NZH - Spaces August 2018

A New Zealand Herald Commercial Publication

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

build, renovate & decorate

MANAGING THE RENO BUDGET Cost saving tips

CLEAR the CLUTTER STRIP BACK FOR SPRING

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Wednesday, August 8, 2018

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Spaces Contents 4 Managing

5 A taste of

the trends

the Reno budget

10 Small

homes, big business

6 An

appetite for art

7-8

Declutter your life

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Managing the reno budget

Photo / Getty Images

When considering a major renovation, it’s always best to employ an experienced builder or project manager, but for smaller renovations there’s no reason you can’t do it yourself. By Raewyn Court

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L

ouise Court is a mum of three young boys, works part time and has managed to fit in renovating two family homes and four rental properties in the past 10 years. She’s an accomplished selftaught renovator who is happy to share her tips on how to stick to the budget.

Court starts by listing absolutely everything in a diary that needs money spent on it, and then estimating the cost. “I always overestimate costs, and I update them constantly as quotes and bills come in. Last renovation, I also used an iphone app, Renovation Budget Tracker. I allow for a 10 per cent contingency as, without fail, something crops up or is more expensive than anticipated.

It’s very easy to get accurate prices for hardware — online shopping is a huge help and those figures are fixed, but labour costs can be very hard to estimate and can easily blow out.”

Renovators are often advised to get three quotes for a job, but Court says the Auckland market is such that it’s very hard to get one tradie, let alone two or three for a quote.

“I ask friends and I use builderscrack.co.nz a lot — it’s a great website to load your job and get quotes through. I’m now at a point where I can tell if a tradie’s quote is reasonable, so if they come recom-

I always overestimate costs, and I update them constantly as quotes and bills come in.

Last renovation, I also used an iphone app, Renovation Budget Tracker.

mended I just book them in.”

She adds that it’s important to get a fixed-price quote rather than an estimate.

When Court is renovating for tenants or for profit and needs a quick turnaround, she sticks to things that don’t require Council consent. This saves time and cost, but she stresses that for something like adding on a room, consents are a must.

“Take the time, do it right the first time and save any future headaches.”

Louise preps and does her own painting, gardening and some demo.

“You can bust down non-structural walls and run around being a lackey for tradies so they don’t waste their expensive time going to hardware shops to pick up bits and pieces.”

She recommends YouTube videos for finding out how to do things that

don’t really need a tradie.

“I recently YouTubed how to lay vinyl tiles, but things like major building work, electrical and plumbing should only be done by qualified tradespeople, as well as the things you want looking good. I always leave tiling to the professionals as it’s so hard to fix if you get it wrong. And wallpapering — it looks easy, but it’s not!”

Renovators may be tempted to cut corners to save money, but Louise says people should never underestimate the importance of prep work.

“A painted wall will only look as good as the prep work underneath it. Never go for cheap paint — you’ll end up having to do twice as many coats.

When quality paints are on special you can get them for a good price.”

However, there are areas where

Get the ‘wow’ factor on a budget with: ● Wallpaper features ● Paint features ● Tiles with contrasting grout ● Inexpensive artwork ● Styling big savings can safely be made by going with a cheaper option. Court always shops around, often online, for tiles.

“A white subway-style tile can vary in price from $20-$110 per sq m. There is very little difference in the look they create, but a more expensive tile can blow the budget out by thousands.”

Likewise, she finds bathroom fittings, taps, vanities and baths to be of a similar quality anywhere but says the difference in price can be extreme. “I never go to a bathroom store — why pay $1000 for a tap and $2000 for a vanity when you can get the same item at a hardware store for a fraction of the price?”

Sometimes though, spending more on an item can add thousands more in value. “I recently did a kitchen for

a rental property. I was desperately trying to keep costs down and was just going to give the old kitchen a good tidy by replacing the benchtop and handles and some of the kickboard as it was water damaged.

But when I stripped it down I realised it was very waterlogged and beyond saving. I didn’t want to waste money on it, so I ordered a simple preassembled kitchen from a home improvements store. It was surprisingly cheap and very good quality and, wow, it made the house look a million bucks.

“I spent an extra $6000 but added tens of thousands to the value of the property.”

Last time Court staged a house for sale she was on a super-tight budget, so to save money, she used modern furniture and artwork from her home and says it’s surprising what you can throw together.

“I borrowed a queen-sized bed from a friend but couldn’t find a single bed, so I made some cardboard boxes up into a bed size and dressed them with duvets and pillows and you couldn’t even tell. We prayed that no kids jumped on the bed and discovered our dirty little secret!

