2025 renovation plans - from gym room to home office

As we look ahead to 2025, it’s time to bring a new wave of purpose and style to our house in Auckland with a number of renovation plans. After reimagining the TV room last year into a moody, glamorous space (which you can read about here), we’re ready to tackle a few more areas of the house that have been waiting patiently for their turn in the spotlight. Here’s what we’ve got planned:

1. Completion of the TV Room / Bar Area

The TV room remains a blank canvas for now, but the vision is clear and the wallpaper has arrived! If you’ve seen the concept in my earlier post here, you’ll know I’m dreaming of a moody, glam space with a sophisticated bar area as its centrepiece. Nothing has been executed yet, but the plan is set for 2025. I can’t wait to see it take shape and finally become the perfect spot I’ve imagined for so long!

2. The Pergola: A Stylish Refresh for the Deck

Let’s talk about the pergola. I’ve always had mixed feelings about this structure. I remember the first time I saw it, wondering if the previous owners just plonked it there without much thought. It’s too ‘country house’ for the clean, modern feel of the house and that has always bugged me. To be honest, we barely use the area – it just doesn’t feel exciting or inviting as it is.

In 2025, I’m determined to change that. I want to give the pergola a complete makeover, making it feel like it truly belongs. Whether it’s a reimagined structure or simply bold & playful changes (I’m thinking colours, patterns and textures – the works!), it needs to be something we’ll want to spend time under. I might even consider adding in some strategic planting to soften the space and give it a bit of life. I think we could finally make this part of the deck somewhere special.

3. My Office: Functional, Inviting and Full of Colour

Now onto my office. Honestly, this room has been a bit of a thorn in my side. It’s got an awkward layout, with a huge window and four doors leading into different rooms. I guess it was never meant to be an office – it was staged as a lounge when we bought the house – but a separate lounge felt pointless for us, so I claimed it. And here we are.

At the moment, it feels far too white and uninspiring. I spend so much time in here, but it doesn’t feel like me. My plan for 2025 is to turn it into a space that’s both practical and a joy to work in. I want to bring in storage that makes sense, inject colour and personality, and find creative ways to work around the awkward layout. I’m thinking vibrant tones, maybe some bold wallpaper or textures – something that makes me smile when I walk in.

4. The Gym Room: Small but Mighty

The gym room is another space that’s been quietly annoying me for a while now. It’s tiny – just enough for Mr M’s rowing machine, a stationary bike and some free weights – but it’s never felt quite right. The big rubber tiles we added over the carpet move around constantly and the whole thing ends up looking messy and half-finished. Not exactly a motivating space!

For 2025, I want to finally fix it. The flooring needs to be proper gym flooring, sturdy and tidy, and those long curtains that hang awkwardly in the room need to go. I want to bring some energy to the walls, too – white feels all wrong for a workout space. Something bold to make it feel purposeful and energised. Who knows – maybe I’ll even start using it myself!

Here’s to our 2025 Renovation Plans!

2025 feels like the year to tie up a number of loose ends. These are spaces that have been waiting patiently for their moment and I can’t wait to see them come together. Whether it’s giving the pergola some much-needed love, creating a colourful, inspiring office, or turning the gym into an inspiring space, the goal is to make our home feel even more like us. I’ll keep you updated along the way – here’s to a year of transforming plans into reality! Here’s to our 2025 renovation plans!