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From the editor - October 09

What a diverse lot we New Zealanders are. The range of houses in this issue is broad to say the least and reflects the confidence with which we tackle creating our homes and gardens.

There�s fresh, modern minimalism in a holiday home overlooking Queenstown�s Lake Wakatipu � the bolt-hole of a Christchurch couple who need time out from their busy lives running a supermarket. There�s a betcha-can�t-tell-it�s-new terrace house in Parnell that looks as though it�s been whisked over from the charming Sydney suburb of Paddington.

Then there�s an intrepid couple and their restored 13th century house in the south-western French region of Lot. And we have lots of colour in a cottage where artist Rita Antgus once painted her watercolour Shakespeare Road, Napier, and which is now the abode of a former Berliner. We have an old Druids� hall, home to a pair of Christchurch hairdressers, and an old Salvation Army hall in Masterton, where an artist lives � her studio is in the ancient schoolhouse next door.

And it is not just buildings being reinvented but people too. Meet the first chief executive of the Ministry of Women�s Affairs who, these days, is making rosary beads. They are so gorgeous, I am after some myself. And a gardener who, after 30 years spent developing a magnificent property, moved house but not garden. I like that idea. I am not even a year into developing my new garden and am becoming so crazy about it I can imagine doing just that.

In the meantime, I am dreaming my way through our feature on outdoor spaces. Clever Claudia Kozub, our stylist, has created three looks for making a gorgeous garden room: rustic, formal and tropical. I can�t go past the rustic look� what�s your favourite?

All we need now is spring � and if our cover image is anything to go by, we won�t have to wait long for that.

Story: Kate Coughlan