Life + Style 27 May 2016

Photo: Bruce Barnard

21 August, 2015

life+style The Weekend Sun 1

From father to son, a family in flooring See page 2

THE WEEKEND

Featuring

Home & living | Health | Fashion | Hospitality

2

life+style The Weekend Sun 21 2015 27August, May, 2016

The right flooring From a family of experts

Steve Ferris grew up around it, crawling and climbing on it, and wheeling around with it.

Photo: Bruce Barnard

In his own words he’s well and truly got carpet fluff in his veins. Just like his predecessors.

The Ferris’ – three generations of flooring experts. Knowledge and tips passed down from grandfather, to father, to son.

“My grandfather started down south doing flooring and then my father set up what was called ‘Better Living’ in the Mount – that was about 45 years ago now,” says The Flooring Room owner Steve Ferris.

“Dad started as a kid himself hand sewing 18-inch carpets together.”

Steve grew up testing out new carpets and flooring, putting them through their paces to check they were suitable for families.

“I grew up crawling along rolls of carpet and hanging out in the carpet warehouse while dad was rolling carpet on the two-wheeled trolley down the main street of Mount Maunganui.

“I’d ride on the front, you couldn’t do it nowadays,” says Steve.

And it doesn’t stop there. Steve’s family business is still growing – kind of.

“Now I’ve got a 10-month-old daughter so she’s hanging out in the carpet shop in the weekends while I’m working.”

Will she follow in the footsteps before her and bloom in the flooring business?

“Hopefully one day,” Steve laughs. He says the flooring industry is all about people.

“We’ve got great people. Having good

installers is key to having a successful flooring business. “The finished job has to be perfect, that’s what people remember and enjoy long after the price is forgotten.”

Steve understands the trials flooring will be put through and encourages customers to test everything.

A ‘shoes-off ’ shop, The Flooring Room emboldens customers to kick their shoes off and leave them at the door to get the most of their interactive showroom.

“We want people to sink their toes into the carpet – to walk in the carpet not on the carpet.” And the testing doesn’t stop there.

“We encourage our customers to take some samples home and make sure it lives up to what the manufacturers and what we say.

“Throw it around, look at it in different light, try and stain it and have a good time.”

The Flooring Room understands the needs and concerns of customers and offers services to help the selection process.

“What we’ve got is an absolutely outstanding team which a lot of them have worked together for the last 15 years,” says Steve.

“We know choosing flooring can be daunting, so we have a colour consultant Esmae Croser who goes out to people’s homes free of charge and works with paint and wallpaper and everything else to make sure the flooring is going to work.”

And their selection is enormous, so who wouldn’t want a helping hand?

Boasting the largest flooring warehouse in the Bay of Plenty, Steve says “this thing is massive”.

“We can buy in bulk and we get really good buying advantages when we do that, and it allows us to do promotions and discount ensuring the customer gets amazing value.

“Our current opening specials are up to 40 per cent off, so now is a great time to buy.”

In a previous job, Steve spent years researching international flooring trends and says New Zealand now has some of the best flooring in the world.

“The New Zealand carpet manufacturers are of a very high quality and we have full access to all the European hard flooring options that modern homes want.”

The Flooring Room certainly has all flooring styles covered. From carpet and vinyl to Euro-

pean timber, laminate, and bamboo flooring, there is a huge selection to choose from.

“We are seeing large growth in timber and laminate flooring over recent years, it’s really an international trend which has come here.”

Saying he “probably fell into flooring”, Steve says one of the best things is seeing the difference good flooring can make in a home.

“Without exception people are always amazed by the difference a new floor makes.”

“It’s been a great experience for me, it’s a Cayla-Fay Saunders great industry.”

21 2015 27 August, May, 2016

life+style The Weekend Sun 3

Homeopathy Doctor discovers the healing power “We’re being brave,” says Jennie Rassell.

Brave because Jennie and her colleagues Jeannette Moon and Dr Sandy Dinsdale are advocates of homeopathy – a branch of alternative medicine which has been much maligned.

