Snuggle up!

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13 STYLE FILE

Be inspired by our new-season moodboard

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A SNUG SANCTUARY

Make your home cosy and calm with muted colours, natural textures and clever lighting

SERENE IN GREEN

Follow a kitchen’s transformation from dull and dated to bright and functional

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POWDER-ROOM PIZZAZZ

Use this small space to get creative with statement pieces, patterns and surfaces

34 WINTER WONDERS

Choose plants that thrive in the cooler months for year-round garden brilliance

41 LAUNDRY GOALS

Consider these practical additions to get this busy room working at its best

45 10 STEPS TO A HEALTHY HOME

Try our tips to help make your home warm and dry this winter – and cut energy costs

51 GLOW FACTOR

Change the look and feel of interiors and outdoor areas with updated lighting

57 THE WARM-UP

See how timbers, new hues and soft touches combine for a modern and inviting space

63 THE JIGSAW

Next up in our Tool Talk series is this versatile power saw for easy cutting

67 COLD COMFORTS

Take your pick from four DIY projects to add warmth and wonder to your home

7 WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WINTER

News, special buys and great ideas

74 BLADES OF GLORY

Make a statement with strappy-leafed plants

Are you the kind of person who is more productive during the winter months? Shorter, colder days are all the excuse many of us need to stay in and get stuff done. Whether that’s cooking, crafting, snuggling up with a book or ticking off longignored jobs around the house, it is time well spent.

This issue is loaded with the information and updates you need to make being at home more enjoyable. The first step is to ensure your place is inviting: our healthy home guide (see page 45) shares design tips and energy-saving ideas to let the sunshine in, keep the cold – and power bills – at bay and generally support the wellbeing of your household.

Next, add warm decor items that are as good to touch as they are to look at. Then ponder the many brightly hued plants that bring cheer during the chilly season (the scent of camellias still transports me to my grandmother’s winter garden). There’s DIY too, including a clever upcycle of a cot to a snug reading nook older kids will love. Top of the season to you,

House plants are known to increase feelings of wellbeing, enhance productivity, reduce stress and improve air quality – imperative during darker, cooler months when some of us just want to hibernate. Here are three top plant picks to lift your spirits.*

Ficus elastica rubber plant in Northcote Pottery ‘Virgo’ 18cm pot in Ocean, $25.98, I/N: 0263151

Bunnings team member Bella’s passion for colour extends beyond the paint shop. At work, she shares her expertise with customers; at home, she creates unique art –and even teaches her dad basic skills as they renovate their home.

“What I love about painting is that I can be creative and escape to my own world,” says Bella. Using her knowledge of colour tones and “playing around with new techniques”, she’s developed a pouring method to make artworks.

See Bella create beautiful art: bunnings.co.nz/we-do-too/Bella

Bunnings team member Bella working on one of her creations

Monstera deliciosa fruit salad plant in Scheurich ‘Panna’ 23cm x 21cm glazed indoor pot in White, $51.97, I/N: 2891347

Dracaena deremensis tall triple cane plant in Northcote Pottery ‘Carter’ 17cm pot in White, $18.89, I/N: 0263169 All plants sold separately.

Matariki – Māori New Year – is a time of renewal, remembrance and celebration that includes a public holiday on Friday July 14. It’s an opportunity to share kai with friends and family, so gather everyone around an outdoor fire to eat, write down aspirations for the year ahead and look up to the skies to see the Matariki cluster of stars.

The Bunnings website is a treasure trove of advice on easy DIY projects, whether you’re tackling tiling, planting herbs or upgrading home security – it’s all there! Here are three timely ‘how-tos’ we’re bookmarking this month.

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The global population has tipped the 8 billion mark, placing extra pressure on the earth’s resources. With World Population Day on July 11 raising awareness, try these five small ways to reduce your impact. Swap light globes Opt for low-energy globes – LED, halogen or compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). Compost Turn food scraps into compost – a natural way to reduce landfill while nurturing your garden. Grow your own food Head to the seed aisle (and page 10) to see what’s ready for planting. Conserve water Shortening showers and turning off the water while brushing your teeth are just some of the things you can do to help lessen water usage. Upcycle and save Re-use materials and get creative – a salvaged bookshelf can be sanded, primed and painted to become a statement piece.