From ‘crumbling mess’ to Home finalist
THEY say you should buy the worst house on the best street. Dunedin couple Rachel Covey and Josh Nicholls tended to focus more on the former, rather than the latter, even if that meant buying ‘‘a crumbling mess’’.
‘‘We thrive off it. What’s the worst house? Where can we find it and what can we do with it?’’ Ms Covey said.
‘‘She’s not joking,’’ Mr Nicholls said.
The crumbling mess in question — complete with holes in the floor and walls that arms could go through — was in Green Island where the subsequent transformation has been nothing short of remarkable.
Ms Covey is a finalist in the Home interior design excellence colour awards, one of 16 finalists across five categories, for the work she did on her own home. The winner will be announced at a function in Auckland later this month.
From a young age, interior design, including the creative process, was a passion. She would build huts and decorate them with fabrics and beautiful items from around the home.
‘‘I was always intrigued by the structural element of the design and focused on how I could create walls out of fitted sheets and Sellotape,’’ she said.
Originally from England, Ms Covey moved to Dunedin with her family when she was 15. Not realising her passion could be a career, she left school and got a job at a finance company in the city.
But she could never quite find ‘‘where to slot in’’ for her career and, after a few years, decided to study interior design.
After about a decade in the industry, she launched her own business Noir Interior Design about 12 months ago.
While launching a business during a global pandemic could be seen as a risky move, Covid19 had changed the way many people approached their lives and homes.
‘‘People are realising they don’t just want things that last six months to 12 months. They want quality . . . and looks and designs that last a lifetime,’’ she said.
The fastpaced fashion industry was changing and interior design ‘‘absolutely falls into that’’, she said.
People also wanted to make their house a home and stamp their own personality on it.
Having spent so much time at home during lockdowns, they were also realising they did not have to live with things like leaky roofs or squeaky floor boards.
At Noir, Ms Covey said her focus was on designing ‘‘beautiful spaces’’ with environmentally sustainable practices while delivering on style, luxury, durability and reduction of waste and energy.
That included reducing carbon emissions, energy and water waste and helping clients ‘‘to live a healthier, greener life’’.
While substantial work was required on her own home, it was also about preserving the heritage value of the original 80yearold building, and the final outcome was one the couple both loved and were proud of.
‘‘Why buy a house with character and take [away] all the character?’’, she said.
She loved character and surrounding herself with things that made her happy, that represented her, her personality and her family.
‘‘There’s a story behind everything,’’ she explained, pointing to the eclectic display in the living area.
‘‘It’s truly my personality.’’
Asked to describe that personality, Mr Nicholls said his bridetobe was bubbly, colourful and funny. And despite her penchant for colour — something very evident in the couple’s home — ironically, she only ever wore black.
Ms Covey said she also liked to make people smile. Spending time with clients and finding out about ‘‘what makes them tick’’ allowed her to ensure their personalities were reflected in their homes, rather than sticking to trends.
Ms Covey believed interior design was a misunderstood profession, saying a good designer needed to have knowledge of construction and an understanding of why things were built the way they were, alongside the materials used which could be affected by light or even gas.
She was both overwhelmed and honoured to have been named a finalist in the Home awards and she was proud to represent Dunedin, a city that had claimed her heart.
The winner of each Home category will receive a prize valued at $10,000 and the winning projects will feature in the FebruaryMarch issue of the magazine.
The awards seek to recognise outstanding design in three distinct areas of the home — kitchen, bathroom and living.
Another Dunedin business, Steadfast Joinery, was also a finalist and she had contacted the joinery business and suggested they ‘‘come together to celebrate’’ if either was successful.
‘‘It’s cool to have that relationship with someone as excited about the awards as we are,’’ she said.
When the couple bought their house, it had two bedrooms. Now, through ‘‘jiggling walls’’ and being smart with space, it had three bedrooms.
Not content to rest on their laurels, the couple were keen to buy another rundown home and see what they could do with it.
It was shaping up to be a busy year, including their own wedding, the impending nuptials proving the catalyst for the launch of another business — wedding and events hire company Nicholls and Co.
When the couple got engaged last year and Ms Covey started planning her wedding, she found items she wanted to hire for the event — ‘‘that represent our personality and colours’’ — were not available.
Now other couples could hire the likes of decorations, lighting, Mr Nicholls’ collection of retro arcade machines, furniture and giant marquee letter lights, available in Mr and Mr, Mrs and Mrs and Mr and Mrs.
Mr Nicholls — ‘‘a jack of all trades’’ — was an integral part of the businesses, whether that was building a portable bar or movable wall, or looking after the heavy lifting and logistics.
And the third member of the team was Barry, the couple’s very friendly dog whose official title was chief puppy officer — or CPI.
‘‘It’s a key role,’’ Mr Nicholls said.
‘‘He keeps people happy with cuddles,’’ Ms Covey added.