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Living Edge Lends a Hand

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Living Edge Interiors is proud to be a part of the team to stage The auction of a three-bedroom cottage on Auckland’s North Shore which is expected to benefit the city’s homeless. This is to be one of the largest donations to charity and we jumped at the chance to be able to support the local Devonport community and stage the property in preparation for sale.  Our stylist, Andrea, her talents set the tone to inspire a market of potential buyers seeking a property in one of Auckland’s most coveted areas.

“The proceeds of the August 17 sale of 12 Huia Street, in Devonport, are to be given to Auckland City Mission.

The cottage’s late owner, Dianna Sutherland, who died in December, stipulated the donation in her will, and the property is expected to sell above its 2017 CV of $1.75m.” check out the latest article on oneroof.co.nz here …

https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/why-this-multi-million-dollar-cottage-is-set-to-benefit-aucklands-homeless-39907

Neutral need not be bland

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Living Edge Interiors had the pleasure of styling the interior of this stunning showhome by Masonry Design Solutions.  Achieving this look long term is easy by the availability of furniture packages by Living Edge.  Walk into your new home and marvel at the stunning interior that has been professionally styled and yours to enjoy.

This project was a particular delight to be involved with due to the excellent choice of  Resene colour palettes and the attractive design of the home.

Designed as a showhome for Masonry Design Solutions (MDS) to demonstrate the quality of their handiwork, this impressive property overlooks the North Shore Golf Course in Auckland’s Albany neighbourhood. But thanks to a carefully chosen Resene colour scheme, the house also shows how to use a versatile colour palette in a manner that’s anything but monotonous.

The design team’s colour selection reflects a subtle play on a black and white theme with the idea that, were someone to move in the very next day, the home’s style could easily suit just about any style of furnishings. This simple scheme was achieved with Resene Ironsand being the darker contrast and Resene White Pointer and Resene Stonehenge as the lighter base colours. The result is a striking interior that maintains a degree of paired back elegance – and, looking through the gorgeous photos, it likely comes as no surprise that it has since found a family to call it home.

Showcasing three large living areas, including an open plan family dining area with a bar and wine cellar and a cinema room styled as a formal lounge, the home features the same emphasis on indoor-outdoor flow that MDS homes are known renowned for. The expansive outdoor living area features a fireplace, outdoor kitchen, underfloor heating and ceiling heating for year-round entertaining overlooking the heated swimming pool.

“The open-plan living/kitchen/dining room is painted Resene Eighth Stonehenge with a panelled ceiling and trims in Resene Half White Pointer. If you like the look of the soft pinks in this scheme, try adding in accents or accessories in Resene Ethereal or Resene Shilo.”

The open plan modern kitchen connects with a full walk-in butler’s pantry. A study, guest bedroom with ensuite, powder room, laundry and large double garage complete the ground floor. The upper floor consists of an expansive main bedroom suite with full dressing room and ensuite with large freestanding bath and Juliet balcony overlooking the swimming pool. There are also two other luxury bedrooms, a family bathroom and large storage. The mature gardens and extensive landscaping give a sense of permanence and finish off this magnificent house.

“Painted timber paneling was painted with various strengths of Resene Ironsand, depending on the intensity the rooms required,” says Mark Wilson, Director of MDS. For instance, the design team wanted to achieve a less reflective and moody aesthetic in the media room, which led them to choose Resene Stonehenge on the walls and Resene Half Ironsand for the ceiling paneling.

“In the main bedroom, where we wanted a softer approach, the walls we went with Resene Eighth Stonehenge for the walls and the paneling was painted Resene Quarter Ironsand.

 

The master bedroom stuns with batten features on the wall, in Resene Quarter Ironsand, and ceiling, in Resene Half Ironsand. The rest of the walls in the room are painted Resene Eighth Stonehenge and the remainder of the ceiling and trims keep the space feeling light in Resene Half White Pointer.

The cinema room, styled as a formal living area, is painted Resene Stonehenge with a batten feature wall in Resene Half Ironsand. The trim on the left wall and the ceiling are both in Resene Half White Pointer. If you want to add in a soft on-trend yellow like the one in this space, try incorporating accents and some accessories in Resene Thumbs Up.

