Top Tips & Practical Insights

Practical guidance to help you make confident decisions at every stage of your home journey. From budgets to layouts, discover expert advice that saves time, money, and stress.

Top Tips & Practical Insights

Practical guidance to help you make confident decisions at every stage of your home journey. From budgets to layouts, discover expert advice that saves time, money, and stress.

A set of keys sit on a kitchen bench on moving day

From offer to keys: the real timeline from conditional to settlement

Why going unconditional is only the beginning, and what you need to know to prepare for settlement day

Character bungalow at twilight

Can your house handle a new roof? What to know before changing materials

Why your dream roof might need a reality check

Woman inspects plumbing under house

Top tips for checking your home’s plumbing health

According to Josh Marshall from Marshall Plumbers, a simple DIY inspection can prevent major damage. Here are his five must-do checks to keep your plumbing in good shape.

Hidden genius: clever design features you didn’t know you needed

How small innovations can make a big difference in your kitchen

Data over guesswork: How a structured sales process gets results

Selling a home can feel uncertain, but the right systems bring clarity and confidence. By tracking each stage of the campaign, you know where you stand and how to improve.

Modern New Zealand living room with large windows overlooking hills and water. Features a stone fireplace, grey sectional sofa with warm-toned cushions, timber coffee table, textured rug, and natural light filling the space.

From moodboard to made for you: Shelley Ferguson’s liveable luxury method

How to turn inspiration images into interiors that look beautiful and feel effortless to live in.

Couple test running water at kitchen sink

Top tips for spotting plumbing red flags before you buy

Plumbing can be one of the most expensive hidden problems in a home. These five checks from plumber Josh Marshall will help you spot red flags before you commit.

A classic street frontage belies the contemporary accents of the reworked interior renovation/design.

Keep the character, fix the draughts

Insert windows that modernise villas and bungalows without losing charm.

Galvanised steel water pipe under a house.

A century of pipes: spotting what’s in your home

From villas to new builds, plumber Josh Marshall explains what your home’s pipes reveal about its history.

Metal butterfly roof detail.

Why choosing local steel supports more than just your roof

Behind the strength of Colorsteel is a story of Kiwi jobs, innovation and sustainability.

Path leads through a landscaped garden to the home's front door

The power of pruning to transform your home’s first impression

Why a tidy garden is one of the fastest ways to boost street appeal when selling your home.

Auction of a home in Auckland city

Auctions uncovered: Why the hammer is just the beginning

The hidden power of auctions before, during and after bidding.

Not just a pretty fabric: why curtain tech matters more than you think

Curtains do more than soften a room or tie a colour scheme together. In New Zealand’s harsh sun, they’re often your first line of defence against fading furniture, overheating rooms and rising power bills.

Top tips for setting your kitchen budget

Kitchen Studio’s Mark Bruce shares tips for setting a realistic kitchen budget that keeps your renovation on track.

Top tips for designing a kitchen that feels as good as it looks

Layout mistakes, clutter traps and what to consider before you fall in love with a look.

A woman writes at the table while two young children draw. Another adult stands in the kitchen behind them.

Top tips for understanding trusts in New Zealand

Trusts can protect assets and support family planning, but only if they’re set up and managed correctly. Clear structures and ongoing care are essential.

A woman sits at the kitchen table with an open laptop and paperwork in front of her.

Top tips for getting a lawyer involved at the right time

Life changes bring legal obligations sooner than many people expect. The right advice at the right time can save you stress, money, and future conflict.

A couple meets with their lawyer

The three-year rule: What every couple needs to know about relationship property

How three years together can turn separate assets into shared ones.

A father sits with his adult children on a deck overlooking rural New Zealand

The risks of DIY Wills and how to avoid them

Why cutting corners on your Will could leave your family with conflict, stress, and costly legal battles.

Why kitchen renovations always take longer than you think

From trade schedules to material delays, here’s why timelines blow out and how smart planning keeps your renovation moving.

Sartorial-Elegance-1

Top tips for planning the perfect kitchen layout

A good kitchen layout is about more than style. It’s what makes cooking simpler, keeps movement flowing, and ensures storage is where you need it.

