Bold & bountiful A cosy Clive cottage
This couple’s love of flora, fauna and far-flung places infuses their cosy Clive cottage, which is a feast of colour and texture
TIME TO DOWNSIZE
These days, life can often feel hectic and overly complicated. Some say the key to a simpler existence is to get rid of all that is unnecessary so you’re left only with what you value, and this is exactly what Kimberley Crisp and Liane Sanderson decided to do two years ago. After 16 happy years in Napier, they sold their large two-storey house and downsized to a tiny cottage 10km away in the small town of Clive.
The couple were initially looking at a house in the seaside village of Haumoana, but when that door closed on them another fortuitously opened. Kimberley’s sister heard about the cottage and encouraged them to check out.
“Its proximity to the main road nearly put us off as we were worried about our animal family,” recalls Kimberley. “But we decided to look anyway and fell instantly in love.” Although tiny, the two-bedroom home boasted an enormous, lush and leafy backyard – perfect for the couple’s cats and dog to frolic in – and also had a one-bedroom studio for guests. The additional space in the front yard to park their beloved house bus, Billie Holiday, made the decision to buy an easy one.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Upon arrival, Kimberley and Liane immediately painted their bedroom and the bright orange laundry a fresh white. Then they heard their neighbours wanted to get rid of a houseload of floral Axminster carpet. Bev from Camwey Carpet Overlocking helped them transform the carpet into a series of mats for the cottage, the bus and their sisters’ homes.
The couple then filled the house with their favourite items of furniture and accessories collected over the years. “We like to create a ‘sensory banquet’ and surround ourselves with beautiful and meaningful things,” says Kimberley. “Handmade soy candles, flowers by the bucketload, great music and homegrown veges.” Bags and baskets have become a favourite item to collect, perhaps reflecting their love of travel, and you’ll find these dotted around the house as both storage and decor. Photos and mementos from Kimberley and Liane’s travels are also prevalent and help transport them back to the places they’ve loved.
“We like to create a ‘sensory banquet’ and surround ourselves with beautiful and meaningful things”