Inside a Christchurch townhouse with the most stylish tiny blue bathroom

Article by Your Home and Garden

A titchy townhouse on the edge of Christchurch’s CBD presented a challenge for a couple who aren’t exactly minimalists – but they didn’t let it cramp their style

Meet + greet

Leigh Aston, 41 (engagement and performance manager), and Cory Hogben, 42 (leading hand), plus dogs Mojo and Morris.

Honesty box

What’s your best advice for styling on a budget?

Leigh: Always shop around, and if you can’t find what you want consider making it yourself or upcycling something secondhand. We DIY and make a lot. We started upcycling furniture back when we first got together because we had no money for nice things.

What’s one thing you would change about your home if you could?

A downstairs loo would be really handy!

Do you tend to buy high-end homeware or seek out a bargain?

Bargain buys.

What did you splurge on in your home?

A large patchwork ottoman and the leather chair in the living room were two splurges but worth it because we’ll never part with them.

What is one of the best memories you’ve had in your home?

Getting the deck and courtyard area finished on Christmas Eve so we could have all our family over for Christmas lunch the next day.

Gallery | 13 Photos
Read more about the home here

Spend

The renovation probably cost around $60K-$80K in total.

See more of the Christchurch townhouse below

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Leigh and Cory’s garden is a masterclass in creating zones for different activities – a concrete patio houses the clothesline, a lime chip surface is ideal for entertaining and the deck is perfect for quality time with their pet pooches.

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“I’m in love with the kitchen,” says Leigh. “Even though it’s the same footprint as the original kitchen, we maximised the bench space which makes it feel so much bigger and that’s a big bonus for me as I do all the cooking.”

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The couple’s room is a serene space with an upcycled lamp adding a dash of colour. In the guest room, wallpapering the wardrobe doors has created a fun, exotic vibe.

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Subway tiles (left over from the kitchen) and a bamboo bench and shelves give the laundry some flair. The couple are avid upcyclers – the pink floor lamp in the lounge is just one of their joint projects. Plants have also become a passion for Leigh in recent years, “although I tend to have a bit of a black thumb”.