My new home

A new ecosystem of smart kitchen appliances saves you housework, time and money – and looks great too No longer hidden away behind closed doors, today’s kitchens are the design highlight of our homes. Of course we expect them to function well, but we also want them to look beautiful and reflect our personal style. […]

The before and after images of Olympic rower Eric Murray’s year-long DIY transformation of a grand old villa in Cambridge Over the last few months we have shared content of Eric Murray and his partner Thea Lyle’s journey as they tackled the ultimate DIY challenge of bringing a 1912 villa into the 21st century, while […]

We reveal the results of Olympic rower Eric Murray’s year-long DIY transformation of a grand old villa in Cambridge Meet & greet: Eric Murray (sports coach and business development manager) and partner Thea Lyle (teacher). The property: Four-bedroom 1912 villa in Cambridge. Some days, Eric Murray and his partner Thea Lyle just stand in their living room […]

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 […]

Inspired washer and dryer technology delivers a laundry list of benefits for switched-on renovators Laundry appliances are the workhorses of the modern home – quietly chugging away in a back room or a hall cupboard, making busy lives easier. Now new innovations in design and technology have made them smarter, more user-friendly and better-looking than […]

Part two of our series following in the wake of an Olympic rowing legend as he transforms a grand old villa in Cambridge

Resene’s paint experts help you get the results you want every time Need help with your painting projects? Don’t pick up a paintbrush without consulting Resene’s vast vault of how-to advice, which is easy to access online, in person or on video. Where to find it 1 The Resene website is a wonderland of free resources […]

Experience Tile Space’s free Design Space simulation and you could win your tiles for free A new digital visualisation service at Tile Space takes the guesswork out of choosing your bathroom tiles. The exclusive Design Space render service is now offered in all Tile Space stores nationwide. Just pop into your local store with your […]

Resene’s colour experts take the guesswork out of choosing colours for your home With a rainbow of hues available, selecting colours can feel like the trickiest part of your renovation or room makeover. That’s why New Zealand’s most trusted paint brand, Resene, has free colour experts and a range of handy tools on hand to […]

Meet double Olympic gold medallist Eric Murray, the dynamo behind our new series tracking the transformation of a grand old villa in Cambridge Meet & greet: Eric Murray (sports coach and business development manager) and partner Thea Lyle (teacher). The property: Four-bedroom 1912 villa in Cambridge. Double Olympic gold medallist Eric Murray knows a thing or two […]

Follow the reno as Eric Murray transforms a Cambridge villa Don’t miss our new My New Home series where we’re following in the wake of Olympic rower Eric Murray as he transforms a grand old villa in Cambridge. One of the country’s most celebrated athletes, Eric has turned his focus from paddling to painting as […]

Planning a new build or renovation and think your project could inspire others in their dream home journey? You could be the star of our next My New Home series We’re on the hunt for a new-build or renovation to follow in our series My New Home. Featuring in Your Home and Garden magazine and […]

It’s the great Kiwi dream to build your own home, designed to suit your life and personal style. Use our free step-by-step booklet to guide your dream home journey In this first-of-its-kind guide, we follow the story of a real-life home build from dream to reality. If you’ve ever harboured a secret desire to build […]

Joinery plays a big role in how your house feels. This step-by-step guide will make it easy to choose the right windows and doors for your new home A step-by-step guide to selecting joinery The joinery you choose for your new home will have a huge impact not only on how your finished spaces look, […]

Dreams do come true in the real-life fairytale of Oliver and Ella’s journey to homeownership. See the My New Home build from start to finish Once upon a time there was a family who yearned for a home of their own. But they lived in Auckland at the height of the housing boom, and every […]

With tips, trends and ingenious ideas, this is more than just a beginner’s guide to wallpaper. Transform your interior with these clever expert tricks Designers and homeowners are embracing wallpaper as a way to instantly create a mood and express your creativity. We round up the latest tips and trends. 1. Trending now A dominant trend […]

Busy households this list is for you! Cut down on chores and leave more time for fun with the family with the help of these clever kitchen appliances When it comes to the everyday routines of running a busy household, it’s the little things that make a big difference. A well-designed kitchen stocked with smart […]

Don’t leave your window treatments as an afterthought. This roundup of the latest trends and tricks will help you choose and hang curtains the right way Curtains, blinds and shutters are more than just a way to block the light when you’re having a sleep-in. They’re also an opportunity to add a stylish finishing touch […]

After three years of planning and a six-month build, Oliver and Ella are finally in their new home – and loving it! They reveal the number one thing they’d do differently For the first time in his adult life, Oliver Driver doesn’t have to duck his head to walk through doorways. Almost exactly six months […]

Seven essential questions to ask yourself when choosing paint colours Whether it’s for a new build, a renovation or just a room makeover, choosing paint colours can be a daunting exercise. Here are some questions to ask yourself: 1. What is the room going to be used for? Different colours evoke different emotions, so a […]

