Burning the candle at both ends? Restful spaces are so important in today’s fast paced, work hard - play hard world. We often have to make a concerted effort to slow down and take time to relax. Creating a living environment with calming spaces helps make recharging an easier and less time-consuming process. Your environment can have a huge impact on your happiness and wellbeing. The mind picks up on triggers, it may not react to them instantly, but it does store them, increa

It is December already? Time flies when you are having fun! The tail end of the awards season saw Victoria being Highly Commended in the 2019 National Association of Women in Construction NZ (NAWIC) Excellence Awards for the Professional Woman of the Year Category. What an awesome achievement. At the Wairarapa Awards Victoria was successful in WINNING the Service Category – an award that is given to an individual who has provided exceptional service over a long period. AMAZI

Wellness is a pretty popular theme at the moment. We know that wellness is about being in good mental and physical health and about actively maintaining that good health. We know that the role of an architect is to design buildings and oversee construction. How do these two things fit together? Typically we spend a lot of our day indoors. Whether we are at home or at work or socialising with friends and family we are often in and around buildings. The way a building is design

Dusting is an act. Decluttering is an art. Minimalist living has swept the nation, and the world, with a desire for freedom. This feeling extends beyond the home; releasing negative energy in the form of material things makes room for meaningful experiences. Marie Kondo has inspired millions with her book “The Life-Changing Magic of Cleaning Up: The Japanese art of decluttering and organising.” As you sort through your belongings, she encourages you to pause. Does this object

When we stuff up renovating or building, it rarely involves tens or hundreds of dollars. More often than not, it means thousands, tens of thousands, and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars extra. For many things in our lives, we can correct our mistakes. Have another go, and do better next time. Yet, when it comes to building or renovating our family homes, most of us only do it once or twice in our lifetimes. The expense is big, the decisions are permanent, and the ch

Designed with a Scottish Cabin in mind, Moy Hall's Winery Restaurant is all that and more. Clean lines, textured finishes and bespoke wallpaper create a feast for the eyes, while keeping it cosy and functional. #Winery #Martinborough #Winetasting #Architect #Scottishcabin #MoyHall

If you are thinking of embarking on a new project you may be wondering how to get started... Many people ask themselves - Do I need an Architect? Here’s 6 reasons why you might employ an architect to guide you through your construction project: 1. If you engage an architect, you will pretty much always end up with a better end product. 2. Architects are highly trained and are good at seeing the “big picture” – in making the best of the space you have, in getting interesting d

Renovating or building a new house can and should be fun and exciting - for everyone involved. However far too often we hear horror stories of clients feeling they have not been heard. Misunderstandings between the builder, the client and the architect about the scope of a project and how much was allowed for it in the building contract can lead directly disappointment, disillusionment and dissatisfaction with the project. Writing a brief will help you avoid this scenario. T

Want to avoid costly mistakes? & questions to ask to ensure you get the designer who is right for you.

Katie Gunn's top tips for designing your dream kitchen

The design and dreaming is over, now it’s time to watch your new home arise from your plans. This is a busy time and is fraught with possible problems – but it’s easier than you think as long as you know what to look for. Five things you need to know You need a contract with your builder—it’s a legal requirement for projects over $30,000. Your builder is a crucial partner – you need a good one whom you can trust. Your builder needs to be a licensed building practitioner (LBP)

Plans, Sections and Elevations can often obscure design ideas rather than illuminate them. Unless you’ve spent lots of time reviewing blueprints, you may find it difficult to understand the drawings well enough to have an active partnership with your architect or designer. There is, however, a solution. 3-Dimensional Renders allow you to fully understand your plans and become an active collaborator in your design. At VRA we offer them free to all of our clients. In the early

Most clients who come to see me have the same question uppermost in their mind—“How much will the project cost?” With careful planning and using the correct process keeping within budget can be straight forward. Knowing your spending limits and developing a building budget will go a long way towards keeping you out of financial trouble on your project. Bringing a building firm or quantity surveyor into the process right from the start provides cost certainty and ensures every