IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Your Home and Garden|May 2024
Help from friends and family and treasured heirlooms added heart and character to this bungalow's makeover
Fiona Barber
IT TAKES A VILLAGE

home profile

MEET & GREET

Gin and Ted Thorp (owners of The Flagship Events Company and DEK, a new online outdoor furniture company), Forbes, five, Griffin, three, nine-month-old Bella, and Macy Gray, an English Staffordshire terrier.

THE PROPERTY

Charming Havelock North bungalow with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, expansive indoor living and a backyard cottage.

Good bones, timber floors and a 1012sqm section with an established garden - the 1945 house outshone all of its competitors during Gin and Ted Thorp's open-home odyssey. In 2016, the couple moved back to New Zealand after several years living overseas. They went house hunting in Hawke's Bay, where Ted hails from, and this 130sqm charmer was "the only one we both really loved", explains Gin.

Another plus: the location was top notch. It was just a five-minute walk to Havelock North village. Although they didn't have children then, that was all about to change and the house's proximity to everything they needed would prove to be a boon.

"Having children while living here has been great. We can walk to the supermarket, restaurants and to the park for a quick run-around. The location couldn't be better for us at this stage of our lives."

Outer space

There is no shortage of highlights in this character-filled home, but an unequivocal family favourite is the covered outdoor zone. Ted extended the deck and his brother-in-law Patch Reynolds built the pergola using clear polycarbonate corrugated panels and 40mm timber battens. This effectively added another lounge to the house.

"It has been a game-changer this summer," says Gin. "It gives the louvre effect while letting in the perfect amount of light, whatever the weather. It's such a comfortable space to be in easily the most used room in the house."

This story is from the May 2024 edition of Your Home and Garden.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 2024 edition of Your Home and Garden.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM YOUR HOME AND GARDENView All
GET MERRY
Your Home and Garden

GET MERRY

Everyone will go crackers about these festive dinner favourites and the delicious trimmings

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2024
A brief history of...The Lips sofa
Your Home and Garden

A brief history of...The Lips sofa

How to straighten up and free yourself from negative behaviour patterns

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
BREAKING BAD HABITS
Your Home and Garden

BREAKING BAD HABITS

How to straighten up and free yourself from negative behaviour patterns

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
MOMENTS of JOY
Your Home and Garden

MOMENTS of JOY

Sue Pat's whimsical stationery cleverly captures the wonders of Christmas

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024
GIFTS of the EARTH
Your Home and Garden

GIFTS of the EARTH

An excerpt from garden and interior designer Michael Mansvelt's longawaited book Everyday Opulence

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024
All WHITE NOW
Your Home and Garden

All WHITE NOW

A fresh, coastal take on the classic white Christmas starts with a backdrop of relaxed vintage style. On top, layer shades of white from rich cream to crisp snow, offset by foraged shells and coastal flora also spray painted in white, then worked into wreaths and other essential festive decor elements.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
COASTAL CHRISTMAS
Your Home and Garden

COASTAL CHRISTMAS

A writer is all about enjoying a cruisy, coastal celebration with family and friends

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
Happy place
Your Home and Garden

Happy place

A shed on the garden's edge became healing renovation project

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024
ALL IS BRIGHT
Your Home and Garden

ALL IS BRIGHT

Colour is key in Kip&Co co-founder Alex McCabe's vibrant home over the holidays

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024
BOLD & ECLECTIC
Your Home and Garden

BOLD & ECLECTIC

In an excerpt from The Makers, writer Pandora Sykes' home is a cosy and chic statement in fearlessness with colour and patterns

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024