As creatives, we give away far too much of our time — the “five-minute” favours, the quick calls, the endless “can I just ask…” moments. But those minutes add up, and they’re not free. Every time we say yes to the small stuff, we pay the fuck around tax — the invisible cost of undervaluing our own expertise. It’s time to draw the line, charge for what we know, and stop wasting space on work that doesn’t value us.

The way a home feels is just as important as how it looks. Every detail — from design choices to the team you work with — shapes the energy of your space. Choosing trusted professionals who care about quality, communication, and collaboration ensures your home is not only beautiful but a joy to live in. At AD Library, we can help you find the right team and materials to bring your vision to life. We talk about this and more on our podcast, Between the Walls — listen at www.be

This month marks five incredible years of the Architecture + Design Library — and what a journey it has been. What began as a wild idea...

We believe collaboration is the foundation of great design

At the Architecture + Design Library, we see it all the time — people get excited, book the builder, and start knocking things down… only to realise halfway through that they don’t know what tiles they want, how much natural light they’re going to get, or whether the kitchen island will actually fit.

You’ve decided to build your own home — the dream, the Pinterest board, the land with a view. It should feel exciting… but instead, you’re staring at a million decisions, a stack of quotes, and a spreadsheet that doesn’t quite balance.

At Architecture + Design Library (ADL), we’ve created more than just a library. We’ve built a collaborative hub that brings together...

That’s exactly why the Architecture + Design Library exists: your timeless, ever-relevant secret weapon in the design world.

When we first opened the doors to ADL, our mission was simple: create a space filled with inspiring resources to help designers, architects, and creatives in the Wanaka region bring their projects to life. But over time, something even more powerful unfolded — ADL became a place of connection, collaboration, and community.