KEY POINTS:
Take a graphic designer and a costumier who share a love of retro design, add a late 1960s architect-designed house, and you've got the ingredients for the perfect period home.
When Campbell Read and Amanda Neale bought their Wellington home, designed by architect Fritz Eisenhofer for his
parents-in-law in 1968, it was completely original. And while they have restored the brick and cedar exterior and tweaked the interior, its classic 60s style is a great backdrop for the treasure trove of furniture and collectables the couple has assembled over the years.
They both work in Wellington's film industry and while some of the pieces in their home are movie props, others are the result of hours spent in dusty shops for both work and pleasure. In fact, just about everything in the home is from an op shop, junk shop, or second-hand store. "It's a combination of being an obsessive bargain hunter and loving old stuff," says Read.
"As a graphic designer I enjoy the lettering and images from old packaging and appliances. I'm also attracted to the era in which I was born, the late 1960s. I grew up being fond of pieces around the house that were generally my parents' wedding gifts." As a costume designer, Neale is interested in colour and texture. "I think that is why I love 1960s and 1970s pottery and ceramics so much," she says.
"We also like to pick up things from places we have visited which hold great memories for us." And it's not just about aesthetics. Read and Neale like the fact their love of old things is a form of recycling. "It just keeps things going and we love the history behind many of our things," says Neale.
"I started buying this furniture in my mid-20s, when retro wasn't as popular. I just found it beautiful." Three-year-old Hazel is growing up with that attitude as the norm.
In fact, her second word was "precious" her third "ceramic", and several of her toys originally belonged to her dad. "There's so much rubbish for kids out there," says Neale. "We like to give Hazel just a few beautiful things and teach her how to take care of them."
How to bag a bargain
Do your research: When you become interested in a particular design era or in collecting a certain brand of ceramics or other retro items, information is your best friend. Read up and become familiar with makers' marks. This will mean you won't be confused over whether an item is an original.
Dollars and sense: Keep an eye online, in charity shops and in antique stores for the things you're collecting. Get an idea of the prices regularly charged for these items so you know what they're worth and don't end up paying too much.
Make friends: If you go to certain second-hand stores regularly, chat to the owners and find out all you can about the pieces you collect. Give them your contact details and you never know - they might just get in touch next time they find something special.
Step outside the square: If you're travelling through New Zealand, stop in small towns and look through their antique stores; sometimes there are treasures to be found that don't make their way to the big cities.
* Leanne Moore is the editor of Your Home & Garden. For more on this home, see the issue on sale now, or visit www.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz.