“Our own house was incredibly bare for a few weeks, but hey, who doesn’t enjoy camping with three kids!”

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Wednesday, August 8, 2018

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Photos / Supplied

A taste of the trends If it’s one thing you can be sure of, trends never stand still. We asked the experts to give us a taste of what’s trending for 2018 Maximalism Forget minimalism and its constraints. Make a move towards maximalism — one of the hottest styles in interior design. A blend of historical design and colours, layers and textures, and mixed artwork allows the maximalist to create an interior that not only melds the patina of time with contemporary decor, but creates an interior that is vastly unique. “Maximalism allows you to let your imagination loose,” says Rebecca Long, Resene Colour Expert.

“The key here is to connect the dots and play close attention to design elements, such as repetition and shape, to build your scheme.”

Grounded neutrals Earthier, honest neutrals are right on trend. Choose a colour palette of earthy browns, tans, warm greys and greens — and especially terracotta.

“Terracotta is making a comeback and it isn't just limited to pots,” says Long. “Pair colours such as Resene

Entourage and Resene Desperado with classic timber stains such as Resene Pitch Black and Resene Natural.”

Metallics “Yes, we are still using metallic, but with an earthier twist,” says interior designer and colour consultant Debbie Abercrombie. “The mix of black and metallic, such as Resene Catch 22, is strong, elegant and very on trend. Though it is stylish enough to outlast trends too.”

Whether it’s stools, chairs, wall units and planters painted in metallic hues, or simple metallic touches added to handles and legs, picture frames, textiles and wallpaper, metallics are a versatile choice. Use metallics to glam up a room, or pair them with handcrafted ornaments, natural stone or exotic wood.

Daringly dark There is a definite shift to embracing darker hues inside, taking cosy to a

new level. This isn’t an all black story; instead it focuses on dark colours with deep blues and greens and smoky charcoals, such as Resene Indian Ink and Resene Coast. The deep backdrop enhances the greenery of plants and colours in art.

If you’re concerned about ‘lowering’ the room height, avoid painting the edges of the ceiling, and bring the wall colour up over the cornices. Using a matte finish, such as Resene SpaceCote Flat, will accentuate the depth of darker colours.

Botanicals We’re not ready to let go of botanicals just yet. We’re still seeing bold-leafed plants in our homes, in particular ‘patterned’ plants with leaves bearing stripes or splotches. Forget maidenhair ferns; consider calathea, croton and dieffenbachia instead.

Nature’s green hues are prominent too.

We’re also seeing the blues — from deep and dark to weathered blues. So easy to incorporate into a project, blues continue as a perennial favourite.

Effects Forget traditional paint effects. Effects are back in fashion, but with a modern overhaul; freehand styles paired with modern colourways. The look is less prescribed and perfect and lighter on the senses than the overly detailed finishes of decades past. The new effects style is more focused on the colour combinations and less about the technique. With products such as Resene FX Paint Effects and Resene FX Crackle, a myriad of finishes from colour washing to antiquing can be created.

Texture becomes an added dimension using products such as Resene Sandtex and Resene Resitex. Or go for a coastal-inspired durable washed effect with Resene Colorwood Whitewash and Resene Colorwood Greywash.

Statement ceilings 2018 is looking up — at least, as far as ceilings go. Often referred to as the ‘fifth’ wall, whether you choose to paint it, wallpaper it, or apply interesting textures to it, decorating the ceiling is a striking way to revamp a room from top to bottom.

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Colour combos Pairing colours is where it’s at. Warm greys paired with tan, camel, terracotta and brown-blacks, for instance. “The combination of black on tan or tan on black is a smart choice,” says Abercrombie. “Also keep an eye out for ochres and colours of cracked earth.

“The key is seeing colour in combination. Colours isolated are often not the wow we are looking for. It is how we combine them.”

Recycling Using recycled materials and upcycled objects is not just a trend, it’s becoming a responsibility.

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Old can easily become new by redecorating with a fresh new colour and finish.

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Wednesday, August 8, 2018

T

Adam Gifford

he Auckland Art Fair in May showed there is a huge hunger for art.

Galleries reported strong sales, with some Auckland-based gallerists making repeated trips back to their stockrooms to keep their booths filled.

Putting an original artwork up on our walls can answer a number of needs, but getting that first piece can be daunting.

