Could you put a Property Price on these 7 Weird and Wonderful homes of NZ?

When the mood kicks in it is always great to escape out of Auckland and do a road trip.  When you take your time I have always been astounded by the scope of weird and wonderful architecture in unexpected pockets of the country.  

A home fit for a princess

When I was little I always wanted to be a princess,  with its own turret I could have pretended to be Rapunzel in Larnach Castle, a real castle right here in New Zealand.

Star Wars

My little brothers however were far more into Star Wars and this home which was feature of a recent Trademe Competition would have created a space of their own and  transported them to a galaxy far far away.  

Old Mother Hubbard could have lived here

The boot house down in Nelson is a dream come true for all the little kids who dream of living a nursery rhyme life.  A house like this deserves to be full of happy laughing children climbing all over the top and sliding down the sides!

 The life of a Gypsy

When I got a little bit older it the travel bug kicked in and I would have dearly loved one of these gypsy house trucks to live the life of an adventurer to travel the length of New Zealand.

The Hobbit Hole

Down in Rotorua we discovered a hobbit lover has built their own wonderful hobbit hole to while away the days in.  Lucky for us our son has never seen this or the star wars house or I think we would be forced to pack up a moving van and move out of Auckland in a heartbeat!

The famous Tirau Dog

It's not a house but if it ever came up for sale the Visitor Information centre in Tirau would make the most incredible house for all the dog lovers out there, whenever we drive on through I quickly distract my dog loving daughter so we are forced to stop and take the never ending doggy photos.  

Oh to live a life by the sea

Home to the poet Sam Hunt for many a year, when I used to travel regularly to Wellington for business often, I always coveted the charming boatsheds all around the Wellington Coastline.  Though years later I eventually got my wish to live by the sea in the wild west coast of Auckland, I would have much preferred on of these to a sterile hotel room any day.

Creating Space in a Small Bedroom without a SpaceX rocket!

Renovation costs in Auckland are rising and so are property prices so we need to be creative as we move into smaller spaces to accommodate our stuff.  Our bedrooms are often last on the list as they are the room seen least, but as the room we spend a great deal of time in, we really need to think about this space.  

My bedroom is my haven.  It is not particularly large but every inch is used to its best advantage.  When I was renovating I made sure I bought relaxing big space ideas into my little sanctuary.

Remove the Excess - Use a Storage Box 

The more you have in your small space the more cramped it is going to feel.  I made a tough decision to sell many items and the rest I put in a storage box or removed into Self Storage.  This instantly created an illusion of space and calm in my room.  

Choose the right furniture and storage

I was lucky enough to have the option to build my wardrobes in with drawers to negate the need for a dresser or amoire.  This was one less challenge to deal with.  However, what I found was space was created by choosing furniture that was slim but high and rectangular not curved.  Nightstands with space underneath also greatly increased the illusion of space.  Perhaps the biggest space was created though with a bed that had storage underneath.  Storage baskets are a godsend for small spaces.

Make your bed the focal point

In a small bedroom your bed will more than likely be the focal point.  Size your other furniture and decor to fit the size of your bed so your room is well proportioned.  A large mirror can also add an illusion of extra space and bring a romantic feel to the bedroom.

Make room for a reading chair

Not only does a reading chair and lamp make your room so much more relaxing, but it can be multifunctional in getting more use out of your small bedroom and for throwing the odd piece of clothing on when you just want to crawl into bed for the night!

Choose your colours and artwork wisely

I used light muted colours in my small space and bought the darker and brighter colours in as accents.  Not only did this give the illusion of a larger space but it utilised the natural light to its best advantage.  Artwork will have the same effect, so plan carefully to ensure your haven stays as just that - your haven.