Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2021 i Your Home and Garden

I know it wasn’t just me who spent much of 2020’s lockdown looking at my light grey walls over and over on Zoom and cursing my timidity. Why hadn’t I been a whole lot braver and gone for a shade of marigold or a warm tobacco on them? When you’re having a virtual meeting at the dining table, let’s face it, every meeting attendee is silently judging you for your interiors choices. Or, worse still, realising that everyone else in the meeting has the same colour walls and very similar decorating accents to you – round mirror, Monstera plant, faux Beni Ourain rug. Which is why 2021 is going to be the year of expressing yourself and making your place different to everyone else’s. Personally, I’m looking to Nikki Kettle,…

SWEET DREAMS, MADE OF THESE When you’re looking for colourful bedding, it’s impossible to go past Kip & Co. Always packing a punch in the pattern department, and with dreamy colours to match, its bedding offerings never fail to impress. Linen pillowcase set, $119, from superette.co.nz and Ngarduk Kunred upholstery cushion, approx $79, from kipandco.com.au TOP READ HOW BIZARRE If you like quirky facts and beautiful photos, you’ll love I Fought the Law: Photographs by Olivia Locher of the Strangest Laws from Each of the 50 States. Oui, merci Designed as a baguette basket, but also suitable for fruit, macarons and maybe a croissant or two. $89, from rubynz.com SAVE TO THE MOON AND BACK With its orb shape and subtle texture, this Colle ceiling pendant resembles the full moon.…

Honesty box What project was your favourite one to tackle in the house? Making the kitchen more functional. It was brand new but it wasn’t designed for modern living and it wasn’t to our taste. Now it’s practical and pretty. What’s the hardest project you’ve taken on? We haven’t done it yet – the bathrooms. We have everything sitting in the shed ready to go but we are procrastinating. We have two bathrooms in this house, which is great because we can do them one at a time and won’t be without a shower for the kids. But it’s also twice the work and twice the money. We are both builders, which is great, but it also means it’s all on us. We do the demo, get things ready for…

There’s something about the little pool house in Hannah Williams’ backyard that’s instantly relaxing. As soon as guests walk past the palm trees and the pool, they feel like the best vacation version of themselves. This tiny house, which Hannah created for guests and as a holiday rental, opens perfectly to outdoor entertaining areas, while a loft bedroom overlooks the greenery that hugs the beachside section. Hannah, who works in property development, spent six months designing the building. “I wanted to make the most of the sunny climate and blur the lines between inside and outside,” she says. Despite the fact that the house sits on a tight footprint of 30sqm, the vibe is fresh and relaxed, and the space feels generous despite packing a lot in. “Let’s face it,”…

Down a long, narrow driveway, tucked snugly in a corner of the small plot in Auckland’s Western Springs, sits an understated and unassuming cedar-panelled house. The first clue that this simple, clean-lined little building contains something very special is the sunny yellow front door. Swing that open and you’re in the bright, cheerful, comfortable and character-filled haven where food stylist and editor Fiona Smith has lived for the past 18 years. Digby and Timmy, Fiona’s canine companions, will accompany you across the black-and-white tiled entrance hall with walls hung with art at every step. On the left, you’ll pass doors that open into the office, housing a collection of more than 250 cookbooks, and on the right, the garage, lined with industrial shelving stacked with food-styling props. Head up the…

HOW TO ENTER Email photos and a 200-word or more description of your space to yhg@aremedia.co.nz with your last name and ‘Resene Colour Home’ in the subject line. Please include your name, home address, email address, daytime phone number, the names of the Resene colours used, and details of when your space was painted. Please credit anyone who assisted you in choosing your colours. The five finalists will each appear in Your Home and Garden. Every finalist will receive a $250 Resene voucher and a feature in the magazine, with the winner taking out the Resene Colour Home Awards and $5000 cash. An extended story on the winning home will feature in the June 2021 issue. TERMS & CONDITIONS Instructions on how to enter are part of the conditions of…

Barbecued butterflied lamb leg with lemon-yoghurt sauce SERVES 6-8 Butterflied lamb leg is excellent on the barbecue, especially when treated to a marinade first – it can be left to infuse for as little as an hour, but for the best flavour marinate it overnight. INGREDIENTS 2 Tbsp oregano, finely chopped, plus extra to serve 2 garlic cloves, finely grated 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander Finely grated rind of 1 lemon, plus lemon wedges to serve (optional) 2 Tbsp olive oil 1.5kg butterflied lamb leg YOGHURT-LEMON SAUCE 300g Greek-style yoghurt 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil Finely grated rind and juice of 1 lemon 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1 Combine oregano, garlic, spices, lemon rind and oil in a large bowl, add lamb and rub all over…