Anna Miles from Anna Miles Gallery encourages people to follow their nose and let their interests develop.

“Every time you buy something it informs the way you respond next time,” she says.

“People get the bug. It’s not like any other form of consumption. I hate when people say ‘we have a budget’.

It’s not like buying a coat or a car.

“I like it when people find themselves gobsmacked by a work and buy it, then say ‘Where do you think we should hang it?’ I love that enthusiasm and alacrity.”

She says the acquisitional urge can come on “when a work takes up so much headspace you have to have it”.

It may also be a way to mark life events, such as moving into a new home.

Miles encourages people to look widely and not get confined to a narrow range of art.

“If you want to be critical and make critical decisions, you have to be panoramic, you have to look widely.

Look at public galleries, dealer galleries, community galleries.”

As the price of paintings has moved up, many collectors are exploring areas such as photography, ceramics and small objects, and contemporary jewellery.

“They are not paying as much for each item but the interesting thing is they are buying more often, so instead of one painting a year, they might get three interesting ceramics.

“That repetition of decisionmaking is important. Collecting needs lot of iterations to get good at it.”

She believes people get more out of art by buying from dealers, including the chance to discuss the work and the artist.

“People need to understand that buying through dealers means the artist is paid for their work, which doesn’t happen if people buy through auction.”

Auctions reinforce the idea of art as investment, which many dealers could be uncomfortable with — saying an art work will appreciate in price probably amounts to illegal financial advice and could well be wrong.

“People buy for pleasure, it gives them a thrill and they’re engaged and interested in the artists, in the work, in the culture. There are some utter

An appetite for art

There is a huge interest in art for the home; Anna Miles from Anna Miles Gallery (below left); Gow Langsford Gallery owner John Gow (right).

Photos / Getty Images; Tad Baghurst; Jason Oxenham

enthusiasts out there,” Miles says.

Jenny Todd from Two Rooms Gallery says her advice for buyers with investment on their mind is to buy because they like the work and “you have to buy a large and typical work from that artist, not something that is smaller and cheaper”.

She highlights two things helping drive art appreciation in Auckland.

One is the Art Today classes run

by Lois Perry out of Te Tuhi in Pakuranga, which includes visits to galleries, artist talks and even trips to Sydney and elsewhere to see shows.

“The people on those courses range from people new to art to some big collectors. She gives them a huge education,” Todd says.

“The other good thing is the number of art groups around, where up to 30 people may get together and contribute to a pool to buy art.

“That’s a great way to learn.”

The poles of the contemporary art world are biennales, which are usually about ideas and installations and work you can’t take home, and the art fair with its unabashed commercialism.

In recent years specialist lenders have emerged offering loans to art, which was a boon for Art Fair buyers.

Most dealers will extend credit, but you can’t take the work home until it is paid off — which for some people makes the purchase sweeter, as they attain a state of prolonged anticipation.

John Gow from Gow Langsford says this year’s Auckland Art Fair offered a wide cross section of work from major galleries, not just in New Zealand but from round the Pacific Rim, and people turned up in the mood to buy.

“We saw everyone from people building serious collections to ones

who were renovating and wanted a piece of art for their new room, to people buying on a whim,” Gow says.

“Lots of people now want an original artwork hanging in their homes.

They have knowledge, a lot of that from art groups or university education, so there is a nice awareness around of what is good and what is not.

“They buy what they like and they don’t seek advice, and they have reasonable sums of money to get the right works.”

That’s ideal for an art fair, where you might have an hour or so to option a work while you check the spouse and the bank balance.

Reasonable sums would probably be from $5000 to $30,000, although there were works on paper and multiple editions available at the fair from senior name artists for below that.

“A lot of people cut their teeth on

editions,” Gow says.

“What’s encouraging is when [New York-based New Zealander] Max Gimblet was last here he did some silkscreens, some in editions of three or four but most monoprints.

“He produced 40. We ran an Instagram campaign and sold 39 of them for $3600 framed, primarily to people in their 30s who are social media au fait. That was an amazing eye-opener as to how the next generation views art.”

As for worrying there is no space to hang art or whether it will go with the curtains, Gow’s response is “give me five minutes in your house and I’ll find a place”.

Some people may want some hand holding when they look to build their collections.

Art consultant Paul Baragwanath says people come to him for advice for all sorts of reasons.

“Art needs a lot of time and dedication to make the right decision, unless you really don’t care about its longevity,” he says.

“The reason we even think about such questions as longevity is, over time, we like to think the best art will endure and not be forgotten.”

