Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2017 i Your Home and Garden

When deputy editor Kristina was renovating, she’d come in every Monday exhausted from hours spent scraping wallpaper off a house with no bedroom to sleep in, zero storage and decor resembling a hoarder’s. When she told me her and partner Ashton’s budget was $30,000 for the whole house, I was surprised. When they stuck to this budget and I saw the results, I was blown away! Their home is well planned and executed, with plenty of wow factor. The couple’s mindset was smart: this house was for now, not for ever; a stepping stone to get them closer to their dream home. So they kept their resale market firmly in mind when making every decision and took care not to overcapitalise – and it paid off (read more on page…

HONESTY BOX + Katie, is there anything you would change? I would have added an extra skylight in the hallway, and I would have liked slightly higher ceilings (it would have been hard to justify that budget-wise, though). + Did you stay within your budget? In the end we went about 10 percent over budget. + Biggest stress? Moving in. Our parents came to help us move but the house was not quite finished. We had six adults and a toddler sharing one bathroom, then Dad got a vomiting bug that spread around all of us. It was awful. + Any disasters? We had some tiling problems to start off with. It was a stressful time, but when it was finally redone by a great team of Argentinian tilers, it…

BUDGET $30,000 Kitchen – $10,000 Bedrooms – $5000 Lounge, study nook – $5000 Outdoor – $10,000 CONTACTS Alex & Corban – alexandcorban.co.nz Eric Thompson, Pacific Coast Kitchens – pacificcoastkitchens.co.nz Freedom – freedomfurniture.co.nz Mitre 10 MEGA – mitre10.co.nz Nood – nood.co.nz Wattyl – wattyl.co.nz SUPPLY SHOP KITCHEN Laminate cabinetry and wood laminate bench top from Pacific Coast Kitchens. Subway tiles from Mitre 10 MEGA. Taps from Mitre 10 MEGA. Knobs, handles and sink from Heritage Hardware, sourced through Pacific Coast Kitchens. LIVING, STUDY NOOK Original rimu floorboards throughout, sanded and polished. Study nook window from a demolition yard. OUTDOOR  Decking and picket fence from Mitre 10 MEGA. White paint – custom colour by Wattyl.…

What process do you undertake when relocating a house? I measure up the house, write a report on the condition, design the pile and drainage plans, and work out the foundation bracing. Once relocated, I usually inspect the house along with the council. What challenges did you face with this project? Houses that are relocated are usually considered to be compliant to old building codes. However, as the client removed and shifted many internal walls, the wall bracing needed to be recalculated for the house. We had to come to a solution that satisfied the council and the clients.…

Party party Whether you’re channelling Nigella Lawson and throwing a scrumptious dinner party or simply serving a few steaks and sausages off the barbecue, the kitchen is where it all starts and ends. Therefore, it needs to be carefully designed for ease and efficiency, especially if you’re really big on entertaining. Not sure how to go about improving your kitchen? We’ve highlighted eight key factors that will make yours a standout success! 1 In the zone First up, have a think about what kinds of events you want to host. Small dinner parties or large soirees? Next, you need to establish the basic work zones: prep, cook and clean. Make sure each area has enough space and storage for everyone working there, as well as the right appliances. A triangular…

What are some key storage considerations when designing a kitchen for entertaining? My designs are about a kitchen being aesthetically pleasing as well as enjoyable to use. Kitchens are social hubs and, for those who love entertaining, easy access to lovely glasses, jugs, and platters make a delight of preparing multiple courses. For this client, a large bench area to gather around makes the kitchen adaptable for guest numbers. A wine fridge, double ovens and dedicated coffee station can make an entertainer’s kitchen perfect for all types of formal and informal occasions. What’s the latest kitchen technology, and how will it help me in the kitchen? No matter what style of cabinetry – classic or contemporary – drawers below bench height are both ergonomic and easy to access. I use…

“I love cooking and I also love having a tidy kitchen – but those two things don’t always mix well! Having a dedicated room tucked away for appliances and pantry staples would be so handy.” Kristina Rapley, deputy editor Kristina’s kitchen is too small to add a scullery or walk-in pantry, but extending the house to incorporate one would be a worthwhile investment for a foodie like her. FOR NOW SOLUTION Ideally you’ll have a cupboard, room or alcove to extend into for your scullery. If not, Eric Thompson of Pacific Coast Kitchens says his team could create a large, custom pantry with open shelves and a sliding door within the kitchen. If your back door opens onto the kitchen, a scullery could be installed in front of the door,…

