Green Living

After deciding that solar power was the right fit for her busy family home, Shelley Ferguson wasted no time getting panels installed. She takes us on her journey 

Shelley Ferguson is renovating her house and knows she wants solar panels – but she’s not sure how they work. She finds out if they’re the right fit for her home and busy family life Shelley Ferguson investigates if solar power is the right fit for a busy family I reckon home renovation is a bit […]

Shelley Ferguson reveals the relatable reason why she’s choosing to install solar panels in her home and we’re feeling inspired Shelley Ferguson reveals the relatable reason why she’s choosing solar power Confession: I’m a naturalist. Not in the history student or nudist camp sense. I’m just utterly inspired and in awe of the natural environment […]

Pack up the kids and embark on a vintage treasure hunt. Fill the boot with retro finds from these secondhand homeware shops in summer hotspots So Vintage You’ll find industrial, antique and designer finds from France in this Hastings shop (above), owned by French-Kiwi couple Korreen and Mehdi Sanssar. Sovintage.co.nz 339 Clifton Road, Te Awanga, Hastings. […]

A heritage garden is updated and enhanced with the addition of vintage and salvaged finds Secondhand finds add rustic appeal to this seaside garden This 1928 home boasts a fabulous view of water, trees, houses and boats and this seaside feel is reflected in its weathered, lived-in outdoor spaces. The garden retains its heritage character […]

When it comes to doing your bit for the environment at the end of an unfinished meal, the answer could be right in front of you – in your kitchen sink. With the help of InSinkErator, we grind down a few myths about this surprisingly eco-friendly system for dealing with unwanted food scraps. Why this […]

Save the planet and some coin by sourcing secondhand materials for your next building or renovation project. Here are some quick tips to guide the way Your guide to recycled building materials across New Zealand You don’t have to buy new materials if you’re building or renovating – secondhand items will add character, cut costs […]

Despite being exposed to the salty winds of the coast, this family garden boasts a productive, easy-care vegetable patch This coastal garden features a raised vegetable patch with impressive style This 1200-square-metre garden is close to the beach so it has been planted with vegetation that likes coastal conditions. A big vege garden was started […]

Spruce up your outdoor space with a budget-friendly living wall with these pointers from passionate vertical gardener Leigh Nicholson An expert’s guide to planting your own green living wall Leigh Nicholson of Hanging Gardens, a company which specialises in creating green walls, is helping to bring greenery back into cities, workplaces and homes with her […]

Sun and space for family fun were top priorities for this creative couple, who almost single-handedly overhauled their small Nelson home Meet and greet Sam Williams, builder at Insideout Builders, Poppy MacPhedran, hair and makeup artist at Poppy Makeup Artist and founder of online store Yukiyo Natural Beauty, Jett, 7, and Nova, 5, plus cat […]

Whether you live in an apartment or a palace, cultivating a variety of plants that stimulate all five senses can improve your health and wellbeing 10 ways you can use plants to improve your well-being Having a connection with nature is essential for human beings to thrive, particularly children. In fact many experts agree that […]

Bring your backyard into balance with our top tips for environmentally conscious gardening  Your beginner’s guide to eco-friendly gardening at home Less than 100 years ago, the way people gardened was very much in tune with nature, and composting, companion planting and growing your own food were the norm. Modern gardening brought harmful chemicals and […]

Vintage enthusiast Fiona Ralph give us three fail-safe items to shop for, that can easily be upcycled to give your home a unique edge New to secondhand shopping and unsure what to look for? Keep your eyes peeled for quality, New Zealand-made items that will stand the test of time. Look for iconic, locally made pieces […]

Create the ideal low-maintenance outdoor area so you can spend less time weeding and more time smelling the roses 10 easy steps to creating a low-maintenance garden Unless your thumbs are the deepest of forest greens, not many of us like to spend hours weeding and maintaining our gardens. Yet we all know how good […]

Design and drama may take centre stage on The Block NZ but the quiet hero of this year’s homes are the eco-friendly elements. The Block NZ site foreman Peter Wolfkamp talks us through the details The Block NZ 2017 is embracing high-density living with four teams building semi-detached terrace housing in Northcote, Auckland. While not typical […]

A bit of thoughtful design and clever planting can do wonders to a small garden. Horticulturalist Helen Young shows us how Small garden ideas to help you make the most of your space Having limited space does not mean your small garden ideas need to be boring. It does however present some unique landscaping challenges […]

Art doesn’t have to be new to be exciting. Some of the best pieces can be found at auction houses and vintage shops. Art+Object’s Leigh Melville shares her advice for new collectors of secondhand art Beautiful artworks are timeless, so it makes sense to hunt for art in the secondhand sector. You can find quirky […]

Small homes continue to grow in popularity as housing and land costs rise. We look at some helpful pros and cons for you to consider before going small

Indoor plants add depth, colour and style to any room in your home. Here’s our top 10 easy-to-care-for plants that are perfect for a hanging display Our top 10 indoor hanging plants that are hard to kill Run out of floor space thanks to your ever-growing indoor plant collection? Guilty! Whether this is you or not, hanging […]

