A Country Home: Inspired by Nature / At home with artist Kate Calder
A rural country cottage is cleverly transformed into a roomy country house, not only centralising the work on the farm but also producing a more creative
space for its residents.
Artist and farming couple Kate and Duncan Calder are well known in the Hurunui District having moved house often as their family has grown, or as farming demands; each property benefitting from what is quietly known as the Calder touch!
Five years ago the couple and their three children, Tom, Skye and Fred, who are now respectively aged 20, 17 and 14, were running two adjoining properties with two farmhouses. They needed to consolidate to one house but at the time it was a difficult decision. One had views up towards Montrose and the Lyford Basin, the other was quiet and peaceful with big trees, devoid of any traffic noise. They chose the latter.
‘When we first arrived at Wai-iti (meaning “little water” in Māori), the house was very small and dark. Trees had been planted close to the house, so we took them out, painted the interior white to lighten it up, and removed internal walls to open up the living space. But what we loved most was being in the centre of our farm, which was much more timeefficient,’ explains Kate.
The original house had three bedrooms and a lean-to; they
quickly removed the third bedroom to improve the cramped sitting room space but then they only had two bedrooms for a family of five – somewhat challenging!
‘We enlisted the help of Jeff O’Donnell, a local builder who’s been fantastic,’ Kate explains. ‘He understood exactly what we were trying to achieve, to extend the house but to keep the lived-in look. We made a few changes along the way, used old materials like the big teak double doors at the new entrance and old beams wherever we could. We’re not shy of change!’
Over the ensuing six-month period, the house was transformed from a small cottage of about 200 square metres to a larger family home of 350 square metres, everything opening to the garden.
‘It works really well; the true test is when everyone is at home. I love the long rectangular shape we have achieved, and the entrance which was originally near the kitchen is now in the middle of the house, separating the living and sleeping areas. I’d certainly do this again,’ Kate adds.
‘Although the garden had good established bones, the
garden beds were bare so I’ve added hedging, transplanted loads of plants like Agapanthus from the old house, planted a row of Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ in front of the house and created a picking garden. It’s so important for me to be able to pick flowers for our home and give to friends,’ says Kate cheerfully.
‘Gardening is definitely one of my passions – I love creating new areas and watching plants grow into how I imagine, although some might get moved 10 times,’ she laughs.
‘We are both rural people from rural families so we are used to making the most of whatever the environment has to offer. And the children have all grown up with the love of the outdoors; Fred especially loves being near his chooks, he has Orpingtons and Leghorn varieties and he’s delighted when he can supply me with a dozen homegrown eggs for the kitchen!
‘Our home is a real sanctuary for them; Fred and Skye are never far from the ponies, and Tom, when home from university, loves exploring the hills searching for those ever elusive sparrow hawks who live high up in the hills, taking photos, or helping us moving stock on the farm.’
Duncan farms Saxon Merinos and Angus cattle, he also dairy supports over the winter months, fattens lambs, and is often found creating something practical for their home. He sourced the heavy greywacke rocks at the front of the house, which form the retaining wall, and with the old sleeper steps it creates an impressive front entrance.
Kate added the native flaxes, grasses and Marlborough rock daisies in between the rock crevices, and the result is reminiscent of a Marlborough Sounds bach complete with the ensuing birdsong.
On either side of the entrance sit two huge metal baskets filled with grey river stones, which Kate sourced through Trade Me from the Sanitarium factory in Christchurch where they were originally used for sterilising jars. She also found two big double doors made from teak at Obelisk in
‘We are both rural people from rural families so we are used to making the most of whatever the environment has to offer.’
Christchurch, which she was originally going to use as bench tops but they found their way into the alteration as the main doors, and she loves them.
The kitchen was one of the biggest challenges and so it was decided to paint it all completely white rather than install a brand new kitchen system. ‘My lovely neighbour and I turned it around together in a few days. It was fun, and it’s perfect for our needs.’
Once her morning farm errands are done, Kate retreats to the studio where she is found concentrating on her latest art commission. For five years she ran the Rocking Frog Café at Waikari with her business partner, and then on her own for five more, but for now she is happy painting at home and exhibiting nationally.
‘I’ve been painting all my life and I get my inspiration from everything around me. I love colour, animals and landscapes. I’ve been so busy since giving up the Rocking Frog Café and I do miss all the people contact, especially the connection with all the artists, but for now I am happy with my own commission work with plenty to look forward to.’
It’s hard to imagine how Kate fits it all in with a big garden and farm to run. ‘I try and paint in the middle of the day when it’s too hot outside. And to get myself in the zone,’ she shares with a shy smile, ‘I turn the phones on silent, ramp up the music and paint away! It’s far more fun than moving break fences in the winter too!’