As she inspects the sweet peas in her little garden at the back of her apartment, Fleur Saville is caught in a moment of domestic bliss. It’s a feeling she is no stranger to since she bought her two storey, inner-city fl at with her boyfriend Jon Harding. Her home has become an oasis for the actress, away from the hectic pace of Shortland Street.

“I got a bee in my bonnet about owning my own house after I started on the show,” says the star (25), who plays the clinic’s prissy PA Libby Jeffries. “I wanted to do something with the money I was earning. Originally I had a romantic idea of a villa with a rambling garden,” she sighs, “but it wasn’t to be for the money we had.”

Instead, she found a cosy two bedroom flat in the buzzy Auckland suburb of Kingsland with room for musician Jon (31) to practise upstairs. The cute kitchen is ideal for Fleur to indulge her passion for cookery and the couple have found lots of ways to put their own stamp on the place.

Fleur says as much as she enjoyed her years living with fl atmates, she could never go back to sharing her space. “Now, Jon and I have our own little love nest,” she smiles brightly. And so content are they in their own home, that the lure to go out has all but lost its appeal. “These days we’re more likely to have friends over. We’re one of the few couples in our circle who own a place so people justdrop by. Mind you, I do still like to head out to do karaoke from time to time. I fi nd Love Shack is always a crowd pleaser,” she says grinning.

It’s no surprise that the house has become a magnet for pals to call in to. There’s a soothing zen feel to the furnishings, with the odd splash of colour thrown in. “When it comes to decorating, I try, but I have to say, Jon’s got a very good eye,” confesses Fleur. There are, however, lots of Fleur’s favourite items scattered about the place, including a poem on the wall written by cast-mate Harry McNaughton, who plays Gerald Tippett. “He’s so clever,” says Fleur. “Harry’s my best friend at work.”

When she’s not relaxing at home, busy at work, or belting out a tune, Fleur’s favourite way to unwind is with Bikram yoga – done in a room heated to 40 degrees Celsius. “It’s really hard and the temperature often makes me feel sick. I always think , ‘Why do I do this?’ And then I walk out and I feel amazing. You’re much calmer and the next day you remember lines more clearly.”

And while the pace at Shortland Street is always hectic, after four years in the job she still gets a kick out of playing her part  “Libby is way more uptight and high maintenance than me but I love her. Once I’m all made up and have my heels on I’m away. She’s like a perfumed rottweiler.”

One trait that Libby and Fleur do share, however, is a determined streak. “If I decide to do something, I’ll do it,” says the young homeowner fi rmly. “It’s all about creating what you want. Thankfully, Jon is very centred and strong, so we compliment each other. “I’m a Cancerian and we’re often described as being homebodies. I always used to think, ‘Nah, that’s not me,’ but it turns out I so am!”