Table of contents for February/March 2018 in homestyle

“If an object is difficult to part with, photograph it – it can liberate you from needing to keep it any longer. It’s good advice, although I’m not always capable of following it!” NO MATTER HOW MANY BOOKS WE READ WITH helpful tips for minimising the number of possessions we own or attempts we make to follow the ‘one in, one out’ rule, it can still be difficult to decide what’s a special memento and what’s general clutter when it’s time for that start-of-the-year tidy up. (I’m not sure about you, but it’s one of my annual rituals.) A piece of advice I took on board while watching a downsizing TV show years ago was if an object is no longer useful but has associations that make it difficult to…

PLANT STYLE BY ALANA LANGAN & JACQUI VIDAL, PUBLISHED BY THAMES & HUDSON, $40. Melbournians Alana (an interior stylist) and Jacqui (a gallerist) opened their botanical-wares studio Ivy Muse (@ivymuse_melb) in 2014, hoping to encourage customers to get creative with greenery, and now they’ve taken everything they know and put it into a beautiful, instructional book. If you’re keen to fill your place with plants but don’t know the first thing about arranging them and worry they’ll end up carking it, this is for you. Find out what you need to keep an indoor garden growing, which plants work well where, and ways to style them in every room of the house. Terrariums, string gardens and air plants that don’t need soil to grow are among the many cool ideas,…

AWARD-WINNING INTERIOR design studio Material Creative is led by passionate businesswomen and great mates Toni Brandso and Olivia Patience. The pair met at Victoria University, bonded during late nights completing projects for their Bachelor of Design in interior architecture, and after graduating both migrated to Auckland to develop their careers in architecture practices. In 2008, they found themselves at a ski resort in the French Alps, working and living with mutual friends. The topic of starting a business popped up from time to time, and Toni recalls that their first strategy session was over fresh baguettes. “I’d often end up helping Liv out in her chalet and we’d talk about working for ourselves. I clearly remember buttering a baguette while we chatted about business names one day after the breakfast…

 THE CLASSIC WEATHERBOARD HOME is a Kiwi favourite, one that Auckland’s Jenny and Sam Porter have enjoyed in various forms over the years. But during their recent search for a new place to live, they decided to go for something outside the box. “We weren’t exactly sure what we wanted, but we knew what we didn’t want: another villa,” says Jen. “When our agent contacted us to give us the heads-up that this home was going to be listed that week, we visited it immediately and bought it that night.” The 200m2 Grey Lynn dwelling was less of a house and more of a warehouse. Previously a mechanics’ workshop, it had been converted into a large, open-plan central living and dining space with internal glass doors leading to an office,…

YEAH BABY, SHE’S GOT IT Calling all goddesses keeping an eye out for their new favourite piece of jewellery – you might want to have a squiz at Meadowlark’s latest collection: Venus. Featuring baroque pearls, grey diamonds, pink and green sapphires and semi-precious stones, each piece is exquisite yet intended to be part of your everyday wardrobe, bringing a touch of fire to even the daggiest get-up. meadowlark.co.nz ONE-TRACK MIND New brand on the block Harris Tapper does shirts, and boy does it do them well. The high-end, made-in-New-Zealand garments run the gamut from classic to edgy, and designers Sarah Harris and Lauren Tapper will be releasing fresh styles every month. It’s fast fashion for those who are hungry for it, but ethically produced. harristapper.com FLAT OUT…

EDWARD GIBBON Bathroomware See the very latest in bathroomware from some of the most famous brands in New Zealand and around the world – all at prices you can afford. Visit the Edward Gibbon website to receive a free copy of the catalogue, to shop and more. edwardgibbon.co.nz ESCEA Heating The perfect balance of form and function, Escea gas fireplaces are made for modern homes and busy lives. Using the latest in gas fireplace technology, they deliver heat that’s powerful and efficient – and you can operate them from your smartphone. They’re also made right here in New Zealand. info@escea.com  escea.com BIG SAVE FURNITURE Furniture Perfect as that first bed or an upgrade for the new school year, Big Save Furniture’s Olly (top) and Milly slat beds offer incredible value…

