Home renovation advice
When it comes to home renovations, the Refresh team has done (and seen) it all! We’re more than happy to share our experience and expertise – and you’ll find loads of helpful articles, photos, videos and more on our website.
If you’re interested in a specific renovation topic, select from the categories below. You’re also welcome to ask in person about your potential renovation. If you’d like to talk with one of our friendly team members, please get in touch.
Show advice for: Kitchen | Bathroom | Extend | Open-plan | Flow | Loft | Re-clad | Warm up | Outdoor | Renovations |
Choosing the right outdoor lighting
Turn your outdoor area into a safe and welcoming night-time wonderland with carefully chosen lighting.
Guide to making your floor a feature to be proud of
A fabulous floor can add style and value to your home. Here’s our guide to making your floor a feature to be proud of.
Outdoor cooking options
From portable gas fired smokers to inbuilt al fresco kitchens – the list of outdoor cooking options is as long as a hot summer’s night, and choosing a cooker is about as subjective as picking art.
How to choose outdoor furniture
One of summer’s greatest pleasures is dining outdoors. Here is our low down on how to choose outdoor furniture that is built to last and fits the style of your garden or deck.
Tony Murrell’s top gardening tips
Subtropical or minimal, cottagey or eclectic – landscaping expert Tony Murrell shares his know-how on creating the ideal garden for your requirements.
Choosing a cladding system for your home
Whether your style is classic or contemporary, there’s a cladding system to suit your property.
Things to consider before installing a swimming pool
Kiwis love the water and more and more of us are making waves in the backyard rather than the beach. So how realistic is that dream pool?
Renovating homes built between the 1940s and 1960s
Many houses of this era have retained their appearance and character – strongly influenced by state housing – but modifications are often necessary and can make a real difference to the performance of the home.
Tips for a tidy garage
Keeping the garage clean and free of clutter can be a challenge, but with a few simple measures you can turn it into a usable, yes, even a warm, welcoming and safe space.
Bright colours and striking wallpaper
Happy hues, tempting textures and precious patterns – this season’s trends offer endless options for refreshing your home. It’s time to get adventurous and add character to your rooms.
Create a future-proofed home
You don’t have to sacrifice a stylish home design to create an accessible home base for all mobility levels. By integrating the basic principles of Universal Design when renovating, you can create a future-proofed home that is suitable not only for you into old age but also for your whole family as their lifestyles change.
Planning a bungalow renovation
New Zealand bungalows have a distinctive character that can easily be lost or destroyed – so it’s important to understand the home’s unique features and common problems when planning a renovation.
Outdoor heaters that beat the winter chill
Choosing the right heat source and ambience will ensure that your deck and garden can be used year round – extending your outdoor entertaining possibilities.
Flame fires that will turn your home into a cosy retreat
Whether you aim to use the comforting flames of a fireplace as a heating system or a purely decorative feature, the warm glow of a soothing fire can turn your home into a cosy retreat.
Renovating homes built during the 1970s
New living styles, new materials and new modular construction methods – houses built during the 1970’s took the architectural styles of previous decades to cities and towns across the country, from Twizel and Turangi through to Cromwell and Auckland.
Future-proofing a pre-1970s home
If your house was built around the time Neil Armstrong was striding across the moon there's a great possibility that there’s not much in the way of insulation in the walls, your water pipes are probably made of copper, and most likely without any lagging or insulation.