Former library gets new lease of life

CHANGE: Kirk and Shelley Saunders with daughter Dillon, left, and son Van, right, out front of their new shop The Design Library, in the former Greytown Library.PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA WTA220814LFDESIGN01

The former Greytown Library is now home to a different kind of library - The Design Library.

The historic Masonic Lodge building, built in 1891, on Main Street has been empty for more than two years and finally has new tenants who have opened a furniture and homeware store inside.

Tenants Kirk and Shelley Saunders recently moved to Greytown, arriving just over a week ago with their young children Dillon, Van and Jax.

The last business in the building, which is leased out by South Wairarapa District Council, was the Wairarapa Wine Centre which left in 2012.

The couple said it seemed like such a waste being vacant.

"It was just sitting here being beautiful," said Mrs Saunders.

They said the building's design and history attracted them to lease the space.

"It's such an iconic building in Greytown," said Mr Saunders.

He said it was a bit run down at first but a new coat of paint had brightened it.

The couple both have a passion for fine furniture and are stocking a mix of styles, new and refurbished, sourced from auctions, wholesalers and online.

"It's just stuff that really caught our eye.

"It's from all over the place, Danish, Scandinavian, New Zealand, Australia."

The Saunders were living in Auckland but moved to raise their kids in a more relaxed, country environment.

"We moved for a bit of a change, a slightly slower pace of life," said Mr Saunders.

They said another big factor in moving was so their children could be close to their grandparents who also run furniture stores in Greytown, The Retro Room and Chambers on Main.