Eco-friendly

They call it The Can House – a compact family home built inside a ’can’ or shipping container lined with warm plywood, clever storage and ingenious ideas

Renovation expert Jen Jones shares how to integrate sustainable finishes into your home Photography by Nic Gossage When it comes to a makeover or renovation, you need to consider decorative wall claddings, floor coverings, windows, doors and tapware. Think about including sustainable choices here when you tackle your kitchen or bathroom. The kitchen finishes that’ll […]

If you find the word “sustainable” overwhelming, associate it with fringe living or think eco-warriors are going to come after you for doing it wrong, then rest assured because making even one change is worth doing.  Photography by Nikole Ramsay The journey to achieving a sustainable home is not an all-or-nothing situation – start small […]

Here’s how to paint your home green – whatever colour’s in the paint can Whether you’re painting your roof white to combat climate change, trying to reduce the paint smells that trigger your kid’s asthma or wondering how best to wash your paintbrush, there are a lot of reasons to think about the environmental impact […]

Do your little bit for the planet, all from the comfort of your kitchen These sustainable kitchen items won’t look out of place as they are good for the planet and stylish.

Ensuring your cleaning process is eco-friendly should be a priority for us all.  The process of cleaning, decluttering and refreshing our homes is part of our regular home routines – usually this would mean forking out on expensive chemical-laden cleaning products to get the job done, but there are so many more eco-friendly options, that […]

Simple ways to minimise toxins and improve the air quality inside your home. You’ve vacuumed the floor, wiped down every surface and scattered the cushions just so. But does clean and tidy equal healthy? Not necessarily. Toxins in the home can come from carpet, furniture, walls, air fresheners, and myriad other sources. Natural causes that […]

Go green(er) Eco-friendly home design has taken a greater priority in recent years, and thankfully, this trend is showing no signs of slowing down. From installing solar panels and glazed windows to planting a thriving kitchen garden, there are many ways we can continue in those (carbon-reduced) footsteps and set the pace for a more […]

Buying and storing food can generate a lot of unnecessary waste. Eleanor Ozich shares how to minimise waste and keep your fridge looking good Not so long ago, creating a waste-free fridge might have seemed a daunting task. But more recently eco-friendly living and beautiful design trends have collided, giving us all kinds of lovely […]

Fi suggests some pre-loved goods that would make ideal presents – and reveals her favourite places to go hunting for them Let’s face it, not everyone likes vintage shopping, or has the time or ability to source the good stuff, so why not put your op-shopping skills to work on behalf of friends and family, […]

Being sustainable comes down to the choices we make. Take the guesswork out of eco-friendly living with these simple ideas When it comes to making decisions that are more environmentally-conscious it can feel a bit overwhelming knowing where to begin. As the heart and hub of our homes, we think the kitchen is a good […]

By switching this for that, you can make your household tread more lightly on the earth 1. Soap bars Ditch plastic bottles in favour of solid shampoos, conditioners and dish soaps (Ethique and Ahhh Cosmetics offer good locally made options). To help these products last longer, invest in the Dunedin-made Block Dock to ensure your […]

They call it The Can House – a compact family home built inside a ’can’ or shipping container lined with warm plywood, clever storage and ingenious ideas At first glance this shipping container house across the harbour from Wellington city looks like it could be made of Lego. But up close it is a mix […]

It seems the world has discovered the life-changing magic of, well, many a thing – actually First, there was Marie Kondo’s book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, released in 2012. Then there was The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k (2015) by Sarah Knight targeting the overachieving […]

Christmas can be a wasteful time of the year, but these ideas for gifts and some sustainable shopping tips will help you achieve eco-friendly Christmas gift-giving this year Here’s how to do eco-friendly Christmas gift giving this December When shopping: Simplify the season. Buy fewer presents and less food, and opt to travel as little […]

Christmas can be a rather wasteful time of year. Use these ideas for eco-friendly decorations to make sure this Christmas is a sustainable one  Have a sustainable Christmas with these eco-friendly decoration tips  The tree: Plywood trees and wreaths are made from natural materials and can be reused year after year. Woodenspoons.co.nz makes trees and […]

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 […]

A keen eye for potential has seen Paul Roest’s Industrial Design NZ take forgotten furniture and reclaimed timber from trash to treasure Paul Roest’s Industrial Design NZ You’ve probably seen some of Paul Roest’s wood creations without realising it. He’s crafted tables, chairs, bar leaners, entertainment units, shelving, bedside tables and office furniture for many […]

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 […]

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” […]

The saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” certainly rings true for Paul Roest from Industrial Design NZ. Story by Debbie Harrison A man with a plan You’ve probably seen some of Paul Roest’s wood creations without realising it. He’s crafted tables, chairs, bar leaners, entertainment units, shelving, bedside tables and office furniture for […]

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 Who lives here?  Pippin Wright-Stow (architectural designer and owner of F3 Design), Erica Viedma (yoga teacher), Jordi, 10, Rafi, 7, and Ariana, 3. Background The Wright-Stow-Viedma family’s new-build […]

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 Thanks to the increasing affordability of green building practices and a change to the building code, most new homes in New Zealand incorporate features of an […]

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 If you’re thinking about building, buying or renovating use the ANZ home loan calculator to work out how you can achieve it. Visit anz.co.nz/homeloans for more information.

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 […]