It’s little surprise that plants in urban interiors have become as much of a finishing touch as a gorgeous scatter cushion, a piece of art, quirky figurine or a beautiful vase. The choice of indoor plants and trees is endlessly diverse with wonderful variations in the shapes and sizes of leaves, colouration, texture and the way they grow. Indoor greenery ticks all the boxes: a soothing tonic for the frazzled soul; an aesthetically engaging addition to the decorative landscape delivering pops of colour, form and, in some cases, even fragrance. House plants can also be an inspired solution for homes lacking in outdoor space or natural surroundings; and the magical (okay, scientifically proven) ability to lower stress levels, improve the oxygen count and absorb pollutants, toxins and other negative by-products…

Typically well suited to indoor conditions, the following plants will thrive with the right care. Air plants • Asparagus fern • Arrowhead plant • Bamboo palm • Betel leaf plant • Bird’s nest fern • Bonsai • Bromeliad • Button fern • Calathea • Creeping fig • Cymbidium • Monstera deliciosa • Devil’s ivy • Dumb cane • Ficus or Fiddle-leaf fig • Heartleaf philodendron • Leather fern • Maidenhair fern • Mother-in-law’s tongue • Peace lily • Silver lace fern • Spanish moss • Spider plant • Staghorn fern • Star jasmine • String of pearls • Sweet viburnum • Tree fern • Wax plants…

Using Summer + Bloom’s Right Hands. It’s a sanitiser masquerading as a hand cream. Two genius Kiwi women put the two together so we no longer have to endure those dry, red hands. Turning on this Cosh light from Freedom. This mushroom shape is at the zeitgeist of lamp style right now. Needing this OH Bubbles sparkling drink maker. Not only is it fetching to look at, it carbonates everything from water to wine (although sadly, not water into wine). Plus it’s a Kiwi company. Buying nectarines. The white flesh ones are up there as a candidate for best fruit ever.…

Emily’s top tips + I always like to reuse or recycle things, mainly because vintage pieces are way cooler and much better made, but also for the environmental aspect. I also think using something old makes the space feel more authentic. + Don’t be afraid to mix and match styles, I would definitely call myself eclectic, I love using ornaments from travels and other quirky items I’ve found. It’s always fun to have a story behind your items. + You don’t need to spend a fortune to have an interesting and stylish home, always check op shops, Trade Me or Marketplace first. + Always give tradespeople clear instructions with pictures and details. + If you don’t know what to put in a space, add plants. Honesty box When we bought…

When the sun is out, and the beers are chilling it’s the perfect time to put on your tool belt and finally get around to doing those jobs that have been on your to-do list for a while. Whether it’s simply giving your home a tidy up or starting a larger reno project, summer is the perfect time to get it done. “The three key advantages of tackling home improvement projects in the New Zealand summer are the higher temperatures, lower rainfall and increased hours of light,” says Jeremy Gray, spokesperson for builderscrack.co.nz, an online tradie service. We’ve rounded up the top 10 home improvement projects to earn that cold beer this summer. 1 Paint the exterior “If you’re planning to paint or stain dark colours outside, consider using Resene…

Honesty box Do you have any favourite stores/spots for great vintage/ retro finds or has it just been collected here and there over the years? Mostly collected over the years. I love Mr Bigglesworthy and have a few pieces from there, but others have been collected from secondhand shops and markets or during my travels. Why is colour so important to you? I love colour. I don’t want things to be all white and beige because that’s not me. I like to be surrounded by things I love and objects collected from my travels and other personal moments in time, and I don’t want those dictated by a limited colour palette. I also find bright colours uplifting and great to live with. What areas of your renovation did you save…

As the way we live changes, so too does our relationship with our outdoor spaces. Exteriors are becoming more and more thoughtful, expressing our lifestyles through our choices of outdoor furniture pieces and how we use and display them. Gone are the days of basic furniture on the patio or deck. Now, we see designs that mirror our indoor chairs and tables, blurring the line between inside and out. Outdoor spaces are evolving, says Scott Fisk, co-owner of Dawson & Co. “The addition of outdoor carpets, LED lighting and permanent shade structures blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living. “There are some incredible fabrics on outdoor furniture that add to the luxury and feel of seating. “With new technology improving, you can put sofas and chairs outside, and although…

WE LOVE Book lovers rejoice, this online Kiwi indie bookstore comes with the best reading suggestions – and a very stylish ’gram. @booketybookbooks This talented Kiwi illustrator is all about colour and we are loving it. Her time-lapsed videos are mesmerising to watch. @studio.bon PET OF THE MONTH Digby posed up a storm for this house feature on page 88. His older brother Timmy was more interested in continuing his nap. CONNECT WITH US We love seeing images from our #yourhomeandgarden community. @yourhomeandgarden TRENDING ONLINE 30 genius decluttering hacks to help keep your home tidy. homestolove.co.nz TOP INSTAGRAM POST This laundry is the perfect example of going big in a small space. @yourhomeandgarden Instagram @yourhomeandgarden Facebook facebook.com/yourhomegarden Pinterest pinterest.com/yourhomegarden…

