Snuggle Down

There’s nothing better than a cosy nest when it’s bitterly cold outside. Make your bedroom a sanctuary with romantic bedding and soft carpet

A New vintage

Building a brand-new apartment in Mt Maunganui was a bold step for this couple, but the result is a perfect combination of modern convenience and nostalgia.

Fresh Start

After a stint in Sydney, An Organised Life founder Beck Wadworth had a clean slate to redecorate her new home – starting with the lounge.

Press Play

After spontaneously purchasing a dreamy section on Awhitu Peninsula, this family planned and built a modular bach designed for many summers to come.

Bay Dreams

A little colour goes a long way, as this family found when renovating their 1960s Hawke’s Bay home.

Kitchen Awards

Last year we asked you to send in your recently completed kitchen projects and, boy, did you deliver! We were blown away by the response and had a tough time narrowing down the entries to our five finalists, who are all featured, including our winner, in the following pages. Biggest lesson learned? You don’t need a whopping budget to create your dream kitchen!THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS WERE JUDGED ON DESIGN, FUNCTIONALITY, STYLE, CHOICE OF MATERIALS AND ACCESSORISING. TURN THE PAGE TO SEE OUR FIVE FINALISTS AND DISCOVER THE OVERALL WINNER, WHO WINS A HOME PRIZE PACKAGE WORTH MORE THAN $6000!

Home In One

A house-and-land package in Auckland’s Castor Bay turned out to be perfect for this young family, who have made their new-build feel like an established homestead

Smart & Savvy

Creating a new garden doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. It’s better for the budget and the planet to work with what you have to give your garden a facelift

Italian Job

Add pizazz to your pasta with plenty of herbs, in-season vegetables and the freshest ingredients around. Buon appetito!

Cosy In Cocoa

Velvety tones of chocolate brown and caramel create a bedroom retreat that’s perfect for autumn breakfasts in bed

At The Bay

A dated 1980s cottage with a million-dollar view was the perfect project for this clever working mum

Boxing On

Big enough for a family but small enough to put on the back of a truck, this box-shaped 90-square-metre home in Otago has given its creators the simple life they’d longed for

Feeling Wintry

Take your cue from nature for this subtly opulent table setting where tangy citrus stands out amongst earthy tones

All Mine

A lifetime of travel, laughter and love was channelled into this new home, which was the realisation of a lifelong dream for a busy city dweller

Fine Art

Wellington-based designer and artist Amy van Luijk creates bold yet delicate images and patterns for packaging, textiles, magazines and more

5 Easy DIY Wins (The Tradies Don't Want You To Know About)

Professional renovators and past The Block NZ winners Alice and Caleb Pearson share their five favourite DIY jobs for adding value and transforming spaces

An Eye For Beauty

Christchurch creative Stacey Weaver never dreamed she’d make a living from photography, but her blossoming homeware business is proof that talent plus hard work can yield wonders

Coastal Kitchen

This family beach-house kitchen was in dire need of a modern update, and a Kaboodle kitchen proved to be the perfect solution

Room To Grow

Hopping straight from one new-build to another has given this family an instant upgrade and the chance to experiment with finishes.

My Fair Baby

With a daughter on the way, Alex is picturing a beautiful dusky pink nursery for the newest little Walls.