b"Cheerful surprises arent limited to the garden. Architect Gerrads trademark isRight: Claires foresight andpaint it rightbright doors, so vivid Resene Ming adorns the interior doors, including the one thatdesign allow her to spend divides the teenagers rooms from the rest of the home. Their own soundprooftime with her family, rather space was a must, says Claire. The bright doors continue into the garden. Clairethan elbow-deep in dirt.Choose the right Resenepainted a second-hand door in Resene Geronimo to separate the practical boatEverything is generally lowcolours and paints for the job.maintenance. I wait until a parking and outdoor shower from the whimsical outdoor bath and cottage-styleplant looks tired, then get in garden with lavender and roses. there and tidy. The flax ishive mindShe engaged interior designer Peta Tearle as a colour consultant during thePhormium tenax Purpureum. Resene design process, and together they created a Resene palette. We started withBelow: The outdoor bath isLumbersider is Resene Ming for the doors and built from there. Gentle neutrals allow the splashesfrom Wanaka companya durable of colour to take centre stage; Resene Double Spanish White adorns the walls andStoked Stainless. Its designedEnvironmental trims, with Resene Half Spanish White on the ceiling.to be wood-fired, but waitingChoice-Theres also a colour choice with a charmingly personal touch. Claires son washours for the water to warmapproved one of many who discovered hobby beekeeping during the lockdowns, and histakes away the romance. Iveexterior paint had a hot water tap installedsuitable for manuka-honey-producing hives have grown from one to three in the past year.outside and run a hose to thebeehives. When he was young, he created a song called The Caper Song and sang it at ourbath - I should have got itClaires son wedding. We couldnt resist painting the hives in Resene Caper! plumbed. It blends in withpainted his beehives in Resene Caper and While the original plan was for The Black Box to be the familys summer retreat,the brown, red and greens Resene Half Spanish White. Paint contrast the past two years events have seen them spend many months in Mangawhai.in the garden and the houseareas in Resene Fog for a lilac touch.With bees needing attention and her husband able to work remotely, the familyexterior which is stained thats coolrelocated when it was safe to do so.with Resene WoodsmanPitch Black. If painting or staining your home's Claires landscaping business, Sculpt Gardens, is based in Takapuna and hasexterior in a dark colour, opt for aAbove: The door that divides the teenagers' winggrown from a single neighbourhood flyer drop to a thriving business with 15ReseneResene CoolColour which includesfrom the main living space is painted with Reseneemployees. When I had my children, my garden became my sanctuary and safeCaper special heat-reflective technology. ItMing which contrasts with the Resene Double Spanishspace. It kept me grounded and helped my mental health. I had come from a careernot only keeps your home's exterior White walls and ceiling in Resene Half Spanish White.surface cooler in hot weather compared The timber ceiling panel is designed to soften theinmanagementpsychology,whichtaughtmethatwhenyourerelaxedandto the standard colour, but it alsoecho from the large open plan living, dining andengaged, creativity flows, so you need to find a career that allows you to get losthelps protect the substrate fromkitchen. Add a rich timber colour to ceilings within that happy space. Gardening became that for me, so I studied landscape design,damage caused by overheating.Resene Colorwood Matai and Resene Aquaclear. then dropped flyers along my street. Claires business ethos includes providing Below right:Plants clockwise from leftthe scarletopportunities for women looking to balance work with family. There were few red flowers of Canna iridiflora, breaks up the greenoptions for mothers that were well-paid and flexible. I found like-minded women and is a great option for breezy properties. Thoughat Playcentre and through social media, and it grew from there. it has delicate looking white flowers, Escallonia is another hardy plant which tolerates harsh weatherlandscape designer Claire Talbot, Sculpt Gardens www.sculptgardens.co.nzconditions. Proteas are very tolerant of salty coastalarchitectural specifier Gerrad Hall, Gerrad Hall Architects www.gha.nzsoil, this variety Pink Ice picks up the red accents ininterior designer Peta Tearle www.petatearle.comthe garden including the Resene Geronimo gatewords Cheree Morrison door. There are touches of purple around theimages Sally Tagggarden including Lavender and Geranium Rozanne (in the background). turn the page for an alternative look for ReseneResene Colorwood this gardenHalf Spanish White MataiClaire's garden design tips When building a house, landscaping is generally left until last. As a consequence, theres often little money in the budget. Starting early is much more seamless and can save money in the long run. Think of it like thisif gardens are a cupcake, the plants are sprinkles. The actual substance lies beneath; your layout should seamlessly accommodate the washing line, rubbish bins or boat parking by creating distinct areas for different activities. Select plants that have great coverit will help fill your space, stop weeds sneakingwax lyricalthrough and keep the budget in check. Grevillea is an excellent choice as it has a large spread of up to four to five metres. Protect concrete flooring with ReseneConsider the potential size of your plants and remember they will grow. Also, dontConcrete Wax, a waterborne clear satin plant just one or two. Limit your palette and purchase multiple (think 10 to 100) offinish which is ideal for concrete the same plant to create a garden that allows your eye to relax. surfaces with lots of foot traffic. Claire'sConsider how you use your gardendo you need room for children to run, orconcrete floor pairs well with the should that space be used for decking? Resene Colorwood Pitch Black used onIf building a new home, and planting a new garden give young plants a heightan internal wall panel and the ceiling in boost, by planting them in small raised mounds of earththis will make your gardenResene Half Spanish White.look more established. Garden banks can also help with drainage.ReseneReseneYou should design your garden based on your goalsis this your forever home or willDouble Spanish White Fogyou be selling within a few years? Plant accordingly; dream homes require planning,Resene Resene while short-term properties need to look good quickly. Pitch Black MingResene Geronimo74 75"