THE BLACK BOOK | current to 28 July 2020

Current to 28 July 2020

THE

BLACK BOOK.

A touch of luxury 11 Walmsley Road, St Heliers

Social Gallery

Neutral Spaces

Cooking Inspiration

Ray White Takapuna opening night

Shelley Ferguson talks texture

Instagram accounts for your tastebuds

The Black Book Editor Matty McLean

Design Ryan Teece

Black Group Realty Ltd. Selling Principal

hello.

It’s that time of year where you will have noticed the temperature drop, maybe you’ve been waking up to frost on the ground - winter is here!

And I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing I love more on a chilly winter’s night than pouring myself a nice glass of red, getting in the kitchen and cooking a warm, hearty meal.

So with that in mind, this issue of The Black Book has you covered.

Check out our Follow section for some absolutely delicious recipes from some of our favourite foodie Insragram accounts.

Plus, you have to see this week’s property feature courtesy on interior designer Shelley Ferguson who’s tackled a massive bungalow renovation - her kitchen design is to die for. You cannot help but be inspired!

There continues to be a significant amount of speculation about the state of the market - but this week the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand released figures showing median house prices across the country last month increased by 9.2%.

Those are the kind of stats we love to hear!

This issue we have our regular listings from across Auckland to tantalise your tastebuds.

So keep flicking through The Black Book, grab a knife and fork, and bon appetit!

Heather Walton and Mark Bycroft Franchise owners - Ray White Epsom & Ray White Takapuna Black Group Realty Limited Licensed (REAA 2008)

Heather Walton 021 432 167 heather.walton@raywhite.com

Franchise Owner

Mark Bycroft 021 968 946 mark.bycroft@raywhite.com

Sales Manager

Jeff Tubman 0274 558 717 jeff.tubman@raywhite.com

Digital Strategist Ella Kiliuyi 021 418 638 ella.k@raywhite.com

Black Group Property Management General Manager

Mac Bycroft 021 223 6893 mac.bycroft@raywhite.com

Business Development Josh Smith 021 235 8802 josh.smith@raywhite.com

Ray White Epom

Black Group Realty Ltd. Licensed (REAA 2008)

The Black Book is supbject to copyright in its entirety and the contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or in part, without written permission.

Opinions expressed in The Black Book are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of Black Group Realty Ltd or Ray White Epsom. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material.

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THE BLACK BOOK.

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Get every issue, direct to your inbox Issue One | 22 April 2020

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Locked In, Not Out

Liam Bratton talks pre-approval

Get ready to sell post lockdown

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Welcome Note Contents Inspire Bring your neutral interior spaces to life Follow Social Feature Property Properties For Sale

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M IS S I NG O UT?

Get every issue, direct to your inbox

Issue One | 22 April 2020

THE

BLACK BOOK. ou ie launch ’

‘Blackr T

60

Bold and Breathtaking 39 Spencer Street, Remuera

pages of properties at your fingertips

How high can you go?

Bite Size

Locked In, Not Out

Liam Bratton talks pre-approval

Get ready to sell post lockdown

Our first online auction success

For most, their Black Book is a tightly guarded secret. In contrast, we want ours to advise, inspire, or just give you something nice to flick through on a Sunday morning with your coffee.

C L IC K H E

RE TO

SUBSCRI

BE

THE BLACK BOOK.

| 3

inspire.

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BRIN G YO U R NE U T R A L INTE RI OR SPAC E S TO L I FE

. n o s u g r e F y e l l e h S th i w

Neutral colours are very on-trend for interiors at the moment - but how do you design cool, calm spaces that don’t feel cold and clinical? Interior designer Shelley Ferguson is here to help. She’ll show you the power of using texture to bring those neutral interior spaces to life – and when you master it, you can create cosy inviting spaces, even with pale tonal colours.

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LIGHTING When playing with neutrals, lighting is important.

Adding the right lighting can take a room from cold and clinical to warm and cosy, so think about lighting as a texture in all the different levels of your room. Consider what lighting you’ll need – maybe spotlights, down-lights, pendants up at the ceiling level, or floor lamps to give you that beautiful light over your shoulder. Then you can add things like candles or table lamps at a lower level on side tables. This will create a really beautiful atmosphere - simply using light.

When choosing lightbulbs from the store, make sure you go with warm white over cool white – it will take you room from cold and clinical, to warm and cosy.

FURNITURE When you’re choosing furniture, don’t just think about the colour and style – think about texture.

Have you ever sat down on a couch and you just don’t like the feel of it? Texture is important, especially for pieces you will sit on regularly, so take the time to look at all of the different textures and weaves available when you’re buying furniture.

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PLANTS Plants are a really fun way to add texture in the home, and it’s a good way to bring some of your own interior aesthetic into a neutral room as well. Shelley suggests playing with scale, so have a couple of pot plants on smaller side tables, and then have a large plant in the corner of the room that reaches way up high. This will help bring the texture up through the room, as well as down low.

