Blog

In the market for a new bathroom? Explore these four bathroom designs to find a look you love that also works for your lifestyle. Moody industrial Grey granite wall tiles are the design star of this bathroom, creating a look that’s functional and restful yet sleek and sophisticated. If you like urban style, consider aRead more

From modern geometrics to exotic eclectics, the latest in wow-worthy wallpapers from Resene ColorShops are pretty, witty and gritty. Faux natural, glitz and nature are key trends for 2017, with metallics, botanics, stylish weathered effects and patterns with blurred edges playing a starring role. Nature-inspired Floral patterns continue to bloom, from large leafy botanicals toRead more

Planning and designing an addition or renovation to a home can be challenging. Because there is already an existing building, whatever you do must complement what is there. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to imitate the design of the existing building, but any new addition needs to be sympathetic – and this is whereRead more

There are so many children’s bedrooms coordinated to perfection by adults these days! Yes, kids’ rooms are a great place for grown-ups to experiment design-wise as we can be more creative; however the style of the room should still be led by the child’s needs and interests. Here Shelley Ferguson shares five ways to create kids’Read more

When it comes to buying a property, the term “due diligence” is bandied about a lot. That means doing your official research into the property you’re interested in, and top of the list of recommended research is usually a LIM report. But what is it, and why do you need one? A LIM or LandRead more

Shelley Ferguson, editor-in-chief of Your Home & Garden magazine and co-host of The Block NZ, sat down for a Facebook Live Q&A with realestate.co.nz. Sarah from Tauranga asked Shelley about decorating a rental property so it feels like your own – while keeping the landlord happy and the walls free of nails. Shelley’s three topRead more

The New Zealand Building Guide magazine has been helping Kiwis design and construct their dream home for more than 10 years. Over that time, they’ve picked up some tips. The biggest tip? Take your time. Refine, rework, rethink. The more time upfront at the design stage, the fewer changes you’ll want to make during construction, andRead more

Every build is different so you won’t find anyone who can give you an accurate ballpark figure (a contradiction in terms) and this page is definitely not it. The more accurate you want, the more work and detail you need to put in. It’s so hard to create an accurate guide that Ministry of Business,Read more

Renovations, whether big (adding a new room) or small (new light fittings) can be a great way to increase the value of your home. Often, significant value can be added to a property through relatively minor changes. However, carefully choosing what kind of renovations to undertake is crucial. Carrying out unnecessary work can sometimes incurRead more

To help you maintain control over your house construction – and be another set of eyes for mistakes – buildingguide.co.nz has put together a comprehensive construction checklist. Some of this you can do, some of this your designer or builder can check off on your behalf. Building a new home is a big undertaking –Read more