Heart-of-the-home-10

Top tips for choosing kitchen cabinetry that combines style and function

Cabinetry makes the biggest visual statement in a kitchen, but its performance is just as important as its design. The best choices combine durability, function, and timeless style.

Before: the home's existing brick facade before renovation and extension.

Recoat or replace? The question that could save you thousands

Not every tired-looking roof needs to be ripped off and replaced. In many cases, a professional recoating can add decades of life to your roof without the hefty price tag of a full replacement. The key is knowing when a recoat is enough, and when it’s time to start fresh.

Travertine tiles in the bathroom echo the pattern of the wallpaper in the master bedroom, visually linking the two spaces.

Is wallpaper finally having its moment?

Wallpaper is making a comeback. Not just as a statement feature, but as a practical and stylish choice for creating warmth, texture and flow throughout the home. With better materials, easier installation and more subtle design options, it’s now being used in spaces where paint used to be the default.

well-designed kitchen interior focusing on the style, material, and layout of the kitchen cabinets

Fabric with a conscience: the rise of sustainable textiles

Sustainability isn’t just about packaging and recycling bins. In the world of interior design, it’s increasingly about the materials we choose to live with every day. That includes the fabrics we sit on, sleep under and draw across our windows. And while trends might come and go, there’s a growing shift towards textiles that last longer, work harder and tread more lightly on the planet.

Bathroom renovation using natural materials and warm tones

Top tips for setting your bathroom renovation budget

Plan with confidence, spend smart, and avoid costly surprises.

Modern bathroom with black accents

Top tips for creating a functional bathroom layout

Get the flow, clearances, and storage right before you choose tiles or tapware.

From triangles to zones: how modern kitchens are designed for real life

The old sink–oven–fridge triangle is out. Today’s kitchens are designed around flexible zones that fit the way families cook, live, and entertain.

Engineered stone benchtop

The truth about silica in engineered stone

What homeowners need to know about safety, risks, and the shift to low-silica benchtops

Homeowner reviews plans for new home

Ready, set, build: how pre-designed plans are speeding up dream homes

A faster path to a new home doesn’t have to mean cutting corners.

Home builder and homeowner review plans at building site

The secret to stress-free building? Good communication

Good communication and the right people can make building a home feel surprisingly smooth.

Couple review ideas for new home with designer

From Pinterest boards to polished homes: Inside the Landmark Homes design process

You don’t need a perfect plan to get started, just a few ideas and the right people to guide you.

Image showing the before' state of a renovated home, prior to the design work of Barry Connor Design

Love your street, not your house? Is a knockdown rebuild right for you?

Love your location but not your home? Discover why a knockdown rebuild could be a smarter option than renovating or relocating.

Builder and homeowner talk on deck of newly built home

More than just a contract: How Landmark Homes builds homes and trust

The right builder doesn’t just manage a project. They build a relationship that lasts well beyond handover.

""Exterior

Are you sabotaging your sale? Why buyers are looking for a reason to walk away

You’ve prepped the house. The listing is live. Open homes are underway. But the interest just isn’t translating, and you can’t quite figure out why.

Homeowner and real estate agent review contract

Think you can sell without help? Here’s why that mindset could cost you thousands

Selling your home is a big move, financially, emotionally, and logistically. And it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you can manage most of it yourself.

Family spend time together while moving house

The hidden emotional toll of selling, and how to cope

Selling your home isn’t just a transaction. It’s a life moment. And whether you're excited, anxious, or completely overwhelmed, it’s totally normal to feel a mix of emotions.

Homeowner and real estate agent walkthrough home. Modern kitchen with rural New Zealand outlook

Selling in sync: why trust and timing matter more than tactics

What really makes a sale successful? According to agent Derek von Sturmer, it’s not flashy tricks or fast talk. It’s trust, timing, and teamwork.

Contemporary living space featuring coffee tables.

The secret advantage most sellers overlook: your agent’s eye

Want to stand out in the market? Learn how a seasoned agent sees your home and why that perspective is key to a successful sale.

