NZRenoTok stars juggle painting and parenting

Season one of NZRenoTok kicked off with a bang as four teams undertook a six-week challenge to completely transform their homes. A variety of content creators became renovators for the duration, all bringing vastly different skill levels and properties to the table. 

Often challenging but always intensely rewarding, the journey entailed many ups, downs and sleepless nights as the teams worked tirelessly to refresh different spaces, focusing on a different area each week. Adding to the task at hand, they were also responsible for filming and editing their progress and sharing it on TikTok. 

The public were seriously invested in this unique renovation reality show format, and they didn’t hold back with feedback in the comments! With more than 24 million views over the course of the series, NZRenoTok quickly became the most popular local digital DIY platform.

Resene helped the teams out not only with paint and painting products but often saving the day with invaluable advice from the team at Resene ColorShops. 

Chris Anker (aka CrankiePants) and his partner Nic were the only South Islanders competing and also had to juggle family commitments around their major home transformation. They chatted to us about managing the juggle and what they loved about working with Resene. 

Can you tell us a little about yourselves and what you do?

Chris is a part-time teacher and full-time dad by day – and prolific DIYer by night – and Nic works in the Marlborough wine industry. 

How would you describe your home before?

An absolute shambles and a constant reminder of the 1000 projects that we’ve started and haven’t finished yet.

How would you describe your home now?

The spaces we completed on the show are absolutely stunning. We decided to do it once and do it right, ensuring we didn’t have to go back and complete anything later – except the carpet. We don’t talk about the carpet 🤣.

How would you describe your renovating style?

Chris: Demo first, figure out the details later. Fortunately Nic is a little more methodical, complementing my chaos with impeccable planning and finer details.

What did you enjoy most about the NZRenoTok experience?

The deadline the show provided was exactly the impetus we needed to complete the spaces – at the end of the week we were done! Normally Chris finishes 90% of the first job then moves onto the next. Our fellow teams have become amazing friends too. We were lucky to catch up with them all in person just recently.

What was the biggest lesson you learnt along the way?

Chris: Communication as a couple. I’m normally a solo renovator with an audiobook on and no care for the outside world, Nic has never done this before and needed direction and help, and I sometimes left her in the deep end. As the old adage goes, if you can survive a renovation, you can survive anything.

What was the biggest challenge of the journey?

We were the only team in the South Island and the only team with children. We had to manage stock delays and at one point Nic had to do a five-hour round trip to Nelson and back to get our flat packs. During all that we still had to down tools at 3pm and make sure the kids were looked after before picking up the paintbrushes again after bedtime.

What was the most hilarious part of the process?

We were all so Kiwi that we all struggled to be competitive. There was a group chat between the teams and after each reveal were constantly cheering each other on.

What are your favourite Resene colours and why?

Chris: Resene Midnight Moss. We used it in our bedroom and it has a real moody vibe and makes it a cool space to hang out in.

Nic: Resene Dover White. We’ve used it in the powder room. It throws a lovely pinky beige and it’s so pretty in such a usually boring room.

Which Resene product did you enjoy working with the most and why?

Resene Lustacryl! It’s been an absolute game changer for the trim. The way it flows back together again after a brushstroke and leaves an amazing finish.

What did you enjoy most about working with Resene ColorShop staff?

They were all amazing. Damin, Chris and their team were all lifesavers – very knowledgeable on what product to use where and on colour recommendations. 

Did they share any valuable painting advice and if so, what was it?

Always get a testpot. We learnt the hard way, so we listened to them every step of the way after that!

What space were you most proud of and why?

Chris: The master bedroom. It’s been such a boring room for such a long time and now it’s amazing to go to bed and be proud of the space we created.

Nic: The lounge. The transformation between what we had to the end result is indescribable. I also designed and built a heated cat bed stained in Resene Walnut – and the cat actually uses it!

What are your three best tips/hacks for any budding DIYers out there?

1. Have a plan and a budget
2. Start small and give it a go. I learnt 90% of what I know from free online resources or picking the brains of the local team.
3. There are some jobs best left to the professionals, such as plumbing (don’t ask me how I know, but it was wet).

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