How a home stylist added some flair to her 1970s bungalow

Article by Your Home and Garden

Inspired by her home’s lush coastal setting on Auckland’s North Shore, see how this professional home-stager and stylist added a restful, beachy feel to her interior

Meet and greet

Jess Foyster, home stager and stylist at Statement Interiors, Kev Foyster, graphic designer at Mighty Creative, Theo, 9, Archie, 7, and Sadie, 5, plus cats Minnie and Minky.

Here’s how a home stylist added some flair to her 1970s bungalow

Best lessons learned?
Jess: Before making changes, live in a space for a while to evaluate what needs to be done.

What would you never do again?
Some of the paint colours I experimented with – like bright yellow in the boys’ room.

Any DIY disasters?
Not so far – fingers crossed!

One thing you would change if you could?
More space – a parents’ retreat to occasionally get away from the noise and chaos would be nice!

Most memorable experience you’ve had in your home?
The party in the garden the day after our wedding. All our favourite friends and family in our favourite space – what could be better?

Budget

How much have you spent on the makeover?
It’s hard to judge as it has slowly evolved. Other than a superficial makeover, we haven’t yet done the bathroom and kitchen.

How did your budget forecast compare to your actual spend?
We’ve always had a contingency fund for unexpected costs, so we’ve come within budget.

What areas did you save or splurge on?
We splurged in the garden, creating outdoor living, dining and bathing. The garden is quite large and tropical and we are always looking for interesting new plants to add – Roger Hunter’s in Mangere is a favourite place to go. Inside I splurged on quality bedlinen and custom curtains from Firefly Light & Design. We’re both creative and have saved money on furniture and homeware by buying secondhand and restoring and repurposing things.

Do you tend to buy high-end homeware or seek out a bargain?
Both. I have a mixture of high-end pieces mixed with bargains – usually secondhand finds that are quirky and interesting. I also seek out bargains at designer warehouse sales where you can buy good-quality homeware.

Best advice on spending money?
Spend on quality long-term fittings, such as in the bathroom and kitchen, as well as curtains and flooring. Paint and interior schemes can change and evolve without incurring a huge cost.

How did you keep track of costs during renovations?
We’ve come within budget by doing as much as possible ourselves.

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Amidst this sea of blue and green sits a modest 1970s bungalow, home to Jess, Kev and their three children, Theo, Archie and Sadie.

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Jess and Kev’s initial makeover prepared the home for modern living and they settled in to enjoy their new place and its surroundings.

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Jess and Kev’s creative vision has seen their home evolve in an eclectic direction – no two rooms are the same and each has its own distinct personality.

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In the future the Foysters plan to maximise their home’s current layout with a kitchen and bathroom renovation

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Choose pared-back furniture, white curtains and a pale neutral on the walls, then add a bold hue such as yellow or mint throughout the room.

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Hygge & West wallpaper makes a bold statement paired with soft, textured cushions, blond wood and crisp white linen.

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While the overall colour scheme is one of soft colours and neutrals, the main bedroom breaks out of this formula with a shot of bright yellow and a dash of whimsical pattern.

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Pastel colours and vintage furniture give this little girl’s room a nostalgic vibe that’s modernised with an Eames-style chair and whimsical touches such as a mounted unicorn’s head.

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Repurpose tired old furniture pieces with vintage colours such as ‘Duck Egg Blue’ or ‘Cherry Bomb’ from the Voodoo Molly paint range.

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Use a patterned sheet, curtain or piece of fabric as a wall hanging in an office space or bedroom.

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A simple colour palette keeps this shared room from feeling cluttered. Jess invested in a sturdy set of bunks to stand the test of time as well as provide under-bed storage for Lego.