Take some time to get to know textures - feel them, touch them, see which ones you love, and try putting them together in different combinations.

SOFT FURNISHINGS Adding curtains that reach the entire height of the room really helps to bring in texture. Think nice soft layers that help bring that cosy texture to your room. For cushions and throws, try and mix up your texture. Use different shapes of cushions, so mix a square with an oblong, with a circle, and try different textures and colours for all of them. Think about a neutral colour palette that still has some points of difference - a really pale white, right through to a soft smoky grey is beautiful, and adds some colour and texture while still sticking to the theme. So take some time to get to know textures - feel them, touch them, see which ones you love, and try putting them together in different combinations to see what suits the look of your place. n Brought to you by

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follow.

Instagram accounts you’ll love to like.

Get in the kitchen.

Get creati ve.

@joshemett

@dishmagnz

@alexskitchenstory

If you’re someone who learns more from a hands-on tutorial, as opposed to simply reading a recipe, then world-renowned chef Josh Emett is the man to turn to. This is the guy who worked under Gordon Ramsay, and headed up the judging panel on Masterchef NZ, so he knows what he’s talking about. His stepby-step Instagram videos are easy to follow, and make cooking a more fun, interactive experience.

Give his Lamb Biryani a whirl – and thank us later.

Want to find the perfect mix of delicious, hearty meals as well as beautifully photographed food? Then you’ll want to give Dish Magazine a follow.

Their recipes are so incredible, but with an emphasis on achievable – they don’t want you crying over more than chopped onions when you’re in the kitchen! Recent recipes of theirs include everything from a Cauliflower and Potato Soup to a Baked Gnocchi and Chicken Bolognese. Drool-worthy stuff.

When you think about young people and cooking you think two minute noodles, or mince cooked five ways. But New Zealander Alex Haslop flips that notion on its head with her amazing account dedicated to teaching other young Kiwis how to cook. Alex makes vegetables the hero of her dishes, but you’ll still find incredible recipes in there for the meat-lover in your life, like her gourmet Mince and Cheese Pie. We also love her Halloumi and Aubergine Salad.

Do you follow an Instagram account that we should be following? Let us know.

Email marketing.epsom@raywhite.com with your suggestions.

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THE BLACK BOOK.

Black Group Property Management

Value For Money - Hands On Service - Industry Knowledge

Get in touch with us to talk modern style property management today.

Mac Bycroft 021 223 6893 mac.bycroft@raywhite.com

Black Group Property Management Ltd.

Josh Smith 021 235 8802 josh.smith@raywhite.com

rwepsom.co.nz

social.

Well take any opportunity to crack open a good bottle of bubbly - The Black Group team popped these bottles recently to celebrate the opening of the Ray White Takapuna office.

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RENO DONE RIGHT

a touch of luxury

11 Walmsley Road had a lot going for it - great bones, incredible character, and in a brilliant location. But it needed expert hands to elevate it to the next level. It needed Shelley Ferguson and Nicky Richardson.

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You’d think, having hosted eight seasons of The Block NZ - in which teams battle it out under stressful, gruelling circumstances to renovate homes across the city - it might put Shelley Ferguson off tackling a renovation project of her own.

You’d be wrong.

“Maybe I’m a sucker for punishment, but I absolutely love it,” she laughs, sitting inside the finished home.

“I’m the daughter of a builder, my uncle and my grandfather were bricklayers; I come from a tradie family. So I’m used to building sites, and I think that’s what’s drawn me to design and renovations.”

The interior designer and reality television host has spent the best part of six months completely gutting and re-designing this St Heliers Bay bungalow.

Along with her friend and business partner Nicky Richardson, the pair have created Rock The House - a brand new design and renovation company. 11 Walmsley Road is their first major project.

“I’m so happy. It’s surpassed my expectations,” Shelley tells us.

“If you’ve done a reno before, you know how much time and effort and money it takes. So just being finally finished, and being able to sit here and take it all in, it feels amazing.”

The duo have now listed the property through Heather Walton and Ryan Teece at Ray White Epsom.

“Shelley and Nicky just saw it as a great opportunity to really revitalise a house that had great bones,” agent Ryan Teece explains.

“Everyone loves character - it evokes a lot of emotion. But the trouble is, people immediately see the up-keep required, and the cost involved, and the lack of insulation.”

Which is what makes this home so brilliant - it maintains that charm of yesteryear, while providing the modern warmth and practicality people want from a new home.

“It’s been a huge job,” says Ryan, “with Shelley and Nicky completely gutting the old place.”

“It’s been really tough,” adds Shelley.

“We had Covid in the middle of all of this. But it’s a really great test of character, and we both just got mucked in. It was a huge team effort.”

The result is a four bedroom, two bathroom masterpiece - a home that pays homage to its 1920s origin, with beautiful art deco inspired interiors.

