At my little house renovation is our middle name and it seems with the NZ property market at its peak we are not the only ones; the industry is busier than ever as many families are making improvements to their homes, whether they be small DIY jobs or bigger renovations and extensions. It can be an expensive business and luckily with my background I can keep our projects costs down by cutting out designers, however if you are renovating with a sale
Colours of Autumn
You can tell Autumn is here when long sleeves in shades of russets are leaving the confines of your wardrobe. It means very shortly the scarves will be making an appearance and what better way to hang them but on a design original by Laura Carwardine . She had me in mind when she conceived this I’m sure; when nothing is on it its still makes a statement with its geometric patterns in brass plate finish. Thanks Umbra for supporting these designers to make just what we all
High Tea
HIGH TEA I love to plan a party. Not a big one, just a gathering, to me it beats dining out where trying to talk to everyone is almost impossible. No. Leave the outings for couple-time and plan your gatherings at home. I’m not the most gifted of cooks but I can throw together some Scones with Jam and Cream and Club Sandwiches aren’t exactly difficult. Coffee and Tea or perhaps a Gin and Tonic, either or, its a High Tea to be proud of. Creme and Caramel with a hint of Copper
CREME AND CARAMEL WITH A HINT OF COPPER Inevitably the seasons change and as they do they bring with them new colours and feelings. When Summer leaves, its cool whites and bright primary colours give way to the beige, caramel, russets and coppers of Autumn. Next comes Winter with its cool greys and blacks, darkest of greens and moody blues with rich golds sometimes making a surprise appearance in the mix. Spring then follows with is buttery yellows and pastels; minty Cosy Places
If you cant relax chances are your little house needs a cosy place! I have a few in mine that invite that chance to sit, contemplate, read or entertain. You don’t need a whole room, simply take a space and add in these 5 elements. #1. Functionality; a chair or sofa and a table or surface such as a shelf or window sill to rest a cup or book or both #2. Texture; an item that promotes warmth and gives
Fresh and Cool @ The Warehouse
The sun is shining and the crickets are chirping, but those busy buyers at The Warehouse have been thinking ahead and getting us ready for the cooler days and longer nights of Autumn. That’s right, their Autumn/Winter range ‘A fresh take on cool’ is in store now. I didn’t get much of a sneak peak, more of a privileged peak at their launch this afternoon. Thievery Studio in K’Rd held us hostage for a couple of hours to enjoy a
A beautiful home in France
Visiting France was a must during our younger days; the big OE had to include this romantic country and the proximity to London made it an easy commute, which back then, was by Hovercraft then Train to the city of Paris! Maybe I was young and naïve but Paris was not the wonder I thought it would be. Yes the Louvre, the Eifel and the Arc de Triomphe were all stunning, the architecture striking and the River Seine the
How to add colour when you don’t love colour
I love colour! Yes its true; as long as those colours are Black, White or Grey! Black makes me feel protected, safe and strong; White makes me feel fresh and creative while Grey makes me feel calm. The perfect combo, however its good to add a few touches of other colours, and when your background is a neutral combination such as mine you can add whatever colours you like, and change those colours whenever you like. Pantone has release their
Umbra
I am totally in awe of what I found in Briscoes today; Umbra! Yes the real thing! Umbra is a homeware design company, known for bringing intelligent design to practical products. They are based in Toronto but have a team of global designers, both recognised and up-and-coming; they are happy to collaborate, mentor and sponsor and they pride themselves on being original, modern and casual. The award winning GARBINO CAN designed by Karim Rashid in 1997 is currently in the permanent
The elusive Fiddle Leaf Fig
THE ELUSIVE FIDDLE LEAF FIG The Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata) is a species of fig and native to Africa, its usually grown outdoors but in more temperate climates it has been cultivated as a house plant and a fairly beautiful one at that. It is literally taking the world by storm; you will find it all over Pinterest, in Home Design Blogs and Magazines. In NZ its a little elusive; sometimes its there and sometimes its not