Year: 2015

Carters by the Sea – Contemporary Motel

Posted on by Terry Lobb

Winter has hit with vengeance after that fabulous summer we have had. But the rain was much needed in most areas so there will definitely be some smiling faces around.

While recently traveling through the upper part of the South Island from Christchurch and across the country to the West Coast then heading North to the Sounds we stopped to visit friends at Carters Beach. Carters Beach is out from Westport south of the Buller River and in all my trips (which are few) I had only ever passed through Westport in a frantic dash to catch the ferry home. So it was nice to visit somewhere I hadn’t been before, meet new people and I love our west coast beaches! They are often wild and rugged with their black sand and have a beauty all of their own, winter and summer.

Carters Beach is a great place to relax, play a round of golf, walk along the boardwalk to the Seal Colony, Denniston Incline and The Brakehead or simply use it as a base to get to other outdoor activities or stop over. Unfortunately for us we didn’t manage to do any of those things because not long after arriving the weather changed from brilliant sunshine to rain and before too long we couldn’t even see across the road.

We had dinner with Steve’s friends Erica and Chris Cooper who have spent the last few years building their two storied home and then the motel complex (Carters by the Sea) on the same section. A huge undertaking but the finished complex looks great. The property is situated on Marine Parade overlooking a wide grassy verge then the sea, a perfect location for a beach motel. The buildings are contemporary and have a lovely mix of the beach, relaxation and our lovely native bush. This I feel has been achieved by the colours and finishes they have used on the exterior and interior of the build.

The house is two storied, finished in white linear board, concrete block and flat paneled sheeting for a little bit of contrast. The building is simple with a mono pitch roof, clean lines, but by no means dominating the space. Reception is part of the house and easily visible for prospective customers to see. For privacy from people passing and customers the house is sounded by a concrete block fence to the front. It gives the feeling of a lovely private courtyard when in the house and a retreat from work. That is always hard to achieve when you live with your work.

The motel complex is across the charcoal tarmac driveway and this is a lovely contract from the house. Although it is finished in similar products the concrete block forms the structural walls of the two storied motel units with near black finished linear board on the front framing the joinery that leads onto a small balcony. It is nice to see the follow through of textures and finishes from private quarters to the business side.
There are a variety of rooms to choose from depending on your budget and the reason for your stay. Our room was lovely and gave me an instant feeling of a relaxed beach resort. It had a lovely warm feel about it which was nice given that we were on the West Coast and in black sand territory and by now it was raining heavily outside.

The interior of our room was light and fresh and consisted of a queen bed, glass topped desk a couple of lounge chairs and light finished timber bedside cabinets. It housed a compact kitchen, ideal for anyone staying over for a long weekend and not wanting to eat out and Ensuite finished in white and bleached timber cabinetry. The attention to detail in the finishes had been thought through carefully with the right balance of texture and gloss levels to give the room its warm comfortable feel. The walls were finished in a soft warm off white and so fresh after seeing so much off white cool greys in our décor for years. Soft taupe teamed with hints of watery blues and greens added to the beach theme.  The floor anchored the scheme and brought me back to the West Coast beach with an almost black plush carpet teamed with off white low sheen tiles throughout the wet areas.

The contrast in texture under my feet felt great. The less gloss you have and more texture will instantly give a scheme a warm feel. And the final touch and me being the tactile person that I am, the sheets were finished in a self-pattern stripe, very subtle but never the less it was there and a pleasant change from completely flat sheets.

Thank you Erica and Chris for making our stay memorable and well done on creating a lovely retreat for people to enjoy for many years to come!

 

I am available for speaking engagements for small groups or larger organizations and can be contacted below.

Terry Lobb Colour and Design Ltd – Interior Designer/Personal Stylist/Colour Consultant

If you would like to make an appointment for a consultation or have a query about product discussed you can contact me on 027 602 3298 or terry@terrylobb.com or like me on Facebook.

Retro madness

Posted on by Terry Lobb

Last weekend we spent time in Wellington catching up with friends and family and generally mooching around the shops. I think we are so use to the great summer weather that when we do have the odd wet and cooler day we are not prepared for it. I certainly wasn’t dressed for rain so indoors we ventured and it was nice just to brows in the shops and take time out.

I have two favourite restaurants in Wellington, one I go to occasionally and the other more often. I like both of them because of the ambiance, décor, great service and excellent food. The restaurant and bar we tend to frequent most is The Southern Cross Garden Bar and Restaurant, both for dining and dancing. I love this venue!

The building is over 100 years old and was renovated to its current shape and form by Wellington’s award winning Architect John Mills. John is renowned for his very personal designs and unique work. The Cross as it is more favourably referred to is a hive of activity and caters to a wide audience from private functions, dance parties, fresco dining, more intimate dining, family gatherings, bar facilities with good old fashioned service. You can find a quiet space and work or relax, play board games or read a newspaper or simply enjoy the different nights of entertainment on offer.

John Mills has created a Retro space with some areas being strictly retro and others with a twist. Perhaps that is why I like it, because it relates to my 1970’s Retro teen years. On dining there Sunday night with family I decided I liked it because of its relaxed friendly atmosphere and the fact that the whole complex is divided into different zones depending on what your mood is for the day or evening.
There is a lounge bar where you can dine, towards the back of the building which is like stepping back in time to someone’s home. The floor is carpeted in a 1950’s floral carpet, the chairs are comfortable lounge chairs that many of us grew up with and the lighting is subdued and warm. The walls are hung with those very family paintings and ornaments that many of us grew up with or remember from our grandparent’s home. You can sit and have a quiet conversation over dinner without having to shout at each other or hear the next door diner’s conversation. A very welcoming space!
I have often sat outside with friends from Wellington Batucada and had a quiet drink after their band practice then danced to the salsa beats on the dancefloor inside. The outdoor area is divided into ‘rooms’ so you can dine undercover in the rain or in the open air or sit with friends either side long tables not unlike my grandmothers kitchen table. It is a little bit like walking into a private courtyard, decorated for comfort, with strung paper lanterns, an outdoor fire for the chillier evenings and an outdoor kitchen and bar. The courtyard is tiered so you feel that your area of dining or socializing is more private.
We tend to dine mainly in the relaxed dining area at the front of the venue. This area definitely has a retro feel with Formica tables and chairs all mismatched. Vases of flowers on the tables, quirky lights and shades hang from the partially clad stained ply ceiling. The walls are either wallpapered in retro modern patterns or patterned paint finishes and there is added bonus of the old beaded curtain dividing part of the room from the entrance. It is a very comfortable and relaxed space to dine in. The complete complex is very alive with colour, various texture finishes and patterns, but it works well. Perhaps it works because it feels a little like the home we once knew when life was at a slower pace and we took more time to share and socialize in real time, face to face.

 

I am available for speaking engagements for small groups or larger organisations and can be contacted below.

Terry Lobb Colour and Design Ltd – Interior Designer/Personal Stylist/Colour Consultant

If you would like to make an appointment for a consultation or have a query about product discussed you can contact me on

mobile 027 602 3298

terry@terrylobb.com or contact me on Facebook.

Back to Basics

Posted on by Terry Lobb

I visit so many homes, old and often new where lighting is an issue. This is mainly due to lighting being placed in the wrong place for what the lights are required for, lack of lighting and sometimes overkill on lights.

Once upon a time there was the lonely pendant light fitting positioned in the middle of the room and often one three point plug for an extra lamp or other electrical device. This was our general light which basically covered all aspects of our lighting. It was often a 200 watt bulb because there was only one light and needed to light a large room with lofty ceilings. Life was simple back then, so easy to buy a bulb.

Now we have lighting for all types of situations and so much to consider when choosing lighting from different styles, colour rendering, how much light it will give, how efficient is it, how long with it last, how to I replace the bulb, does it have a bulb, how much do replacement bulbs cost, what will the light do and how it works. These things you do need to consider when choosing lights because it isn’t just about the look.

There are generally 5 different types of artificial lighting to consider in a home.

All homes should have general lighting – these are the lights designed for you home to be safe in getting around at night or lower light levels. They are often just practical illuminating the room well.

Some rooms but not all should have task lighting – this is as it says for completing a task, stronger more direct lighting for clear visibility. This could be in the form of a lamp that is movable or fixed lighting over a bench/desk or workstation. The old standard lamp that my grandparents had was often used as a task light as grandma sat and knitted or darned in the evening.

Some rooms but not all should have accent lighting and this is also great for effect outside. This style of lighting illuminates something worth lighting. It could be in the form of a picture or light box for a sculpture, strip lighting in glass shelves so that a cabinet is illuminated when you open the door or up lighting in the garden to highlight trees and shrubs.

Decorative lighting is one of my favorite! That’s really only because more than often it becomes a statement in the room and a finishing touch. Decorative lighting can also dub as general, task and accent lighting depending on what the style is and illumination. The old standard lamp or Chandelier are forms of decorative lighting. A decorative light can be as zany or practical as you desire.

And finally Kinetic lighting – light that moves. All our homes have kinetic lights in the form of those light bright lights and wink and flash through the night if we don’t turn appliances off. But it can also be the warm ambient light of a fire during the winter.
Next week I’ll break down the lighting types throughout the home and the benefits of having the right sort of lighting. Be wary when buying light fittings that you are buying quality.

Lighting is basically about your health and well being.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decorative lighting in the form of the Ghost Lamp which can also dub as task lighting.

 

I am available for speaking engagements for small groups or larger organisations and can be contacted below.

Terry Lobb Colour and Design Ltd – Interior Designer/Personal Stylist/Colour Consultant

If you would like to make an appointment for a consultation or have a query about product discussed you can contact me on 027 602 3298 or terry@terrylobb.com or like me on Facebook.