HAPPY HOME DECOR

home & living happy at home

Your home is a haven – a safe place to relax, recharge and rest. The way we decorate our homes can affect our mood.

There are many ways you can decorate that promote happiness, including with colours, textures and even room layouts.

Decorate with uplifting artwork, such as scenic beauty landscapes, or anything that makes you smile.

2Add a few touches of yellow for positivity.

3Add curves for feelings of cosiness, softness and comfort.

4Create a space for long lunches and leisurely dinners, to enjoy with loved ones.

5Make the cocktail hour setup permanent, on a bar trolley or a kitchen shelf.

Add personalised details to your bedroom that make you smile fi rst thing in the morning and last thing at night.

7Let the light in where you can. Dark and dreary rooms can bring you down.

8Make a memory wall, with framed photos of special life moments with special people.

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long term rentals vs. holiday homes

Have you been debating whether to rent your property long-term or for short-term holiday letting? A Wanaka-based property management company has three compelling reasons why you should choose the former.

The lack of long-term houses for tenants is a hot topic. In a bid to address this, councils including Queenstown Lakes District Council have changed legislation to discourage property owners renting short term by having higher rates for properties let as holiday homes and requiring owners to obtain resource consent to operate holiday home letting. This comes at a signifi cant cost to property owners. Colleen Topping, director and owner of Home & Co Property Management in Wanaka says, “I have seen many property owners switch from holiday home rentals to long term rentals because of the erratic cash fl ow that accompanies holiday letting. It is either feast or famine. Great if your house was booked for Christmas / New Year, A&P Show weekend and Warbirds Over Wanaka but what of the in-between times? Long term rentals translate to an even cash fl ow. Once your property is rented you are almost guaranteed of a steady income.” Thirdly, with holiday homes, do you know who made the booking? Is it really Mrs X from an upmarket suburb or is it for her son and his delightful party friends? There is a lack of guest scrutiny on many booking sites. Holiday homeowners have complained about a lack of accountability when things get damaged or go missing and the costs can mount. In summary, the three “Cs” – council, cashfl ow and credibility favour choosing long term rentals over holiday letting. For more information about the Wanaka market, contact Home & Co for free advice and a free-market rent appraisal.

www.homeandco.co.nz

Are you dreaming of a better kitchen? Making dream kitchens comes true.

Specialising in renovating, replacing and designing kitchens, Dream Doors Kitchens knows how to create a fabulous and functional space in the heart of your home. Specialising in renovating, replacing and designing kitchens, Dream Doors Kitchens knows how to create a fabulous and functional space in the heart of your home.

dreamdoors.co.nz | Ph: 03 338 1081 | adrian@dreamdoors.co.nz dreamdoors.co.nz | Ph: 03 338 1081 | adrian@dreamdoors.co.nz

Emma THE DILEMMA

We all know the importance of a good night’s sleep, and fi nding a mattress that works for you is imperative. Metropol’s Ian Knott tries out one option.

Only available online, the Emma Comfort Mattress has been engineered in Germany using the highest quality foam. As a medium-fi rm mattress, it’s an ideal choice for those who can’t decide between a soft or fi rm feel.

There are two internal layers; the fi rst is 5cm of ‘Airgocell’ contouring foam – an open pore foam that allows 50 percent more air to circulate than your normal memoryfoam. The base layer is 20cm of HRX high-density foam, also open pore and with support zones so that support is applied where your body needs it most.

The ability for air to fl ow through the foam allows for a cooler sleep during those hot summer nights.

Available in single to super king, the mattress includes ‘Zero Motion’ technology that prevents even the most restless of sleepers from disturbing their partner.

THE VERDICT

I slept pretty soundly on the mattress, and it reminded me of the fi rmess of beds in good hotels, but my wife couldn’t get a good sleep on it at all. It’s in cases like ours that thankfully the mattress comes with a 120-night, money back guarantee, with all returns being donated to charity. That sounds like a win-win to me.

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IF YOU CAN DREAM IT... WE CAN BUILD IT

Summer shade

Be it barbecues or backyard cricket, gardening or grooming the spoodle, we are in our backyards as often as the weather allows.

Shade in outdoor space is critical once that temperature creeps up. Our trees: native, ornamental, or fruiting, create the urban forest and play a bigger part of the picture than you might think.

There are several benefi ts to utilising a tree canopy, rather than something constructed, for shelter. A deciduous tree will let the light and warmth you want into the house as the canopy thins for autumn. In the hot months, the transpiration of trees cools the air around them. A row of trees will shade a paved area, cooling the ground itself for bare feet, plus minimising that heat radiation upwards that can feel like the last straw on a sweltering February day. People often look for a wind break, and a tree that has been cropped to encourage low growth creates a great wind shadow.

Trees in a garden setting are the quintessential Kiwi dream and are a big part of the urban forest. For expert advice in both residential and commercial management of trees, you can’t do better than asking The Tree People. “We combine the science and art of tree care with technical experience, passion, advanced equipment, and sustainable practices,” says Co-owner Raoni Hammer. The team also trim trees for powerline safety and o er emergency services. Sustainability is central to their approach. “We use electric chainsaws, biodegradable chainsaw lubrication, and silt traps to prevent runo into sensitive riparian areas. We insulate our chipper to reduce noise pollution.”, says Raoni.

Their website is packed with advice on tree care and Raoni says “Book us in for a free consultation about how to get the most out of your tree canopy and garden this summer.”

www.thetreepeople.nz

TOP TREE TIPS

With the recent introduction of Christchurch City Council water usage rates, the team has been thinking of ways to make your water go further. “When you are setting your garden up for summer, start with how you can use less water in the dryer months,” says Raoni. “We advise that you don’t plant until autumn and choose an environmentally appropriate species. “Also, increase soil quality to retain moisture by mulching, composting, or using Biochar, and allowing healthy leaf drop to remain. Water fi rst thing or after sundown, and think about rainwater collection systems.”