Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2022 i Your Home and Garden

This month I’m… Wearing Juliette Hogan’s navy suiting Carmela dress. It’s super flattering and makes a nice change from slouchy WFH gear. Also, after many months of elasticated waistbands, it’s reliably comfortable. $649, juliettehogan.com I’ve been looking around my house since the war on Ukraine started and feeling so very lucky to have a comfortable home I’ve renovated for my family over the years. I can’t imagine having to go into survival mode with loved ones, grab the pets and life’s basics to keep you going as you flee across a border to a safe country or hide out in underground train stations. I look at my kitchen table, a beaten-up old rimu number I found at a garage sale back when garage saleing was a legitimate sport. The kids…

Having a minimal and tidy home creates more space, which evokes a feeling of freedom, peace, and intentionality. For this reason, I subscribe to the belief that everything in your home can be beautiful while also serving a purpose. This also includes creative storage options to keep your house tidy. We all know that clutter, whether hidden or on display for all to see, can cause a feeling of chaos. That’s why I’m sharing 10 simple and visually appealing tips to help unleash your home’s true storage potential. 1. Begin with a drop zone Consider the entry zone in your home, and where the majority of your clutter tends to accumulate. For me, this is the kitchen, which is why I have a dedicated pegboard for things such as bags,…

Honesty box What do you prefer – high-end or bargain buys? A mix. I still love vintage and the history of a piece. I tend to save up for decent, locally made furniture because it lasts a lifetime and supports the local economy. What do most visitors comment on? Our pool space and outdoor dining area, and the colour of our rooms. They want to know how they can achieve something similar, which I am happy to share. What change gave you the best bang for buck? Changing paint colour is the best way you can change the atmosphere of a room for the least expense. If you are not good with colour, I recommend finding a professional designer who has experience with colour. To get the best outcome, ask…

An interior designer and a builder make a handy combination. Throw in an ability to hunt down stylish second-hand bargains and a penchant for gathering treasures and you’ve got all the ingredients for something special. The confluence of Kate and Jesse Crooks’ talents and skills is their Riverhead property, a stone’s throw from the upper reaches of the Waitematā Harbour. Their twin-gabled family home is all about open, airy spaces, being close to nature, and sustainability. The style? “It’s a modern farmhouse with an eclectic mix of furniture,” says Kate, who grew up near this once-rural north-west pocket of Auckland. Breathing space After living in London and central Auckland, Kate and Jesse decided to head west to be closer to the countryside. Riverhead, says Kate, has a small-town feel to…

Meet & greet Julie (barrister) and Sean Granger (environmental operations manager), Laird, 11, and Tilly, eight. Standing on a narrow, dusty road in a picturesque hinterland, Julie Granger’s heart was in her throat. Half her dream home, a 1900s historic house, was on the back of a truck, precariously crossing a creek over a single lane bridge. “We were watching to make sure it wouldn’t fall off,” the barrister explains. Timber homes, such as this classic example, are common in the subtropical region of her childhood. “I love old houses, their history, and the architecture,” says Julie. For years, Julie had been searching the websites of companies specialising in relocating and repiling this type of house “in the hope one day the dream might become a reality,” she says. Then,…

Meet & greet Emily (interiors stylist) and Charlie Mellor (bike company general manager). When Emily Mellor and her husband Charlie found their dream home in the countryside, it was clearly meant to be. At the time, in summer 2015, it was in fact already under offer, as Emily found out when she called the real estate agent. But, she says, “I had this premonition that we were going to live there, and I told the real estate agent so. She probably thought I was mad.” Sure enough, six months later, the agent called her back to tell her that the sale had fallen through, and Emily and Charlie moved in three months later, in April 2016. Nothing in particular had prompted the move from their previous home, a two-bedroom flat…

