There’s a driftwood artwork in the entrance to Simon and Bronwen Coe’s family home, depicting a little boat bobbing on rough seas. Made by Bronwen herself, it represents their journey from the UK to New Zealand, then down south to Invercargill, and the hard work involved in building their own home.
“It’s a little bit of a raggedy boat, but it’s still here,” says Bronwen, who is a mixed media artist and the owner of ITS Upholstery. The family is now enjoying calmer waters, in proud possession of a cosy, joyful home that was created, in part, with their own hands.
It was hard work getting the house built, but for Simon, Bronwen and their three boys, Rory, 16, Morgan, 14, and Bryn, 11, it was also a grand adventure.
After moving to Invercargill when Simon took the role of rector at Southland Boys’ High School in 2017, the family bought a four-hectare lifestyle block, bare but for a woolshed, with the intention of building from scratch. Having scrubbed and reclad the shed, they had the bright idea of moving into it while the house was built.
“We moved in there in April 2018, thinking we would only be there for about six months, but we ended up living there for three years!” says Bronwen.
Sleeping in a caravan parked within the woolshed, this living arrangement appealed to the boys’ sense of adventure, while allowing Simon and Bronwen the convenience of being on site to supervise the build – as well as getting their own hands dirty.
The couple had agreed on a self-build contract with builder Jeremy Skeggs, which enabled them to chip in as their skills allowed.
“He’d give me a job that an apprentice might do, that didn’t require skill,” says Bronwen. “I ended up digging holes and tying off the reinforcement mesh for the concrete, and putting in screws for the iron on the outside of the house.”
At the pointy end of the build, Bronwen learned how to tile so she could tackle both the bathrooms. The couple both put up the ply lining in the workroom, laundry and playroom. “It meant the process took longer, which is why we ended up being in the woolshed for three years. But it was very satisfying.”
Simon did all the painting, but they both chose the colours. For the hall, they picked Resene Shadowy Blue, which is offset by Bronwen’s Journey South driftwood art, an old telephone box (used to store keys) and a chair frame that holds scarves until Bronwen has time to reupholster it.
The gallery wall, painted in Resene Half Smalt Blue, features pieces by Bronwen and family members. It includes a whānau portrait (etching on timber) by Matt Dutton and a watercolour by Christine Groves of Rushall in the UK, the place where Simon proposed.
Meanwhile, the main bedroom is a restful retreat in Resene Smoky Green, with a standout bedhead made by Bronwen, of course.
Being on site also gave them the opportunity to work on the block, putting in place all the landscaping they wanted and getting a head start on achieving their bold goal of a self-sufficient lifestyle. With admirable forethought, they planted a eucalyptus grove for future firewood, an orchard and an extensive vegetable patch.
Next up was animals –chickens, plus a small number of sheep and cattle to round out their menagerie. While Bronwen grew up on a lifestyle block with horses and chickens, the couple gained most of their experience on the job, guided by knowledgeable friends.
“We’re doers – we’re happy to have a go,” explains Bronwen. “We were lucky to get great advice from people, then we just got on with it.
It’s constant hard work, gardening and looking after animals. But the rewards are awesome – you get to provide food for your family, be out in the countryside and spend time with animals. It’s lovely.”
Resene colours used: Resene Half Smalt Blue, Resene Shadowy Blue, Resene Smoky Green
