The Peace After the Paint: Finding Our Hearth at Sage Hearth

Warmth. Quiet. Home.

After all the moving, the paint chaos, and the scramble to make each room livable, there is one thing that makes every bit of effort worthwhile: the peace that settles in afterward.

Before we ever curled up beside the fire, the first spaces we refreshed were the bedrooms. Clearing out the clutter, giving everything a deep clean, and setting up simple, calm spaces made such a difference to how “home” began to feel.

Once winter settled in, Sage Hearth really began to live up to its name. We sourced furniture as cost-effectively as possible—family hand-me-downs, marketplace finds, and a little creative arranging—to create rooms that felt warm and welcoming while we saved for larger renovations.

Now the fire glows, the animals are stretched out in their favourite spots, and the chaos stays outside where it belongs. These small, peaceful moments are the heartbeat of our home and the reward that keeps us moving forward.

About the Authors

We’re Ben and Casey — the couple behind Sage Hearth. With a love for history, DIY, and slow living, we’re restoring our 100-year-old homestead one project at a time and sharing the journey as we go.

Location: Taupō, New Zealand

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