#HOMESTYLELOVESCOLOUR Our newest assistant Ted had a great time road- testing the sets at our kids’ colour shoot. Turn to page 38 to see his cameo appearance in the spaces his editor-at-large mum Alice Lines (@ lineslikes , pictured) styled. “A few things may have come home with us for his room,” says Alice. “#shoppingonthejob!” #WHERETHEARTIS Of photographing spatial designer Toni Brandso’s home on page 49, Michelle Weir (@studioweir) says, “It was obvious that Toni is intrinsically an artist. At every turn, her own handmade ceramics and artworks line the walls and shelves, all traces of her creative thoughts and processes.” #HOMESTYLEOUTTAKE There are so many incredible pieces in Charlotte Rust’s @babelogue_shop in Auckland’s Beresford Square, it’s hard to know what to ooh and aah over first.…

SUMMER’S IN FULL SWING, AND some classic neutral colours have warmed up to match the weather. Together they form a soft palette that exudes contemporary appeal yet is very easy to work with, allowing you to add your own character to a space without fear of your homeware clashing with your walls. Dulux Cardrona and Glinks Gully are both warm neutrals that sit beautifully alongside soft pinks such as Dulux Maiko and muted oranges like Dulux Motueka. They also work well with the natural materials that are so popular right now, such as timber, stone and linen. When using paint to update a space, keep in mind that you don’t have to change entire walls to make a statement. Consider transforming just your home’s front door, an interior door frame,…

MIND GAMES Creating a space that encourages open-ended play, this geometric design provides endless possibilities for make-believe. 1. Use a roller to paint the entire wall with two to three coats of Resene Tussock, then allow to dry. Aim to give your design some breathing room by keeping about 20-30cm from each edge shape-free. 2. Create the arch by ruling two 110cm vertical lines about 75cm apart, then connect them at the top by tracing a semi-circle using a pencil attached to a piece of string pinned 110cm from the floor in the middle of the two lines. 3. Mask out the arch with painter’s tape. To achieve the rounded edge, overlap small pieces of tape bit by bit. 4. Use a roller to paint inside the tape with two…

 ENTERING THE HOME OF ERENA AND JOE TE PAA, IT’S impossible not to be captivated by the high stud and curved timber ceiling that runs the length of the open-plan kitchen and living area – rows of honey-coloured boards rising to a peak before rolling like a wave towards the wall. The dramatic ceiling is a feature of the home’s mid-century modernist architectural style and was key to the couple’s purchase. “I was instantly drawn in by its uniqueness,” says Erena. “Homes of this era have a quirkiness about them. In some ways they were ahead of their time, given that a lot of modern architecture and furniture design now harks back to this look.” Designed by Hamilton architect Rodney Smith in 1968, the house began its life as a…

THE PROJECT Event stylist/artist Danielle Nash and her property developer husband Peter renovated this three-bedroom home in Sydney’s Newport for themselves and their children Hazel (3) and Delilah (1). DANIELLE NASH AND HER HUSBAND PETER CAN relate to the saying “Good things come to those who wait”. It took them 18 months to find their dream home, but they finally hit the jackpot with an untouched mid-century gem in Newport, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The couple instantly adored its abundance of light and the laid-back lifestyle the location had to offer their young family. Originally constructed in 1967, the home was inspired by the late American real-estate developer Joseph Eichler, whose distinctive, architecturally designed California homes were often arranged in a grid centred around an atrium. “The theory behind…

PULLED SWEET POTATO BURGERS WITH FETA, MARJORAM & BLACK VINEGAR MIX MAKES 6 Rapeseed oil 6 medium-sized sweet potatoes 6 tbsp coarse sea salt 6 burger buns, cut in half Butter 300g feta Fresh marjoram or oregano Roasted pepper seasoning 2 tbsp coriander seeds 2 tbsp Sichuan pepper 2 tbsp whole black peppercorns Black vinegar mix 2 spring onions 2 tbsp dark malt or red wine vinegar 3 cloves black garlic 1 tsp roasted pepper seasoning (see above) Sea salt Preheat the oven to 200°C. Make the roasted pepper seasoning for the black vinegar mix by heating a dry cast-iron pan over a medium heat. Toast the coriander seeds, Sichuan pepper and black peppercorns until the seeds start to turn golden brown and there’s a definite spice aroma. Pound the…

