At Home
a home
with personality
It was in a great location but lacking in space so owner Sarah Whinham had to think out of the box when it came to transforming her home in Blenheim on a budget. WORDS: EMILY MARTEN
W
MALINDA BONIFACE
hen Sarah Whinham was looking for a family home in Blenheim, she was drawn to this little cottage - the section was north-facing, the perfect size, and had the best apricot and plum tree in town, she says.
“I’ve always enjoyed interiors and I like playing around with styling - some people would say I am the Trade Me queen! However, I also love a few designer pieces such as my orange Arnold Circus stool which is a great statement piece.
“With the farmers’ market, the best butchers across the road and being close to the river the location was fabulous.”
“I had a budget to stick to and there’s no better feeling than finding something you’ve been looking for on Trade Me for half the price! I got some real bargains, including the Fisher & Paykel oven which the previous owners had only used twice a year in their holiday home in Queenstown and a Methven minimalist gooseneck tap for a great price.”
Although this ticked all her boxes, the interior was not quite as enticing but Sarah knew she could make her mark on it. “The inside had a strange layout and only two small bedrooms. Having lived in 20 or so properties both here in New Zealand and London I could see it had potential.” Sarah set about adding an extension to push out the side of the house and create a new kitchen, living space, master bedroom and the all-important front door. She also extended the deck for their summer living and entertaining which added a whole new outdoor room that can be used all year round. With an interest in interior design and styling, Sarah enjoyed the challenge that working within a budget posed, albeit with the addition of the occasional, more high-end piece.
For Sarah, it was important to create a family home that would be a sanctuary at the end of the working day for her and her two boys, Tane, 11 and Niko, eight, but also one that was practical and livable. “The house needs to be enjoyed and I can’t be too precious especially with two full-on boys and Momo the cat!” Sarah’s personality shines through straight away, with a rollicking orange aluminum front door from Fisher Joinery. A favorite vintage poster from Pop Motif creates a colourful focal point in the lounge.
33
