. It creates a divide between the two living areas, helping to zone them, and the window ledge doubles as a place to perch. The Samsung “The Frame” TV sits nicely to the side of the fireplace, looking like a piece of art when not in use.

The oak dining table and black stained chairs have strong, clean lines with subtle design detail that complement the home

Dana and Maia had chosen the two sofas in the second living room and they still looked great, but the rug was very similar in colour, so we moved that to one of the bedrooms and replaced it with a rug that introduced a subtle pattern and contrast. We added a custom made round ottoman to nestle with the oak coffee table we’d chosen, and made some more custom cushions. We even sourced some pieces that look great but are child-friendly, as the ottoman and coffee table are at the perfect height for toddlers.

The little powder room was designed by Don Pitt, but we sourced some accessories to take it to the next level. The little in-set wooden shelf is the perfect place for a few “pretties”.

The hallway leading to the bedrooms is one of our favourite features in the home. One side of the hall has large floor to ceiling windows to let in light and give it a luxurious, spacial feel. The other side has large floor to ceiling sliding doors to each bedroom that can be left open, or closed for privacy and quiet. The doors are such a beautiful, dramatic feature - open or closed.

We had beautiful linen curtains made for the bedrooms that hung from an almost invisible track in the ceiling. In the primary bedroom they wrapped around one corner for additional texture and softness. We designed each bedroom and wanted the primary bedroom to feel extra special, creating that luxury retreat for the hard-working parents.

Dana had already chosen the duvet cover, but we elevated the room by adding the custom made headboard that we designed, along with a linen quilt, Euro pillows, a Bibby + Brady lumbar cushion, oak bedsides, elegant lamps, the oak bench seat, and a stunning piece of art by Rakai Karaitiana.

The middle bedroom needed to be flexible so that most of the time it was a child’s bedroom, but sometimes the two single beds could be pushed together to make a king bed for guests.

There’s a built-in wardrobe on one side of the room but additional drawers were needed. To keep it clean and cohesive we matched the tallboy to the bedside table, and added height to the table with a bedside lamp in mossy green. The print on the wall is another favourite by Rakai Karaitiana.

The last bedroom needed a solution for when the children were sharing the room, so we added the cutest set of bunk beds leaving room for a large bookshelf and some room to play.

We chose white wooden shutters for the narrow, high window. They look clean and smart, let plenty of light in but can also be closed up tight at bedtime.

Thank you so much Dana and Maia for allowing us to share your amazing home, and for being the coolest clients ever! You were a pleasure to work with, we know you love your home as much as we do, and we hope you have many, many happy days in it.

Favourite Space | Marilyn Perko

July 5, 2019

It’s time for another of our ‘Favourite Space’ blog posts. We get to meet so many fabulous and talented people in our job, and when we see an interior that is really special and a true reflection of its owner, we just want to share it with you. Marilyn is a client of ours and was kind enough to allow us to photograph her home and share a bit of her journey with us.

Marilyn in her living room, which for some time during the renovation was her bedroom | photo: Florence Charvin — *Marilyn in her living room, which for some time during the renovation was her bedroom | photo:* *Florence Charvin*

Before we get to Marilyn’s story though, I wanted to tell you a bit about our relationship with her. The way we worked with her is not our usual process. Normally, with a renovation like hers we are a lot more hands-on, but we quickly learnt how capable Marilyn was with managing her own renovation. A long-term Piha resident, upon arriving in Hawke’s Bay she came to us for advice on colours and fabrics, and we helped her choose, make and install all of her curtains and wooden shutters; we purchased her wallpaper for her bedroom study, bedlinen, and a lot of fabric for countless beautiful cushions and squabs we had custom made. We worked with Marilyn on an hourly rate for design advice and whenever something arose that she needed a second opinion on, she’d pop in to see us. We have the utmost admiration for how she handled her renovation (which we know can be a stressful experience) and for the beautiful home that she has created for herself. Marilyn, you’re a star, and now over to you…

We supplied fabric for curtains, window squab, cushions & furniture | photo: Florence Charvin — *We supplied fabric for curtains, window squab, cushions & furniture | photo:* *Florence Charvin*

About your renovation:

B+B: How long did you live in Piha, and what made you choose Napier to relocate?

I lived in Piha for 21 years, it was my retreat from the world of work. I decided to retire in 2017 and I knew it was time for a move, much as I loved Piha I wanted to be closer to amenities, theatres, galleries. I initially looked at inner city properties but the escalating real estate prices in Auckland put that out of reach and I wasn’t quite ready for apartment life. So I set about looking out of Auckland, my check list was to be near the sea, walking distance to shops, not too far from an airport and room for visiting friends and family. North of Auckland was a contender and no further South than Hawke’s Bay or New Plymouth.

A beautiful side table spied by Marilyn and sourced by Bibby + Brady | photo: Florence Charvin — *A beautiful side table spied by Marilyn and sourced by Bibby + Brady* *| photo:* *Florence Charvin*

B+B: Did it take you long to find your Napier home?

I spent some time checking out a number of areas but I was drawn to Hawke’s Bay. I narrowed my search to Napier and, as I hadn’t been there for some time, I flew down one weekend just to look around. Or so I thought - I ended up putting in an offer on a 1920’s bungalow on the hill, and that was the end of my search! I have renovated several times and I knew this property needed serious work but I feel in love with the view, I could hear the sound of the waves, it was close to Napier City and less than 10 minutes to the airport. All my boxes ticked! Something I didn’t expect living so close to the city was the bird life; Tuis, Bellbirds and Kereru.

Marilyn’s living room with views over Napier and out to Cape Kidnappers | photo: Florence Charvin — *Marilyn’s living room with views over Napier and out to Cape Kidnappers | photo:* *Florence Charvin*

B+B: What is your favourite space in the house, now that it’s all finished?

It has to be my bedroom area with ensuite, walk in wardrobe, study nook and view of sea and city. I just love the wallpaper, an indulgent Designer Guild feature wall in the study nook, expertly papered by Claire Condon.

We had beautiful wooden shutters installed in Marilyn’s bedroom | photo: Florence Charvin — *We had beautiful wooden shutters installed in Marilyn’s bedroom | photo:* *Florence Charvin*

B+B: What were the highlights and lowlights of your renovation?

The completed renovation took 10 months and with old houses there are always surprises (and there were a few), but I was fortunate to have a wonderful builder, "Wayne Reid Builders", and a band of exceptional tradies. An Auckland friend put me in contact with his friends in Napier who had recently completed renovations and they passed on all their contacts. The difficult part for me was living around the renovation, moving from room to room, no laundry or kitchen, inadequate heating…...I’ve been down this path before but it does get more challenging with age, however I am thrilled with the end result. A big thank you to Dael and Vic who have been there to give advice on colours and furnishings, and for their never ending enthusiasm for my project.

We sourced the Designers Guild wallpaper from our friends at Icon Textiles | photo: Florence Charvin — *We sourced the Designers Guild wallpaper from our friends at Icon Textiles | photo:* *Florence Charvin*

B+B: Do you have any advice for others undergoing their own renovation?

Take your time to find a builder, someone who sees your vision, and if you require Council consents/plans include your builder at the planning stage if you can. You must be well organised, living on site was an advantage as often quick decisions need to be made, but most importantly keep a detailed account of what you are spending.

Beautiful linen curtains over French doors seperate the inside & outside dining areas | photo: Florence Charvin — *Beautiful linen curtains over French doors seperate the inside & outside dining areas | photo:* *Florence Charvin*

Getting to know you better:

B+B: What’s your favourite time of day?

Dusk, the fading light as the sun disappears and the city lights begin to twinkle. A time for quiet contemplation and a glass of wine.

B+B: Who or what inspires you?

I’m inspired by the generosity and kindness of those who give to their communities. The hours and hours of voluntary time caring for the young, our precious environment, the disabled and elderly.

Marilyn’s love of art is evident in her kitchen and dining area | photo: Florence Charvin — *Marilyn’s love of art is evident in her kitchen and dining area | photo:* *Florence Charvin*

B+B: What are you reading/listening to right now?

One of the first things I did when I moved to Napier was to find a book club, at the moment we are reading “The Forest of Wool and Steel” written by Japanese writer Natsu Miyashita. I’ve just finished reading “Drive your Plow over the Bones of the Dead” - hard to pin point the genre but described as ‘a meditation on human compassion and a murder mystery’. With the longer nights I enjoy listening to my Jazz collection.

Marilyn brought these tiles into us for our approval. We love them, of course | photo: Florence Charvin — *Marilyn brought these tiles into us for our approval. We love them, of course | photo:* *Florence Charvin*

B+B: Sweet or savoury?

Definitely savoury.

B+B: Favourite drink?

Depending on the occasion - Celebrate with Champagne, Martinborough Pinot Noir and a single malt by the fire.

The dining table is one of our favourites in recycled oak | photo: Florence Charvin — *The dining table is one of our favourites in recycled oak | photo:* *Florence Charvin*

B+B: Favourite thing you own?

My painting by Dean Buchanan is a favourite and I have it in my lounge, I never tire of looking at it. Dean lives in Karekare just over the hill from Piha, the painting is of Cathedral Cave at Mercer Bay. I bought it from Dean’s studio in Karekare and he told me how he would climb down to the cave to get mussels.

The painting by Dean Buchanan is very special to Marilyn and reflects colours found in the living room | photo: Florence Charvin

B+B: Do you have any future plans for your home?

Scaffolding and building clutter took its toll on the garden, so I've been busy outside. I’m looking forward to Spring! I'm also toying with the idea of developing a studio/bedsit under the house.

Accents of black in the dining room add a touch of depth | photo: Florence Charvin — *Accents of black in the dining room add a touch of depth | photo:* *Florence Charvin*

Thank you so much Marilyn for letting us be a part of your renovation story, for allowing us to share your home with our readers, and for the celebratory champagne on the deck ;)

Jen Sievers | Artist

February 3, 2016

It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to my old mate, Jen Sievers. Jen and I worked together in a design and marketing firm back in the day. I knew she was a super talented graphic designer, but what I've recently discovered is that she is an amazing artist too.

From a young age Jen always loved to paint and draw. She started her career with a fine arts degree, and went on to work for 15 years as a graphic designer. Jen's 'Big Magic' moment happened when she and her husband moved out to a semi-rural house in the foothills of the Waitakeres. It was spring time and the beauty of her surroundings inspired Jen to pick up her paintbrush again. Working four days a week as a designer, Jen spends as much time as possible in her studio on Friday through Sunday, and in the evenings (when she's not chasing her beautiful wee toddler around).

Jen paints contemporary abstracts that are fresh, whimsical and drenched in colour. Her aim is to capture movement, draw the viewer in and evoke joy and emotion. I think it's safe to say that she has achieved that, don't you?

You can find some of Jen's acrylic on large canvases at Endemic World, and she may be introducing some of her work in print form too in the near future.

She also has a number of her pieces available on Society6, from prints to tote bags to cushions, and more.

As well as her large canvases, Jen creates small wood blocks that can sit on a bookshelf or be hung on the wall. For more details and to keep up with all the happenings and new work, make sure you follow Jen on Facebook and Instagram. I know I'm excited to see what's next for this fantastic artist.