When taps were left running over the long Waitangi weekend, the mums and kids of Kaukapakapa play centre returned to find floors, walls and their entire kitchen ruined.

From the outset of TV3’s latest home renovation show, Creative Living, one of the biggest battles facing the renovators has been turning a draughty 100-year-old Kiwi villa into a warm, comfy modern home.

Harrisons is proud to be working alongside Zane Raphael in his project to convert a 50-year-old Auckland home into a 9-star Homestar rated eco-home.

Many home owners are now putting hard wearing synthetic carpets in their garages. Why, might you ask? It helps make the area more user friendly for other activities, it’s safer, warmer, more comfortable. It is impervious to water, easy to clean and very affordable.

When it comes to choosing hard flooring, there are a number of things to consider. Where in your home will the new flooring reside – kitchen, bathroom, living room? Is it an area prone to a lot of sunlight or water? And there is always budget to consider as well.

When choosing new carpet for your home, there are a few things to consider. What is your home like – do you get a lot of sun, does your home retain heat?

Considering very few people put a lot of thought into what they’re walking on, the amount of choice in buying a carpet can be astounding. Before you even get to the varied styles – the textures, piles, sisals and berbers – there’s first the decision over the fibres that go into the carpet.

As with most things in life, the better you treat them, the longer they’ll last. And because your carpets are going to deal with the wear and tear of everyday life, it makes sense that the more care and attention you give them the better they’ll cope.

Choosing new carpets or vinyl flooring can be a great way to spruce up your home without having to go to the financially extreme lengths of, say, coughing up for a new kitchen or bathroom.