Winter Warmup

KITCHEN
A rather surprising example of our taste for the romance of yesteryear is the increasing popularity of cast-iron cookers. They are back in vogue and not just for villas. Even contemporary kitchens can gain a new dimension with these stylish yet immensely practical ovens. A cast-iron hotplate keeps the coffee perking while, in larger models, one oven roasts or grills while another takes care of the slow-cooking casserole. Run on wood or coal, a well-positioned cast-iron cooker will heat a good-sized kitchen and adjoining family room, provide hot water (central heating too, if required) and keep dinner simmering even if the power goes off. 

LIVING ROOM
A flickering fire is the romantic choice for gently warming the living room while creating a relaxing ambience. There are so many options, your choice need only be limited by your budget. Since most of the warmth disappears up the chimney, producing real flames from solid fuel may not be the most efficient or eco-friendly choice but you can improve performance with a wood-burning stove. Some prefer to get their flame “fix” from a gas fire. You can maximise its heating efficiency by choosing a model appropriate to the size of the room and being canny about its position. For those wanting a little something extra to enhance the pleasure of cuddling up on a sofa with a good book and a rug, explore the benefits of a beautiful fire surround. Turned wood, sleek granite or hand-carved stone all make a stylish statement year-round. 

CHILDREN’S ROOM
Children’s bedrooms become a haven in winter when indoor activities take precedence over the pool and park. When heating children’s rooms, leave the door open for healthy air circulation and check the temperature regularly in the colder months. A quality thermostat is useful to maintain an even temperature through the coldest hours of the night. Warm bedding and flooring is obviously a must for comfort. If feather duvets and carpeting are not viable options because of allergies, explore hypoallergenic products. Cover hardwood flooring with a room-sized rug and hang thermal-backed curtains during the coldest months – you’ll be amazed at the difference. Lightweight fleece or wool blankets are inexpensive and can add layers of colour and texture to any room in the house. 

MASTER BEDROOM
Window treatments can add plenty of style to a room’s design but sometimes it’s hard to achieve a balance between form and function using curtains and blinds. European-influenced shutters are gaining popularity in New Zealand. Made from durable timber, they offer warmth and privacy, giving you direct control of sunlight in the room without totally obscuring the view. The adjustable blades allow in filtered or direct light. Versatile folding shutters fixed inside the bedroom windows trap warm air between the glass and the wood, providing natural insulation. Choose a finish – painted or stained – to complement your interior design scheme or neutralise the shutter and maximise the view. Shutters wipe clean and don’t blow about on blustery days.

BATHROOM
Heating your bathroom may seem redundant since it’s often the most humid room in the house. But wet and steamy doesn’t always mean warm, especially when you’re stepping out of a hot shower on a cold morning. Bathroom heating options need to provide a rapid delivery of heat for the short periods of time they are in use, and to be safe to use in a wet area. The word “radiator” might conjure up images of freezing London flats with coin meters, but they have come a long way in design and engineering. Hot water radiators connected to an electric or gas hot water cylinder provide an almost immediate source of heating and are surprisingly energy efficient. Other quick-use options include ceiling-mounted heat lamps and wall-mounted electric heaters. Ventilator and extraction fans take care of any extra condensation created in the room. 

OUTDOORS
Much is made of our love of living outside and of the increasingly popular trend for outdoor “rooms”. In more temperate climes, enjoying a barbecue or spending time in the garden is something we are loath to give up come autumn. External fireplaces, from the basic iron brazier to a plastered Mediterranean pizza oven, extend the life of those roof-free spaces we love so much in the warmer months. A wood-burning oven with a removable grill offers dual benefits; it’s ideal for creating gourmet pizzas on a chilly day or night and, if you stoke up the flames with a few more logs, you’ve got a fire to keep you warm while enjoying your meal. Owners of smaller city pads don’t have to miss out – a gas fireplace in the corner of a courtyard with a covered pergola overhead will give you a whole new living space. But if it gets too cold, maybe it’s time to go indoors. 

• Check for draughts on a windy day and use a sealing product or compression seals to draught-proof your house. www.placemakers.co.nz.
• Plug your chimney with a “chimney balloon” – even efficient flues can let in cold air. www.chimneyballoons.co.nz.
• Upgrade the insulation in your ceiling and consider using a speciality insulating product under the house if you have wooden floors. www.expol.co.nz.
• Close your curtains just before sundown in winter, especially in bedrooms, to trap daytime heat.
  www.curtainsupermarket.co.nz.
• Use timers on radiators and heaters to warm a room before you get up in the morning.
  Investigate installing a wall-mounted reverse-cycle heat pump – it’s a cost-efficient way to heat your home and reduce condensation. www.hrv.co.nz or www.mitsubishi.co.nz.
• See www.energywise.org.nz or www.branz.co.nz for more information on creating a healthy, warm home this winter.

Story: Deb Bartlett Photographs: Kieran Scott Stylist: Karen Holder