I
f therewerea crownforNew
Zealand’sBestBargainHunter,it
wouldbelongonJaneMurray’shead.
Notonlyis thisstay-at-homemum
anexpertatupcyclingandrecycling,
she’salsogota knackforfinding
super-stylishitemsonsale.
It’sa skillthatcameinhandywhenJane
andhusbandMarcbuilttheirhouseinWhalers
Gate,a newsubdivisioninNewPlymouth.
“Whenyou’reona limitedbudget,youhave
togetcleveraboutdoingthings,”saysJane.
Thecouplearenostrangerstorenovation,
havingpreviouslydoneupa villainDunedin
(whereJaneis from)anda 1980shouseinNew
PlymouthafterMarc’sworkintheoilindustry
ledthemtomovetothecityin2013.
Butthey’vealwayshada hankeringtobuild
theirownhome,sowhenthissectionbecame
availablein2016,theyjumpedatthechance to
purchase it and build their dream.THEPLAN
Therewereonlya fewthingsontheMurrays’
wishlist:theirhousehadtobea blackbarn,
a styleJanehaslongadmired,haveeasy-care
concretefloorsandincludea partialdividing
wallinthekitchen/living space to allow for
separatezones.
“Wealsowantedthreebedroomsbutwere
opentothelayout.Weworkedwiththebuilding
companytocomeupwithanL-shapeddesign
whichgroupsthebedroomsonthewestside
andthecookingandlivingareastowardsthe
frontofthe183-square-metrehouse,”saysJane.
Theoriginalplanwastobuilda cedar
barnandpaintit black,butwhenthatproved
tooexpensive,thecouplewentforlow-
maintenanceblackaluminium,whichnot
onlysavedthemmoneybutalsomeanslow
ongoingmaintenancecosts.However,theydid
usecedarpanelsonthefrontofthehouseand
garage to help break up the “sea of black”.ONTHEBENCHThe
chunkyPrimelaminate
benchtops(fromKitchen
Designz)haveanexposed
birchplyedgewhichlinksin
withotherwoodendetails
suchasthestoolsbought
forjust$15eachatThe
Warehouse.“I talkedthem
downfrom$25astheyhad
a few scuffs,” says Jane.
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