“How can you prove you can help?” That’s one of the most often asked questions directed at Jennie, Jeannette and Sandy of Tauranga Homeopathy.

They are three experienced registered homeopaths who aim to dismantle some of the mysticism, ignorance and cynicism about a branch of alternative medicine which is struggling to find its way.

“Unfortunately most medical people have little or no experience or knowledge of homeopathy, so it’s not surprising the same applies to the public,” says Sandy.

Homeopathy is based on an ancient system of alternative medicine created in 1796 by Samuel Hahnemann.

Sandy explains the homeopathic consultation is a holistic approach looking at the whole person, including symptoms, sensitivities, emotional challenges, past and present illnesses, accidents and operations, along with family medical history.

“The homeopathic remedy which matches the whole person is then chosen.

“Homeopathic remedies are made from plants, animal products, minerals, and occasionally drugs, and chemicals. Because of the way they’re manufactured, by serial dilution and shaking, the remedies don’t contain harmful particles or interact with conventional medicines, they’re very safe.

“Of course we need modern medicine and the technological advances it brings. But there can be additional benefits from a healing process that honours the whole person as a unique individual.”

Sandy says her book ‘Medicine with Meaning, a Doctor Discovers the Healing Power of Homeopathy’, shows homeopathy’s true power to heal and its rightful place alongside conventional medicine.

Sandy is a vocationally trained GP with more than 20 years’ experience and completed the National Diploma in Homeopathy in 2003.

She views homeopathic treatment as complementary rather than an alternative to conventional medical care and encourages people to be registered with a local General Practice.

“Having gone to medical school, no one mentioned homeopathy,” says Sandy. When she went to the College of Homeopathy in Tauranga Sandy realised the holistic approach looking at symptoms on a physical, mental and emotional level was similar to her GP training experience.

Jeannette (Jem) is a registered homeopath, with more than 20 years clinical experience.

Jeannette is a core tutor at the College of Natural Health and Homeopathy and has promoted education and professionalism for many years.

Jem says homeopathy helps with flus, colds, menopause and teething.

“The biggest thing is we’re working with the medical profession, it’s not replacing, it’s not against.”

“It’s outside the medical parallel. But there’s oceans of anecdotes,” says registered homeopath and former scientist Jennie.

“It’s too easy for homeopaths to keep their heads down and hide and only the people who know

about it come to us.

“We know in the advertising world, there are words we’re not allowed to use, one is medicine.”

The experienced registered homeopaths share a goal to make homeopathy visible and accessible in our community.

Sandy says there’s a long standing division between orthodox and homeopathic medicine and it is time for a change in our thinking.

“But first we need to know why homeopathy remains unrecognised and under utilised in current medical practice in much of the western world.”

Sandy’s book ‘Medicine with Meaning’ is available at Paper Plus Mount Maunganui and Bethlehem, Books A Plenty, Wild Herbs, Selene Homeopathics, and Magnolia Minerals in Tauranga.

“Homeopathic remedies are made from plants, animal products, minerals, and occasionally drugs, and chemicals”

4

27August, May, 2016 life+style The Weekend Sun 21 2015

Glitz and glamour Mirror, mirror on the wall, who will be the best dressed of them all? From a glittering Gatsby-styled frock to a chic little black dress, or pinstripes to bowties, there’s plenty of formal attire to choose from in Tauranga’s fashion stores.

You and your date are sure to look the part this school ball season, or steal the show at a mid-winter event.

Exquisite diamond rings and Citizen Eco Drive watches all available from Molyneux Jewellers.

Slim fit wool blend suits, to hire or buy, available at Frank Casey.

Nancy Ganz shape-wear & slip range, for the perfect silhouette under your gown.

Available at Langtons Lingerie, 14 Grey St.

27August, May, 2016 21 2015 Right: Adrianna Papell sequined beaded shift cocktail dress, Frank Lyman black and diamante fitted evening dress, Lyman rich red sequined cocktail dress.

Below: Anel fascinator head piece and black and gold clutch from La Source. La Source black clutch.

