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A cramped Waiheke cottage is transformed into a beautiful and bright permanent pad

North & South art director and columnist Jenny Nicholls joined forces with spatial designer Michelle Ben Zur to update her space-starved Waiheke cottage – with stunning results

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Words by: Irving Carey. Photography by: Rebekah Robinson.

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Nicholls sits on a vintage Manatunga rug by Mosgiel Woollens. Her Afghan kilim rug is a cherished 80s Christmas gift from her father.

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A junk shop mid-century cabinet houses storage boxes from Kate Spade. The painting is by Taranaki artist John McLean, the cartoon by Trace Hodgson, and the crayon drawing by Waiheke artist Mike Gibson. The moon table lamp was designed by Michelle Ben Zur.

A steel pole holds pots and utensils at arm’s reach in the small kitchen. Two Ikea trolleys work well as portable under-bench pantries.

The sideboard was a Trade Me bargain. The glass light and Fornasetti wallpaper are from anthropologie.com.

The chest of drawers in the bedroom is by Waiheke designer Heidi Altmann.

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The deep bookcase was designed by Michelle Ben Zur. The hand-painted ceramic poodle was made in Japan in the 50s. The wall displays pictures by photographers Nicholls has worked with.

“I’m beige phobic – I love mixing patterns,” says Nicholls.

The mercury gold glass lights, linen curtains and Fornasetti fish wallpaper were all impulsive sale bargains from US website anthropologie.com.

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