9 minute read
BEAUTIFUL BATHROOMS
Beautiful bathrooms to enjoy
Decisions, decisions. There are fi ve wellknown steps to making a decision. 1. Identify your goal, 2. Gather the information, 3. Consider the consequences, 4. Make the decision, 5. Evaluate your decision.
These simple steps can be applied to practically anything. From what you’re going to wear today, to what you want in a new bathroom.
That’s where Martin Lodge of Butterfi eld Bathroom Renovations comes in. He is the designer at the Christchurch company that has been creating beautiful bathrooms for 40 years.
“There are a lot of things to bear in mind when renovating your bathroom. The size, shape, light conditions, the type of shower or bath, the fi ttings and fi xtures,” says Martin. “We really are spoilt for choice as far as designs and colours and fi ttings go, but sometimes this can be overwhelming for people.”
Martin and the rest of the team will guide customers on all the aspects of getting a bathroom that’s achievable, pleasing to the eye and has all the functionality they need. Here are some things Martin says to think about in your bathroom decision-making process:
Planning.
Before you start, if you’re considering DIY, think about the complexity of the job. Can you handle it? Think about whether you’ll need help with tiling, plumbing and electrical. • Know your budget and stick to it. • Hire a reliable and trustworthy project manager. • Accuracy. If you are doing the purchasing of fi xtures and tiles, make sure you get the correct measurements.
Small space.
Martin says it’s all about getting the balance right - the size and positioning of cabinets and the shower. Let lots of light in to open up a small bathroom. Install a skylight, if this is possible.
Simple bathroom renovation.
Not all renovations have to be a massive undertaking. Martin has these quick and simple tips. • Know your budget and stick to it. • Change your fi ttings, not your fi xtures. You can make a signifi cant impact on the overall look and feel of your space. • Instead of replacing your vanity, try refurbishing your existing one by giving it a new paint job. • Limit the number of tiles and use paint instead. This is cost and time e cient.
Selecting the perfect shower.
Before deciding on the shape and size, Martin says to think about these things: • The amount of maintenance and cleaning you’re willing to do. • How much will the shower be used? • Do you want a luxury shower experience, or are you an in-and-out shower user? • Who will be using the shower? Children, people with disabilities, or older people?
There’s a lot more to consider and discuss about a bathroom renovation. Call Martin at Butterfi eld Bathroom Renovations 027 351 1601 or email martin@butterfi eld.co.nz.
Culture What is it?
At its best or most vital, I think of culture as a heartbeat – a pulse – providing purpose and substance for the people comprising the group. I imagine a massive tapestry in which every person has contributed to the pattern, leaving a distinct impression, and that all of this creates something tangible and recognizable for others wanting to be part of that culture. We are all influenced by culture. In the sporting arena, culture is easily evident in the polarized extremes of winning and losing. A great team will often demonstrate a strong culture enhanced by equally strong leadership – our national rugby team often comes to mind – whilst a team that is struggling to win or even connect will have nothing binding the players together. Perhaps it’s due to a preference for individual game plans and personal glory rather than teamwork based on shared success.
Business is no different. Cultures within workplaces are critical in establishing values and beliefs, shared traditions and an identity based on songs, symbols and stories. When this goes well, it looks like a picture of personal responsibility combined with collective success, feelings of being valued and the absence of a sense of entitlement. In an industry like real estate, collective group success can sometimes get replaced by more individualized pursuits, and leadership becomes an essential element in ensuring the culture isn’t altered because of this.
Obvious success can be a sign that a culture is robust, but it’s what sits under the success that really needs identifying:
Preparing and training – this means knowing what the goal is, having the right tools and being supported in your journey. This also requires agility. Sometimes the gameplan needs to change and you must be astute enough to do that.
Caring about the person next to you – it seems obvious, but for some individuals this is really hard and it’s not on their radar … though it needs to be if the culture you are striving for is about lifting everyone and not just the chosen few.
Having standards and values – ‘this is how we do it’, then doing it proudly and in the absolute best possible way. Remember, these levels won’t stand still. They must be continually reviewed and improved on. Culture benefits from being dynamic; the opposite would mean stagnation.
I’ve learnt even more about this lately, having spent time with some of New Zealand’s most renowned sporting leaders and legends. To a man, of which there were two (and one incredible woman), they confirmed the importance of culture, vision, leadership and mateship. And, finally, ‘what you do off field reflects how you play on field’. After all, life itself is a field, so to speak.
So, there you have it. A tiny snapshot of what culture can mean. But the story needs one more question: what are you as an individual doing for the culture of the group or groups you belong to? Are you adding to its pulse or tapestry, or taking from it?
Life is made better when you add.
Lynette McFadden
Harcourts gold Business Owner 027 432 0447 lynette.mcfadden@harcourtsgold.co.nz
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BEFORE AFTER
Future-proof your landscaping
Versatility and creativity are two words landscaper Luke Gardner lives by. All kinds of projects have benefi ted from his mix of innovation, experience, skill and knowledge.
The other week we were working on a classic courtyard garden with raised beds and irrigation, pavers and intensive massed planting. Today our focus is a pre-school activity area installing steps and platforms, bark, rocks and plants and even a race-car and bike track. We like to think outside the box, to be di erent. Anything a client can dream up we can build.”
Luke says that with a name like his it was inevitable that he should become a landscaper. Indeed his whole family has been involved with garden centres.
He was only 12 when he fi rst got his hands in the earth. Now he has had his own company for 10 years – a milestone.
“I am truly passionate about gardens and plants, about adapting and personalising ideas to suit each client and about paying attention to detail. My team and I are perfectionists and we want a garden to look as good in 10 years time as it does when we fi rst complete a project.”
LG Landscapes specialise in landscape design and construction, paving, decking, plants, lawns, irrigation, water features and custom-built installations.
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