All available at After Hours Eventwear.

Keep warm to and from your special event this winter with a beautiful lace shawl from I Love Merino, Maunganui Rd.

Left to right: Zippi stiletto, Jive, Zak slingback stiletto and Black patent court by hogl all available from Footloose.

速

Look 10lbs. Lighter in 10 Seconds

life+style The Weekend Sun 5

May, 2016 life+style The Weekend Sun 2127August, 2015

6

“It just made sense in my mind to go vegan”

Mixing business with pleasure ‘Do what makes your heart beat faster’

Photo: Daniel Hines

“It was either start a business or lie in bed on a sickness benefit – and I was like screw that.”

On one hand 24-year-old Sharna McElligott is a baker, an entrepreneur, and a café owner. On the other she lives with a potentially debilitating illness, Myalgic Encephalopathy.

ME, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is an illness that makes sufferers exhausted. It can make them just shut down and stop.

A chronic illness that shuts down businesses, shuts down lives, and Sharna is working around it.

Sharna has lived with ME since November 2013, but the illness hasn’t stopped her achieving her goals.

Deciding to start a business that worked around her illness rather than being bedbound by it, Sharna started thinking a café

selling burgers, cakes, smoothies, doughnuts and more was a viable business idea.

And starting a café will suit her perfectly – Sharna wakes up and heads off to her café, fills orders and then she’s free to rest if, and when, she needs it.

“That’s what I love about the job, I can rest when I want to rest. I don’t have a boss,” says Sharna.

She says ME affects every system in her body and she can complete about one hour of work before needing a rest – a rest being anything from a nap to sitting on the couch reading.

Sharna has successfully started her own bakery business – The Nourishing Baker – reaching niche markets in Auckland and, very soon, a café in Tauranga.

The café located in Judea officially opens on June 6 with opening celebrations on June 3, selling vegetarian – but mostly vegan – food and drinks.

“The reason the café is vegetarian is

because we will use cow’s milk in the coffees,” says Sharna. But other than that, the café sells only vegan and raw food.

But why vegan? Sharna had to make a lifestyle change after finding out she had ME and decided to go full vegan.

“I was brought up on a dairy farm. So have been surrounded by meat and dairy all my life, but I have to do what feels best for my body.”

The switch has been difficult, but she knows it’s what’s best for her.

“With meat products, it’s a lot for your body to digest so I just thought putting simple foods into my body, the less effort my body has to do.

“It just made sense in my mind to go vegan.” And even though she does vegan baking, substituting butter and coconut oil and cow’s milk for almond or coconut milk, Sharna says nobody has complained, and her food tastes delicious.

“Most people can’t tell the difference between vegan baking and normal baking.”

Baking for as long as she can remember, Sharna says starting The Nourishing Baker was like second nature to her.

She loves all aspects of baking – from the batter in the kitchen to the banter in the café, but it’s the people who fill her heart with joy the most.

“Honestly I love it all. But mostly seeing people’s faces when they see what I make. I love to make others happy.”

Cayla-Fay Saunders

May, 2016 2127August, 2015

life+style The Weekend Sun 7

Welcome to the fun house In the heart of Mount Maunganui stands a bar that’s bringing French flair to the Bay. It’s a standard Tuesday afternoon, but French bar manager Romain Saenger is whipping up his speciality – a Blueberry & Sage Shrub: Blueberry and sage puree, lime and Skipper rum.

Dressed in a fedora, bow tie and a colourful shirt, he’s in perfect harmony with his surroundings at Vaudeville, a cocktail bar with a European flavour. It’s hard to miss with those quirky Alvin and the Chipmunk mannequins, velvet red theatre chairs and dramatic lounge lamps lining Rata St. Not out of place in a city like Wellington, in the Mount Vaudeville is in a world of its own, and owners Jessica and Bronwyn Payne admit getting locals’ heads around the concept took some time.

Three years, in fact, to get it to the vibrant, lively social hub it is today.

“When we first opened this place, it was too crazy for the public to really fathom, like the fact we only sold craft beers,” says Bronwyn.