Shani Luckman, art director Shani wants to maximise space in her house. She’d like to create the look of a high-pitched ceiling, under which she could add a mezzanine floor. FOR NOW SOLUTION If you have a high enough ceiling, a builder can install a basic loft floor with balustrade and access way. If your ceiling is too low for a loft, you could use panels to create the look of a pitched ceiling instead. Pros + Quick, easy and relatively inexpensive. Cons + The space you’re creating would only be small. + May not look as finished as an expensive build. Considerations + Be sure to have a safe and sturdy access point. + Loft will need at least 2.1m standing height. + Be careful with fall heights over…

More than injecting colour, wallpaper provides another layer of design depth to a space that includes texture and pattern. Depending on the type of pattern used, a room can be manipulated to create the illusion of movement, continuity and height. Establishing a greater sense of spatial volume requires wallpaper with strong vertical stripes and patterns with an upward design. This will help guide the eye up the wall, making a ceiling appear higher. Similarly, for smaller rooms, the use of stripes in horizontal and diagonal fashion establishes continuity and movement, helping the space to appear wider and more open. With open plan living a mainstay of what most New Zealanders look for in a home, demarcating space with wallpaper can create more cosy and intimate zones. An example of this…

A lighter, brighter kitchen was on Chrissy Conyngham’s wishlist when she bought her Remuera home. Three years after moving in, the owner of the Flo & Frankie boutiques finally got her dream space. She opted for a minimalist design with extra storage space and a social central island. Homewares from Flo & Frankie, where her three daughters also work (Ruby, 23, is pictured here), are scattered throughout the house. Chrissy shares how she styled the rest of her gorgeous home on page 106.…

White is a popular choice when it comes to selecting colours for kitchens. It’s crisp, light and gives the feeling of cleanliness, which is desirable in your food prep and storage areas. The kitchen is also an expensive room that you don’t want to be renovating again any time soon, and white is a safe and timeless option. But how do you give your pearly bright kitchen a bit of personality so it doesn’t seem bland? I know a lovely couple who have just renovated their kitchen. It used to be a poky room tucked away in the corner of the house, but they knocked down a wall to create a light galley kitchen with a beautiful porcelain benchtop and white tiling. I borrowed their kitchen for a day to…

+ As we head towards the end of summer, many plants are looking a little jaded. It’s time to refresh with seedlings of late-blooming types, such as zinnia, calendula, marigold, pansy, polyanthus, poppy, stock, sunflowers, sweet pea and viola. Add late-flowering perennials, such as sedum, too. + A good feed with an all-purpose fertiliser will often give plants new life and more flowers. Throw in some compost, sheep pellets and other manure as well. Deadheading also helps. + Dahlias, delphinium, hollyhock and other tall flowering perennials should be well staked so they don’t flop or snap their stalks in windy conditions. + Keep up the watering and mulching while it’s hot. Remember, mulching helps to conserve moisture and prevents weeds putting their roots down deeply. + The naturalistic look is…

When planning our gardens, we often think about the pretty stuff such as plants, lawns, arbours or water features. Practical issues such as where to store the rubbish bins or lawnmower are often bumped to the bottom of the priority list. When the garden becomes increasingly cluttered with toys, garden tools and bikes, we opt to hide it all inside a utilitarian shed that becomes an outdoor eyesore. If this sounds like your place, the good news is there are better ideas for garden storage – if you think outside the square. 1 OUT OF SIGHT If planning a new garden, try to think about storage at the outset. A good landscape designer will help you incorporate built-in storage places into outdoor living areas or utilise inconspicuous corners for stashing…

Everybody loves berries and at this time of year they are readily available in all their sweet and sour glory. Whether it’s boysenberries, raspberries, blueberries or pomegranate seeds, your meal will be much prettier, and tastier too, with the addition of these delicate beauties. BAKED CAMEMBERT WITH HONEY & PINK FRUIT SERVES 2-4 My Frenchman will always choose cheese over dessert, whereas I am the opposite. I conjured up this delicacy to make our date nights harmonious – sweetness and cheese combined. I’ve used comb honey from my own hives for this dish but fragrant liquid honey is a perfect alternative, and feel free to experiment with different seasonal fruit – ripe stonefruit works wonderfully well here. INGREDIENTS ½ cup toasted walnuts Small bunch black grapes 2 small camembert cheeses…

