Innholdsfortegnelse for August/September 2024 i homestyle

Do you have the renovating bug? I always thought I did, but my partner Nick has managed to talk me out of it thus far. We found a happy medium with a ‘70s build that had been updated to perform for a new era. It's the best of old and new. Since moving in, I've rethought my reno aspirations and am thankful for the functional upgrades that had already been made — especially in winter when we're cosied up around the low-emissions woodburner, with retro-fitted double glazing keeping the warmth in. There's still plenty to keep us busy with maintenance, gardening and decorating. Some say travel is the make-or-break of a relationship, but home improvements are a pretty good test, too. I'm constantly in awe of the projects people share…

Stylist's tip Considering taking the leap with a strong, saturated hue? We're loving a ‘70s palette but, before you go all out, try painting a large area (or moveable board) with Resene test pots to get a real feel for living with your prospective new colour scheme in the lighting conditions specific to your place. Boldness revival Were interiors bolder in times gone by? Property listings with original finishings still intact and the snippets of home life in family photo albums would suggest so. Hindsight may be 20/20, yet we're prone to looking at the past with rosetinted glasses. Either way, we think the carefree use of colour from yesteryear was adventurous, emotive — and overdue a revival. We've paired retro colours in a sumptuous scheme fit for decadent dining…

Like a Kinder egg, this is one of those ‘surprise inside’ projects. It's a classic Mt Victoria, Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington double-bay villa on the outside, all white and conservative. But beyond the front door, it's eclectic, with unexpected moments of colour. Interior designer Katie Peck of Kurio knew it was going to be fun the minute she was introduced to the clients’ art collection. “It gave me an idea of who they were and how far they'd be willing to push the boundaries,” she says. The owners, with their blended family of five children, asked Katie for help to bring together their somewhat disparate tastes. One was drawn to the sleekly industrial, the other to using colour as a tool, but both were open to experiment and injecting a sense of…

1 … COMPETING with our cat Pickle for the cosiest spot in the house. We love spending evenings fireside here, and a cashmere and wool throw from Deadly Ponies — marking the opening of their new Tāhuna/Queenstown store — has made it all the more snug! 2 … TAKING note of all the special moments at Sammy-Rose Scapens and Oliver Starr's home. I found the care and attention to detail they put into restoring this ‘60s property particularly inspiring — mostly because I could take a leaf out of their book for our place. 3 … DREAMING of dedicating a space to music. Rebecca and Michael Macfie have custom shelving in their lounge for records. Isn't that just the best?! Organised by genre, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Serge and Jane…

STYLE — Store profile When asked how she found herself on a career path that has led her through a multitude of creative pursuits, Ngāmotu/New Plymouth photographer, interior designer and now store owner Gina Fabish says, “I'm not sure it was ever a choice; I've never imagined anything different, so I think it's more a way of being.” As a creative multi-hyphenate, she credits growing up with parents who were collectors for shaping her appreciation of individuality and creativity. What do you enjoy about the different disciplines you explore — photography and interiors specifically? I love that it is really all about storytelling through light, texture and composition, creating a feeling and narrative through these elements. Both interior design and photography are quite an intimate process of getting to know…

On any given morning at Rebecca and Michael Macfie's place, the doors to the back balcony are flung open, Patti Smith wafting from the record player, while their kids — Wilder (7) and Romy (3) — boogie their way through breakfast. This idyllic scene belies the effort it took to get here — even for a couple of professionals. As the talented duo behind Macfie Architecture (specialists in heritage villa and bungalow renovations), they know full well the highs and lows of the process. Naturally, in their line of work, Rebecca and Michael see many houses each year, but this one stood out. Charmed by the ‘witches peak’ and angular roof, and it's location in the Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland suburb of Devonport, they began dreaming of a life for their family…

Milan Design Week — DULUX Davina Harper COLOUR & DESIGN SPECIALIST FOR DULUX How would you summarise the mood at the Milan Furniture Fair this year? I'd describe it as cautiously optimistic with key themes of sustainability and technology (AI) running throughout. Brands such as Missoni and Moooi, who were bold and colourful last year, were more subdued, featuring a range of neutrals with subtle patterning. This is likely a reflection of the economic and political uncertainty happening in the world right now. But, as always, it was a visual feast featuring the best in innovative and dynamic design from around the world. Which shows did you find the most inspiring? This year, I found the apartments to be one of the most inspirational aspects of Milan Design Week. There…

LIGHT MY FIRE Look no further for the most aesthetically pleasing fireside companion to warm up your living spaces in more ways than one: Leisure Workshop's ingenious Fire Starter consists of a porous stone housed in a handsome oil-holding vessel. Removing the need for kindling or newspaper, the stone is submerged in lamp oil — or kerosene or citronella oil — then lit and lifted for a long-burning flame that allows easy log lighting and fire building at your leisure. The cool toolkit comes in a burnished black finish or fireman's red and can be used indoors or around the campfire. leisure-workshop.com ON REFLECTION Sam Fox and Siobhan Seifert of Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington design studio Salysi take the concept of ‘classic’ very seriously when it comes to their mirrors. Their timeless…

Continuing their commitment to developing textiles in natural fibres for every corner of your home, Città has added a new range of mats to their offering. Realised by product designer Imogen Tunnicliffe, the mats are handmade from 100% New Zealand wool by one of Città's long-standing suppliers in India, and they've achieved GoodWeave certification for the design. Woven into a popcorn-effect texture with flatweave edging, they're available in three sizes and five nostalgic hues. “The idea of robust woollen mats took me back to the ‘60s and ‘70s, and the living spaces and furnishings from those eras,” says Imogen. “Rich, saturated shades were predominant: that typical retro palette of deep wine reds, mustard yellows, greens, browns and deep sea blues. Heavy textures and wool were popular for the ‘lounge’ and,…

Tucked away on a quiet, nondescript Karanema/Havelock North street, in a kitset garage at the very end of a driveway, one of the most exciting painters to emerge in Aotearoa in recent years is hard at work. The artist in question is Nephi Tupaea (Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Tiipa, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Kahungunu) who, while having been part of the Pacific Sisters activist art collective since the ‘90s, has only recently taken up painting. Despite this, she's already shown paintings at The Dowse, Hastings Art Gallery, Tim Melville Gallery, Ākina Gallery and the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. Nephi, who was born transgender to Mormon parents and spent most of her adult life living overseas, returned to the house she was born in to look after her elderly mother…

Is it your ultimate ambition to own a little place in the country? It was Felicity and Callum Brenchley's. ‘When we're 55, 60,’ they thought, ‘after the kids have left home.’ They never imagined they'd achieve it so soon — but look at what the alchemy of hard graft, good luck and the right timing can do. Architect Felicity is one of those people who always has a project on the go. Not content merely to work and parent while consulting for Ākau (the Kaikohe-based, youth- and community-focused charitable foundation she co-founded to empower through design those who may not have a voice), she and Callum renovated two homes before building this one — with their own bare hands, no less. Those almost completely DIY renos became the financial and…

LEXUS — Drive I've always had a thing for the way of life in Japan — the traditional arts and crafts, the architecture and gardens, the pop culture, and technology. There's a lot to admire about the harmonious blend of ancient traditions and modern innovation you'll find there. Japanese sensibilities are deeply embedded in the values of Lexus too. Omotenashi - an ancient concept that describes one's ability to anticipate the needs of another, even before they arise - is a guiding principal at Lexus that filters through their vehicle design and driving experience. Back in autumn, Lexus invited me on a mini-break at Te Arai Links to introduce the latest addition to their fleet — the first-ever LBX. It was during this trip that I first grasped how deeply…