COASTAL HIDE AWAY
tina symmans admits she’s a “terrible collector of furniture”. Not a collector of terrible furniture, you understand – that’s an important distinction – but someone who just can’t resist buying treasures she comes across. It doesn’t help that her Hawke’s Bay home is just down the road from a shop selling French industrialstyle antiques. Much of that extra furniture has found a home in Tina’s newly renovated Crabtree Cottage. She hopes to use it as a bed and breakfast, although it’s been in such hot demand from family and friends that paying guests haven’t had much of a look in. (You can see it on bookabach.co.nz and holidayhouses.co.nz.)
Why do you love Te Awanga?
It’s a lovely little community and a popular destination for out-of-towners, because it’s close to the wineries and the bike trail, and the sea is just across the road.
What was your vision?
I have done a number of houses over the years and have always had a little image in my mind, a vision of something that was white, grey and black, and this little place was it. It needed to have a great bed and a fabulous bathroom – that’s what I always look for when I go away.
Tips for decorating a small space?
Don’t try to downsize all the furniture in a small home. I think the odd generous-sized piece actually makes the space feel bigger.
Any tense renovation moments?
The kitchen didn’t arrive until 9am on the day my first guests were due. I knew it would happen. I thought, “I bet I’ll have the flowers in the vase, the sheets on the bed and everything ready to go and I’ll still be waiting on the kitchen.” Luckily it arrived (and was fitted) two hours before the guests arrived.
Why open plan?
To make it more spacious. If I’d walled off the bedroom, I would’ve lost the lovely light. We get a bit precious about bedrooms, but I don’t think the bed needs to be hidden away.
What’s your favourite summer memory?
When my mum was alive, she came down to the Hawke’s Bay one summer and we had a friend deliver a whole bunch of crayfish. We filled the bath and had about seven crayfish in it. The kids were screaming and squealing when we had to “deal with the situation”.