CASE IN POINT A bookcase or display case creates a focal point in a room and is a great way to put personal treasures on display. The new Your Home and Garden for Farmers collection is available in store or online at farmers.co.nz .…

BUDGET What was your total spend? Hilary: The total cost of the new-build was $640,000 including consent costs and labour. Budget breakdown: Materials and labour: $419,000 Consents: $60,000 Kitchen: $20,000 (excluding appliances) Dining, lounge: $4000 Bedrooms: $12,000 ($3000 for each of the four bedrooms) Family bathroom: $1000 Master bedroom and ensuite (cabin): $34,000 Total spend on interior decoration: $70,000-plus on cabinetry and custom furniture, and approximately $20,000 on soft furnishings. CONTACTS + Shops Citta, cittadesign.com Coast New Zealand, coastnewzealand.com Indie Home Collective, indiehomecollective.com Thread Design, threaddesign.co.nz + Architect Hilary’s Design Studio in association with Eclipse Architecture, eclipsearchitecture.co.nz + Cost planner Staniland West, stan@stanilandwest.co.nz + Engineer Jonathan Boersen from Structure Design, structuredesign.co.nz + Builder Hamish McLellan from Artisan Renovations, artisanrenovations.co.nz + Joinery Mark Crowhurst from BBC Commercial, bbccommercial.co.nz FINISHES FLOOR PLAN…

When renovation rookies Kristina Rapley and Ashton Lines-Sherwood were looking at getting into the Auckland property market in 2014, they soon realised they weren’t going to get what they wanted immediately. “We had to start thinking long term,” Kristina says. “We couldn’t afford something amazing, but if we found a bargain and put some work into it, there was the potential to make a lot of money.” The idea was to find a house that needed some serious TLC and the pair would spend every spare minute they had renovating it, in the hopes that when all was said and done, they would have enough in the kitty to afford a bigger, more long-term home. “This was all Ashton’s idea, I should point out,” says Kristina. “I didn’t have a…

“Like many women, I’d love a Carrie Bradshaw-style walk-in wardrobe, but even a little extra storage would help. With two kids and a husband who coaches surf lifesaving, our wardrobes are stretched to breaking point.” Shelley Ferguson, editor-in-chief Shelley’s 1960s house has small wardrobes, which was common at the time it was built. There is not much space to extend into existing rooms, so building a custom wardrobe along one wall is her best bet. FOR NOW SOLUTION Most building stores stock kitset shelves that can be easily assembled and added to as required. These would be an easy, inexpensive option. Be sure to fix them securely to the wall – use a stud finder to locate wall framing and attach shelves to this for firm anchoring. Pros + Easy…

“I love showering outside or bathing under the stars while on holiday. A rustic, open-air bathroom sheltered by palm fronds would bring a delicious dose of nature into my everyday life.” Fiona Ralph, features editor Fiona has enough space and privacy in her backyard to add an outdoor shower or bathroom, and longs for a natural look as found at glamping sites. FOR NOW SOLUTION Being creative is the key to doing this on the cheap. Find a vintage bathtub or similar from Trade Me or a demolition yard and pretty it up. Spray-paint a hose and build a housing for it out of driftwood, and lay some soft shells for drainage. Pros + A quick and achievable option. Cons + Bathroom will be exposed to the elements; water will be…

Picture the perfect paint + Always choose the surfaces that have the least choice first – such as your carpet, flooring, benchtop and joinery colour – then choose your Resene paint colours. + If you think a colour you are looking at on a Resene colour chart may be too dark for your interior, definitely go for a lighter colour. Colours will look more intense when they are painted onto a large indoor area + When painting outside, the opposite rule applies. If in doubt, choose a darker Resene colour, as the sun will make the colour seem lighter. + If you’re opting for a neutral colour scheme, choose a colour family and then vary the strength from full to double, and quarter to half strength. This will help to…

Deciding on your flooring early provides a starting point to inspire and develop your design aesthetic and colour palette. The benefits of new flooring include warmth, insulation, softness, durability and fade or stain resistance, but it also forms the foundation of a decorating plan, and inspires your other interior choices. There’s no hard and fast rule about which floor colours go with which paint schemes – it all comes down to the colours you like and the look you’re trying to achieve. When it comes to building and renovating, it’s important to select flooring that strikes a balance between practicality, comfort, style and personal preference. JANE’S TIP: To help determine your interior style, look at your favourite clothes, the artwork you love and your ultimate travel destinations – you’ll start…

