Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2020 i Your Home and Garden

Welcome to my favourite issue of the year – the trend issue. It’s been a lot of fun peering into the crystal ball to predict what’s next for our homes, and waving goodbye to some of the past’s less lovely looks (I’m looking at you, grey, on-grey, on-grey). While I love discovering a new sofa shape as much as the rest of you decor junkies, it’s been most heartening to see that many of the key trends we’ve identified put environmental concerns first. By following the principles of conscious purchasing and sustainable building and gardening, being house-proud and planet-friendly can definitely go hand in hand. And while it’s not what you’d term ‘trendy’, to me the Prices have nailed it with their house (page 50). From the raw materials to…

STAY FIJI MARRIOTT RESORT MOMI BAY Situated on the Coral Coast, Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay is one of only two resorts with over-water bures. This five-star luxury resort is the perfect place to reconnect with your loved one. Who needs to go anywhere else when you have stairs descending into pristine lagoon waters right below your deck? (Unless it’s to the day spa or restaurant, of course!) marriott.com PLAY Great Sea Reef Shining bright turquoise through clearer-than-clear waters, the Great Sea Reef (Cakaulevu) is the third longest barrier reef in the world. Snorkelling over this natural wonder – which includes a series of protected marine areas – you could encounter anything from green sea turtles and spinner dolphins to manta rays and even whales, as well as hosts of…

“I sell a lot of French and Indian vintage homeware. I love how it tells a story” Anna Begg has been on a truly global journey so far. From a farm in Balclutha, via boarding school and tertiary studies in Dunedin, to working in graphic design in Italy and Byron Bay, she’s now settled in Wānaka, running an interior design business and homeware store. Brimming with interesting textiles and other treasures, The Workroom is stocked with pieces gathered on her travels, and also her own line of linen, Le Lin (all available online, too). Working alongside her staff, she also offers a property-styling service, window treatments and floristry, and has a caravan bar for hire for weddings or events, which she converted with her father. How did you get into…

Smoked glass, a staple of the 1970s, is back, which got me thinking about this moody material and other types of glass worth hunting out in secondhand shops. Coloured glass is also a favourite for vintage collectors, and pink, amber and blue are particularly popular right now. Vintage stores and op-shops are great places to track down coloured or smoked glass to add to your collection. Look out for drinking glasses, vases, candlesticks and platters. Mix it up Playing around with opacity and texture can give a glass collection new life. You can find plenty of interesting textured glass pieces at secondhand shops, such as ribbed and gridded glass, bubble glass (where air bubbles are incorporated into the piece) and American Depression glass (colourful, cheaply made pieces produced in the…

Honesty box Best lesson learned? Nita: We had our new kitchen appliances stolen because we’d stored them in our carport, ready for the installers. We’d never had anything stolen from our carport up until then and had just taken it for granted that they would be okay. What would you never do again? Plumb in a sink and paint those dirty, dark-stained beams. Any DIY disasters? Francis broke his ribs trying to fix a window seal. One thing you would change about your home if you could? The exterior cladding and roof tiles. Most memorable experience in your home? Christmas Days. Budget How did your budget forecast compare to your actual spend? We haven’t had to borrow anything to renovate yet. I try to get a reasonable estimate and add…

3 ways to warm up your bedroom this autumn with Farmers 1 CUSHY NUMBER You can introduce fresh colour without the commitment of a full bedroom makeover by updating your cushions. Keep the palette complementary while adding details like stripes, patterns or luxurious fabrics. 2 MIX IT UP Rumpled and relaxed is the new bedlinen vibe – and this includes your sheets. Get creative with colours, that still work with classic white, and try other fabrics such as linen for an elegant effect. 3 FLOOR PLAN Layering rugs over your floor helps amp up the cosiness in any room – and keeps your toes warm in winter. Try a combination of textures, plus a giant, velvety pillow or two, for perfect lounging.…

1 LIMITED STORAGE A ventilated attic was installed in the roof cavity, space under the stairs was turned into a wine cellar, and cupboards were added above the children’s wardrobes. 2 NOT ENOUGH BATHROOM SPACE An ensuite extension was built off the master bedroom and the little-used downstairs bathroom was remodelled. 3 POOR FLOW The floor plan was reconfigured so that all the bedrooms opened off the central hallway, allowing space for an open-plan kitchen/living/dining area.…

