This cosy flat was really in need of a complete update. The biggest issue was the bathroom/laundry with its rotten walls and really bad design. Easily fixed with some good ideas.

BEFORE PHOTOS

My goal when renovating is not always to change the space completely but change those things that don't work and keep those that do. With such a small area it was important to make all areas work as well as possible.

The brief was to create an interior that was uncluttered, calm, restful, contemporary and attractive to a wide range of people. All aspects were to be considered for wear and tear and easy care and keeping the budget tight. Designed specifically for the purpose of creating short term accommodation.

The location of the flat makes it an ideal spot for travellers, business people and holiday visitors to the Tasman area, being so close to the Abel Tasman walk way and the heart of Motueka town.

The lovely small native garden gives a relaxing feel and invites lovely birds to the garden.

Ideal for enjoying the last rays of the day with a cold beverage.

Everything in this flat was tackled, floors, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms .Walls, ceilings, architraves and doors were painted by a professional painter. Yay for professional painters!

Dulux Pukaki half and Vivid White were the colours used on the interior and Double Pukaki on the exterior. Pukaki is a lovely restful blue/green/grey and one of my favourites from the Dulux colours of NZ range.

All the carpet was up lifted and replaced in all rooms with Karndean Country Oak, loose lay flooring. It’s easy care and great to look at. Replacing one plank if necessary is easy with this flooring. Using one flooring type and colour in all rooms gives good flow and increases a sense of space.

New carpet was bound and placed in bedrooms for softness underfoot and in the lounge area for visual zoning and comfort.

The kitchen cabinets, bench top and sink were replaced with a stylish contemporary look and lovely new white tiles with a crazed effect put on the splash back.

The pantry was stripped down, painted and now has a great storage system from Storage Box, which can be added to at any time.

New contemporary lighting was installed in the living areas and bathrooms which always makes a difference.The hallway light is made from an item I found in the Ecoshop, and the bedroom lights were bowls made into lampshades, to fit the scheme and the budget.

The hanging mirrors were made by me, from recycled bathroom cabinet mirrors and belts bought form Op shops, attached with screws all around the frame. I love them and I was glad to be up cycling.

The bedroom duvet covers and bed linen was thoughtfully considered and brings interest to the space with pattern and texture. Bedside tables and lamps were added and a suitcase bench for the master bedroom.

New curtains were made and new tracks installed in the lounge/dining along with contemporary sleek and stylish blinds from Sunproof Blinds for bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom.

Because space is minimal in the bedrooms, a linen curtain is used instead of a wardrobe door, this adds to the overall relaxing feel.

All the furniture was bought new and both lounge suite and dining chairs were chosen for the metal bases,being strong and less likely to break.

The fire was taken out and a heat pump was installed for safety and efficiency.

The bathroom/laundry was the room that needed the biggest changes, the shower wall was knocked down to open up the space and a shower cubicle was installed. A wet room and tile shower was cost prohibitive for this project. No pre-made vanity was going to fit in there as well as a washing machine so a vanity was designed and tiled with a woodgrain tile. This would accomodate both the washing machine as well as the sink. The sink is higher than normal due to the washing machine so a folding step is available for kiddies to use. The mirror cabinet has storage and adds to the depth of the whole room.

The space works so well now and it actually feels spacious, clean and bright.

Exterior painting tidied it all up and finished off the job nicely.

If you’re looking to stay in the Tasman area, check it out on Airbnb, you can book online.

I used to hate having plants inside but now I love it, fortunately for me, I inherited some amazing plants from friends who traded their large home to living in a caravan and being adventurous.

The big palm I adore, I had wanted one for a long time but found it impossible to find, it lives in my lounge, giving me lots of good cleansed air.

Along with two more palms each side of my bath, Phalaenopsis orchids and peace lillies that seem to thrive, I seem to have quite the green thumbed look.

There was also a HUGE Asparagus fern which I loved, you can't even buy one now because it is a noxious species.

It was having some difficulties adjusting to its new home so I put it out side for a while as it was shedding something shocking.

To my horror! My husband thought that was his cue to give it a total hair cut! I have to say I was quite MAD. Unfortunately that was the end of it, it died (the fern not the marriage).

I'm not a fan of overusing plants in a home because they do need caring for and if you let them go they look horrid.

Keep it simple you will find it adds a lot to the interior.

Use plants as structures and drawing the eye, filing a space or creating a focal point.

Indoor plants have been fashionable since the Victorian era, while technology was changing lifestyles massively allowing people to enjoy such frivolities, preachers and writers were exhaling the virtue of nature and insisted that the beauty of nature could effectively lead people into MORAL goodness and plants provided the easy path to salvation.

Well, how about that.

Wallpaper and fabrics designs have taken a huge leaf out of nature’s book and there are some amazing wallpapers and fabrics with some really lovely designs. These are my favourites from Christian Lacroix and Unique:

Soft Jardin Exo'chic

Canopy - Argent

Shangri-la

Terrariums have been a bit fashionable lately and when done well look fabulous. You can get really creative with it too.

Although fake plants have come along way I just can't bring myself to have any in my home,

I'm all for 100% real all the way.

Thanks to Pinterest for the pics.