Whether you wish for a private library filled to the brim with your favourite books, or you’re simply looking for an aesthetically pleasing storage solution, bespoke library joinery is the answer. As well as providing an opportunity to display your books, trinkets and treasures in style, it can elevate a room and make a not-so-large space feel grand. But to get it right, you’ll need to follow a few simple steps. Location While dedicating an entire room to a private library is a nice luxury, it’s not essential. Library joinery can be incorporated into almost any available space. “I think with the increase in people working from home, we’re looking to find almost any under-utilised area to create library and office storage,” says interior stylist Heather Nette King. “Niches next…

April Gone to seed While some gardeners like to harvest seed and store it until spring sowing, others will let the seed scatter naturally to germinate and grow in situ. And if the subsequent plants are not in the right place they can be transplanted in spring. This necessitates careful weeding now; and it pays to let all seedlings get to a size at which you can identify the plant – and tell if it’s a weed or not. Experience makes the recognition easier earlier. Many annuals especially self-seed readily, multiplying with pleasing alacrity. As will weeds. If you can’t get round to pulling them out, cut off their flowering heads to stop them spreading. COLD COMFORT Brassicas such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and kale favour the cooler weather, so…

WE LOVE The Auckland home of mid-century furniture dealer, artist and interior designer Jodi Newnham showcases all her passions. @midcenturyswag TRENDING ONLINE A completely transformed caravan serves up mobile style. yourhomeandgarden.co.nz Finding the beauty in’shrooms is the new obsession of Torontobased Kiwi artist Anna Church. @annachurch_art CONNECT WITH US We love seeing images from our #yourhomeandgarden community. @yourhomeandgarden PODCAST OF THE MONTH Actor Dax Shepard and his buddy Monica Padman chat to celebs and interesting types. There’s a lot of over-sharing but in a good way, and it’s often hilarious. TOP INSTAGRAM POST This laundry is setting pulses racing with its functional good looks. @yourhomeandgarden Instagram @yourhomeandgarden | Facebook facebook.com/yourhomegarden | Pinterest pinterest.com/yourhomegarden…

Auckland florists Isabel Johnston and Lydia Reusser began working together at the end of 2020, after the first Covid-19 lockdown. “Lydia approached me with the idea of partnering up after we had spent many hours freelancing together and discussing our dreams of what our ideal vision for a floristry business would look like,” says Isabel. Having spent so many weekends working together on weddings and events, the pair decided that combining their talents on a joint venture could lead to something unique and exciting. “I already had a handful of regular clients who I provided flowers for on a weekly basis and Lydia had weddings booked for the upcoming season,” says Isabel. “The partnership developed organically as our aesthetics were very aligned and we both had a strong desire to…

If lockdowns have taught us anything, it’s that a home you love being in is worth its weight in gold. And if that home also feels like the tropical retreat we’re all hankering for while borders are closed, well, that’s just priceless. Blair and Rebecca (Bec) McDonald nailed the holiday-whileyou’re-at home vibe of their new-build by centring it around a key outdoor feature and its surrounding private entertaining area. “The home was designed and built around the pool. Even though it’s in the middle of Palmerston North, I wanted you to be able to forget that and imagine you could be in Bali. Now, sitting under the umbrella on the deck, music playing, a yummy platter on the coffee table, pina coladas in hand while watching the kids in the…

Honesty box What did you save on? We got our marble tiles off Trade Me for an absolute bargain (about $200). What did you splurge on? The shou sugi ban cladding (Japanese-style charred wood), the curved stairs and the kitchen. What’s the one thing about your home you’d change if you could? We would definitely have a pool. Best lessons learned? If problems or challenges arise there is always a solution. Sometimes the solution ends up to be better than what was proposed. What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had in your home? It was really nice to host the family Christmas here and have enough room for everyone to stay. Kate’s design tips + Planning is key. Get your vision/wants onto a mood board or pinboard so you can…

Having a space at home for your little ones to let their imaginations run free and somewhere to store toys, games and craft items is a great opportunity to have some fun and be bold. This gender-neutral playroom’s floor and walls are painted in neutral Resene Half Parchment, with colour added through furniture and accessories to bring the space alive. The coordinated palette is created by repeating the colours evenly throughout the room. Playroom essentials Having shelves in a playroom is not only handy for storing items it also keeps things tidy and makes it easy for your little ones to access everything. Smaller storage tubs, baskets and boxes are better for kids to find things than big containers, where they have to pull everything out to find what they…