With just weeks to go, Oliver and Ella are beginning to see some of their interior design choices come to life. See how the new-build is progressing below. It’s only weeks from moving day and our My New Home homeowners Oliver and Ella are waking up at night panicking that their new build isn’t going […]

Whether you prefer your flooring to be a backdrop to your interior or the star of the show, these five flooring ideas are a sure fire way to add style to your home Building a new home offers a unique opportunity to create a consistent and coherent design theme throughout, anchored by smart flooring choices. […]

Tony Ward from Haier outlines five ways air conditioning makes life easy – and so much more pleasant all year round Tony Ward from Haier outlines five ways air conditioning makes life easy – and so much more pleasant. 1. It’ll save you money A properly installed ducted aircon system that’s the right size for your […]

We’re midway into our real-life building project and Oliver and Ella are super excited to see their new home taking shape. We find out how their team of experts are helping to make the process run smoothly It’s three months into our My New Home build, and it’s all action at our riverside West Auckland […]

Gorgeous good looks and proven durability are equally important when choosing benchtop surfaces for your kitchen. We ask Kate Deakin-Bell from leading producer and supplier Cosentino how to avoid common design mistakes 1. What are the most important things to consider when choosing benchtops? Think about your family situation and how you use your kitchen. In […]

Need some inspiration and a bit of guidance for your kitchen renovation? We ask an expert for his advice on the latest practical trends to help you get started During 30 years in the business, John van Doormaal from Innovative Kitchens has seen a big change in the way we use our kitchens. “It’s not […]

You’ll be living with your flooring for a long time, so it’s important to get a look you love, with the practicality you need. Here’s how When it comes to choosing flooring, the options available can be overwhelming. Wool or synthetic carpet? Laminate or engineered wood? Vinyl or tiles? The friendly team at Carpet Court will guide […]

Meticulous planning is the key to creating a new kitchen that looks great and functions efficiently John van Doormaal from Innovative Kitchens has learned a thing or two about kitchen design during his more than 30 years in the business. He shares his top tips for creating a super-successful new kitchen: 1. Research Do as […]

Plan for a future you can’t yet imagine. That’s what Chorus tech expert Kurt Rodgers recommends to homeowners who are thinking about their tech requirements when planning a new home or renovation By December 2022, almost 90 per cent of New Zealand’s population will be within reach of ultra-fast broadband, so it’s important to plan fibre […]

Top tips for selecting tapware and fittings that are as practical as they are beautiful The delight is in the detail when you’re planning a bathroom, kitchen, scullery or laundry fit-out. After all that hard slog getting the layout right and choosing tiles and other surfaces, it’s fun to choose the finishing touches, including taps […]

Curtains and blinds can make or break a home – here’s what you need to know when you’re fitting out your new build or renovation There’s a lot more to curtains and blinds than just preventing passers-by from seeing you in your pyjamas at night. They also provide added insulation and are an important component […]

With a little trepidation and a lot of excitement, building has begun on the My New Home site. Oliver and Ella choose curtains, tapware, the kitchen design and install fibre. We get the lowdown on stage three: The build start See how the My New Home site is starting to take shape Our homeowners Oliver […]

There’s a trick to choosing a colour scheme that feels fresh and new – take advice from the experts who can see into the future Resene ‘Quarter Sandspit Brown’ One of the real bonuses of building a new home is your ability to conceive a decorating scheme that flows throughout the house. Unlike a renovation, when […]

Your flooring sets the tone for your entire house – these expert tips prove why you should design your home from the floor up Research, research, research. When you’re planning a home build or major renovation, you sometimes feel like you’re spending your life online and in showrooms, looking up different options so you can […]

With their site cleared and building underway, our homeowners Oliver and Ella have some big design decisions to make. We get the lowdown on stage two: Design and Planning    Not every couple gets a new house as a wedding present, but that’s kind of true for My New Home homeowners Oliver and Ella. Their […]

It’s never too early in the home design process to start planning your dream kitchen and laundry – and choosing your appliances should be at the top of your to-do list Whether building or renovating, selecting your appliances should be one of the first steps when designing your kitchen and laundry. This ensures you get […]

A new build can be a daunting task. We’ve pulled together five essential tips for a stress-free start  5 essential first steps to getting a new build off the ground 1. Set your budget. There’s no point buying an expensive piece of land if you can’t afford to build on it. Talk to your bank […]

Oliver and Ella are about to embark on a new build. Follow us as we document their building journey through our helpful series My New Home  Meet the family behind the My New Home project Oliver’s face will be familiar to many New Zealanders from his acting roles on Shortland Street and many other local […]

Join us as we follow Oliver and Ella’s home build over a six-month journey – from dream to reality It’s the great Kiwi dream – build a home of your own, designed especially for you, to suit your taste and your lifestyle. In this ambitious first-of-its-kind feature, we follow the story of a real-life home build […]