Deck the halls and everything else with Christmas cheer
THERE is very little floor space in Susan Haslam’s Auckland house that isn’t covered in some form of Christmas decoration.
The festivities begin outside the New Lynn home with rainbow reindeer, continue in the doorway with giant toy soldiers, past the motion sensor Santa, and into the living room which has a different theme in every direction.
Colours pop out from all parts of the room, but not just the usual green and red. Velvet golds and purples dress the almost lifesized Santa and the ‘‘Christmas countess’’ mannequin is surrounded inwhite roses.
The room is a culmination of weeks of work from married business partners Daa Hempelis and Kelly Hearsey-Hempelis, known as KreativeKaos, who dressed the entirety of their adopted mother’s downstairs in festive decorations.
The work was done for two reasons: to honour the five years since Haslam’s husband, Geoff, passed away, and to raise money for the hospicewhich took care of him in his last days, Hempelis said.
Thousands of individual pieces come together to make up what could be the most Christmassy house in Auckland.
‘‘It’s just special ... I feel very lucky,’’ Haslam said.
The rooms have only just been completely finished, she said, and often she did not know what was going to be added next until it was sitting in her living room.
The Narnia-inspired lampposts are a favourite, she said, as is the ‘‘Christmas countess’’.
The KreativeKaos duo work on inspiration that’s gathered anywhere from supermarkets or a 3am realisation.
‘‘It’s the look on people’s faces when people come and see it,’’ Kelly said.
‘‘That’s the thank-you,’’ Daa finished.
Haslam and Hempelis met about seven years ago when Hempelis moved just down the road, and they bonded over gardening.
When Geoff died just a few years later, Hempelis was a huge support in keeping her spirits up, she said.
Just a few weeks after her bereavement, Haslam suffered a heart attack and had to have a heart bypass surgery. Again, Hempelis was there providing cheer throughout.
During Daa and Kelly’s wedding, theywrote into their vows that they would like Haslam to be their adopted mother.
Since then, they have been creating bits and pieces to make Haslam’s house special.
Even the talkative cat, Ruby, has a little custom hideaway upstairs.
Family, friends and neighbourswill be the ones to
It’s the look on people’s faces when people come and see it ... That’s the thank you.’ KREATIVEKAOS COUPLE DAA HEMPELIS AND KELLY HEARSEY-HEMPELIS
get a look at the exclusive house, with all koha going to hospice, which Haslam volunteers for.
Her husband, who was originally from the UK, was taken care of by hospice up until his death, and she was given support afterwards as she dealt with the loss.
Asked what he would think if he could see the living room, Haslam replied, ‘‘bloody hell’’, putting on her best British accent.