A Luxe, Lavender, Full Home Transformation in Koutu, Rotorua

This Koutu family home was built in the 1980s and hadn’t been updated since. With the idea to sell or rent the property lingering in the back of her mind, the owner was ready to give her home a much-need modern makeover.

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Inspired by necessity

Despite being only minutes from Koutu’s main drag on the southwestern shore of Lake Rotorua, Anita, the owner of this freestanding family home, enjoys a slice of the rural lifestyle close to recreation reserves in this well-established residential suburb.
However, the property itself was falling into disrepair; a leaking water main had caused extensive damage to the floor, leaving it completely rotten. As is common in many homes throughout Aotearoa, the bathroom was plagued with mildew and Anita decided the general appearance of her property could do with a refresh. She reached out to local Rotorua Renovation Consultant Hemz Morjaria for advice and expert guidance.

Planning and pivoting

While visiting the property, Hemz chatted with Anita about her goals and vision. She explained that the home might be rented out in the future and sold eventually, but for now, she wanted a modern space to come home to with a renovation that would increase the property’s value.
The two discussed Anita’s priority - a great design - so Hemz worked with her to create concept designs that addressed areas of the home that needed attention. As the planning phase progressed, Anita felt that she needed to re-prioritise the budget. Hemz pivoted accordingly and re-directed the plans to focus on achieving as much as possible within the $60,000 estimate. Once Anita felt the plans and budget were in alignment with her vision, the construction began.

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Staying on schedule

The project’s timeline concerned Anita as she planned to stay with family while the renovation was carried out. The national labour shortage and supply chain issues put Hemz’s project management skills to the test. Thanks to the good relationships she had established with tradespeople and suppliers though, she overcame the obstacles and kept the project on track.
Hemz’s partner, plumber, and in-house bathroom specialist, Mandeep Singh, took over the bathroom renovation with his team. Everyone worked diligently to achieve their targets and ultimately the renovation was delivered within the projected six-week timeline and $60,000 budget.

Evocative paint and a total transformation

Known to evoke feelings of calm, romance, and imagination, what colour could be better than lavender to welcome you home after a hectic day at work? Anita opted to have this colour run throughout her home’s interior, from the lounge and kitchen to the bathroom and laundry.
With all the rotten floorboards replaced, the lounge now has plush grey carpet which is a lovely complement to the purple walls, and the timber-look luxury vinyl tiling in the kitchen brings an element of natural warmth. Since the lavender paint is such a strong design feature throughout the home, the rest of the colour palette remains neutral — white cabinetry with black drawer handles, a black subway-tiled splashback, chrome fixtures and a stylish new bath in the bathroom, and a white marble-patterned shower.
Modernising the design of Anita’s property was essential, but Hemz also achieved some functional upgrades. She addressed the wardrobes in the bedroom as Anita requested and added ample storage and modern amenities to the upgraded laundry. The property is completely unrecognisable, in the best possible way, and ready for Anita to display her personal mementoes for a bespoke finishing touch.

Final Thoughts

Anita is thrilled with the results of her home’s transformation. She’s especially “in love” with the kitchen and bathroom, and understandably so as they’re now well-appointed and perfectly curated to her lifestyle. Whether she chooses to rent, sell, or stay in her property long-term, Anita has gained both monetary value for her home and an improved quality of life.