DAY 1 CLEAR & PREPARE Create a concept for the room using either a physical or digital mood board. Get your child’s input and find ways to include things they love. Clear out the room then create three piles: keep, donate, recycle. Remove curtains and rails. Working with your ‘keep’ items, compile a list of new pieces you want to introduce that suit your concept. A great piece of art or a rug can inspire new ideas and gives you a good basis for creating a cohesive space. Give your room a good clean and wipe down walls, skirtings and trims. Fill holes and sand any rough spots plus skirtings, architraves and wardrobes/doors if painting. DAY 2 GET SORTED Grab brushes, rollers and any other items for painting. Low sheen…

What are some key considerations for people who want to set up smart technology in their home? Some things you may consider before embarking on your AI adventure are your internet connection, tech skill level and desired outcome. Over half my visits are to give recommendations on fixing a home wifi network. We often suggest upgrading the router or using a mesh network (multiple routers throughout the home). How does Noel Leeming help those new to smart homes? Smart home products aren’t hard to use but they can be tricky to set up. We recommend a Tech Solutions Specialist or our myTechSolution service and product protection bundle. Whether it’s music throughout your house, a daily schedule read out to you, or ambient lighting on cue, it’s all achievable with smart…

Storage box Use this felt box as a laundry basket or extra storage for clothing and toys. You will need 90cm x 90cm piece of thick felt Metre-long ruler Pen Scissors Sewing machine Cotton thread How to make Step 1 Take your ruler and measure and mark 28cm, 30cm, 60cm and 62cm along the edge of your felt. Do this on all 4 sides. Step 2 Connect the marks opposite each other by drawing a line with a pen. You should end up with 9 boxes. Step 3 Cut out the felt from the 4 outside corner squares at the 28cm and 62cm marks, to leave you with a cross shape. Step 4 Identify the 4 mini 2cm x 2cm squares that sit at the corners of the centre square.…

Green thumbs often run in families so it’s no surprise to discover that Fiona Spencer’s passion for plants and design was inspired by her grandmother’s garden. Te Puke-born and raised, Fiona’s favourite childhood hobby was experimenting with different plant combinations. “In the weekends, I would spend my time weeding and then nag Mum to take me plant shopping to fill the garden with annuals and perennials to finish off my landscape design. My room was full of indoor plants, too,” she says. Naturally, plants became her career, first as a florist then as a landscape designer. Now a mother of two young boys, three-year-old Cooper and one-year-old Riley, Fiona has once again returned to her horticultural roots. This time she’s selling a wonderful variety of indoor plants and bespoke geometrically…

Flower of the month Japanese Anemone This plant’s pretty pink or white blooms add romance to the autumn garden and a soft contrast to the yellows and oranges commonly seen at this time of year. A clump-forming perennial, it prefers shade or semi-shade with regular moisture but is incredibly tough and will even tolerate clay soil and full sun. Cut back after flowering and mulch to keep it snug during its winter dormancy. Some find Japanese anemone a tad weed-like, but it’s easy to control if it starts to spread; just dig up the rhizomes and replant elsewhere. Harvest PUMPKIN A good way to work out if pumpkin, butternut and squash are ready to pick is to gently knock the skin. If they make a hollow sound and the skin…

WE LOVE All the best homeware, baby and gift ideas from this chic Kiwi-based store. Your wallet may not thank us... @husk__home The soft colours and minimalist aesthetic of this feed are only eclipsed by the adorable cameos of one very lush cat @mamoesjka_nl CONNECT WITH US We love seeing images from our #yourhomeandgarden community @yourhomeandgarden PET OF THE MONTH Lenny prefers to knock on the front door with her paws instead of using the pricey tunnelled cat flap installed in her Auckland home. TRENDING ONLINE You’ll want open shelving after seeing these 20 stylish kitchens homestolove.co.nz TOP INSTAGRAM POST Original decorative details restored, and so on point @yourhomeandgarden…

SPLURGE SAVE 1 Dimpled bowl, $3, from Kmart. 2 Glass tumbler, $12 for 4, from The Warehouse. 3 Glazed platter, $15, from The Warehouse. 4 Cheese knife, $44.95 for 3-piece set, from Freedom. 5 Grove marble dish, $49.90, from Paper Plane. 6 Dinner plate, $21.95, from Freedom. 7 Living & Co paddle board, $25 for 2, from The Warehouse. 8 Bowl, $3.50, from Daiso Japan. 9 Marble board, $49.90, from Citta. SPLURGE 1 Dip bowl, $14.90, from Citta. 2 Piccadilly tumbler, $14.90, from Citta. 3 Dinner plate, $49.99, from A&C Homestore. 4 Cheese knife, $59.99 for 3-piece set, from A&C Homestore. 5 Groove trivet, $145, from Bauhaus. 6 Charger plate, $54.99, from A&C Homestore. 7 Apex board, $69.90, from Citta. 8 Dipping bowl, $9.90, from Citta. 9 Tom Dixon rock…