Baragwanath says he often sees new buyers attracted by technical proficiency, but as they go on they learn to look for the x factor that makes some works better — every artist has bad days.

“Art opens our eyes. It helps us experience life in different ways,” he says.

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Declutter your life It’s very easy to find our enthusiasm for acquiring things getting out of hand, says Louise Richardson

I

n an increasingly loud and fastpaced world, our homes are supposed to be our sanctuaries; a place of uniquely private peace and relaxation. But with an ever-increasing array of massmanufactured goods on the market, at incredibly low prices, at least in relative terms, it’s very easy to find our enthusiasm for acquiring things getting out of hand.

Often our cupboards, living rooms and benchtops are filled with stuff that looks attractive but that doesn’t fulfil any particular purpose.

Obsessive hoarding is a recognised mental health issue, and most of us really don’t fit that criteria — despite what friends, family and partners might say in jest — and yet, it’s still very possible to fill up a home with goods you don’t need, then find it incredibly hard to let them go.

Knowing that getting our lives and possessions into some kind of realistic perspective can be a challenge, minimalist-culture gurus such as Marie Kondo, who has singlehandedly launched a whole new ethos for home owners with her ground-breaking ‘KonMari’ downsizing method.

She was even listed as one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2015.

Her approach is simple, starting with the need to embrace minimalism as a refreshing solution to the complications of our daily lives: making changes that enhance and enrich our everyday experience.

Her KonMari Method involves just a few simple steps, starting with firmly committing yourself to ‘tidying up’. Next, she asks that you imagine your ideal lifestyle, in terms of an environment that feels peaceful, with everything in its place, and only the

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bare minimum of possessions.

The first physical step is to discard things, putting like-with-like together in one place in order to decide what goes and what stays.

So, in other words, gather absolutely all of your clothes, all of your books, all of your shoes, and so on. Then, actually hold or touch every item, one by one, and ask yourself if it brings you joy. And if it does — then keep it.

The KonMari method isn’t just about discarding things. It also helps people organise their environments, in order to make finding things simple.

Kondi even has a special method for folding your remaining clothes, after the big purge. It’s designed to make diving into overcrowded cupboards and drawers in search of something to wear, a thing of the past.

Like Japan’s Kondo, Scandinavian author Margareta Magnusson has realised that having loads of possessions can really weigh a person, couple or family down and her book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning , which isn’t as spooky as it sounds, has become a phenomenon, advocating a plan which may take a bit longer than the KonMari method, but is well-suited to people in their middle years — especially in the sense that it should save loved ones left behind from having to undertake difficult property cleanses themselves.

She acknowledges that we are living longer so she suggests that we shed our worldly goods thoughtfully and regularly as we pass through the later stages

...hold or touch every item, one by one, and ask yourself if it brings you joy. And if it does – then keep it of life. And it’s not only typical household possessions, but also paperwork and even digital information.

It is always distressing for families to lose a loved one so realising that they cannot access important aspects of a person’s online life, including social continued on E8

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Declutter your life continued from E7

media accounts and vital passwords is an added burden. Magnusson advises followers to prepare a document with password information, in advance, and make sure family members know where to find it.

Natalie Jane of Be Organised, in Auckland, has always been an organiser herself.

“When I was a little girl, I used to line my dolls up in neat rows and every Sunday I would tidy my room and polish my silver spoon collection,” she says.

Jane knows that she’s in a position of responsibility when clients invite her into their homes.

“It’s a very personal, intimate thing, showing a stranger what’s inside your drawers and cupboards, so I take my role in helping them declutter or downsize, then reorganise, very seriously.

“I don’t tell people what to do, instead, I coach and guide them in a sensitive and respectful way according to their own needs and wants.

“The bigger the mess, the more excited I get.”

Jane says that paperwork often features in terms of tidying.

“It’s a really big thing and if you don’t get on top of it, it can become overwhelming.”

She says that even if they can’t bring themselves to throw out guarantees, bank statements and other paper paraphernalia, she helps clients get it to a point where they can handle it.

She says that the best part of her work is seeing how good people feel when the job is done.

“It’s always so rewarding to watch their relief and satisfaction!”

Marie Kondo (left); and Natalie Jane from Be Organised (right).

Photos / Getty Images; Supplied

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Transform your bathroom Photos / Getty Images

Turn a functional space into a fabulous space, with the help of the latest bathroom interior design trends, writes Dani Wright

B

athrooms were once a functional space in the home, but they have evolved into an area of escape in everincreasingly open-plan home designs.

