2 Small packages

Gail loves small things and treasures possessions that are almost childlike in their simplicity. She has always favoured homes that look like a child’s drawing: a square box, pointy roof, a door, a window and a chimney to one side. And that is exactly what she has got. “We just added the picket fence and two children,” Gail laughs. “This place appeals for its size and sense of simplicity.”

A planned one-year adventure in the UK stalled renovations for slightly longer than expected. Gail and Cory rented out their home and set off on their OE in 2002. When they returned six years later with baby Tilly and half a container full of possessions, it was inevitable they would move back into their treasured first home and carry on where they’d left off.

“I have always thought of this as our forever home,” says Gail. “Some people thought we were overcapitalising with all the work we have done, but I don’t agree. If you’re doing improvements because you love the place, then you are doing it for yourself not for resale, and that makes it okay.”

Their time in the UK, where double glazing and central heating are the norm, influenced their decision to replace all the wooden-framed windows with double glazing. “The house had 16 very draughty windows and six sash windows were completely painted shut. We made the decision to invest in some quality joinery,” says Gail. However, she admits they were a little reluctant to replace the front bay window at first, but after seeing what all the other new windows looked like in situ, they decided to go ahead.