DIY

The first things Pip and Will did after moving in was rip up the old carpets, replace the chipboard floors with reclaimed timber and carpet the living spaces. Heavy damask wallpaper was stripped away and white paint liberally applied to the walls.

Because the couple were happy with the basic layout of their new home, there was no need for a large-scale reconfiguration of space. Instead, they reused existing spaces more efficiently to suit them and their daughters.

“We relocated the family bathroom to the old laundry, moved the laundry to a toilet and turned the former main bathroom into our ensuite by blocking access from the hall,” says Pip.

Will also opened up the space between the kitchen, living and dining areas, moved the hot-water cylinder outside and blocked a door from the kitchen to the hallway, to create a linen cupboard. A window in the dining room was replaced with French doors, while windows in the kitchen were enlarged to take advantage of the jaw-dropping views of Wellington Harbour.

Last summer, Will finished building a 40-square-metre deck at the rear of the property, neatly covering over the previously unusable, boggy garden.

Indy’s minimalist teepee and Bella’s gorgeous upcycled drawers create small touches of magic.