Make a Living Wall

Make a Living Wall

If you enjoy growing your own potted plants and would like a stylish way of displaying them inside the home, then this month’s project could be just what you need. I’ve been admiring living walls and hanging gardens for some time now, and decided to create...
How to Make Hemp Rope

How to Make Hemp Rope

Knowing how to make rope was once a critical skill for survival and self-sufficiency on the frontier. Early settlers were able to make rope from a variety of materials, but the main thing they used was hemp. A rapid growing plant, hemp is perfect for making rope. Hemp...
Movie Magic at Home

Movie Magic at Home

If your child is a real movie lover, then here are some Movie Magic activities to keep them busy over the school holidays. Think outside the box (excuse the pun!), and create some real movie magic in your own home. Here are a few indoor ideas to get you started. At...
Curtains & Blinds: Which types are best?

Curtains & Blinds: Which types are best?

When it’s time to replace your curtains, most of us only worry about cost and style. But did you know this choice can make a massive difference to how warm and comfortable your home will be over winter? We tested which types were most effective at reducing heat loss...
Staying Warm for Less

Staying Warm for Less

Brace yourself. Severe weather is on its way for parts of the country and experts predict at least two days of icy temperatures, howling gales and torrential rain. Get the temperature up while keeping your power use down. Our energy-saving tips will help reduce your...
Rainy Day Holiday Activities

Rainy Day Holiday Activities

Rainy days are the one thing parents do not need during the holidays, but they happen.  We have great ideas for free or low cost rainy day activities when the kids must play indoors. In a perfect world, every school holiday would be filled with blue skies and...
Eco-Bricks

Eco-Bricks

What is an Eco-brick?An eco-brick is a plastic bottle packed with shredded, single-use, non-recyclable plastics, compressed to a required density to create a reusable building block. They are a sustainable way to reusenon-biodegradable plastic waste as they are...
DIY – Terracotta Bud Vases

DIY – Terracotta Bud Vases

Take on the terracotta trend and sculpt a unique floral feature. You will need Modelling clay (air-drying or baking)Rolling pinKnifeStrawFine sandpaperTest pot brushPaint test pots (we like Resene Sakura & Resene Apple Blossom)Resene FX Paint Effects MediumSmall...
5 cheap (or free) ways to keep the house warm this winter

5 cheap (or free) ways to keep the house warm this winter

Don’t shiver in silence! Use these 5 simple (and cheap) techniques to warm up your home and stay toasty this winter. Quick Summary Open curtains in the day, close them at nightMake and use draft excludersInstall window insulation films or use bubblewrapKeep furniture...
A Woolly Tale

A Woolly Tale

Humans have enjoyed wool for over 10,000 years and it continues to be a coveted textile in both high end fashion and interior design due to its many qualities. Here we deep-dive into the wonderful world of wool, sharing the tale of this ancient fibre’s origin,...