Hello, my dear Frankies!

I always get a bit emotionally attached to the businesses we feature here on Dear Frankie. The more I get to know the people behind them - the passion, the long days, the risk and sacrifice, the amount of heart they pour into what they do - the more obsessed I become with our local business people.

And yep, I have absolutely fallen for No Buttercups.​

Maybe because I personally have approximately zero design skills, I am always in awe of people who can make a home look beautiful and effortless and somehow exactly right. Carina from No Buttercups is one of those people. She has this gorgeous way of helping people create homes that feel warm, personal, stylish and properly put together.

So if you’ve ever looked at your space and thought, “I want this to feel more like me…I just have no idea how to get there,” you are going to want to read this one. And once you do, go give No Buttercups a follow for little hits of design inspiration and very clever tips.

And I'll see ya out there,

R. and the Frankie Fam xx

Meet No Buttercups: Franklin’s secret weapon for beautiful, Pinterest-worthy homes 🖼🏘

You know that feeling when you can see the home you want in your head...the lounge that feels warm and pulled-together when friends come over, the bedroom that feels like an oasis of escape at the end of the day...but no matter how hard you try, getting from “saved on Pinterest” to “actually in my house” is impossible?

That’s exactly where No Buttercups comes in.

Run by Pukekohe-based interior designer and colour consultant Carina Ferguson, No Buttercups is for anyone who knows the feeling of staring at paint samples, tile options or rug choices until everything starts to blur into one big beige-ish, grey-ish, (is greige a word?!) cloud of confusion.

Carina works with clients across Franklin and the wider Auckland area, helping with everything from interior and exterior colour palettes for new builds and renovations, to single-room makeovers, mood boards, soft furnishings, and those tricky finishing details that always hold up an entire room. Think rugs, artwork, tiles, bedding, furniture, lighting - all the bits that make a space feel finished and like home...but are surprisingly hard to get just right. Check out her Instagram page to properly appreciate her designer-eye!

And the best part? Her services are designed for real people, real homes, and real budgets. Carina describes her approach as helping you get that “pin-worthy” interior, without breaking the bank.

So how does Carina make your home Pinterest-worthy?

Carina has a range of options depending on what stage of the “what on earth do I do with this room?” spiral you’re in.

There’s Colour Consultation for finding the perfect combination of paints, wallpapers, tiles and decorative wall finishes - so you can avoid the three-week debate over which white is the right white. There’s Design Assistance for when you just need a designer’s eye on the perfect rug, tile, artwork or green couch - because yes, it does have to be the right kind of green.

But my favourite is the Mood Board Package. You show Carina your space and tell her your style, budget, preferences and lifestyle, and she comes back with a full mood board for the room: products, colour schemes, furniture, linen, soft furnishings and lighting. It’s perfect if you’re happy to do the work yourself, but need someone super clever to pull the whole thing together first.

Basically, No Buttercups gives you your own personal home designer, tailored to what you actually need - without requiring you to take out another mortgage.

DIY Workshops

Carina also runs hands-on workshops for people who have ideas for their space, but need a guiding hand to make sure everything works together. So instead of getting lost in Pinterest boards, screenshots, and seventeen thousand saved links, you can actually have a designer to help you start making confident decisions. Check out Carina's website for the next mood board sessions in June!​

Why we all need Carina

What I really love about Carina’s work is that she understands how hard designing a home actually is. It’s one thing to know what you like online, and another thing entirely to turn that into a warm, inviting space you actually love being in.

Most of us can find pieces we love - a rug here, a couch there, a paint colour saved on Pinterest at 2am - but making them all work together is the hard part. Without that designer eye, it can feel less “soft, cosy home” and more “random collection of things I once liked separately.”

And that’s really why No Buttercups is so useful. Carina’s services are tailored to make design help feel actually achievable, whether you need a full mood board, a colour palette, or just someone to help you make the final call. Afterall, we spend so much of our lives at home, it really should feel like the most beautiful, comfortable place to be.

🌼 Find No Buttercups here:

Website: nobuttercups.com​
​Instagram: @nobuttercups_​
​Email: hello@nobuttercups.com

Upcoming guided mood board workshops: https://www.nobuttercups.com/mood-board-workshop​

nynus ysad

Unscramble the letters above to find the Franklin-related phrase! Answer at the bottom of the newsletter!

Meet Jo - Your local agent of choice For professional, honest advice call Jo “an agent who listens” Let’s have a chat! 📞 021912058 📩 Jo.griffin@bayleys.co.nz Follow Jo here!

Beats by Bingo at Bracu ​Bracu is bringing a very fun twist to your Saturday night, with throwback tunes, interactive bingo rounds, dinner, prizes and an after-party vibe at the beautiful Bracu Pavilion in Bombay, from 7pm till midnight on Saturday 6 June. More info here!

🎨 Guided Mood Board Workshop Need a little help pulling your home ideas together? This hands-on workshop with No Buttercups is perfect if you’re building, renovating, or just want your space to feel more cohesive - or if you simply fancy a creative afternoon with friends. Two dates: ​Friday 19 June 11am-12:30pm and Sunday 21 June, 2pm-3:30pm at the Home Inspo & Design Centre Colour Room, 85 Manukau Rd, Pukekohe. Book here!

