We are US citizens who have permanently relocated to New Zealand. We love this country and intend to grow old here. Our only complaint is the state of housing here - it is extremely expensive, the quality is poor, energy efficiency and warmth are rare and the designs on offer do not fit with our slightly traditional American sensibilities. There is also the added problem that I am a little bit allergic to most things that are found in modern home construction - so I really need a "healthy home". I am a fan of the "not too big" approach to design. We are not after a "McMansion", in fact we would like the smallest possible home, while still giving myself, my husband and our growing son the spaces we need. What I do want is a bit of character, natural light and architectural variety, but it must also be efficient, comfortable, healthy and most of all affordable. A building plot here will cost us about what a middle class family in the US would spend on a fully finished house, so it doesn't leave much for conventional building. So what I am trying to find out is, are there any companies (either in NZ or, if not, some place that would ship to NZ) that can offer us a turn-key home that meets our needs and can be finished for around $150k NZD + land? Thanks.

Bronan, if you are over 13 and under 21, then the possibilities are really fun with black wood furniture in a room that could be set up with a ballet barre, or used as a dance practice studio as well as a bedroom! Since the floors are dark, you will need to keep the walls light, Usually in a bedroom you start with the colors in your bedding. If you want a new look, perhaps you could start with a pretty floral like this, paint the wall where you will put the head of your bed a deep coral pink to match the bedding and all the other walls a pale pretty coral too. room a soft, soft pink, and hang soft pink drapery panels http://www.target.com/p/threshold-multi-floral-comforter-set/-/A-14982101#prodSlot=medium_1_13 The coral will pop with your black furniture better / a good one that makes your skin pretty in the light - this one for a headboard wall to test - http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6878-animated-coral/ this one for the other 3 walls . . a white with the same coral undertone - http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6609-touching-white/ If possible, you might hang drapery rods on the mirror wall, so you can hang (with this bedding) white drapery at both the window and on each end of the mirror - it will make it feel a lot softer in the room if you treat it like a window. You can follow watch for on sale drapery until you can get a lot that is the same. Put the rod at the same height over the mirror as it is over the window. You might paint an inspirational quote at the top of the mirror in the dark coral (using a stencil) so that you visually fill the space between the top of the mirror and the top of the window. You could get a sample size of pale green paint the color of the green in the bedding to paint an extra piece of furniture that you need that isn't quite right. A little desk or vanity, or even a round end table or a bench for the foot of your bed. Hope this looks like an interesting option to you. Later, you can go for graphic black and white bedding and put hot coral pillows on it with the same paint job and curtains and get a whole new look with just new bedding.

go to www.etsy.com and check out HAND made items by artists and crafts people. You never know what you will find and it is very, very fun to look and learn about the incredible things people fabricate. One nice item that comes to mind that I have seen on Etsy are "Beach blankets". I did not know about them because, I've never lived by water or the beach but, apparently if you live by water you always want a big, light weight fabric to use to sit on or to stretch on poles to shield you from too, much sun. I f there was a big "beach blanker" that you liked enough, it could be in your room as an extra blanket, throw or as a window covering perhaps. This would be a good way to remind yourself about your love of the water and surfing and the beach. https://www.etsy.com/shop/AMIZANTI?section_id=6832219&ref=shopsection_leftnav_3. Maybe this is kind of an exotic option for you at your age but, I think its never too, soon to attune ourselves to culture and the arts and interesting ideas from across the world. Also, on Etsy (not bedding) are wall murals. My client's son Max wanted to feel part of the woods so, I found and he and his dad installed an incredible mural. So, that might be fun for you to explore too. I am showing the one they picked here. We did not stick to any kind of bedding collection. Instead we bought a big combination of Max's favorite "Forest Colors". See bed picture for example. Think outside the box, have fun!

I've heard that there's specially designed outdoor fabrics but I'm not sure if they're available in New Zealand - you could have a look around the web to see if there are places that ship to NZ! :)