Ben & Brie's Lovingly Restored Five Acre Farm Cottage
Running a rental property or hosting an Airbnb isn’t for the faint hearted. Yet this little farm cottage, 10 minutes from central Christchurch, was the perfect opportunity. Moments into walking through the open home, Ben and Brie had a vision for the property. “We visited the open home on a whim as we had always admired the property – never with the intention to buy it. And now we still pinch ourselves that it is ours,” says Brie. Whilst renovating their own home, a Sir Miles Warren gem, it was the traditional features of the Five Acre Farm cottage that were hard to look past. And so, the seed was planted to create a sunny, luxury farm stay.
There couldn’t have been a more perfect pair to carry out a fast-paced, extensive renovation. With Brie, an architectural designer of her own small firm, and Ben, a structural engineer. “We didn’t want it to lose its history or cottage feel,” notes Brie. “We had to repair earthquake damage, which turned into replacing the entire foundation. Now the cottage is well insulated with retrofitted double glazing in the timber window joinery.”
And once the serious parts of the renovation were complete, it was time for some fun: the fit out. In went a new kitchen, a new bathroom, paint on the walls and new flooring. Each aspect completed with the original cottage in mind. The finishes and furnishings throughout the property are simple and neutral. Antique pieces amongst pieces from New Zealand homewares stores, highlight the cottage’s character. Brie and Ben have learnt to embrace the quirks of a character property, honour its history and allow it to be enjoyed for centuries to come.
“I wanted to replicate the original floorboards as best as possible, and as soon as I saw the Wellington range, I knew the timber planks would be the perfect fit.”
With guests in and out year-round, engineered timber is a practical choice for the cottage. Not only is it easy to clean, the scratch and wear resistant lacquer on each plank means it will stand the test of time. And when asked if they had any advice for those looking to add an Airbnb property into their portfolio? Brie says “Go for it. Creating a relaxing stay for some amazing families has been so rewarding. I still have guests message me asking how Sparkle, our pet lamb, is doing.”