1 Colour in the kitchen Stylist and designer Vanessa Nouwens, of Nes Design, picks bold colours and two-tone cabinetry as the next big kitchen looks. “While white kitchens will always have their place and are hard to trump in the clean-and-fresh stakes, the evolving trend is to include more colour,” she says. Two popular colour families are navy or shades of green. When teamed with marble benchtops, brass hardware and smoky glass lighting, they add depth and create a beautiful, luxe look. For two-toned cabinetry, the key is to get the mix of colours right. Blending wood finishes below with lighter colours above gives a feeling of spaciousness. Otherwise, opt for a contrasting island bench to make a statement. 2 Follow the curve Rounded corners and organic shapes were in…

Colour palette Your Home and Garden Midnight Floral duvet set, from $159.99. Midnight Floral Euro pillowcase, $39.99 each. Midnight quilted velvet Euro, $49.99 each. Textured velvet cushions, $49.99 each. Midnight velvet quilt, from $179.99. Available exclusively from Farmers. Get the look Add colour to a classic. The tried-and-true colour combination of blue and white gets a fresh new look when paired with unexpected contrasting tones. Try rust brown or mustard for a shot of warm, earthy colour. Go luxe with layers. Create a cosy, welcoming vibe by layering your bed with luxurious fabrics. Velvet is the star of the season and adds instant, tactile glamour – choose from textured finishes or the lustrous geometric design available in Euros and quilts. White sheets keep things crisp. Style up the surrounds. While…

Honesty box Do you have any advice for would-be home renovators? Brydie: Renovate it for yourself and no one else. You are cleverer than you think. Everyone has a creative side so don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and do it yourself. Also, you need to invest in great tools to have any chance of doing a good job. Do you tend to go for high-end or bargain buys? High-end when it comes to permanent fixtures like tiling and tapware but bargain buys when it comes to furnishings. Any regrets? We wish we’d saved some money from the budget to put a little plunge pool in. Maybe one day! Budget Kitchen $57,500 Living and dining $10,400 Rumpus $15,700 Bedrooms $9000 Bathrooms $40,000 Outdoors $49,000 New roof $9000 Total…

Style tip Pick pops of colour that sit in harmony with an earthy palette. A natural ochre ties in well with fellow warm tones such as blush and rust. Recreate the look CUSHIONS Domani Lina cushion in dried rose. Domani Argo cushion in mustard. Domani Lina cushion in pink lotus. Tilly@home knit cushion in ochre. Tilly@home mini tassel cushion in rust. BEDDING Domani Toscana pillowcases in baked clay. Domani Toscana duvet cover set in baked clay. Tilly@home Paradise throw in ochre blush. Domani Bendetta throw in toffee. ACCESSORIES Marcello & Co Avery bedside table. Amalfi Andres table lamp. Tilly@home Ava candleholder. Tilly@home Maverick jug. Tilly@home Boheme tealight holder. Tibetan Hide rug in ochre. Luca Kali jute rug. Shop the new-season look in store and at farmers.co.nz…

Finishes Timeline OCTOBER 2009 Bought house SEPTEMBER 2018 Started renovation DECEMBER 2018 Most of reno finished APRIL 2019 Completed renovation Honesty box What did you save and splurge on? We saved on the kitchen build by purchasing an ex-demo oven and fridge and opting for 20mm-thick benchtops instead of 60mm. We splurged on our bathrooms with beautiful hardware, tiles and custom vanities. Best lesson learned? Having a heritage home is beautiful but the restrictions were immense. It was hard finding a happy medium between what we wanted and abiding by council regulations. What would you never do again? Use a teeny tiny mosaic tile for a splashback. Most memorable experience? Moving back in on Christmas Eve and waking up in our new house on Christmas Day. Budget Labour, materials, sundries…

Picture never using a TV remote, light switch or scribbled shopping list again. Or, never having to worry if your pet has been fed, calling your kids to the dinner table, or pressing a button to hear your favourite song. With voice-activated assistants and the latest smart home technology, many of life’s chores and annoyances are simply being erased. What’s more, home automation is growing more affordable, more accessible and more intuitive every day. There are voice assistants, smart lightbulbs and digital doorbells that sell for under $50. It all adds up to the prediction that smart homes will soon be like smart phones – ubiquitous. 1 Lighting There’s no need to worry about leaving lights on once your home is equipped with smart lighting, complete with timers and scheduled…

