Best Colour

Getting secondhand cabinetry professionally spray-painted in a beautiful powder blue has created a stunning centrepiece for a once-dingy cottage

- Tina Stephen

We originally met interior designer Thandi Tipene back in 2016 when she gave us a tour of her stunning New Plymouth home. The original house was a small, dark cottage with limited sun but Thandi and husband Bachelor viewed it as a golden opportunity and embarked on a thoroughgoing renovation which saw the interior layout and style change dramatically.

“We bought this as an original 1930s bungalow on a small site with no sun,” Thandi says. “Maintaining the character of the home was really important to us but, ultimately, light and layout were the most important aspects to tackle.”

The clever couple rolled up their sleeves and got stuck into the project with the help of family and friends. The bungalow was renovated in three stages, enabling the family to live on site throughout most of the process.