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A
place for everything
'Transform my tired, old kitchen into a sleek, streamlined
space' - it's a brief many designers get on a regular basis.
However, throw into the mix a client who's an avid collector,
loves bright colours and - despite admiring the style - finds
it 'impossible to be minimalist', and things start to get
interesting. The original galley kitchen was relatively small...
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Based
on the original
It took just a few thumbnails posted on an internet property
site to convince Jason Hague-Smith he'd found a house ripe
for renovation. They commissioned John Mills of Mills Architects
to create the striking transformation they had in mind. As
well as a multi-cultural feel, the Hague-Smiths wanted a four-bedroom
home that was contemporary, colourful and child-friendly...
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Beginner's
guide - In the wash
Once sidelined as a simple necessity, laundries, with their
many other functions, are now purpose-designed, aesthetically
pleasing spaces. From the small to the spacious, careful planning
will ensure you get maximum impact out of this room... more |
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Beginner's
guide - Spot the difference
Is your lounge suite arranged for aesthetics and flow, or
is the sofa placed just so to hide an ugly stain on the carpet?
With the correct response to a spill or accident, unsightly
blemishes on your floors, walls and upholstery can generally
be removed... more |
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Beginner's
guide to four fireplaces, four looks
View four different fireplaces in four distinct settings to
get an idea of what might suit your home and lifestyle...
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Choosing
and using an electrician
Electricity can be scary stuff, especially in the wrong hands.
It is therefore very important to choose the right person
to do your wiring. A good place to start is with the Electrical
Contractors' Association of New Zealand (ECANZ)... more |
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Colourful
people - Beth Harman
Beth is the CEO of Ronald McDonald House, which provides free
shelter and support for families of sick children whose local
regional hospital is not funded to provide the medical care
they require. 'Starship and National Women's specialist paediatric
services have greatly improved the outcomes for children suffering
life-threatening or life-compromising illnesses'... more |
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DIY
Kidz
A magnetic photoboard project to keep little hands busy...
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Doing
it - Xanthe White
Award-winning garden designer, Xanthe White's parents must
have had an inkling they had produced a child who would steal
headlines. They mulled for six months over choosing a name
for their baby girl 30 years ago. Xanthe studied landscape
design at Auckland's UNITEC before establishing her own company
and winning awards for her designs... more |
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Far
from retiring
The retired couple have always been keen gardeners. They lived
in Wanganui for more than 30 years, where they developed a
large garden, which was opened to the public on several occasions.
While their garden at Waikanae Beach is very different, the
Pethericks have established an exceptional seaside showpiece
here... more |
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Hey
Habitat
Habitat answers reader questions about decorating... more |
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Hot
stuff
Long before summer is over, it's wise to start thinking how
to cosy up your house for the cold, rainy days ahead. However,
before you start to switch on the heating, it pays to make
sure your home is well insulated and isn't damp. A dry, fully
insulated home consumes about half the heat of one without
insulation... more |
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How
energy-aware are you?
Take the quiz and see how well you know what to do to save
energy... more |
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Keeping
it Kiwi in Sydney
Working in exclusive Point Piper, on Sydney-based New Zealand
architect Chris Howe's own home, the painters weren't familiar
with the products and were therefore reluctant to provide
a complete warranty. Howe insisted on his specification and
now those painters are converts and intend keeping it Kiwi
in the future... more |
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Kitchens
are red, offices are blue
Science has long recognised that colour affects our behaviour
and the way we feel. After all, it's the first thing we register
and that we use to help assess the things around us, such
as whether certain foods - ie blue ones - might be poisonous
for example. While the scientific study of colour is as old
as time, the study of colour's effects on our psyche is only
about a century young... more |
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Made
in wood - Terry Burling
An unsuccessful search for his grandchild's fifth birthday
present has sparked a new hobby-business for Terry Burling.
'My grandson's fifth birthday was coming up and the shops
didn't have anything I wanted to buy him, so I decided I'd
have to make him something.' That something turned out to
be a Thomas the Tank Engine toy box and it became the first
of many woodworking projects... more |
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Neat
and discreet
She may have fallen for the sweet, rustic charm and beautiful
craftsmanship of her 1920s arts and crafts-style bungalow
some years ago, but owner Fiona McKenzie wasn't blind to its
imperfections. An impractical layout saw the original bathroom
tucked down the far end of the house. 'There was an ancient
copper toilet with a big chain - it would use about 20 litres
of water each flush and, in doing so, shake the whole house'...
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Off
the shelf
Innovative products new to market... more |
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Responsible
renovating - Cool, man!
Ever thought your house would look great repainted a sleek,
dark colour - then had to shelve your plans for feat of the
heat damaging the timber or substrate underneath? Or maybe
you've discussed the idea with friends, who've gloomily pointed
out that 'homes painted in dark colours get unbearably hot
in summer'. Well forget all that. Resene's Cool Colour technology
makes painting exterior surfaces in dark colours both easier
and safer... more |
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Step-by-step
- Put another log on the file
Learn how to cut firewood in five easy steps... more |
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Step-by-step
to painting a picture
Learn how to paint your own artwork in seven easy steps...
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Testpots
Find out what new products have recently been launched into
the decorating market... more |
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Tips
and trick - DIY tips
A selection of tips and tricks from DIYers sent into us over
the years that might just make your next decorating project
a little easier... more |
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Which
fabrics where?
People love to be surrounded by the warmth and texture of
fabrics: Draped on their windows, upholstering their chairs
and couches, and massed together in their cushions and throws.
Picking the right fabric comes down to appeal and suitability...
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With
a little respect
A walk down a typical street of Ponsonby villas reveals that
there is a fine line between trendy and timeless. In recent
times, one developer or renovator too many has itched to reshape
the well-balanced verandahs, timber lace and bay windows of
100-year-old homes in a minimal modern - or post-modern -
mould. Which makes discovering this renovation by Jonathan
Walker of JWA Architects all the more a pleasurable surprise...
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Habitat is printed on environmentally responsible paper
using environmentally responsible ink.
From issue 8 onwards, copies flow wrapped and sent to Resene
ColorShop Cardholders are flow wrapped in environmentally responsible
material from epi-global.
This product when discarded in soil in the presence
of microorganisms, moisture and oxygen will biodegrade
decomposing into simple materials found in nature,
as described in ASTM D6954-04.
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