☕ Have you read Coffee News this week? Pick up a copy in your favourite café or scan the QR code to read on your device.

👉 Want a featured note on the notice board? - Simply book your feature here or just send us a quick email and we'll help you out!

Thursday

🎉 Creo Pukekohe Open Day All day Free gym use, competitions, prizes, free coffee and lunch, supplement tasting and more! Check it out!​

🍽️ MAFS Dinner Party at Appetite 6pm Three-course meal with unlimited wine, champagne and canapés on arrival, plus a Q&A and photos with Bec — R18. More info here​

🎯 Thursday Quiz Night at Pukekohe Golf Club 6:30–8:30pm Fun weekly quiz night at the golf club. All the details here​

🎲 Housie 11am–1pm, 78 Nelson Street Come along for a fun game of housie! Check it out!​

Friday

🎨 The Golden Triangle: 3 Artists Franklin Arts Centre An art exhibition showcasing three local artists. More info here​

Saturday

🌿 Pukekohe Farmers and Artisans Market 9am, Pukekohe Town Square Fresh produce, artisan goods and more at the weekly town square market. All the details here​

🔧 DEANZ Pukekohe Repair Cafe 10am, The Franklin Centre Bring your broken items along and get them fixed up at this free community repair event. Check it out!​

📚 Danielle Davidson Author Talk at Pukekohe Library 10:30am Come hear local author Danielle Davidson speak at the library. More info here​

🌾 Crop Swap Pukekohe 1:30pm, Pukekohe Library, 12 Massey Ave Bring along your homegrown surplus and swap with other gardeners. All the details here​

🍝 Pilates, Pasta and Pour 10am and 4pm sessions, Te Kauwhata A four-hour experience combining pilates, scratch pasta making, focaccia, wine and chocolate raspberry mousse — leave with an apron and recipe card. Check it out!​

🤠 Hoedown at Patumahoe Rugby Club 7pm Free entry hoedown with the Western Guide — dress in theme! More info here​

🎶 Beats by Bingo at Bracu Estate 7pm A fun night of bingo, DJ entertainment and dinner supporting the Pukekohe East School Bus Society fundraiser — $66 per person. All the details here​

🌱 Tuakau Community Market 9am–1pm, Central Park, corner of George St and Jellicoe Ave, Tuakau Weekly community market with local produce, crafts and more.

Sunday

🌍 Franklin Country Market at Pukekohe Park Raceway 8am, Pukekohe Park Raceway Homegrown produce, handmade crafts, antiques, food trucks and live music.

🧘 Sunday Stretch Sessions with The Stretch Collective 9am, RXFitness235, 42 Belgium St, Waiuku A 45-minute stretch session open to all — bookings required. Check it out!​

🐾 Pet First Aid Course at St John Pukekohe 9am Learn essential first aid skills for your pets. All the details here​

🍕 Neapolitan Dough Master Workshop at Pizzata 10:30am One extra seat available for this hands-on Neapolitan dough making workshop in Pukekohe. More info here​

monday

🍳 Good Food, Bright Minds 7–9am, Cafe Queen, Waiuku Free nourishing breakfast for school kids every Monday during term time — a wonderful community initiative.

🏃 The Wellness Run Club 5:45am, West Street Coffee A free 5km loop run welcoming all levels, followed by coffee.

🧠 Monday Quiz Night at Good Home Pukekohe 7pm, 65 Edinburgh Street Weekly quiz night — bookings recommended.

Tuesday

🎨 Painting Club at Franklin Arts Centre 6–8pm Bring whatever you're working on for two hours of dedicated painting time and connect with other local artists — term time only.

🏃 STRIDE Tribe Run Club 7pm, 21 Martyn Street, Waiuku A free, fun and pressure-free 3km walk or run for everyone — zero expectations, great vibes. Check it out!​

📚 Mike Hartigan Author Talk at Waiuku Library 10:30am Come along to hear author Mike Hartigan speak at Waiuku Library. More info here​

Wednesday

🍺 Malt N Steel Quiz Night 7pm, Malt N Steel, Waiuku Teams of 2–8 compete for prizes at this fun weekly quiz.

🎤 Comedy Quiz Night at The Village Bar, Patumahoe 7pm, The Village Bar Free weekly comedy pub quiz hosted by quiz master Jim — call 09 236 3571 to book.

📚 Anti-Social Social Club for Teens 3:30pm, Pukekohe Library, 12 Massey Ave A safe, inclusive after-school club for teens of all personalities — introverts, extroverts and everyone in between welcome.

🔥 Fire Station Run Club 5:30pm, Fire Station Eatery, Pukekohe Weekly run with 2.5km and 5km options, spot prizes and bar menu discounts.

🏃 Flying Mullet Run Group with Carl Read 5–6pm, Waiuku College Running Track Run technique, intervals and race prep for $5 per session — contact Carl at reado79@gmail.com.

🌿 Plant Lingo with Aligned Hart Wellness NZ 6:30pm, Mercer Landing Bar and Kitchen An interactive plant, nature and trivia social night with games, plant giveaways, prizes and community fun — $20 per person, booking essential. All the details here​

Word Scramble answer: Sunny Days

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