KEY POINTS:
Shopaholic Cath Roberts has enjoyed furnishing and decorating her family's Mt Eden bungalow, especially since she learned that she can get away with buying expensive items by disguising them as gifts for her husband Guy.
"He usually likes what I buy, so it works out pretty well," says Cath. "We both love New Zealand art, and adore the pastel Allen Maddox painting that hangs in the lounge."
The couple bought their 1920s home four years ago when Cath Roberts was "very pregnant" with oldest son Hunter, now 3. The imminent arrival of their first child was the spur for the couple to abandon apartment living - and they've since had another child, Marlow, 6 months. "We looked at a lot of houses, but this one had such a nice feel to it," explains Cath. "It had a sense of history, and felt like a home."
One of the things they loved about the home was that the previous owners had retained a lot of its character while making it a comfortable and modern home. Also, they knew that a lot of the hard work had been done, with the previous owners having installed a new kitchen and bathroom.
Cath and Guy, who are managing directors of Auckland's Vada hairdressing salon, retained features such as the ornate ceilings and wooden joinery, and have hardly changed the floor plan apart from closing in the veranda to create a hallway connecting bathroom and kitchen.
When it comes to the colour scheme, Cath has made some bold choices. "Because the house is small and cosy, darker and muted colours give depth and character to the rooms, rather than closing them in." Cath has been collecting since she was a girl and her eye for interesting pieces is evident throughout the home. "There is no specific theme to our house," she says.
"We've got pieces of modern furniture for comfort with vintage and retro bits and pieces thrown in. Whenever I am out of town I always scour antique stores and markets for interesting items." This obsession with secondhand is something that Guy is familiar with. His mother is an antique dealer who worked in the Islington Markets in London, while his sister, Lucy, is also drawn to junk shops.
Cath began her collecting with salt and pepper shakers. "I only have a handful of those left as Mum sold them all in a garage sale. Luckily I came home in the middle of it and managed to swipe a few back off the table!"
DIY Decor
Cast your net: Online auction sites are a treasure trove where collectors can either pick things up on the cheap or get a fix on what something might be worth.
Market forces: Check out the dates of local markets and make sure you get there early to snaffle the best buys.
New for old: Sometimes you'll get a better result from buying reproductions of character joinery or period items. Auckland stores such as Recollections-Early Settler, and Bungalow and Villa specialise in these pieces.
Seconds anyone: You might have your heart set on an expensive item but it's worth seeing if you can buy seconds as they are cheaper and any flaws may be minor.
Thrifty thinking: If you're a collector, local thrift stores should be part of your regular rounds. You can pick up some great bargains and your money is going to a good cause.
* Leanne Moore is the editor of Your Home & Garden. For more on Cath Roberts' home, see the issue on sale now, or visit www.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz.