Autumn is one of my favourite seasons and I feel so lucky to live in Christchurch New Zealand where we can see it happening. I have many happy memories of kids in leaf piles in the botanical gardens.

The crab apples and berries on trees are a big WOW for me, leaves turning yellow, orange and red.

The colder and shorter days walking in fog and drizzle are great and wonderful transitions from summer to autumn. Especially if you have enjoyed some really hot summer days where swimming in the sea and lakes was a highlight, salt in the hair and a cold Chardonnay was a good day.

Often in autumn we look at the interiors of our home a little differently as we spend more time inside. With grey skies ascending it is essential to have good colours and effective lighting indoors. It’s all to easy to get into depressed mode when the sun ain’t shinning.

Bowls of red pears, comfy cushions, colourful throws and soft carpets and rugs make all the difference. Floor and table lamps are great for extra light and creating a soft and relaxing mood.

This time last year we had a 21st birthday party at home. It was never my intention to have it at home but it had to be on Good Friday so I thought nothing would be open (wrong). My beautiful daughter left me to it as she has a fabulous life travelling while working and living her dream. Yay you go girl! Anyway it was fun, I do love a good paaartay.

I foraged the hills on the Banks Peninsula for rose hips because they are so amazing this time of the year and this became the colour theme of the night with black and white.

The dancing was a highlight, we hired a really great jukebox and danced the night away it all went so quickly.

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You can transform your home into may things but it’s the love that is created inside that really matters. Nurturing relationships and taking care of your self is a good start.

If you’re feeling you don't have the knack to make your home as beautiful as you want it, there is a lot inspiration around, check out my Pinterest page; https://nz.pinterest.com/NDIDnz/

Just for fun I have created an autumn bucket list:

lots to look forward to

change my duvet to something autumny

hide myself under a leaf pile

drink red wine

drink mulled wine

drink mulled wine by a fire

knit a sock

drink mulled wine by an outdoor fire

knit another sock

finish the scarf started in 1999

walk on the beach in fog

pick wild rose hips

collect leaves of all colours

pick chestnuts

roast chestnuts

make a pumpkin light

bush walk in Hanmer

buy a reddy/brown lipstick

make more mulled wine

make cinnamon pinwheels

drink mulled wine by an outdoor fire with my knitted socks on

skip round Hagley park in the dark with a funny friend

So far so good , I'm off to the wine shop

TO GET THE MULLED WINE BREWING

tra la.

Today I'm starting a blog or it might be a blip; a very small segment of wise words or maybe a blob; a big fat piece information. What ever it is and however it comes to you I hope it makes sense.

And I will probably show you my weird (yes truly I am, my kids have

told me on countless occasions) and wonderful personality. I do try to be very professional in the flesh but sometimes I just come across as Bridgett Jones's cousin.

Have I lost you already ? No GREAT!

Well, as an Interior Designer I probably should be saying very insightful things about design and colours and furniture but to be perfectly honest, it’s all been said before and I'm not one to make life complicated by padding it out.

I’m pretty much on the less is more side of design, I dislike lots of stuff and often get frustrated by the amount of stuff that we have as a family.

That is why I am not at all into the idea of having another shop with stuff to sell like nice furniture cushions vases ect…. And if it doesn't sell, well then what? It's just more stuff to keep somewhere.

You may say another shop? I didn't know Nicola had a shop! Well we (my husband and I) owned a very successful motor accessory shop which my husband ran for many many years and he did a great job of it, but oh the stuff ! Never again I said as we moved it many a time and for earthquake repairs. Hassle Hassle Hassle. No thanks, not again.

But OH If I did have a mental collapse and go back on my word then it would be a just like a shop/florist/cafe I saw in Barcelona. Omg I loved it even though I had less than five minutes in it. It was called Jamie Beriestain Concept store. Blimin gorgeous bloke ( saw him on facebook ) not stalking him just looking. Such a cool place I could have moved in and stayed. You could check it out too http://www.beriestain.com.

Anyway keep it simple that’s the key I recon, focus on what's important in life and to me that’s family. I have 4 amazing kiddies, (well ok they are mostly adults now but you know always my babies) whom I love and adore with a passion. Being a mum has been the single most incredible job I have had which I have loved form the very start.

Well, this could head into designery things as I know what it's like to have kids and how important having a home that works is so important.

The design of a house especially the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms have got to function well.

So get those important details right from the start and then you can make it beautiful.

You certainly don't need big but whatever space you have make sure it fits with how YOU and YOUR FAMILY live and work. Not how the designer works or the architect but how you and your family work, just think about it before making plans. If you are using a good architect then he/she should ask you loads of questions as will a good interior designer such as myself.

Building a house or renovating is stressful and gosh so many questions need answering. My advice is — get help from a professional or two. Asking friends what they think will lead to more indecision, know what you want and if that can be improved then great.

From experience most people know what they don't want but not what they do want, but at least that is a start. It is rather good if you and whom ever you are building or renovating with ( your partner ) are on the same page but if not, you will have to compromise to keep you both happy, if it doesn't bother you don't make a fuss over a decision and let the person who really cares about it make that decision.

That’s enough from me today, Hope you enjoyed my first-I would have to say was a blob.