The ultimate aim of most successful renovations is to produce an end result that seamlessly merges new additions with the existing interior. The goal generally is to create spaces that feel as if they’ve always been there and flow effortlessly into the rest of your home. (An alternative approach is to make a feature of the clash between old and new styles – but even in these cases it’s best to ensure unifying elements are used throughout.) Besides setting a realistic budget (including a contingency of up to 20 percent extra for unforeseen circumstances), you can also help the process run smoothly by doing lots of research on materials, making a renovation timeline, and finding the right contractors for you. Tips RENOVATE WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND It’s easy to…

Tools >> Hand saw >> Tape measure >> Pencil >> Hammer >> Heavy-duty scissors >> Phillips screwdriver >> Square Budget For the trolley: Shelf unit $24.85 9 x 1m lengths of 90x10mm pine $71.98 Packet panel pins $4 6m leather strap $90* Copper nails $12.64 Packet 18mm screws $6 For the wheels: 4 pine blocks $4 90x80x45mm 4 lockable castors $105.44 For the handle: 0.9m length of 40x10mm pine $4.43 Short 30mm dowel $6 TOTAL $329 *Prices vary TOP TIPS >> You can customise your trolley by painting or staining it and choosing leather straps in a matching shade. >> Shorten the height of the wooden side pieces if you’d like shallower shelves. >> You could reinforce the base of each shelf, if desired, using pine planks or even chopping…

BACKGROUND A bare paddock and a vision for the future are at the heart of many a good Kiwi tale and that was definitely the case for Jo and Phil Ware, who returned from their obligatory OE in London dreaming of big New Zealand skies and rolling green pastures. The couple initially made tracks for picturesque Lake Okareka, near Rotorua, where the houses are perched precariously among native bush. But the pull of their home town of Gisborne proved too great and they headed back to their roots. Ten years ago, after a fruitless search for a house with the view they wanted, they embarked on the striking new-build which they and their two boys, Fletcher, 9, and Cooper, 5, call home. “We subdivided a piece of my parents’ old…

Every kitchen looks fresher and more alive with some friendly greenery. Kitchens are often one of the best places in the house to grow plants because most have a sun-facing window that will provide lots of light to keep your plants happy. Consider edible plants for the bench or window sill, and ornamental plants to dress up shelves or sit on top of the fridge. TIP A tray is a great way of grounding a group of objects to create visual impact on your kitchen bench GROW WHAT YOU EAT Herbs are a fantastic and fresh addition to any meal and add a plethora of health benefits as well as flavour. It makes sense to have them close at hand while you’re cooking. Instead of walking out to the vege…

Good food is a big element of my life, and for me rice is a perfect choice as part of a balanced diet of fresh vegetables and protein – so this is why I’ve partnered with SunRice. Rice is a minimally processed food with a whole lot of taste and nutrition credentials too. In particular, SuperBrown, the newest blend from SunRice, is a combination of brown and red rice that’s a source of protein and fibre. It’s a good source of magnesium and niacin that also contains potassium. Not only this, it’s gluten-free (like all rice!), so whether it’s served in a fresh rice salad, in a tasty dessert rice pudding or alongside an array of roast veggies, there’s so much versatility that there is a delicious option for almost…

Comfort is the key to any dinner party so when furnishing your dining area, think warm colours and graceful, clean lines. Your Home and Garden stylist Emily Somerville-Ryan pops into Harvey Norman and gathers some stylish pieces of furniture and tableware to achieve this welcoming, yet sophisticated look that will ensure your guests will never want to leave. WALLS A light, clean paint colour in the dining area is a great starting point when putting together a sleek and elegant entertaining space. Here we have used Resene ‘Black White’ on the walls (and also added touches of white elsewhere), marrying it with black, pale sand and warm wood tones. FURNITURE The brief was to create a formal yet modern dining area which was also relaxing and comfortable. With this in…

MEET + GREET Katie McNamara, 31 (stay-at-home mum and founder/designer of online children’s clothing brand LaVieKid), Mark McNamara, 38 (New Zealand Racing Board commentator), William, 3, and Bronte, 1, plus spaniels Bondi and Kiwi, three horses, two ponies and four chickens. Sydney side to the countryside Mark McNamara had always wanted a lifestyle block so it was no surprise to his wife, Katie, when he made an offer on a piece of land in a rural settlement southwest of Christchurch. At the time, Katie was in Sydney visiting her parents, and it was some weeks later before she viewed the site of her proposed new home. “Mark loves horses. He’s always wanted an acreage. When he found this site, I knew that he’d go for it,” she says. The Australian…