Why settle for a bowl of limp, soggy leaves, when you can create a satisfying, vibrant salad that surprises and delights? A salad can be a great opportunity to get creative and experiment with colours, textures and flavours. Over the years, I’ve learnt the secret to composing a fabulous salad is to consider a few key components that bring it all together. And once you understand the basics, you can riff endlessly with seasonal ingredients. Anyone can make a show-stopping salad, and this guide will teach you how to create a knockout dish. 1 Choose your vegetables Lettuce leaves and greens such as baby spinach, rocket or iceberg are obvious choices, however, feel free to get fancy by adding nasturtium leaves, watercress or dandelion greens. Heartier winter greens such as…

After a massive villa renovation in Island Bay in 2018, builders Nikki Kettle and Tom Taylor were determined to find a home that didn’t need any work done. “We said to each other, we can’t do that again. We wanted to find something that was move-in ready, single level and with drive-in access,” says Nikki. They found it in a sweet Greytown bungalow. “The plan was to move in and not touch anything because it was tidy. Very dated, but tidy,” she says. That resolve lasted two weeks before Nikki pulled down the first wall. “When you’re a new mum and all you do is sit down during the day breastfeeding and looking at walls for hours, you start to wonder what you can do with those walls.” No one…

Honesty box What areas of your new build did you save on? Splurge on? I don’t like spending money so I stuck to the budget, but splurged on the things that were important to me, like brushed brass tapware, Italian tiles, wool carpet and a beautiful deck. What are the best lessons you’ve learned from this new build? The more organised you can be, the better the process will flow. It’s also essential to adapt quickly when things don’t go to plan. Did you have any renovation or DIY disasters? Not really. The whole process went smoothly as we thoroughly planned everything out. What’s the one thing you would change about your home? Every time you complete a project you reflect on it and see changes that you could make,…

• Is the washing on your line drying? If the answer is yes, then so will your paint. If not, then your paint won’t dry either. • If you’re finding it too hot to be out in the sunlight, chances are it is too hot to paint too. Move to the shady side of the house so that you can keep cooler and so will your paint. • When paint gets too hot during application it will dry too fast and make it harder to apply smoothly. • It’s usually best to get an early start and take a break over the hottest part of the day. Plan your work so you can get your exterior painting and staining done early, then work on interior preparation during the middle and…

Ask Kathy and Warwick Baigent why they painted their front door bright blue and the answer is a simple, “It needed a bit more oomph.” It was originally Resene Biscay Blue to match the gutters, but the Baigents thought it needed to have more impact after they repainted the sashes and sills in Resene White. “We chose Resene Tory Blue because it seemed such a happy and vibrant colour,” says Kathy. This cheerful hue pops against the softer duck egg grey of Resene Tiara on the weatherboards and the fresh white on the fretwork and window frames. “It works well in the garden setting against the distant sea and beautiful Hawke’s Bay skies,” says Kathy. “Then we used Resene Mid Grey on the roof to soften its very angled line.”…

Looking good • Cut back whip-like new green shoots on wisteria to five or six leaves. Letting more light in allows the wood to ripen and helps next season’s flower buds form. • Keep camellias and rhododendrons well watered to ensure next year’s buds develop. Mulching with pea straw or compost will lessen evaporation from the soil. • Trim lavender plants after flowering to keep them compact and stop them getting woody. • Scatter annual seeds around for an autumn display. The likes of bishop’s flower, calendula, candytuft, lobelia, marigold, petunia, phacelia and dwarf sunflowers should do well sown now. • After they have flowered, give native grasses a groom by combing through the leaves with fingers or a rake to remove loose and dead pieces. Do not clip. •…

• Decorative foliage is better suited and more adaptable to indoor environments than flowering plants. • The joy of plants lies in their extraordinary shades of green and graphic forms – play with various shapes, textures, colours and patterns for a striking effect. • Group plants the way you would figurines or other objects and display them in a living vignette on a tabletop, mantelpiece or on the top of a shelf. • All plants have needs but it’s worth doing a bit of research – or asking at the nursery – for more specific requirements of particular species. • Get yourself a good spray bottle – or two. It’ll be your best friend in keeping your indoor plants happy and hydrated. • Growing conditions to consider include: light, temperature,…

As the visual merchandising manager for Freedom New Zealand, Elayna Foster is surrounded by great design day in, day out, and has a discerning list of her favourite interiors objects. Elayna’s responsible for the in-store displays, and the Newmarket flagship store in Auckland is all her design. The look is now being rolled out in Australia.…