The cinema room, seen from a different angle, is painted Resene Stonehenge while the ceilings, barn door and trims are all finished in Resene Half White Pointer.

 

The walls of the second and third bedrooms are both painted Resene Half Stonehengeand feature trims and ceilings are painted in Resene Half White Pointer.

 

The walls of this hallway are in Resene Eighth Stonehenge and lead into the master bedroom and dressing room, which are also painted Resene Eighth Stonehenge. The trims, door and ceiling are all painted Resene Half White Pointer. To create a similar mood at home, try painting the legs of a wooden console table in Resene Noir and add accessories in a green-hued taupe like Resene Collins Wicket.

To see more of MDS’ work, visit their website.

Blog post credited to Habitat by Resene

Photos by Mike Hollman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Points for Presentation

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Homestaging company Living Edge Interiors is creating a niche in the top-end housing market. Guided by its passionate new owner Sharon Laffan, the company has grown, solidified its position and extended its offering in exciting new directions.

Have you ever walked into an open home, fallen in love with the interior furnishings and marveled at the owner’s sense of style? Chances are, the furniture and accessories you covet don’t belong to the owner at all, but instead have been carefully selected by a homestaging company to create just the reaction you experienced.

With the booming Kiwi housing market, homestaging is on the rise. Agents and sellers now understand its value in enhancing the visual appeal of a property, says Sharon Laffan.

She’s seen the company grow from humble beginnings 16 years ago to become the country’s largest homestaging business.

Over more than a decade, Sharon has helped shape the development and growth of Living Edge. She’s been heavily involved in the buying of merchandise, as General Manager. So when the company came up for sale in 2014, the opportunity was too good to miss.

“I’m extremely passionate about the business and our goal to be the absolute benchmark in the industry,” she says. “When we first started, there was only one other company operating in this space; now we’re competing against 30 companies in Auckland.”

Today, Living Edge has 20 staff, including a team of interior designers, its own fleet of vehicles and warehouse space. The bulk of the company’s furniture is sourced from overseas, with up to 5 containers of stock a year being brought in as a result of Sharon’s buying trips.

With a background in retail and merchandising, Sharon has developed longstanding relationships with real estate agents and developers. They make up a large chunk of the company’s clients, along with aged-care providers, private residential owners and corporate clients, and the entertainment industry.

“Our furniture is unique and we have several different styles, all branded with our own label,” she says. “We’re focused on the high end of the market. We do a lot of properties in the $2 million plus range.”

Homestaging is a labour-intensive enterprise, with each property requiring 12-15 hours to complete from initial sales to selection of furniture and then installation. Living Edge has sought to extend its offering with complementary services. The company hires out furniture and supplies cutlery, towels and bed linen to CEOs relocating to New Zealand. It provides set furnishings for TV shows like Masterchef, My Kitchen Rules and X-Factor. Living Edge has also furnished backstage sets for visiting rock stars, celebrity weddings and private parties, where security and confidentiality are paramount.

“We’ve experienced exceptional growth over the last four years,” says Sharon. “It’s been the result of a conscious effort to grow in the wider Auckland area. We also now sell our own branded furniture on our website. Our mid- to long-term plans are to increase the output of show homes and launch online shopping via our website.”

When looking to purchase Living Edge, Sharon sought advice from Hayes Knight Director Brendon Cutler who carried out a valuation and prepared financial forecasts to enable her to obtain the necessary finance. The firm now acts as financial and tax advisor for the company, producing Living Edge’s annual accounts and tax returns, meeting regularly and providing a sounding-board for any decision-making.

“Brendon has been a great mentor and financial advisor, particularly during the sale and purchase process,” says Sharon. “He’s pragmatic, highly responsive, and has developed a good understanding of the business.”

Brendon believes Sharon’s focus, coupled with her willingness to work hard, set goals and move forward with increased confidence, has taken Living Edge to a new level.

“Sharon should be really proud of what she’s achieved,” he says. “She’s done a great job to grow the company faster and more profitably than we forecast, while at the same time managing that growth conservatively. Sharon has a good business brain and listens to advice. I’ve no doubt Living Edge will continue to grow and refine its offering.”

WORDS: Deirdre Coleman IMAGES: Jason Dorday

Publication: Beyond The Numbers by Haynes Knight

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