FASHION The Little Book of Valentino by Karen Homer ($27.99, Wellbeck), is ideal for those who want a quick introduction to this iconic Italian label. INTERIORS Photographer Simon Upton has kindly shot some of the most interesting and sumptuous places in New York Interiors by Simon Upton ($130, from Smith & Caughey’s). TRAVEL Prepare for travel across the ditch, or just do it from the comfort of your armchair with The Little Book of Sydney ($14.99, Orange Hippo!). HEDONISM St Tropez Soleil ($240 from Smith & Caughey’s) tells the story of the French Riviera hotspot in glorious photos. It’s all here from Brigitte Bardot to Matisse and Naomi Campbell. RECIPES If you’ve ever wanted to cook, shop and eat in a more ecoconscious way, Sustainable Kitchen by Sadhbh Moore and…

Swedish cardamom morning buns MAKES 12 INGREDIENTS 1 cup milk2 tsp dried yeast2 Tbsp white sugar2½ cups high-grade flour1½ Tbsp freshly ground cardamom (see Tip)65g unsalted butter, softened¾ tsp fine sea salt1 egg, beaten lightly FILLING 200g unsalted butter, slightly softened¾ cup sugar1½ Tbsp ground cardamom¼ tsp fine sea salt TOPPING 2 Tbsp sugar1 tsp freshly ground cardamom 1 Combine milk, yeast and 1 teaspoon of the sugar in a medium jug. Cover; stand in a warm place for 10 minutes or until frothy. 2 Place the flour, cardamom, butter, salt, remaining sugar and the yeast mixture in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix on medium speed for 8 minutes or until very smooth and elastic. (Or knead by hand on a lightly floured…

Are coffee grounds really good for plants? There has been a significant amount of research done on the effectiveness of coffee grounds in the garden. Coffee grounds are best added to your home compost (10-20 percent should only be added), and once broken down, can be added to your soil before planting into. The pH levels can also differ, as not all grounds will be acidic. What’s the easiest way to treat powdery mildew? This fungal disease happens in gardens with high humidity and plants being too close to together. Treat powdery mildew with organic sulphur, which can be used on edibles.…

Meet & greet Annabel (creative director of Design Federation) and Simon Berry (managing director of Whitestone Cheese), Mia, 10, Jackson, nine, and Boe, seven, plus dogs Tessa and Wicket. “I chose a very pool-inspired colour on the walls to create that cohesion with the outdoors.”ANNABEL BERRY It’s actually impossible to believe Annabel Berry’s Ōamaru home is the same one we featured back in 2016. Structurally, the house is the same – apart from the addition of a pool house and studio/guest accommodation; we’ll come to that later – but the decor is almost unrecognisable. Art has been pared back and moved, statement lightshades switched out, flooring replaced and most rooms boast a new paint palette. But what do you expect from someone who studies colour and interiors all day long?…

Floor plan KEY 1 Entry 2 Living 3 Dining 4 Kitchen 5 Bedroom 6 Wardrobe 7 Bathroom 8 Laundry 9 Ensuite 10 Deck 11 Storage 12 Garage Honesty box What do you prefer – high-end or bargain buys? Always both. Mixing and matching is the spice of life. Create something no one else has. Anything you regret or wish you’d done differently? I try not to have too many regrets. Each build is a lesson in building and design and teaches us so much. Although I loved the design, I’m not sure the push to open/close kitchen cabinets were for us. We kept knocking them open with our butts. What gave you the best bang for buck in terms of impact or result? It’s a modern box house in design,…