What were you hoping to achieve with the fit-out? Kristina & Ashton didn’t have a lot of wall area to work with so bench space and storage were at a premium. The layout of the original kitchen also didn’t make the most of the view, so I installed an island on industrial castors which gave them a good chunk of bench space and looked out at the view. We also managed to fit in three drawer units, a good sized pantry and incorporated the rangehood and more storage in some overhead units.…

BUDGET > Our budget was fluid. It grew as we discovered how we would live in the house with our girls. The total cost of the renovation was around $160,000. CONTACTS Bathroom fittings Mitre 10 MEGA, mitre10.co.nz Drafting Willem van der Laan, cadservicesdesign.com Electrician Sparkies, sparkieselectrical.co.nz Homeware Nood, nood.co.nz Paint Resene, resene.co.nz Relocation Brittons, brittons.co.nz SUPPLY SHOP Concrete kitchen bench made by Deco Precasters, decoprecasters.co.nz Kitchen floorboards were existing, bleached with a limewash. Carpet from Flooring Xtra, flooringxtra.co.nz Decking timber from ITM, itm.co.nz…

BUDGET > Total spend: approximately $979,000 (excluding pool) Siteworks and foundations: $143,000 New-build: $517,000 Decks: $35,000 Interior finishes: $284,000, including kitchen and cabinetry costs of $53,450 CONTACTS Architect Tim Dorrington for Box Living Build and design Box Living, box.co.nz Cabinetmaker Fluid Interiors, fluid-kitchen-interiors.co.nz Concrete floors Concrete Grind & Polish, concretegrindandpolish.co.nz Electrician Laser Electrical, laserelectrical.co.nz Garage door Doors 2000, doors2000.co.nz Interior designer Samantha Elliot for Box Living Landscaping Xanthe White Design, xanthewhitedesign.co.nz Plumber Plumbing Today, plumbingtoday.co.nz Stained glass Glassworks, glassworks.co.nz Underfloor heating Sun Flow, sunflow.co.nz…

To allow their eclectic mix of possessions to take centre stage, Alison and Callum Dixon chose a calming colour palette for their Castor Bay, Auckland home. All-white walls in Resene ‘Sea Fog’ were lifted by coloured doors. “Painting our doors was an easy way to inject colour and personality into the house,” Alison explains. Violet, 5, and Rita, 3, chose the turquoise brilliance of Resene ‘Dali’ for their shared bedroom. One-year-old Fred’s door was painted in Resene ‘Nocturnal’, a deep grey, as was the space under the stairs in the girls’ room. Alison and Callum chose pretty, pink Resene ‘Cornflower’ for their bedroom door and Resene ‘Bingo’, a vivid green, for the front door. Did you use Resene paints to colour your home? You could win $5000! Enter our competition…

Catherine Wilkinson, senior designer/stylist Catherine’s house is a new-build and it doesn’t have any window alcoves. She would love to add a bay window and daybed or window seat – ideally with storage space underneath. FOR NOW SOLUTION Purchase a comfy chaise longue or an armchair and footstool. Alternatively, get creative and build your own window seat. Pros + Simple and affordable; no structural changes needed. Cons + May take up too much space in the room. Considerations + Style of house and room. + Sun direction. Time Anything from a few hours to a few days. Budget $50-$2500. FOREVER SOLUTION Create a bay window extension in a part of your home with all-day sun. Install large windows and a fitted window seat and create a pretty garden or courtyard…

“I’ve always been taken by those beautiful, wide porches on old North American homes, with wicker furniture and iced tea on tap. If the deck wrapped around the house, there would always be somewhere shady or sheltered to sit, and all the rooms could open onto it via French windows.” Stephanie Attwater, chief sub editor Stephanie has a small single-storey house from the 1960s. There is an existing deck on the side of the house which is built on a slope. She dreams of a wraparound veranda, but in the meantime a covered deck would do. FOR NOW SOLUTION A short-term fix would be to attach a custom shade sail and install 90x90cm machine-gauged posts to the outer edge of the existing deck to use as fixing points for the…

