Vintage-style objects from around the world have been modernised with bright colours, new materials and a crisp white backdrop in this Tauranga home
Meet and greet
Carly Ward, co-owner and manager of Nourish Cafe, Cameron Ward, general manager of clothing company You Know We Ain’t Ltd, Jackson, 9, and Mia, 7, plus Bruce the cat and Bella the dog.
Vintage and modern style live in perfect harmony in this Tauranga home
What are the best bits about your house?
Carly: My favourite part is our kitchen. I love the shelving for my plates, the bar where I hang herbs and plants, and the black sink that ties in with the lovely black accents in the room. And I love the cooking area in the island, too – it’s become a real hub. Our extractor fan is a huge, stainless steel tube hanging from the ceiling, custom-made and perfect.
+ The indoor-outdoor flow the stacker doors create when they’re both open – it feels airy and amazing. The pitched ceilings also add to that feeling.
+ All the white. We have white interior and exterior walls, white tiles and white windows. It seems there is never too much white. You can build on white with pops of colour, interesting pieces and plants.
+ Our spa pool. The views are sensational!
What would you change?
Very little. We opted for privacy glass in the bathroom but think we will replace it with clear glass at some stage.
[gallery_link num_photos=”10″ media=”https://www.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz//wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/06/Tauranga1.jpg” link=”/inside-homes/home-features/tauranga-new-build” title=”Find out more about this home here”]
Budget
What was your budget and how did that pan out?
The budget for the build was initially $250,000 but we ended up just under $300,000 which, in hindsight, wasn’t too bad. We realised early on that the $250,000 wasn’t going to cut it – we considered painting the outside ourselves but decided against that pretty quickly!
What did you save and splurge on?
We splurged on our high ceilings, stacker doors and decking. We saved on flooring, not-too-fancy bathroom fixtures and by making our kitchen as budget-friendly as possible without sacrificing its charm.
Carly loves cooking so she wanted her stovetop to face the room and the views beyond. “We had to get a little creative with the extractor fan,” she says.
The house may be new, but the front door is old. Carly and Cam found their 1930s villa door at a demolition yard, complete with kauri frame, distressed paint, leadlights and original doorbell.
From left: Jackson, Carly, Cameron, and Mia, .
The reclaimed leadlight front door (above) offers a hint of the eclectic vintage furnishings within.
Add some indoor greenery. Nothing gives freshness and life like plants.
The open-plan living area features large, stacking doors on one corner that open up to a wraparound deck and the glorious view beyond.
Lush views of Tauranga’s northern inlet were a major draw card for the family.
The kitchen is one of Carly’s favourite zones. “The black sink and tap add something different – add some drama. I think it looks very sexy,” Carly says.
The dining room lights are a blast from the past. Carly spied them in an op-shop for $10 each and they are identical to the ones in her childhood home.
The walls may be white but that doesn’t mean this room is colourless – books galore, bright beads, vintage bedding and plenty of natural light bring the rainbow.
Mia and Jackson both enjoy bedrooms with loads of personality. A hot pink desk and a four-poster bed are the heroes in Mia’s room.
Bruce the cat is far from fazed by the wildlife in Jackson’s room. The children enjoy their separate spaces but also like the fact that their double wardrobes open up to create one big room.
A standard bedside table was never going to cut the mustard in the master bedroom.
“I trawl vintage markets and op-shops, as well as designer stores… I love anything quirky”
Carly found the retro bathroom mirrors and a first-aid cabinet in op-shops.
Floor plan.
Words by: Monique Balvert-O’Connor. Photography by: Rachel Dobbs.
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