When Nicky and Ben Lee first saw a Raglan section for sale they were undeterred by the fact that the compact site had never been built on, despite a few local builders previously owning it with plans to do exactly that. Perched high above Moonlight Bay, with 180-degree views across Raglan Harbour, the setting is spectacular. But the site was, and still is, incredibly steep. “Every inch had to be excavated,” explains Ben. “You could hardly walk on it.” Rising to the challenge Ben, a property developer and carpenter, enlisted the help of his frequent collaborator, architectural designer Tane Cox of Red Architecture, and tackled the project head on. “Out of those tensions you become creative with your solutions,” says Ben. “You build your way out of it.” Subsequently, the…

style it up Treat your bathroom as you would any other room in your home and layer it up with personal style. Add a vase of fresh flowers, a candle and a display tray of your favourite perfumes. Transform your space Styling your bathroom Work out what kind of look you want to achieve. Do you like clean lines and luxury finishes or do you prefer your decor to have an industrial edge, art deco style or a vintage vibe? A burst of colour Once you’ve nailed your look, select a colour palette. Think of the bigger picture; the decor of your bathroom should be in harmony with the rest of your home. Soothe the senses As well as a place for daily rituals, a bathroom can be the ultimate…

Smaller homes and apartments need to be more ordered than larger family homes. If your home isn’t feeling as functional as it should, there are plenty of ways to utilise every last centimetre of space. From reflective surfaces to using dead space, these space-saving hacks will change things for the better. 1 Back to basics Look at your space as if there is no furniture there – how best could you utilise it, ensuring it serves you well? Are there any awkward features you can remove? What little flow you do have, ensure it is smooth and easy. “When dealing with a small home, you need to look at it as a blank canvas and reflect on whether your existing furniture is right for the space,” says Laura Heynike, director…

Meet & greet Patrick Yeung (international operations manager, Lincoln University) and Erica He (fashion designer), and Noah, 11 months. Sometimes, a picture really does paint a thousand words. When Erica He and husband Patrick Yeung first set out to decorate their son Noah’s nursery, they had no idea they were about to embark on an oceanic mural of epic proportions. The couple set off to their local Resene ColorShop in Christchurch to browse wallpaper and paint options, dreaming of a light blue room. But, after looking at sample paintings and listening to staff recommendations, another alternative began to emerge. “We flagged the wallpaper idea and decided on the spot that we would paint our own picture because it would be more meaningful for our baby,” explains Erica. “Hopefully, he will…

TICKLED PINK Fever-Tree, the posh tonic makers have a saying: “If three-quarters of your drink is the mixer, mix with the best.” Makes sense. The latest offering Refreshingly Light Wild Raspberry tonic uses hand-harvested Scottish raspberries and British rhubarb, and it contains no artificial sweeteners to turn your ordinary gin and tonic into a thrillingly pink drink. $10.99 (4 x 200ml pack). Open book GEORGINA HAYDEN’S NISTISIMA (BLOOMSBURY, $55) FEATURES 120 RECIPES FROM EASTERN EUROPE, THE MEDITERRANEAN AND MIDDLE EAST. NISTISIMA MEANS FASTING FOOD AND IS THE FOOD EATEN DURING LENT FOR THOSE OF ORTHODOX FAITH. THESE TIME-HONOURED RECIPES ARE ALSO VEGAN FOR THOSE SEEKING TO EAT MORE PLANT-BASED FOOD. BOH’S OWN To celebrate Boh Runga Jewellery’s 15th birthday, the singer and jewellery maker has collaborated with Ant Moore Wines…

Having a fishpond may not be everyone’s idea of fun, but those who love them know that this humble water feature has the power to create tranquillity in the most urban of locations. From the soothing sounds of rippling water to the calming nature of fish swimming in and out of reeds, a fishpond could bring the quiet moment of contemplation your garden is missing. “If you’re doing a natural-style pond, a durable UV-stable PVC pond liner is best.”JAMES HEADLAND 1 Installation You can buy pre-made pond kits from hardware stores and landscaping retailers, however these are usually best suited to small projects. If you plan to install a large pond, you’ll need to consult a professional to ensure the landscaping and lining are done correctly. Concrete is robust; rubber…