“I love nostalgia,” Shelley gushes.

“I love the deco period with its strong geometric lines. It’s still modern and quite strong, but there’s a lot of texture and femininity and burnished brass. It’s a bit more elegant than a lot of the simple, modern designs.”

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Shelley and Nicky just saw it as a great opportunity to really revitalise a house that had great bones.

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It’s incredible. This has been done by an interior designer who obviously knows her stuff. But she has young kids, so she understands how families live.

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There’s so much to love about what they’ve created, but there’s one space that Shelley is rightfully very proud of.

“The biggest investment has been the kitchen, designed by Hewe Kitchens who are just amazing at putting together the perfect space. It’s a very pale grey with a slight grain through it, with the gold as well.”

“It was actually a much bigger space, and so we put a scullery in. Because this living area is all so open plan, I wanted a space where you could hide things. And I just absolutely love it. It’s really practical, but you can imagine yourself entertaining in it.”

But this is still a home that’s perfect for private living.

“It’s incredible. This has been done by an interior designer who obviously knows her stuff. But she has young kids, so she understands how families live, and what they need.

“The master bedroom is amazing, with an exquisite ensuite and spacious walk-in wardrobe. The other two bedrooms are both doubles with fitted wardrobe systems as well. Every box you’d want to tick, it ticks,” Ryan Teece tells us.

There’s also a downstairs space that opens up a whole world of possibilities.

“It was an under-utilised space in the old home - and they asked us if they should incorporate it into the main house or keep it separate,” says Ryan, as he walks us through the property.

They took the advice of the real estate agents, and it’s become a key part of the new layout.

“It just makes the room so versatile and user-friendly,” explains Ryan.

“It’s perfect for a fourth bedroom if you’ve got a teenager, it’s a great work-from-home space, it could even be used by someone who’s perhaps a beauty therapist, or would even make a great media room. It has its own entrance, so the possibilities are endless.”

This isn’t just the perfect home, either. It’s the perfect spot to have your home.

“We just love the area,” Shelley smiles.

“The lifestyle is fantastic - the schools, the shops, the ocean just down the road. There’s a playground right across the road my boys have been playing on every weekend that we’ve been here renovating. The neighbours are lovely. It’s a fantastic offering.”

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And it really is a home that would make so many people happy.

“This is perfect for a family, obviously,” Ryan adds, “but also for a downsizer, if you’re looking for something you can lock and leave - it’s not so big that it’s high maintenance. But also it’s excellent for an executive couple, or an ex-pat couple returning home.

There’s no way this won’t be a popular house. It’s exactly what everyone always dreams of.”

For Shelley, this project has been a real labour of love.

“I’ve always wanted to take on a character renovation.

And this one was quite special.

There’s a woman called Carol, who lived in this house for 45 years. I met her at the auction and after we successfully bid on the house, she just wrapped her arms around me, gave me a big hug, and said ‘we all thought this was going to go to a developer who’d just bowl it down. Will you bring the home back to life?’ So that really stuck with me.”

Walking through the stunningly renovated home, we can confidently say 11 Walmsley Road is alive and kicking. n

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The lifestyle is fantastic - the schools, the shops, the ocean just down the road.

There’s a playground right across the road my boys have been playing on every weekend that we’ve been here renovating.

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1/32 Norman Road, Hauraki • Renovated brick, tile & weatherboard home • Fully fenced in ground pool with spa • North-facing with extensive views • Designer kitchen w Bosh appliances • Close to Devonport beaches • Excellent location - close to Takapuna & Devonport

rwtakapuna.co.nz/TKA20003 Black Group Realty Limited Licensed (REAA 2008)

Auction 6:30pm, Wednesday 5 August In Rooms, 87 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna (unless sold prior) View Visit website for viewing times

A3F2I3K L

E G F Richard Thode 021 336 002

B A

Heather Walton 021 432 167

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2 86 Kitchener Road, Milford If location & quality of life is important to you then a golden opportunity presents itself, in this solid North facing 3 level home on a freehold section.

With 5 bedrooms & 5 bathrooms you won't be short of living options. Built 12 years ago in concrete & weatherboard & has been renovated to a high standard. Features incude 4 heatpumps, underfloor heating, an internal lift & more.

rwtakapuna/TKA20002 Black Group Realty Limited Licensed (REAA 2008)

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Set Date Of Sale 4:00pm, Thursday 30th July 2020 (unless sold prior)

A 2 C 5 F 3 I 3 K 655mË› O

JHI Hannah Zou 022 043 2759

Rachael Bridger 0275 860 070

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A job is always easier with the right tools.

S upport P rofile A dministration Database E xecution

Ray White Epsom has a history in helping agents lay the groundwork for a successful career in real estate.

Get in touch for a completely confidential chat about the opportunities we offer.

Ray White Epsom 09 638 8640 epsom.nz@raywhite.com rwepsom.co.nz