As the warmer months come along there will be many Channel Mag readers who will be looking to undertake enhancements to their homes and properties. So we thought September would a good time to start highlighting the possibilities with our focus for the issue being ‘At Home’ and ’Spring is Here’. We put some questions to five locals involved in different businesses in the home sector – covering colours, pools, building, renovating and interiors. Their answers provide interesting reading.
Brenda Ngatai – Resene
Brenda Ngatai is one part of the Resene Residential Colour Consultant team, she covers Auckland North and North/West. Her role is to meet with homeowners either in store or onsite and help choose colours for their homes, she says that the colour service is always appreciated. “We offer great support and advice with Resene colour, wallpaper and Resene product knowledge.” Channel Magazine talked to Brenda about colour trends and her role at Resene, why she’s passionate about what she does and looking forward to summer swims at Narrowneck!
Channel Mag: What’s hot for Spring and Summer in your world?
Brenda Ngatai: If you have a project in mind and with Spring arriving, this is the time to prepare and get started for spring cleaning, with a build-up of the different types of moss and mould and lichen created over the winter months, our stores are the one stop shop! We have everything from Resene Moss and Mould Killer to Resene Timber and Deck Wash to get your deck ready for re-coating. Our staff are ready to get you sorted in preparation for your project and can help with everything from advice on how to prep a surface to the products and accessories you need to make the job easier.
CM: What is the key trend you have seen evolving over the past two years that you are excited about?
BN: For a while now grey tones have been hugely popular and in fact they still are, before the greys it was beige, these are still been used to a degree, but over the last two years, myself and my colour colleagues are noticing homeowners choosing colour for their exteriors, nothing too bright or sharp, more subtle, grey but with a definite undertone of colour.
CM: Is there a current product you are working with that you think Channel Mag readers should know about?
BN: There’s a great Resene product called Resene FX Faux Rust Effect, it’s a waterborne coating system, that creates a rust style effect – for exteriors, it’s a great product to use and showcase in main garden areas or any outdoor living areas.
CM: During this Covid19 period what have the challenges been for your business and how are you responding to them?
BN: During Lockdown Level four all of our stores close, but a lot of us are available through our Resene website, www.resene.co.nz/techexpert if there are any questions you have related to paint or colour, whatever it may be, let us know and one of us will come back to you with expert advice.
CM: Who do you follow on social media or online for inspiration and why? Feel free to include website links or social media accounts.
BN: Currently I am in love with three designers from different parts of the world, there’s a beautiful couple, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent (both interior designers), they have a TV show from America called Nate and Jeremiah by design, they do renovations. What I love about them is they take all the clients needs on board and aim to deliver exactly that, they have great taste and style and they are realistic and practical. They lay out the plan then explain step by step how they approach it. They have two adorable children which they talk about on screen with such honestly how they juggling the demands of family life and work life – but the end result for the client is always amazing.
My second (and most favourite) is ‘Escape to the Chateau’, a TV Series with a new season currently playing. Angel and Dick Strawbridge sold up their small two-bedroom flat in Essex and brought a dilapidated (but so gorgeous!) 19th century French chateau. With a small budget to start with you see Angel and Dick’s genius attitude, passion and love unfold over five years, breathing life back to this beautiful Chateau. Angel is an original/vintage/bespoke designer, she follows the beat of her own drum. Dick is an engineer, TV personality, fabulous cook and ex-Army officer, with their two beautiful children, they are truly inspirational.
CM: This Summer I am looking forward to…
BN: My garden producing delicious summer veg, setting up the back decking area, under the plum tree lit up with fairy lights, and good shade, BBQs with family and friends, drinking Mojito’s ,big sun hats, and late afternoon swims at Narrow Neck beach.
Visit: www.resene.co.nz
Paulene Olliver – Auto Pool Covers
Paulene Olliver and her family run Covers 4 Pools NZ, supplying automatic swimming pool covers focused on safety and reducing the running costs of a pool. Paulene’s business is family run with her husband Charles and son Shayne also involved as technicians. The family manufacture, supply and install fully automatic pool covers. She says the business was set up to help pool builders and pool owners throughout New Zealand to find the most reliable automatic pool cover on the market. Paulene has been in the pool industry since 1996 and she talks to Channel Mag about the trends, the automation of pool covers and her summer plans for the months ahead.
