COMING UP ROSES
Hard work and savvy budgeting has helped this first-time homeowner transform her ’70s brick unit one room at a time
A ’70s brick unit is transformed by a first-time homeowner, whose efforts she likened to her own version of The Block NZ
When Rebecca Hall clapped eyes on the 53sqm 1970s Huntly brick unit in New Plymouth, she saw the opportunity to star in her very own The Block NZ, or perhaps more aptly, “Bec’s Block NZ”. With a limited budget and help from her teammates – family and friends – she has transformed the once worn-down unit into a bright and welcoming first home.
When did you buy your house? I brought the house in 2019 through a private sale. I liked that it was small and would be low maintenance for myself. It meant that whatever I did would not be too much work to handle on my own – and the location was a plus.
Tell us about the buying process. It was a private sale. Family friends of ours own the unit next door and told me about it. We got in touch with the owner, had one quick viewing and decided to buy it. The process was hassle-free – the owner named the price and I was happy with it, so we worked through the process with our lawyers.
What were the main parts of the house you wanted to fix? I really wanted the whole house fixed and renovated because it was so dated and rundown. But I had to prioritise the key rooms as my budget wouldn’t allow for me to do it all at once. The bedroom, lounge and kitchen were done first. I was lucky to be living with my parents when I took over the property and started renovating, it made it a lot easier and quicker. It’s a small house, which is also an advantage. Being a first-time homeowner, the size meant my reno goals weren’t unachievable.
Were you daunted about doing it up? Not really.
I come from a family of DIYers and we all love a project. My parents renovated a rental property and we all pitched in to help, so I knew what to expect. It was almost like our very own The Block NZ. So, I was very eager to start ‘Bec’s Block’. Having the final say on colour choices and materials was a highlight – even if I still had to run them past the ‘Hall Block Committee’.
What has been the biggest challenge? Money, money, money. Everything always costs more than what you think. I also want everything done now, but I’m learning to just be happy doing one space at a time.
What was the biggest thing you learned? Discovering that I can do a lot on my own. I installed the tiles in the kitchen myself. I did a lot of research and watched many YouTube tutorials. In the end, I was quite confident – it was like icing a cake!
What has been your favourite moment during the process? Choosing the design, colours, materials and interior styling on my own. I have loved creating my own space with my own taste and having all the things that I enjoy.
What was your budget and how have you kept to it? $10,000 was what I thought it would be but spent about 50 percent over. So, it ended up around $15,000.
Where did you save and where did you splurge?
I saved on materials. I couldn’t afford to gut the rooms and reline the jib, so I stripped all the wallpaper back, then skim coated and painted instead. It took longer but it saved me a lot. I splurged on items like the curtains and blinds. They weren’t originally in the budget and to date they have been the most expensive purchase for the