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› View the Colour Choices book - choose colour with confidence and creativity
Resene colours look great at 60. The first factory produced a basic range of about six colours in Stipplecote, a cement-based paint. Today, with two Wellington-based factories, a string of Resene ColorShops throughout Australasia and the Resene Total Colour System, the palette on offer is almost endless... more
A family visit to Queensland provided the inspiration for Jo and Craig Howe's garden and pool, on their lifestyle block an hour's drive south of Auckland. Their brief to the landscape designer was unequivocal. "We wanted a low-maintenance garden, a pool with a waterfall, a spa and barbeque area"... more
The bedroom is a very personal space. It's a place of rest, relaxation and romance, and a room that probably reveals more about who we are as individuals than any other room in the house... more
The brushes are bought, the roller lies in wait in its tray, and the paint tins are just tempting you to lift the lids and unleash the colour inside... but first, take a look at the weather. Just what makes the ideal painting day? It's important to get it right... more
Breaking a world record in the New York City marathon is nothing next to the challenge Allison has set herself now. Takapuna Beach on Auckland's North Shore is a world away from where Allison won the Boston and New York marathons, but it's where she's preparing for a whole new campaign... more
When you're planning a small home renovation, finding a reputable, reliable builder who does quality work, is available and who doesn't charge the earth can seem a daunting task... more
When Fiona Abbott and Ross Parker bought their converted hall in 1999, the Wellington coastal suburb of Petone was just starting to come into its own, with city folk snapping up the turn-of-the-century houses, and delis and cafes following. While the bones of the place were fantastic the bathroom needed some attention... more
Ok, so I like golds and other strong colours - what does that say about me? I am tasteful, gracious and sensitive. I'm critical and difficult to please. I don't place much hope in dreams... more
It's been a while since Chris Pemberton was a professional chef - 16 years in fact - but she hasn't lost her old work habits. So, when she briefed designer Sandra Grummitt for the kitchen in her very contemporary new home, she knew exactly what would work for her and her teenage son... more
Event management is a little like interior design, only with much shorter lead-in times and far less permanence, according to Orange Productions company founder Stu Robertson. And on a slightly larger scale. The average interior designer, for example, wouldn't be expected to kit-out and then pack down six to 10 spaces in seven days... more
Rose & Heather director Martin Bell reckons the best furniture is the kind that has a story attached to it. "Good furniture lives in a family's home for years and each piece ends up with its own special history that's tied in with all the memories"... more
Low impact design (LID) is a phrase you'll increasingly hear mentioned. In broad terms, it means bringing nature into an urban environment. LID is a philosophy that reflects a shift in thinking. Instead of fitting land to suit a development, an LID approach fits the development to suit what the land can tolerate... more
You could say a council is to a renovation what a dentist is to a great smile - a necessary evil. However, by being organised and knowing exactly what your rights and obligations are, it needn't feel like pulling teeth... more
Most of us need to use a ladder at some time or another, whether to wash a window, trim an overhanging tree, or simply to clean the gutters. However, taking on even a simple chore on a ladder can result in serious injury, unless you adopt a few commonsense safety procedures... more
When homeowners are developing the brief for their ultimate home, they usually expect to take some time over the process. However, they don't usually have the luxury of 22 years to contemplate their section and make their plans. Dunedin nurse Helen and academic John did just that... more
A dilapidated villa sharing a section with a disused boot factory might not sound like your average dream home, but Andrew Wilson had an idea that it could be... more
Walk into any good textile showroom and it's like wandering into Aladdin's cave; a rich and varied treasure trove of colours, textures and shapes. Talk to those in the game, and colour-wise they're seeing more vibrancy mixed with neutrals in the next seasonal releases... more
A quick intro and delving into some interesting facts and trivia of some of the most common tools that you'll find in the average toolbox... more
Habitat is printed on environmentally responsible paper using environmentally responsible ink.
From issue 8 onwards, copies flow wrapped and sent to Resene Cardholders are flow wrapped in environmentally responsible material from epi-global. This product when discarded in soil in the presence of microorganisms, moisture and oxygen will biodegrade decomposing into simple materials found in nature, as described in ASTM D6954-04.