Painting Outside The Lines

Lots of love and lashings of flair havemade this predesigned house a unique and treasured home

- Ady Shannon

Angela Fair maid is a self-confessed lover of villas and character homes, but when it came to finding a home for herself and husband Julian, practical considerations overcame her passion for the old. The couple were renting a character home in Christchurch city while looking to get a foot on the property ladder, but after trying to buy in the inflated post-earthquake housing market, they decided the smartest investment was to build.

At that time, Angela, an interior designer, was working as a colour consultant for GJ Gardner Homes, so it was a no-brainer to purchase a design-and-build package through her employer. Budget limitations ruled out central Christchurch, so the couple chose a site in Kaiapoi, 15 minutes north of the city. That decision proved to be an unexpectedly good one. “It made complete sense for us to build; we chose Kaiapoi initially for its affordability,” says Angela. “But now we love living in this community and being a little bit out of the city.”

Insider knowledge

Angela and Julian married in 2014, the same year they moved into their new home. They chose an economical three-bedroom, two-bathroom package with open-plan living. “We were just a couple at the time and, even though we planned to have a family, we didn’t need a huge mansion,” Angela says.

Angela was familiar with ensuring her clients were able to personalise their projects to suit their own taste, but being her own client was a strange position to be in. “I was familiar with the options but I became my hardest client,” she laughs. “Decisions are often determined by budget, but I have always advised people to spend extra money on the most important items. I think upgrading flooring underlay is really important, as is choosing the best-quality carpet you can afford.”