The end of DIY?

The latest from NZ House & Garden magazine If this email is not displayed correctly, [click here]( to view an online version. [NZ House & Garden]( Hi {NAME}, Is Kiwi DIY on the way out? Not if NZ House & Garden is anything to go by. Yes, I do think more of us are seeking expert help with our homes. But almost all of the homeowners we feature still get stuck in and do some work themselves – and then gleefully tell us all about it. The family-friendly home on the cover of our April issue, on sale today, was worked on by a team of builders, architects and designers. But when there was a problem with the concrete sealing on her kitchen island, homeowner Helen Fulcher took herself and her toddler off to buy an epoxy sealant and finished the job herself. "Pretty satisfying," she says. And that, of course, is why DIY will live on.There is nothing, but nothing, that feels as good as standing back and looking at a job well done, and knowing you did it yourself. Every evening this week, my husband Nick and I have stood gazing smugly at the outside of our newly painted house as we drink our evening wine. It has taken us all summer, but on Sunday we finally finished the DIY paint job. Compared to Tauranga homeowner Rachel McGarva, whose amazing garden features in this issue, though, our efforts are a flash in the pan. Rachel has spent years digging, planting, planning, building, cleaning bricks and building fences. The result is a rose-filled spectacle with gazebos, archways, gravel paths and a sparking water backdrop. It's one of the prettiest gardens we've had in the magazine, and I strongly suggest you pick up a copy and spend some time just looking at it – much like Rachel is doing right now. "We've got to the stage where it is only maintenance," she says happily. "I've been looking forward to that day for years." Sally Duggan Editor In our April issue Where the wanderings end Quirky architecture and a nostalgic 70s vibe enticed this nomadic artist and her family to stop still. Now they’re loving their harbourside Tauranga lifestyle and the wide sea views. Ordinary to extraordinaryDesigner James Doole turned a modest townhouse into a wonderland of soothing greys then overlaid that with a luxe take on the Hamptons look. Inside a remarkable Wairarapa manorA landmark home with many stories to tell, Fernside’s owners were captivated by its romantic past. Their restoration is a heartfelt tribute. See our latest issue. Advertorial An effortless approach to styleInspired by the calm of a seaside escape, freedom’s new Coastal Boho collection is all about capturing the essence of laid-back living, with an effortless approach to style that gives a gentle nod to nature and calm with a contemporary twist. Shop in-store and online. [Shop now]( Family comes first How one big back garden was the answer for three small boys. Now the house is ultra family friendly and super stylish too. See it in our new issue. Rising… to the challengeA theatrical bent and an eye for arranging saw this ex-bakery turned into a real-life treasure trove. It all came naturally to Lorraine Hall, featured in our April issue, out today. [( Advertorial A monochromatic classicThe Beach Penny Shades collection comes in a range of monochromatic shades and is an extension of Hemptech’s Beach Penny collection. With a stunning base fabric in 100% mid-weight linen and printed in New Zealand, it falls in a delicate linear way with panels of negative space, restful on the eye. Available through reputable interior designers and home furnishing stores. [Find out more]( It’s impressive As a striking centrepiece, this glass pavilion adds another layer of style, and liveability, to this magical Christchurch garden. See the house in our new issue. Advertorial WIN placemats and napkins To coincide with this month’s special fabrics feature, Harvey Furnishings are giving away 8 custom-made placemats and napkins using fabrics from the exclusive ILIV Andalucia collection – a distinctive range of fabrics inspired by the elements in painterly styles. [Enter here]( [Unsubscribe]( [Advertise]( | [Contact](mailto:editor@nzhouseandgarden.co.nz) | © Copyright 2019 NZ House & Garden, a division of Stuff Limited (Magazines). Freephone NZ - 0800 113 446. Cider Building, 4 Williamson Avenue, Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand