When 2021 rolled around, Shayden and Georgia – the DIY-loving duo behind Moochstyle, were ready for a new challenge. The couple had already successfully renovated their first home, a chic and cosy villa, while documenting the process on their dedicated social media accounts. The passion project, which spanned several years, showcased the couple’s tenacity and ingenuity, and led them to amass an impressive following of design and DIY-enthusiasts. With the home complete and their renovation skills honed, the couple set their sights on their next creative endeavour.

The couple’s property search led them to a brick, post-war beauty nestled in the leafy suburb of Bryndwr, Christchurch. Set back from the street on a generous section (perfect for the couple’s Boxer dog, Frankie), the three-bedroom home was full of promise, albeit a little tired. Before any work could commence there were some urgent issues that needed addressing, the cladding needed touched up and repainted, the roof needed to be restored, and the section needed to be fenced off so Frankie could roam. But the home provided a fantastic opportunity to upscale, and the different architectural style and era meant the couple could really flex their design skills while giving their followers a taste of something new. Not ones to dilly-dally, as soon as the couple moved in, they set about making upgrades, including landscaping and planning the scheme for their interior.

Updating the kitchen and laundry was high on the priority list, the existing cabinetry and fixtures were out-dated, and the layout restrictive and dark. The flooring featured an old-fashioned pink terracotta tile. To honour the original feel of the home the couple leaned into a ‘nordic farmhouse’ style, combining vintage finds and rustic elements with clean, modern features. No details were overlooked when planning the kitchen, from the knurled brass handles on the shaker style cupboards, to the new dark oak floor, the couple’s meticulous eye, and dedication to craftsmanship brought their vision to life in a way that’s truly remarkable. The overall result is a kitchen and laundry space designed to stand the test of time, while providing plenty of room to grow into.

What initially drew you to the home?

We were after something different and we certainly got it. This home is very much an English bungalow design which we absolutely loved the feel of. Walking through the gates we both said to each other how it felt like home and it was a blank slate to make our own. My parents were in town too so we had them come through the following day and they agreed that it was the one for us. I also think they secretly wished they could get their hands on it, because they too love a project like this.

How did you come to select your flooring?

It was quite the process because we knew we wanted to go dark but it took a bit of convincing each other to stick to our guns! After the lovely team at our local Flooring Xtra sent us samples it was the last-minute "that looks interesting, please include that" sample that took the cake. Our final choice was Quick-Step Impressive laminate in Classic Oak Brown.

What was important to your flooring choice?

The kitchen is a timeless classic, we didn't go with anything too trendy so it would last the test of time. We wanted our flooring to not only suit the kitchen but also the overall style of the property, and give a high-spec country home look and feel. We had Quick-Step Impressive laminate in our last home, so we knew it would wear extremely well and withstand any wear and tear from our fun-loving dog who likes to fly through the house with her toys at extreme speeds.

When designing your kitchen, what were your non-negotiables?

My dad always taught me to have good shoes, good jackets, and good jeans. We took this approach with the kitchen in having quality cabinetry custom-made for the space, brass hardware to link in with our existing door handles, an Italian quartz bench top, and of course our flooring! Nothing stands out, but nothing gets lost either, it all just flows so well.

For those that are embarking on a kitchen reno, what are your top tips?

Using a kitchen designer/joiner that understands your vision and also the spec of the kitchen you want, makes it easier to hand over all that money because the end result just blows you away. Plan for the worst and there will be no surprises, we renovated through COVID-19 and had the power and water cut from the laundry and kitchen the day before I tested positive. Sixteen days later Georgia tested positive but none of this mattered because I built an outdoor kitchen specifically for the kitchen reno and had adapters for our hose to plug into the washing machine - we were prepared! And the final tip is to effectively project manage or give that task to someone that can. I took a joint approach with our kitchen makers who managed the trades for us and it went so smoothly, I felt like I cheated the system.

What would you splurge on and save on when renovating a kitchen?

Splurge on flooring, bench tops, and hardware - they all get a lot of use so it's important they are quality as it will bug you every time you touch them if they aren’t. Save on demo and painting – both are straightforward jobs that you can do yourself to save money.

What are your plans for completing your home?

Through spring and summer we will continue to do our landscaping. We were on the tools as soon as September came around and we have big plans to get the outdoor area into shape. We also want to move through to the bedrooms and give them a facelift because the white walls are boring us.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

In the most random places, we often go for a walk through the suburbs and check out what everyone is doing and take hints from places like botanic gardens, country restaurants, and locations like Riccarton Bush. Our style takes a lot of hints from our favourite English YouTubers and their homes, we watch endless hours of garden tours at places like Highgrove and Mapperton and are always intrigued by how they manage to take elements of their surroundings and sprinkle it through their gardens and interior style.

Where are your favourite places to shop for the home?

We have a very cool thrift store here called The Woolston Emporium where multiple businesses have come together under one roof, we absolutely love it. For new, we shop at places like Loft furniture, DA Lewis and Ballantynes. We are firm believers in buying quality, while it takes longer to afford it you will enjoy it for longer and many after you will too. We are very well known for our weekend exploring in north and mid-south Canterbury op shops, often coming back with nothing but it's always fun exploring.

Credits

Designed By: Shayden and Georgia Whipps, Moochstyle.com
Where: Bryndwr, Christchurch
Instagram: @moochstyle
Youtube: Mooch Style
Photographer: Olivia Pitcher
Store: Watkins Flooring Xtra