It’s Hard to Picture This Gorgeous 125-Year-Old House Ever Being “Drab, Dull, and Brown”
One-hundred-and-twenty-five years is a long time — especially for the home owned by practicing artist and mural painter Libby Chambers and her husband, Aaron. During that extensive history, it likely housed several families and has even been “chopped in half and relocated, from a nearby town, to a 5-acre block in the country,” Libby explains.
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Twelve years ago, just a year after the mid-Canterbury, New Zealand home was relocated, the couple moved into the three-bedroom house. Libby and Aaron were both skilled DIYers and wanted to modernize the home for their young family (two sons and a pup) while also respecting the house’s history and original character.
“Aaron is very handy and has done most of the building work himself,” Libby says. “Most of our furniture has been found in secondhand stores and restored by us.”
When the family first moved in, Libby described the home as “unfinished, drab, dull, and brown,” but since essentially updating almost every room in their house, it’s now full of wonderful details that were crafted on a budget. Not only did the couple move their front door, but they also completely renovated the bathroom, updated the kitchen and dining room, and even built a deck and veranda. However, Libby admits that home projects are never truly finished.
“I guess a home is ever-evolving and will just get better as it is slowly added to with pieces that are carefully selected,” she continues. “I look forward to seeing the next step, as the kids are older and the furniture doesn’t have to be quite as rough and ready!”
Resources
DINING ROOM
- Old table & chairs from Trademe, art by me.
LOUNGE
- Mat — Made by me from a minster carpet
- Secondhand couches, coffee table, lamp & shelf — restored by me
- Secondhand TV cabinet
- Street sign — From the dump
- Samsung Frame TV
- Art — Me, Katie Wyatt, Bec from clouds of colour, and Hailwood
- Old signs framed by me
- Papier-mâché head by Rice
KITCHEN
- Cabinetry — Aaron
- Old hutch — Secondhand & fitted into kitchen
- Art — Annie Smit Sandano
BEDROOMS
- Desk & little chair — Old, bought secondhand
- Bunk — Noel Leeming, updated with rimu wood side & chalk paint.
- Art by Lachie, me, Rachel Castle, and Ixxi
- Storage bags — Gorman
- Rug — Trademe
Thanks, Libby!
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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