Balancing Local and Global Furniture Design

Why New Zealand buyers benefit from combining locally made pieces with international design

Why furniture showrooms should feel like sanctuaries

Inside Asko’s philosophy of helping New Zealanders see and feel design before they buy

Homeowner talking to real estate agent at dining room table

Top tips: How to know if your real estate agent is the right fit

Simple signs to help you spot the right support before you sign anything

Homeowner talking with a real estate agent in living room

Top Tips: Why you should start preparing to sell – even if you’re not ready yet

Thinking about selling, but not quite ready to list? You’re not alone. Many homeowners wait until they’ve found the perfect place before doing anything about their current one. But by then, it’s often too late to act quickly.

Behind closed doors: the surprising comeback of the scullery

Why the messiest room in the house might just be the smartest one too.

Kitchen design regrets: what the pros wish more homeowners knew before renovating

The small mistakes that can cause big frustration, and how to avoid them.

More than a showroom: why seeing your kitchen in person changes everything

The one step that can save you from budget blowouts, design regrets and mismatched expectations.

Brown leather sofa

Start with the Sofa: A Better Way to Design Your Living Room

Why zoning your space from a single piece can lead to smarter, more personal interiors

Modern kitchen with a built-in oven roasting a whole chicken using steam. Fresh vegetables are on a chopping board, and a tray of cooked chicken wings sits on the bench.

Steam, Sizzle, Air Fry: The Modern Oven That Does It All

Today’s ovens are smarter, faster, and more versatile than ever — helping Kiwi homeowners cook better, save space, and simplify everyday life.

Luxury ensuite bathroom

Ensuite vs main bathroom: should you treat them differently?

How to design each space with the right level of comfort, privacy and wow

Compact powder room with vertical green tiles on the lower walls, a wall-hung white toilet, and a slim rectangular floating sink with brass tapware. The space features neutral upper walls, a round mirror, and decorative accents including framed artwork and ceramic vases with dried grasses.

Small but mighty: why your powder room deserves attention

Design ideas to turn your smallest bathroom into a standout feature

Modern bathroom vanity with a rectangular white ceramic basin and gold tapware, set on a natural wood benchtop. A round backlit mirror hangs above, with a potted green plant and textured candle for styling. The wall is finished in a soft grey render.

Cold start taps: the clever tech saving you hot water money

Why that new tap could cut your power bill without you noticing

Shower doors, clearance and splash zones: your bathroom layout checklist

Avoid awkward layout mishaps with these simple shower planning tips

Shower pressure 101: what’s killing your water flow?

How to tell what pressure you have and what to do about it

The wet room on one side of the bathroom, housing a freestanding white matte bath and two separate showers.

To tub or not to tub? The bath decision every renovator faces

Whether you're keeping it, changing it or letting it go, here’s how to make the smartest bath decision for your home

Big on looks or built for life? The big basin debate

Vessel or in-built basin? Pros, cons, and what designers won’t tell you

Elegant contemporary bathroom featuring warm neutral tones, curved cabinetry, and a sculptural freestanding tub.

Is your bathroom breathing? The truth about ventilation

How poor airflow can ruin your bathroom and what to do about it

Stylish modern bathroom with freestanding bathtub, glass-enclosed shower, floating wooden vanity, and large windows providing natural light. Clean lines and neutral tones create a serene, spa-like atmosphere.

Could poor ventilation be damaging your bathroom?

Not all extractor fans are created equal. Learn how to tell if yours is doing the job, and what to check before your bathroom renovation is finished.

Bright attic bathroom with angled skylights, featuring a wall-hung toilet and bidet, wood-panelled wall, open shelving with towels, and potted plants for a natural, airy feel.

Out in the open or tucked away? Choosing your toilet look

Wall-hung, back-to-wall, close-coupled... what’s best for your space?

Bathroom showroom display featuring three modern floor-mounted toilets in front of a white perforated panel, with a shower enclosure and black wall-mounted sinks in the background.

Sit before you commit: yes, you should try the toilet in-store

Because toilets aren’t one-size-fits-all

The ensuite bathroom is styled to evoke the tranquil luxury of a private retreat or upscale resort.

The low-down on higher toilets

Making your bathroom work better for every body

Once niche, now trending: bidets in the modern home

Why more renovators are embracing comfort, hygiene and style

Modern bathroom featuring bold black toilet cistern and matching bidet

How design trends for toilets have shifted

How cleanliness, comfort and practicality are driving the new bathroom must-haves

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