These days, the wellness aspects of bathrooms are being accentuated to create a restorative atmosphere.

And it can be as cheap as bringing soft, natural textures and spa-inspired styling into the room, or as high-tech as touch-screen mirrors with integrated speakers so you can add music to your bathroom time.

Trends towards making the space somewhere you linger longer include all the comforts of a spa, such as rain shower heads and towel warmers, candlelight and scents. The overall design to promote the escapist feel, however, doesn’t have to be as clinical as a spa retreat.

“At the moment there are really two trends for bathrooms — minimalism or maximalism,” says interior designer Yvette Jay. “The ‘less is more’ approach is favoured by minimalist bathroom designs, which are very understated with very harmonious finishes and large-scale tiles.”

A traditional heritage villa bathroom refurbishment she worked on used this style, contrasting honed marble and warm oak timber with simple ceramic tiles.

“It was a generous-sized bathroom, so we had room for a freestanding bath, which became the feature,” says Jay. “A really long, wall-hung vanity and a really beautiful piece of marble were used with very simple tiles to make them stand out.”

Lights on the mirror using a separate circuit were added for a sculptural lighting element, as well as a softer tone to the room when soaking in the bath, adding to the minimalist and harmonious feel to the bathroom.

On the other side is maximalism, favouring a ‘more is more’ approach, as a backlash to the cool Scandinavian-inspired minimalism that has reigned interior designs for so long. It’s about being bold and excessive in your design, layering your prints and clashing your colours for dramatic effect, encouraging escapism. “Maximalism is about details, with more of a mix of materials, so you might have large marble tiles, but

TIPS FOR CREATING A BATHROOM HAVEN

● Create lighting on circuits so you can change the mood of the bathroom depending on the time of day.

● Add natural materials and textures, such as soft and luxurious towels and wooden or stone elements.

● Bring the outdoors in with greenery from a view on to a garden space or simply an indoor plant.

● Incorporate spa-like elements, such as heated towel-rails and rain shower heads.

● Incorporate clever storage, so the bathroom clutter can’t be seen. ● Bring personal style into the space, in keeping with the rest of the home for a

A Yvette Jay designed bathroom (above), pic by Sam Hartnett.

cohesive design feel.

also very glamorous mosaic tiles in the same space,” says Jay, who is also noticing more freestanding baths, and spaces with a spa feel and wellness aspects, alongside these two larger trends.

There’s also anincorporation of landscaping as part of the space — whether it’s a small, private courtyard off the shower, or an outlook over a garden, there’s an emphasis on bringing the restorative nature of the outdoors, in.

“When creating a bathroom, it’s also important to make the shower as large as you can,” she says.

“If you have a generous-sized shower, the feel will be luxurious. You can also create a sense of space in a small bathroom by having your

vanity and toilet wall-hung.”

No matter what the trend you’re following, she says finishes should be timeless in a bathroom and she also shuns high-tech for more of a low-key bathroom. Instead of filling it with smart technology, she prefers to encourage retreat and tranquillity.

“Keep tiles and paint colours in a bathroom in keeping with finishes throughout the rest of the house, so there’s a cohesive feel overall to the interiors,” Jay says. “If you want to bring colour into a bathroom, work instead with a vase of flowers, candles or towels.”

Thin design profiles are also big news this season with thin feature tiles, thin benchtops, thin shelving and thin towel rails making an

appearance in new bathroom designs.

She says tiling trends this season are less about following one style and more about individual choice with special finishes on mosaics, such as metallic, glass or marble stones, used sparingly for impact — such as around the vanity area — rather than on larger areas.

Lighting in a bathroom is also a consideration and should be able to be bright enough for makeup application, yet soft enough for soaking in the bath or first thing in the morning.

Natural light is often hard to get into a bathroom space, but solutions such as open-air elements over showers and skylights can help.

“Keep lighting in your bathroom on

a couple of circuits, so that you can have very soft and minimal light when needed,” says Ms Jay. “I’m not keen on long lines of LED, but rather spotlights work best for a more candle-lit feel.”

The bathroom is usually the place in your home where you start and end your day, so creating a sanctuary in this room can set you up for the day ahead, as well as help wind you down before bed.

As singer Alicia Keys said: “If I want to be alone, some place I can write, I can read, I can pray, I can cry, I can do whatever I want — I go to the bathroom.”