MEET + GREET Chrissy Conyngham, 51 (owner and director of Flo & Frankie), Jono Beaglehole, 52 (step-dad to the girls; business manager at Dilworth College), Lucy, 19, Bella ,17, and Ruby, 23, who lives in nearby Mission Bay. Chrissy, Jono and their daughters moved into their Remuera home eight years ago. Although the character-filled house faced north, had great indoor-outdoor flow and boasted a pool, it did have some drawbacks: it lacked light, the living room was small and the kitchen needed an update. With an eye for design and detail and a plethora of products at her disposal, Chrissy has transformed the home into a sophisticated and stylish inner-city oasis. Here’s how she did it… 1 PLAN IT AND BOOK IT > Don’t procrastinate. Once you have a vision…

Dear Alex We are a young family with big plans to build our very own home in a few years’ time, but before that can happen, we have bought quite an old house that is not ideal but will have to do until we are ready to take the big leap. It’s a 1930s house with a really dark kitchen and limited natural light. We don’t want to spend lots of money but do want it to be functional, light and nicer to be in than it is now. Do you have any suggestions for a dark and old kitchen that don’t involve spending heaps of money? Or am I dreaming? Jackie Bush, Dunedin Look at this time as a chance to try out some ideas, experiment and be a…

Gladioli are a bulb flower and their distinctive height, plus the variety of vibrant colours available, makes them perfect for use in floral arrangements. Fill a tall vase at least half way to the top with water. Position the gladioli in the vase, with shorter flowers or foliage around the opening to balance and support the height of the blooms. If unopened stems are too high and are starting to bend, the tips can be broken off without damaging the integrity of the remaining flowers. Gladioli typically have a long vase life, and will last up to 10 days if water is changed daily.…

Dear Carol We have a problem area which we are keen to see turned into a stylish courtyard. The site faces east and only receives the morning sun. The soil quality is reasonable but will require additional nutrients (the house was tenanted for 15 years – the last eight by non-gardeners). We thought of having a perfumed garden area, and we like hydrangeas and star jasmine as well as the sound of trickling water. As you can see from the attached photos, we require some privacy by the low fence, but would like to keep the garden bed as you approach from the street side (seen on the right in the photograph). We’re not worried about keeping the grass – paving and gravel are fine. We look forward to seeing…

THE DEDICATED ALL›DAY SIPPER NAME Lena Jean Ganley, Bell Tea Company TEA OF CHOICE Bell Zesty Green Tea range My father was Irish and my mother is English so, you know, the kettle is always on. Tea is the solution to everything. Had a good day? Chuck the kettle on. Had a bad day? Chuck the kettle on. While I grew up on English Breakfast, our neighbour used to invite us over and make us tea with interesting additions from his garden. Tea with basil wasn’t the best, let me tell you! But tea with a couple of sprigs of lavender in the pot was great! I’m an account manager at the Bell Tea Company. Bell’s huge range of teas inspires me to carry on our neighbour’s legacy by adding…

A KAWAU CLASSIC PAGE 32 EXTERIOR Pool from Vortex Spas; 1960s Butterfly chairs from original bach; petrified wood and stone stools from Bali; grey bean bags from Coast; 1960s round coffee table from the original bach; large plant pots from Palmers Garden Centre; red bean bags from Ambient Lounge; black coffee table from Poynters. KITCHEN/DINING Walls in Resene ‘Black White’ throughout; cabinetry designed by Hilary, made by BBC Commercial; cabinetry in hoop pine ply, Melteca Zincworks Pearl, Melteca Pesto Linea Pearl, Melteca Snowdrift, Melteca New Graphite Pearl, Bestwood Melamine Ash Pinstripe Embossed; island bench made of Laminex Pure Calcite natural finish, grey bench along wall in Laminex Basalt natural finish; bar stools from Cintesi; table and bench seats designed by Hilary; David Trubridge pendant light from Essenze; Alessi ice bucket…

SOFT TOY Download and print out the ‘Baby Cat’ pattern by CreateJoyMakeStuff from etsy.com. (We enlarged ours by 50 percent.) Pin the pattern to the velvet (make sure the pile of the velvet is running downwards). Cut out pieces, sew and stuff, following instructions. Sew on strands of wool by hand to make mouth and whiskers. Glue on eyes and nose. CHAIR SEAT Choose a chair with removable seat. Remove old fabric and any staples or tacks. Cut a piece of fabric large enough to wrap around seat, allowing 5cm of fabric on all sides to fold underneath. Fix fabric to underside with upholstery tacks or staples. Optional: paint chair in complementary shade. CUSHIONS Cut 2 pieces of fabric each 55 x 50cm. Place right sides down, pile running downwards…