Elbow grease and op shopping
My favourite room Megan Burrell’s funky Waikanae living room was styled with a small budget and a whole lot of hard, hards-on work.
Megan Burrell’s house is easy to find in her leafy Waikanae street: it’s the one with the polka dot letterbox, a hint of the creative delights to come.
Like her mailbox, her house has been transformed with dash rather than cash. Not to mention plenty of elbow grease and decades of collecting second-hand treasures in the hope they would one day have a permanent home.
‘‘We had rented forever and moved every year,’’ says the single mother of two, looking around her sunny living room.
‘‘I never thought this would happen. I still can’t believe it’s mine.’’ When her daughters left home two years ago she used her Kiwisaver funds, plus the Kiwisaver Homestart grant to purchase her first house after 25 years of renting.
It was her parents who found the place, a 1940s one-bedroom cottage with a 1980s addition.
‘‘They said they could imagine me here.’’ The dated interior wasn’t quite such a perfect match.
It was ‘‘floral on floral’’ with ruched drapes, brown lino and tired pink and green carpets, but that didn’t deter Megan. ‘‘I’ve always loved interior design and I had a vision for the house. I had a ball redecorating.’’
The floral wallpaper was the first to go. With family help, the interior was painted white in just two weeks. All the internal doors were spray painted jet black. Under the carpet in the lounge were wide rimu boards, which were restored.
The transformed living room encapsulates Megan’s rustic, industrial look, furnished with special finds collected over many years, as well as curtains inherited from the previous owner and metal light shades and a green and orange table that she bought years ago from a second-hand store in Thorndon. She relished the opportunity to hang her treasures on the walls at last.
Did you have a vision for the living area?
I didn’t really have a vision, it just happened that it is ‘‘animal’’ themed; I had the deer head first then came across the horse and cow prints purchasing without thinking about any theme eventuating.
What are the key features of this space?
Siron, the stag’s head; best purchase, he’s from an antiques shop in Nelson.
The Silver Highlander print is another; he is the first thing you see as you step up into the living area. I was going to remove the artificial fire surround, but I’m pleased I was convinced to keep it; I painted it high gloss Resene ‘Black Jack’, which turned it into a feature and changed the whole feel of the room.
What do you like best about your living area?
The big doors opening onto the veranda, the garden outlook... it’s the hub of the house.
I like that it’s spacious, which makes it a good area for gettogethers, especially when and if we get summers and the doors are open.
Do you have any DIY tips?
You can do anything yourself, really; it doesn’t need to involve lots of money and it is very satisfying. I love getting stuck in. A coat of paint changes the feel of any room. You do need a few tools – a hammer and nails, a saw, and I love my drill and my sewing machine.
What’s your decorating tip for other homeowners (or renters)?
Buy all those little finds as you go along; one day there will be a home for them.