It started with The Pizza Library, the hot spot next door where the gourmet pizzas are named after popular books and films.

“My mum is an amazing chef,” explains 23-year-old Jess. “She [mum] has cooked for the royals and celebrities and the like back in England, and she was always making these great pizzas.”

Looking to expand, an opportunity arose in the space next door which became

Cosmetic Medicine

Vaudeville. The word describes a theatrical genre, which was typically made up of a series of acts. It was created from many sources, including the concert saloon, freak shows, dime museums and burlesque.

Although it developed in France, vaudeville was one of the most popular types of entertainment in America for several decades. Having moved up from Wellington, Jess and Bronwyn, 22, were used to these kinds of quirky bars you’d find in the culture capital.

“We started researching the name and kept coming back to images of clowns and crazy performances, music and dance that was full of colour.”

From inception and concept, the theme really snowballed to incorporate entertainment and décor to match the idea of a French fun house.

“We have an in-house magician, a pianist, we’ve had fire throwers, poets, singers...all sorts! And it is interesting to see the different kinds of people that come here to enjoy our show,” says Bronwyn.

The girls say every piece of the surroundings has a story.

“The chairs are from Devonport Theatre in Auckland, we repaired and repainted them. All the panelling is from an old American colonial villa, the fireplaces are from a hotel, a listed building demolished in Christchurch, French entrance doors from a Wellington hotel.”

While the pair can’t gush enough about how much fun the bar is – it wasn’t always as enjoyable. In 2014, they faced closure when they received three objections to

Photo: Tracy Hardy

Vaudeville brings Europe to the Mount

their liquor on-licence application, who stated their reasons for objection being that there were enough bars in the Mount already.

The pair went through mediation and was set in front of a judge at a Tauranga District Licensing Committee hearing as Jess suffered continual harassment from their objectors since day one.

“We fought and fought,” says Jess. “It’s been really hard, but we are so happy to be here now

and look forward to the future!”

The bright future includes development of The Pizza Library to include online ordering and delivery, while Vaudeville is boasting a new cocktail menu and an ever-changing list of top craft beers. “Romain is very much into health tonics so he uses a lot of herbs and aromatics. It’s like a science lab in there and he’s always brewing infusions everywhere.”

Laura Weaser

8

life+style The Weekend Sun 21 August, 2015

A MASSIVE RANGE OF BEDS

Serenity Hayman

Serenity Whitsunday

• Firm feel.

• Features Sleepyhead’s low partner disturbance Pocket Spring system providing superior comfort and support.

• Lofted top with Eco-friendly Dreamfoam® comfort layers for added comfort.

• Plush feel.

• Features Sleepyhead’s low partner disturbance Pocket Spring system which helps relieve pressure points giving you a more restful sleep.

• Combined with the comfort layers of pure New Zealand wool, Dreamfoam® and hyper allergenic Latex Gold® to ensure a healthier sleep environment.

50%

50%

OFF

Queen Set

OFF

Queen Set

WAS $3,699

WAS $4,999

Now $2,499

Now $1,849 Sanctuary Loren

Sanctuary Mansfield

• Plush feel.

• Features a smooth luxurious knit-fabric cover.

• Latex Gold® and Dreamfoam® comfort layers work together with the Sensorzone® core to reduce pressure points and improve circulation while Graphene conducts heat away from the body.

• Soft to Medium feel.

• Features Latex Gold®, FusionGel® and Graphene comfort layers that work together with the Sensorzone® core to reduce pressure points and improve circulation.

50%

40%

OFF

OFF

Queen Set

Queen Set

WAS $7,299

Now $3,899

Now $4,379 NEW ZEALAND’S

LARGEST

INDEPENDENT BEDDING GROUP

50 STORES NATIONWIDE

PROU D TO BE LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED

STORE NAME BEDS R US Address Details Ph: 00 123 4567

WAS $7,799

PROU D TO BE LOCALLY PROU D TO BE LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED OWNED AND OPERATED