Blue mood Step aside navy, it’s time for intense, eye-popping cobalt to have its interior moment The living room Blue never goes out of style – and for good reason. This versatile hue can be paired with white for an ultra crisp, refreshing aesthetic or used tonally for a moody or relaxed vibe. While we have loved the reliability and elegance of navy, cobalt blue is our new obsession. It’s an intense shade so it works best as an accent. For this lounge, we painted a secondhand cabinet in Resene St Tropaz and then repeated variations of this colour through the Matisse print, cushions and vases. Black provides a striking contrast, and soft grey makes the room feel inviting. Style tip For an accent colour to make an impact it…

In this recipe, I’ve dipped the creamy coconut filling in homemade almond butter chocolate. But if you don’t feel like making the chocolate from scratch, just melt 200g of good-quality dark chocolate and use that instead. Oh, and did I mention these cute mini eggs are vegan? Coconut creme Easter eggs Makes around 20 mini eggs FILLING 2 cups desiccated coconut, plus extra for sprinkling ½ cup coconut cream ¹/³ cup melted coconut oil 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup Pinch sea salt CHOCOLATE COATING ½ cup coconut oil ¼ cup pure maple syrup ¼ cup nut butter (I used almond, but peanut or cashew would also work well) ¼ cup cocoa, cacao or carob powder (I used carob as I love its malty flavour) Pinch sea salt (optional) 1 In…

1 FEELS LIKE HOME Find out where your plant comes from and try to mimic the conditions in your home. For example, a plant from Central America will like, warmth, humidity and water. 2 WATER WATCH There's a fine line between giving your plant too much water and not enough. To check, place your finger in the soil. If it still feels moist, no need to water. 3 SUN OR SHADE Be careful not to burn your plant's new leaves with harsh sunlight. If they require it, position it in indirect light only.…

1 PLANTING TIME If there’s plenty of moisture in the ground you can plant new trees, shrubs and perennials, or move existing ones. Add plenty of compost a week or so beforehand; if soil is heavy clay add compost, sheep pellets or other organic matter to improve its drainage and attract worms. 2 ON THE MOVE Early frosts can be a problem in some areas. To protect frost-tender plants in containers (citrus, frangipani, hibiscus) move them to sheltered spots on the terrace or under eaves. If too heavy to move, mulch soil and wrap pot in sacking, blankets, or even bubble wrap. 3 GOLDMINE Fallen autumn leaves are a precious resource, adding carbon matter to compost and making a super mulch that will encourage lots of useful organisms into the…

LOVE YOUR SHELF Citta’s new Autumn Winter collection, Still Life, invites us all to settle in and slow down. The Linear shelf in natural black and oak (with removable side panels held in place by discreet magnets) is the perfect way to display – and admire – a curation of beautiful objects. $2490 from citta.co.nz INTO THE FOLD Made of soft silicone rubber, the Muuto Unfold pendant is a quirky take on an industrial look. Available in terracotta and a range of other shades to suit any interior style. $420 at bauhaus.co.nz TRAVEL BUG From Marrakesh to Paris, Cuba to Tokyo, travel through 20 beautiful homes and be inspired by the sophisticated interiors. Travel Home: Design with a Global Spirit by Caitlin Flemming and Julie Goebel will help you curate…

Olive tree, $69.99, from Kings Plant Barn. Harvest planter, $109, from Citta. Vintage pot, $65, from Flotsam & Jetsam. On shelves: pink vase, $6.50, from Kmart. Hübsch vase, $39.90, from Allium. Stoneware bowl, $60, from Babelogue. The Kinfolk Table book, $79.99, from A&C Homestore. The New Mediterranean book, $95, from Babelogue. Rust oval vase, $9.98, from The Warehouse. Ash-glazed tea bowl by Yvette van Raders, $47, from Kaolin. Ginger jar, $80, from Babelogue. Pasta bowl by Duncan Shearer, $48, from Kaolin. Small vase, $40, from Babelogue. Plant Style book, $39.99, from Whitcoulls. Travel Home book, $69, from Paper Plane. Rough vase, $70, from Babelogue. Dip bowl, $19.90, serving bowl, $34.90, from Paper Plane. Piccadilly carafe, $69.90, from Citta. On bench: Hayley Bridgford vessel, $39.90, from Citta. Kinto birch-ply tray, $42,…

Meet & greet Tessa Simpson, 35 (freelance makeup artist), Tyler Simpson, 34 (project foreman), Reeve, 5, and Luca, 3, plus Monty the Labrador. Tessa Simpson never imagined her character-filled Oamaru home would take out the top prize in the Resene Colour Home Awards. The long-time reader of Your Home and Garden has always followed the competition and decided to enter when she and husband Tyler finished painting their home last year. Tessa could hardly believe it when she received the email saying that the home’s calming, cohesive colour palette had won the couple $5000 in prize money.› The stylish blue and grey tones Tessa chose for the interior, along with the striking monochrome exterior, are a welcome change from the “sea of beige and yellow” (plus one pink bedroom)…

