BEST BUDGET

Crisp cabinetry and a colour update give this perfect country kitchen a fresh new feel

Nestled in between Napier and Hastings and bordering the Ngaruroro River is Liz and Gary Spence’s country cottage. This cosy home’s kitchen transformation involved a fresh lick of paint plus new cabinets, benchtop and flooring – all for just $7000.

THE KITCHEN

Liz and Gary love getting stuck in and doing things themselves but they did call the experts when it came to their cabinetry and benchtop installation. “We also added modern conveniences such as soft-close drawers, but stayed true to the original cottage style of the home,” says Liz.

ON A BUDGET

The DIY-loving duo say they enjoy creating something special on a shoestring. For example, they bought their old black stove from an opshop in Napier many years ago and installed it where the original stove would have been. “I used to cook on it when our children were small and it kept the home very cosy in winter. We no longer use it, but it still looks lovely.”

Liz values the way her kitchen welcomes loved ones. “I love to cook for family and friends, who gather round the oak table in the adjacent dining room,” she says. “My children, and now my grandson, love to sit and paint at the breakfast bar. The view of the garden is perfect for a morning cuppa and watching the seasons come and go. I love the cottagey, rustic style.”

STYLING

The seagrass matting was an original feature and has been lovingly replaced. “It used to be the cheapest form of floor covering but now it’s expensive!” says Liz. “We used offcuts from a friend’s house and stitched them together with a sack needle. We also added new lino around the cooking area.”

Pieces of Willow pattern, Burleigh and Royal Staffordshire china, along with Tony Sly pottery, adorn the exposed shelves and create a warm, inviting and rustic vibe. The door handles came from Heritage Hardware in Hastings and the tapware is from Foreno in Whangarei.

Liz says she loves their kitchen as it is but can’t help perusing antique and secondhand shops in case she finds something perfect. “The kitchen is always evolving. Pieces which have special meaning go in the kitchen display and I love how my constantly evolving collection tells a story,” she says.

“I LOVE HOW MY CONSTANTLY EVOLVING COLLECTION TELLS A STORY”

“The kitchen walls used to be all-white but we painted them in Resene ‘Coral’, a soft browny pastel. I like the mellow mood of earth tones. We have continued the colour throughout the house.”