“We did all the renovations ourselves, and walking through each room knowing everything is done is extremely satisfying.” Living in New Zealand but coming from abroad, home is wherever my husband Elliot and son Charles are. It’s where I can cook for my friends and we can all have a dance party in the dining room. I think my interior style is simple, with a few pieces that show character, age and uniqueness. There’s a touch of rusticity, with French and a few ethnic pieces – souvenirs from our adventures. I get most of my creative inspiration from nature. My eye is always drawn to textures rather than colours, and I think that shows in my style, my home and my work. I get inspired when I travel too –…

FLYING SAUCERS Italian lighting brand Astep brings together today’s visionaries and iconic designers of the past, among them founder Alessandro Sarfatti’s grandad, Gino. When everyone else was using glass, Gino was experimenting with stronger, lighter methacrylate, from which he crafted this Model 2065 pendant in 1950. We’re never not enchanted by its saucer-shaped diffusers that look as if they’re floating. goodform.co.nz WHAT’S NEW? At Nest, quite a lot, actually: new brands; a new online store; and a new shop, Nest Weekend, at Auckland’s Cheltenham Beach. It’s an apt location given the laid-back vibe of its lovely offerings, like these pieces crafted by fair-trade artisans in Bangladesh and Malawi. nest-direct.com BOOM BOOM POW The artworks in Evie Kemp’s new Still Life series pack quite the visual…

BLACK & WHITE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Six Draw sideboy, $5390, timwebberdesign.com. Como shelf, $149, boconcept.co.nz. Fold wall-hung bedside table by Made of Tomorrow, $99, superette.co.nz. Copenhagen wall system, $4029, boconcept.co.nz. Lift 6 shelves by Hem, $1396, timwebberdesign.com. Argyle/Diamond wall-hung bedside box, $630, mrandmrsward.nz. Compound sideboard, $2990, cittadesign.com. Charme Des Temps White Panel cabinet by Artcopi, $6299, corso.co.nz. Metro coat stand, $1049, boconcept.co.nz. TIMBER CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Larsson buffet, $1199, freedomfurniture.co.nz. Fungi shelf by Gridy, $240, partidgedesign.co.nz. Oak M Rack shelves, $2199, dawsonandco.nz. Fifties buffet, $1199, freedomfurniture.co.nz. Svelto shelves by Ercol, $1750, goodform.co.nz. Vintage sideboard (pictured middle), $1795, hausmobel.co.nz. Lugano bench, $1279, boconcept.co.nz. Static shelves, $371; Ecobox Stack shelves, $916, lundia.co.nz. Mast coat stand, $390, cittadesign.com. METALLICS CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Crescent cabinet by Kelly Wearstler, POA, cavitco.com. 2 Elements…

HAVING CLOSED DOWN HER K ROAD vintage clothing store Fast & Loose in 2011 to work in art and costume departments in the film and television industry, opening another shop was the last thing Auckland’s Charlotte Rust thought she would do. Then in 2016, a trip to Morocco and Paris with her husband, Cross Street Market co-founder Tony Downing, reignited her passion for collating covetable treasures. She sensed there was a niche for a shop that draws inspiration from both cities, so she set one up. Babelogue is very much based on your own design sensibility, Charlotte – how would you describe the aesthetic? It’s quite hard to describe, because it’s a mix. I want Babelogue to feel like a second living area and inspire people to live with beautiful…

THE PROJECT Mother/student Kiriana Tipping and her lawyer husband Will renovated this five-bedroom home in Auckland’s Freemans Bay for themselves and their children Honor (8), Maia (6) and Niko (4). IF THE SECRET TO A HAPPY LIFE IS finding balance, Kiriana and Will Tipping have it down. With mother/student Kiriana favouring the flamboyant and lawyer Will a more traditional type, the renovation of their villa in Auckland’s Freemans Bay was a careful alchemy that transformed the home over the course of a year into a spectacular blend of exciting visual statements and pared-back sophistication. Not for the first time in the history of romance, it’s this couple’s differences as much as their common ground that make them the perfect pair. “I can be quite out there and Will’s super-relaxed…