Channel Magazine: What’s hot for Spring and Summer in your world?
Paulene Olliver: Our solar profiles heat the pool over the summer period while allowing you to turn your heat pump off (as solar is sun powered). We predict these are going to be popular over the next little while.
CM: What is the key trend you have seen evolving over the past two years that you are excited about?
PO: A trend at present is our roll out, roll under slattered covers. These covers have increased in popularity over the last few years and our business has really grown as the popularity of these has increased, this is a fully motorized system with the push of a button, they are very stylish and sleek.
CM: Is there a current product you are working with that you think Channel Mag readers should know about?
PO: We are always on the lookout overseas for new and improved covers and systems, we are pleased to say at present we believe are on top the of latest technology available.
CM: During this COVID-19 period, what have the challenges been for your business and how are you responding to them?
PO: We are obviously unable to manufacture and install for clients over lockdown periods putting us back on production, in addition the long wait times for goods to arrive from overseas is something we have had to deal with.
CM: This Summer I am looking forward to…
PO: Introducing our new profiles for the pool covers and outdoor BBQ’s with family and a few get away’s touring our country!
Visit: www.covers4pools.co.nz
Alex Coburn – QPC Build Group
Alex Coburn is the Director of QPC Build Group, a multi award winning team of Registered Master Builders who have been building homes for the last 15 years in Auckland. If you live on the Shore, there’s a high chance you’ve seen QPC’s signage on a fence as you’re walking past or their distinctive black vehicles. Alex says their philosophy is “excellence in all we put our hands to while endeavouring to add value through careful, transparent management of our projects”. The team believes in partnering with great architects, tradesmen, and suppliers to deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients whilst strengthening relationships that ensure quality outcomes for all. With QPC, clients get a hand-picked team of experienced builders and project managers who look to add value to every project they work on. They have a passion for architecture and bespoke design, COVID-19 has seen them getting innovative as materials became harder to get and Alex talks about their use of concrete from both a practical and design point of view in this interview. Alex gives Channel Mag some insights on building trends for spring and summer and the challenges COVID brings to their business.
Channel Mag: What’s hot for Spring and Summer in your world?
Alex Coburn: Lately, we have been doing a lot of precast concrete on our sites. The way that the precast concrete works is that the boxes are built to size offsite and the concrete is then poured into the boxes. Once the concrete has set the wood is removed exposing the concrete panels, these panels are then transported to site and installed on site by a crane. Although using precast concrete panels can be more expensive up front, there is little to no maintenance ongoing like there is with traditional wood products such as pine and cedar.
CM: What is the key trend you have seen evolving over the past two years that you are excited about?
AC: The concrete panels are being used as feature walls inside the homes we are building also which not only give great indoor-outdoor flow, they also add real texture to your home over a more traditional painted gib wall.
CM: Is there a current product you are working with that you think Channel Mag readers should know about?
AC: We are currently doing two large bespoke homes on Milford Beach using precast concrete panels and it is striking, stay tuned for the full profile write up on this in Channel once the project is completed!
CM: During this COVID-19 period, what have the challenges been for your business and how are you responding to them?
AC: The biggest challenges we have faced like the rest of the construction industry is the supply of materials. Everyone is facing long lead times with all types of materials but especially pine and cedar. This makes concrete a great option for building as it is all made in NZ so currently more readily available to the market.
CM: Who do you follow on social media or online for inspiration and why?
AC: We follow a large range of architects and home inspirations brands on social media to spark ideas, keep up with the latest trends and check in on what others in the industry are doing.
CM: This Summer I am looking forward to…
AC: Seeing some of our largest scale new home builds completed and handing over the keys to the families to enjoy their new homes!
Follow @qpcbuildgroup on Instagram, or visit www.qpcbuilders.co.nz
Brett Stuart – SO Renovate
Shore local, Brett Stuart, is the General Manager of SO Renovate, a company that specialises in renovations and recladding and has recently been acquired by QPC Build Group. With over 14 years in the industry, Brett and his large team of dedicated staff, including inhouse quantity surveyors and dedicated project managers, guide their clients through every stage of the build so when you start your project you can be confident that the entire process is under control and your vision will be realised down to the last nail. Brett speaks to Channel Mag about the business, partnering with QPC and his predictions for renovation trends this season and beyond.
