At home with Caitlin
Caitlin Crisp and her flatmates celebrate each episode of Project Runway NZ by opening a bottle of bubbles.
Project Runway NZ star Caitlin Crisp lives with her flatmates in a ‘‘feminine, fun and frilly’’ flat in Auckland’s Ponsonby, which she described as a 24/7 ‘‘sober dance party’’.
‘‘We are incredibly lucky to have this place and all that it came with,’’ Crisp said.
But on nights when Project Runway NZ screens, Crisp, 22, cracks open one of the 12 bottles of bubbly she bought to celebrate each episode.
The Karen Walker intern put together her NZ Fashion Week collection on the flat’s dining room table before a flatmate moved out, making way for a sewing room.
Communal living can be chaotic but the self-taught seamstress has learned a domestic trick in dealing with untidiness – out of sight, out of mind.
Describe your house in two sentences...
On the outside it’s a beautiful home but with the energy of my flatmates and a speaker system that makes it more like a 24/7 (sober) dance party.
Describe your style in three words...
Feminine, fun and frilly.
Where is your home and who lives there with you?
My home is in the heart of Ponsonby and I live there with two of the most amazing friends you’ll ever meet. Alice – who I went through boarding school with, and Cara – who I met through Alice.
What’s your favourite room/ area in the house, and why?
The lounge and dining area is my favourite space as we always end up there at the end of our day to eat dinner and to play games together until it’s time for bed.
Finish this sentence with an anecdote. ‘‘Once someone came to my door and…’’
I screamed! I always get such a fright when this one friend comes over because he creeps up and slaps the window to freak us out.
Your proudest DIY moment?
Turning the dining room into a studio space while I made my last collection for fashion week. We used to have a fourth flatmate so I haven’t always had the sewing room downstairs – I made the whole collection from our dining room table.
If my partner (landlord) would let me, I would get rid of...
Nothing, we are incredibly lucky to have this place.
Title of a book, film or television show that best describes the mood in your home?
The Little Rascals? White Chicks? Sweet Home Alabama Ponsonby Edition? Dirty Dancing? Too many to choose from.
Best money you have ever spent on the house?
The 12 bottles of bubbles lined up in our kitchen, one for every episode of Project Runway NZ.
Worst thing that’s ever gone wrong while entertaining?
You clearly haven’t met our mothers – we know how to throw a party.
One item I wish I had kept or not got rid of is?
Don’t know but I think I’ll miss the line-up of Champagne when that’s all gone, though.
Favourite piece of furniture?
Our massive couch, it’s so comfortable and we can fit everyone on it so it ticks all the boxes.
If I had $50k, what I would change about my house is...
Nothing. I’d much rather spend that on travel or clothes.
Which home habit annoys you the most?
Messiness.
What’s one domestic/ housework/gardening trick you’ve learnt over the years?
When living with others, if communal spaces are messy just throw people’s things in their rooms to get it out of sight and out of mind, it makes all the difference.
Project Runway NZ, TVNZ 2, Monday 7.30pm.