the cabin, new zealand:

So I have to admit, I'm just a little bit excited (okay, really excited) to share this with you. 

On the farm there is a little cabin that was once Andrew's bedroom. It is originally from the railways, once serving as shelter/accommodation for those working on and inspecting the tracks. 
Last year, and a few months before we headed over to New Zealand, Andrew and I both discussed the possibility of maybe doing it up, as it was starting deteriorate a little and we do love a good DIY project. Not only would the cabin be given a fresh breath of life, it would also serve as a little outlet for us to do a mini renovation.

It wasn't until about three weeks before we were to leave that we decided that we were really going to do it (the year just flew by, plus we weren't sure if were biting more then we could chew considering we were meant to be on holiday). So it was a bit of mad dash  sourcing and then organising the logistics in order for everything to be ready so we could have it completed quickly, with our final vision realised. And I have to say, I was loving every single second of it! Being on the hunt for furniture and accessories, organising the logistics from another country and seeing it all come together was so thrilling - and half the fun!

The concept was very much Kiwi bach inspired (pronounced 'batch' - and another word for holiday cottage) with hints of Scandinavian style, with the white floors and minimal colour palette. However, we really wanted to incorporate our traveller aesthetic (you can take a tour of our Sydney home here), mixed with references to the farm and Pacific region. 
While we did complete it, and we are both super happy with the end result, I think over time it will look more resolved as we gradually add new layers like art, plants and other pieces we collect with each visit. For now though, we both are stoked with our little cabin in New Zealand.

To conclude, I would like to give a big shout out to Andrew's a parents for having the cabin prepped before we arrived, and also to family members and friends who helped sand, paint, fill gaps or just gave us encouragement along the way. You guys are all amazing - thank you!

Here it is...

before...

inside, after we ripped the carpet out

painting...

the exterior, finished

interior progress...

all done! we found the bed on trademe.co.nz; sourced the old afghan rug and papua new guinean bark tapa on ebay, found the log on the farm, and the old suitcase belongs to Andrew which had been kept on the farm.

 a papua new guinean bark tapa from the 1950s sits above the bed

you can't beat a classic eames rocker!

various items collected and created by myself, including photos.

woven basket from vietnam, air vase from Upon a Fold, beeswax candles by Queen B

geometric volumes made from found sticks

right: wasara paper bowl, a vintage new zealand postcard and an old gardening sieve found in the barn

crystals found in arrowtown (near queenstown) and displayed in a petrie dish, with a scientific beaker behind used as a vase; the old ruler is from china.

the catlins, new zealand:

purakaunui bay

About 2-3 hours drive south from Dunedin are the Catlins - a national park full of rugged beaches, forests and farming land. It's right at the bottom of New Zealand, so for me, it feels a bit like the edge of the world. From there, it's straight down to Antarctica! There are many wild bays and beaches to explore, plus the Purakaunui Falls, nestled in lush green forest. 

This was my second visit to the area, having been a few years ago, and I was keen to spend time at Purakaunui Bay. It has to be one of favourite spots with it's amazing rugged cliffs - I have never experienced landscape like it.
Andrew used to surf quite a bit around here, so he knows the area quite well which comes in handy for exploring. However, with that said there is still a lot of the area I have to see and look forward to exploring in the future. I highly recommend checking the are out if you are in the Dunedin area, or have a few days to spare to head on down to the wild south. It's definitely worth it.

Next: our little project - the cabin.

purakaunui falls

 

 

looking south, towards the antarctic

the farm, new zealand:

The final destination of our trip was Andrew's family farm, located just out of Dunedin. Andrew grew up here and all the family were travelling to Dunedin for Christmas. We were looking forward to spending precious time with family and relaxing (well as much as could between sprucing up and painting a little cabin! A post on that next week!).

The farm is BEAUTIFUL, and such a novelty for a city-girl like me. It is the best of both worlds being located right by the sea, then climbing up a hill, with views up and down the east coast and out to the Pacific Ocean - yet less then half an hour from Dunedin's CBD. 

It's always fun walking around and exploring, getting up close to the horses and going down to the creek, which is well hidden under dense trees, revealing a mini-rainforest full of ferns and mossy logs. It's one of my favourite places to chill. I didn't realise either, that I would be in for a little treat. Three kittens had been discovered before we arrived and were in their absolute element, being around 8-10 weeks old when we arrived. Being a massive cat-lover, I was in heaven!

I always love trying to capture the details of the farm whilst walking around. There's always something interesting happening whether it be the landscape and changing elements (Dunedin is way down south and is very much a four-seasons-in-one day kind of place) or the intricate details of life on the farm.

Enjoy!

Next: a trip down to the bottom of New Zealand to visit the Catlins.

ocean view beach

st. clair

so cute!

down by the creek