Going up instead of out makes sense as space becomes scarcer. Outside In horticulturalist Ryan McQuerry explains why living walls are the perfect way to bring the outside in Everything you need to know about living walls As cities grow and open space becomes scarce, many cities are going green by either positioning nature on […]

In an effort to have a space of their own without the need for a massive mortgage or many possessions Shaun and Petra Pearce decided to build a tiny home – and it fits them perfectly An obsession with tiny homes, a passion for Pinterest and despair at the cost of homes in Auckland led to […]

This off-grid home in an eco village just outside Motueka is an exercise in style and functionality for this Dutch family This gorgeous yurt is an exercise in style and functionality.  Meet Tessa Hiebendaal, facility manager and massage therapist, Remko Ros, 46 woodworker, Kiri Ana Ros, 8, and Olle Manu Ros, 5, plus guinea pigs Woezel […]

A well insulated home is key to creating a warmer, healthier, more comfortable environment. We discover the essential dos and don’ts Do: Insulate your home While this point may seem a little obvious, the fact is many New Zealand homes are damp, cold and expensive to heat because of poor insulation. If you’re building new […]

A Dutch couple and their Kiwi kids love their off-grid life in an eco village outside Motueka, where one yurt just led to another Meet and greet Tessa Hiebendaal, facility manager and massage therapist, Remko Ros, 46 woodworker, Kiri Ana Ros, 8, and Olle Manu Ros, 5, plus guinea pigs Woezel and Pip, and six […]

 Wool, cotton, silk, and linen – love the idea of natural fibres but don’t know where to begin?  We’ve made a list of all the important stuff you need to know Wool Wool is a protein-based fibre that can be blended with synthetic fibres to make it easier to clean and less prone to pilling. […]

Shopping for pre-loved decor is wonderful way to find special pieces for your home. We discover where to begin and how to find your vintage style Adding secondhand items to your decor will give your home a unique, lived-in look, especially when pieces are combined with newer purchases and treasured objects of your own. The […]

Add style, warmth and simplicity to your home with the environmentally friendly Brooklyn fireplace How to heat your home in an environmentally friendly way The new Brooklyn biofuel fireplace by Living Flame is what home-heating dreams are made of. The open flame fireplace is available in a variety of sleek finishes, from brushed stainless to bronze […]

With many gardens becoming smaller, outdoor areas are being repurposed as multi-use zones. Wildflower meadows, outdoor baths and beehives are all on the list for trendsetting gardeners this year There’s no denying gardens have changed a lot in the last few decades, morphing into multifunctional spaces where we eat, cook, work out, bathe, as well […]

Keep your soil happy with your very own compost garden How to start your own compost garden at home There benefits of composting are endless! You can improve the structure, water retention and drainage of the soil in your garden, as well as increasing the retention of nutrients, resulting in happy and healthy plants. Here’s […]

This sprawling Waiheke Island garden is an entertainers dream with its outdoor kitchen complete with Italian-style pizza oven Life is sweet in this Waiheke garden that features a touch of Italian flair When Vicki and Marco Canestri decided to build an outdoor kitchen in their Waiheke Island garden, the biggest priority was a pizza oven. […]

With glamping, port-a-baches, kitsets and caravanning now popular in New Zealand, there’s a holiday option for everyone. Classic caravan the kiwi bach on wheels Beth Eagle’s mission is to revive the classic caravans that were built here from the 1950s to the 1980s. “They’re part of our Kiwi heritage,” she says. “I think it’s so […]

Auckland teenager Ariana Brunet has created a garden for her city-dwelling neighbours that’s breaking social barriers and bringing the community together  This Auckland teenager has created community garden for her inner-city neighbours I spent my late teenage years fighting with my parents and trying to get older boys to buy me Bacardi Breezers. Ariana Brunet […]

Keep flies and mosquitoes at bay without chemicals with this easy-to-make insect swatter YOU WILL NEED Makes 1 1 x 50cm length of 15mm diameter dowel 1 piece of leather or PVC [I used vegan leather] enough to make two 10cm x 15cm pieces Leather adhesive [I used Ados F2] Heavy weights [I used old […]

Making your home eco-friendly can feel like a daunting task but these simple changes to your bathroom will help you achieve easy, green living that is both functional and stylish 1 Eco-style and design Our everyday choices can have wide environmental impact. When it comes to achieving an eco-friendly bathroom space it’s important to consider […]

Go green this spring with these eco-friendly solutions that don’t involve expensive cleaning products and are kind to the environment Using green alternatives Achieving a sparkling home in time for summer doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket or the environment. There are many tried and tested, eco-friendly solutions to tricky cleaning problems and […]

Built as a ‘bach with eco-features’, this Paekakariki new-build strikes the perfect balance between weekend retreat and potential retirement pad  Who lives here?  David Werry (GP), his wife, Philippa (writer), and their adult children, Lizzie (youth worker), Charlotte (fine arts graduate) and Katherine (law student). The brief “A bach with eco features” was the brief […]