Meet & greet Nita Pearson, 49 (administrator), Francis Scordino, 48 (sports club manager), Jordan, 23 (PhD student), Noah, 15, and Raphael, 13, plus Indy the dog, Miss the cat and Birdie the budgie. When Nita Pearson and partner Francis Scordino were looking for a home, they saw potential where others saw problems. “We needed a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a boys’ backyard that sat within our budget,” Nita remembers. “At the time, 2011, there wasn’t a lot to choose from. Fortunately for us, the fact that this home needed a complete renovation made it so ugly that no one else was looking at it!” While nothing had been touched since the Seventies, Nita loved the location of the property – up high on a sloping site in the Auckland suburb…

Style tips + Save up for a special item rather than buying something that’s not quite right or that follows a flash-in-the-pan trend. + A collection of design classics will work in many different environments and for many different life stages. If they’re looked after, collectables will hold their value, too. + Think about how the eye moves across the room and choose unexpected items (and combinations of items) that will cause it to linger. + Create a background of soft wall colour with paint or subtle wallpapers that allows artworks to take centre stage. Coloured walls can highlight particular nuances of each work. + Art can be political, provocative or purely beautiful. Aim for a mix of all of these things so that what’s on your walls will really…

Meet & greet Annick Larkin, 43 (interior designer, stylist and content producer), Tim Larkin, 46 (CCO/director), Lottie, 10, Esther, 9, and Tom, 7, plus cats Oskar and Lenny. Annick and Tim Larkin hunted for a new house for nine months before realising it would be better to renovate their current home to better fit their family’s needs. Although Annick is an interior designer, it was the first renovation she’d tackled for her own home. “I knew that I’d eventually want to change things down the track, so I tried to keep things really simple to allow for that,” she says. The end result, with its mix of simple tones and striking finishes, is the perfect blend of fun and functional and offers plenty of space for the couple and their…

DAY 1 CLEAR & PREPARE Move everything out of the garage. Make three piles: throw away, give away and keep. Check the ‘throw away’ pile to make sure it can’t be used by anyone else or for anything else before it goes to landfill. We store so much we don’t need in our garages so only keep what you actually use. Decide where you want everything to go and how to organise it, then gather shelves, storage containers, racks and hooks, ready to install. Sticking to one type of material, such as ply, for all the shelves and cupboards will give a seamless look. Make sure all the storage containers fit on your shelves. DAY 2 ON THE WALLS Install bike-hanging racks and shelves for surfboards and skateboards. You want…

+ Use unique passwords and two-factor authentication for all online accounts connected to a smart home device. + Restrict purchasing/payment permissions especially if there are children in the home. Accounts can be configured to require explicit authorisation or passcodes when payment is required. + Turn off personalised results where possible to protect your personal data. Your information is collected to create a custom marketing profile but this can be disabled/reset with most services. + Routinely check bank statements and emails for any payments or orders you never requested. The sooner you dispute a charge the more likely you are to stop a bogus order using your details. + Consider turning off or muting your smart speaker/digital assistant when it is not in use. + Keep your devices up to date.…

Shared boys’ room While every kid might want a room of their own, the reality is that sometimes it isn’t possible. A shared room has its benefits, too, as it can help siblings bond and learn to share and compromise. When it comes to designing and styling a shared room, there are many approaches you could take. In this boys’ room we have created a dividing line down the middle by painting a stripe on both the wall and floor, and picking a bold Resene colour inspired by the surfy bedlinen for each side. An orange accent colour painted onto the upcycled rattan bedside table and toybox again echoes the bedding. The rattan headboards were bought for $20 each on Trade Me and given a modern update with Resene Foundry.…

As we embark on a new decade one thing is certain: life will be full of changes and the environment will be a key concern for all of us. In the gardening world, a greener awareness has been growing for many years and we predict this will continue as we head towards 2030. Other likely trends to watch out for include a growth in naturalistic gardens, weird and wonderful edibles grown from seed, designs to attract wildlife, gardens as art galleries, and mindful planting. 1 Getting greener Sustainability will be the watchword this decade, for professionals and home gardeners alike. We’ll be doing more to reduce our use of environmentally unfriendly products such as concrete, peat-based plant mixes and plastic pots, as well as eliminating harmful chemical sprays for pest…