Channel Mag: What’s hot for Spring and Summer in your world?
Brett Stuart: We are finding with summer around the corner that people are starting to think about outdoor entertaining and making their homes work better for them. Lots of clients are starting to look at bigger decking, indoor outdoor flow by opening their kitchen and dining spaces and putting in swimming pools.
CM: During this COVID-19 period, what have the challenges been for your business and how are you responding to them?
BS: SO Renovate was acquired by QPC Build Group in the middle of COVID but have found that the work is coming in and clients are keen to renovate and create new spaces in their homes especially since travelling overseas is so limited, people seem to be wanting to invest into their homes and making them a better place to enjoy with their friends and family.
CM: Who do you follow on social media or online for inspiration and why?
BS: We follow lots of architects and interior designers on social media and other platforms to make sure our designs and products we are using are the latest and greatest.
CM: This Summer I am looking forward to…
BS: Helping people get the most out of their homes!
Visit: www.sorenovate.co.nz or @so_renovate on Instagram.
Wendy Calder – Calder Interiors
Wendy Calder owns and operates Calder Interiors, a team of Lighting Designers, Manufacturers and Interior Designers who are based in Birkenhead and offer a design and manufacturing service in commercial and residential lighting. They specialise in all lighting requirements, large or small, from hotel refits to a standout lighting feature in homes across the Shore. Wendy started her business 25 years ago, when she says she saw an opening in the market for manufacturing locally made lampshades and lamp bases. They moved to Birkenhead Point 16 years ago so they could accommodate larger projects and in the last five years Wendy’s business has diversified to cover full interior design. In the last two years, Calder Interiors have also been participating in a craft market on the third Saturday in the month in conjunction with the Highbury House markets and Architectural Movie nights. Wendy says she’s always had a passion for New Zealand manufacturing, attention to detail and pushing the boundaries in design and talks to Channel Mag about the business, the trends she is forecasting for next season and what’s next for Calder Interiors.
Channel Mag: What’s hot for Spring and Summer in your world?
Wendy Calder: Repurposing old treasures and turning them in to lights and adding an exciting light bulb.
CM: What is the key trend you have seen evolving over the past two years that you are excited about?
WC: With more time spent at home, fresh interior design, light features, cushions, and reupholstering beautiful furniture are trends we are seeing. Bringing the outside in with lots more greenery – like most goods, you buy good faux plants and they last forever, great to mix real flowers with faux in my opinion! Our cushion bay at Calder Interiors is full and you can choose your own inner whether feather or dacron.
CM: Is there a current product you are working with that you think Channel Mag readers should know about?
WC: Outdoor IP rated tall floor lamp bases with metal mesh to bring light out to balconies and with the faux plants this can make a fabulous extended living space. New Zealand manufactured metal mesh has been very exciting for us to design large light installations with our Lighting engineer – any size is never a problem!
CM: During this COVID-19 period, what have the challenges been for your business and how are you responding to them?
WC: COVID-19 has shown us how important village life is. We have a very successful side of our business where we refurbish and on sell beautiful pieces to a new life. COVID has given us time at home to relook at our surroundings and see how we can update our beloved pieces to the current day. We also give a plan where the client may have lost their partner and cannot see their way forward and we help with a downsize plan for their furniture, homewares etc. When COVID came, we were overwhelmed by the loyalty of our clients. We are seeing a move to New Zealand manufactured products rather than importing. We have purchased our own framing machines for our lighting to enable us to enhance and create our own frames totally inhouse making production more efficient.
CM: Who do you follow on social media or online for inspiration and why?
WC: We are such great Instagram lovers and post regularly! You can follow us on Calder Interiors. We follow Seneca Textiles, James Dunlop Textiles, Ivan Bulling Furniture manufacturers in the South Island, Icon, Radford Textiles, Unique Fabrics, Warwick Fabrics and a number of Interior Designers and Architects and Artists like Andrea Ventling.
CM: This Summer I am looking forward to…
WC: I am looking forward to bright colours and embellishments – pushing the boundaries of design with printing on linens, embroidery on fabrics and making special light features. Over summer, we are off to discover the wonderful East Cape area of our beautiful country.
Visit: www.calderinteriors.co.nz