Living artworks are the latest way to invite the outside world into your home. Discover how you can incorporate moss in your house through moss bathmats, moss graffiti and more  Introducing moss – nature’s trendiest creation Moss is all the rage at the moment. And we’re not talking about Kate Moss – we’re referring to the […]

An eco-ingenious new-build in the beachside community of Paekakariki is the perfect weekend retreat for a Wellington couple and their grown-up children Who lives here?  David Werry (GP), his wife, Philippa (writer), and their adult children, Lizzie (youth worker), Charlotte (fine arts graduate) and Katherine (law student). [quote title=” Paekakariki” green=”true” text=”fitted the bill perfectly” […]

Garden designer Angela Arrowsmith shares some eco-friendly time-saving tips and explains why a good landscaper will save you money 1. Go professional Landscape design requires lateral thinking and years of experience so employing a talented designer will pay off in the end. It might mean paying more in the beginning but will end up saving […]

You don’t need a multitude of garden beds to grow fresh herbs; pot those puppies in containers Top 10 potted herbs for small spaces The great thing about herbs, apart from their divine flavour and wonderful nutritional value, is that most of them are able to grow in all sorts of places – rocky slopes, […]

It’s amazing what getting outside in the fresh air and connecting with the earth can do for your mind, body and soul 10 ways gardening can benefit the mind, body and soul Many of us are striving to take a more mindful approach to life, thinking carefully about how our activities might affect our overall […]

A 1940s Hawke’s Bay cottage was the perfect canvas to showcase its creative owner’s love of all things floral, vintage and artistic Who lives here?  Laura Jeffares (floral and hair artisan), Jason Williams (insurance manager), Lily, Lola, and Sailor, plus Coco Darling the Staffy-bulldog cross and Mr Bear and Tiger the cats. A 1940s Napier […]

A purpose-built oasis, complete with an outdoor kitchen, is a dream come true for this Wellington family A Wellington backyard with a difference When Anastasia and Tom Hickey discovered a 620-square-metre property with a big backyard in the east Wellington suburb of Miramar, they were over the moon. “The large backyard was definitely a big […]

Getting your home ready for winter may sound expensive, but it’s likely to be cheaper than losing heat from your home when the cold sets in. Making your home warm, dry and energy efficient is worth its weight in gold. Here are our suggestions… 1 Insulate Before you consider what type of heating your home […]

This modest, new-build family home not only perches lightly on the land as it leans out over Lyttelton Harbour, but leaves behind only a small eco footprint

Have you got your eye on a plant in a friend’s garden and want the same type of plant of your own? It’s easy – take a cutting How to grow plants from cuttings Not only is growing plants from cuttings rewarding and cheap, it’s easy! The best time to do it is late autumn/early winter. One of the […]

 Is one of your plants too big for its spot in the garden? Does it need more shade? Whatever the reason, now is the time to move it During the winter months plants are not actively growing, so their metabolism slows down. As a result, if you move a plant there will be a little […]

Cacti and succulents are the perfect indoor plant – they look amazing and require hardly any upkeep. Take a look at some of our faves… Cactus are super easy to maintain, requiring little to no watering. They do need lots of sunshine though, so set them in a sunny spot! These quirky little guys add interest […]

If you’re wanting your plants to stay looking good through the warmer months, especially if you’re planning on going away on holiday, here’s what you need to know 1. Mulch it Mulching is beneficial in so many ways. It helps keep moisture in the soil; therefore reducing the amount of watering you’ll need to do. […]

With ANZ, Homes to Love is exploring the ways we live now, under the theme of ‘Eco-Friendly’ – and how this trend allows us to live and build today 5 rules for eco-friendly homes Defining an eco house can be like nailing jelly to the wall – thanks to changes in the building code most […]

With ANZ, Homes to Love is exploring the ways we live now, under the theme of ‘Eco-friendly’ – and how this trend allows us to live and build today The days of having just a ‘vegetable’ garden are over – include fruit trees and perennial herbs in your landscaping. They’re beautiful and productive. Build a […]

With million-dollar properties selling at the rate of 25 per day around New Zealand, this new range of micro houses by Japanese company Muji could hold the answer to the housing crisis Better-known for its sleek homeware and apparel, Japanese company Muji has now teamed up with top international designers to develop tiny homes. Muji enlisted English product and […]

Rather than pull down an old bach which is often a waste of perfectly good materials, think about how the existing structure can be reworked to suit your holiday needs. Use readily available cost-effective materials for walls and furniture such as the poplar ply Bonnifait + Giesen has used in the house. Good design can […]

Although it obviously does take more time, propagating plants from seed isn’t difficult if you choose the right varieties. There is also a wider range of plant seeds available these days than seedlings. And better still many can be gathered from your own plants or those of friends and neighbours. Our 10-step guide will get […]

There’s no need to check the weather forecast in this energy-efficient Waikanae new build where temperatures are tropical all year round. In a nutshell Who lives here? Chris and Leonie Beggs (owners of North Face Construction), Jack, 13, Fraser, 11, cat Ruby and chickens. What would you do differently with this house if you could? […]