So, whatever interior design you decide on, make sure it’s somewhere you set up as a sanctuary in the home.

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Small homes, big business T

Raewyn Court

he housing trend in New Zealand over the past few decades has been to build bigger and bigger, with the Dotcom mansion in Coatesville being one of the more extreme examples.

However, in recent times this ‘bigger is better’ trend has begun to reverse, largely because of the popularity of apartments and a growing interest in a counterculture of smaller, innovative stand-alone houses.

Fiona Short, a Christchurch-based associate and sustainability specialist at architectural firm Warren & Mahoney, says that on average our houses have started to decrease in size in recent years — but they’re still 60 per cent bigger than they were in 1970.

Short has noticed that many people looking to buy their first homes are considering options that might have historically been considered quite radical. “I think it appeals to the rebellious side in many of us which yearns for that romantic idea of living a simple life.”

On the very tiny end of the spectrum, Short has friends who recently designed and built “a beautiful 8.4m2 cabin. It has a living space with open shelves, plants, big timber windows which invite light in, and a loft bed above”.

“They say the best part about living there has been reconnecting with nature as they tend to enjoy more time outside. However, one disadvantage of a tiny home or one on wheels is that it can be harder to get finance if the home doesn’t fit the normal requirements. I would suggest seeking early financial advice if you’re looking to go tiny. This is where a ‘better and smaller’ but not ‘tiny house’ approach to housing has advantages.”

Short says houses don’t have to be really tiny to be less spatially-wasteful — they just need to be more thoughtfully designed.

“I like to start the design process with a ‘better and smaller’ approach.”

Retired people often feel they need multiple bedrooms and bathrooms to provide for family and friends to stay, but a house can be designed to be small enough for their own needs and still able to accommodate visitors.

Short says flexibility is key.

“It’s tempting to give a room a title, but much more valuable to consider how different spaces can be transformed for a multitude of activities.

This might mean one slighter bigger room instead of two medium-sized rooms. Good storage is key to maintaining flexibility.”

She notes that one big space waster is circulation areas.

“Challenge your designer to eliminate spaces used only for circulation, laundry and seldom-used bathrooms.

Consider nooks or stations off

Advantages of small homes ● Cheaper to build and heat ● A simpler, minimalist lifestyle ● Reduced environmental impact ● Reduced cleaning and maintenance

Fiona Short of Warren & Mahoney (inset), says smaller, universal home designs are becoming more popular; the Mary Potter Apartments (left).

Photos / Supplied

hallways instead of adding more rooms if you want to achieve an efficient design. Keep in mind that every square metre you save in the plan will save you literally thousands in build costs!”

Empty-nesters downsizing from a traditional family home to an apartment should prepare themselves for a much smaller living environment, and Short says there are several design features to look for that can make the transition easier.

“Number one is storage, storage,

storage, but also high ceilings, light colours, views, natural daylight and even mirrors. These can all make a space feel much larger than it is. And don’t be afraid of shared facilities. I lived in a small apartment that shared a laundry and it turned out to be much more of a social hub than I expected!”

Clearly, construction costs are reduced when building a smaller home, but design techniques can also be used to reduce ongoing maintenance costs once the house is built.

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Short advises that brick or heattreated FSC local timber, which can be left to silver, are both great-looking, low-maintenance options that can help reduce ongoing costs.

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Short was involved in a recent project, the Mary Potter Apartments in Christchurch, where one of the key guiding principles was ‘universal design’ — a philosophy based on the idea that if a house is good for an 8-year-

old and an 80-year-old then it’s good for everyone.

“We need to stop designing only for fit and healthy 20-yearolds, and design for everyone,” says Short. “There are very simple ways to implement this design philosophy, such as avoiding steps or tripping hazards, wider doors, higher electrical sockets, lever door handles, which are easier to grab, non-slip surfaces, and putting extra timber blocking in the bathroom walls so grab rails can be easily added later if required. Most of these design decisions make living easier for all of us — young, old, fit, injured or with extraordinary challenges. They are really easy to incorporate and most don’t cost a thing.”

While there are many aspects of sustainable design that give good financial paybacks, Short says there is only one way to reduce both environmental impact and capital costs and this is simply to build smaller.

“Area is one of the elephants in the room in terms of building costs. All the materials in a building, as well as the energy required to run a home, contribute to its carbon footprint — something we will all become more familiar with over the coming decades.”

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Wednesday, August 8, 2018

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nzherald.co.nz | The New Zealand Herald | Wednesday, August 8, 2018

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