Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2024 i Your Home and Garden

Christmas is about tradition. In my house that means getting the Christmas tree on 1 December and decorating it with all the decorations lovingly collected over the years, making the wreath from foraged branches in the garden and the chocolate log the night before Christmas. On the day itself, it’s mimosas with croissants for breakfast and playing charades after lunch, although that’s one I’d love to get rid of after what I considered an Oscar-worthy performance of being slime by throwing myself at a wall and sliding down it. Why did no one get that? It’s also about being open to new ones. The yellow Christmas tree on page 42 has caught my eye, as has the seagull decoration on page 20. Imagine that as a tree topper instead of…

THAT’S A WRAP You’re either a professional gift wrapper or learning as you go, there’s no in between. Even the roughest of wraps get sidelined when there’s beautiful wrapping paper on display. Made Paper Co’s Christmas collection features a range of designs, from outwardly festive to fun abstract creations. Plus, they’re all printed on recycled paper. From $9, from madepaperco.com UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN Still thinking about summer in the Med? Or perhaps dreaming of the next one? Add a burst of Italia to your home with this La La Land Italian Summer planter pot. Decorated with pomegranates, citrus and florals, it’s a fun-loving home for your favourite foliage. $89.95, from louisandmax.co.nz White Christmas Possibly the closest we’ll get to snow in the southern hemisphere. Emma Bridgewater London at Christmas…

home profile MEET & GREET Brooke Fairgray (director of children’s apparel brand Phoenix and the Fox); David Scott (business manager at Top Flight); their children, Grayson, eight, and Marsden, six. Brooke’s sister Jesika also currently lives with them. THE PROPERTY Four-bedroom, two-bathroom, brick-and-block ’80s house in Whangaparāoa. DINING AREA Brooke’s Christmas table varies from year to year – “One year we had butcher’s paper down and crayons, so people could doodle.” This one was inspired by the gorgeous Bonnie and Neil tablecloth from Hello Darling, which was paired with scalloped plates from In The Roundhouse. A long table and bench seat from Modern Chair, plus dining chairs from Cintesi, can seat a crowd. The statement pendant light is from Palette in Whangamatā. LIVING ROOM The living room is dominated by…

Yes, you could go to town with gift wrapping but sometimes a bow done right is all you need. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to tie a classic bow. And, when you’ve mastered that, move on to the double bow for extra credits. Red kraft wrapping paper, $23 (10 metres); satin blue ribbon, $31.63 (45 metres); candy stripe taffeta ribbon, $24 (10 metres); stainless steel and gold steel scissors, $49.91 (26cm); all from Ribbon & Blues. CLASSIC BOW 1 Run the ribbon vertically across the front of the gift. Cut more ribbon than you think you’ll need. 2 Flip the gift and make sure both ends of the ribbon are even. 3 Cross the two ends over each other and pull them horizontally in opposite directions. 4 Flip…

Chores Christmas is coming and fortunately for gardeners, spring’s frenzy has abated. Vegetable and soft-fruit crops may be ready for harvesting, and more smaller plantings of crops for late harvest made. The last-minute pre-Christmas tidy-up dash aside – lawns, edges, hedges, weeds and webs etc – the garden can go on the backburner as other festive preparations heat up. Get it in In warmer areas basil, corn, cucumber, peppers, and tomatoes may still be planted. Everywhere, lettuce, spinach and silver beet seeds may be sown. Time to start thinking about sowing and planting winter brassicas. Get it off Removing the lower leaves and the laterals of tomatoes as the plant grows means it will pour energy into fruit production and lets in sunlight and air to ripen trusses and dispatch…

COFFEE RUN Do you want a coffee that tastes like warm, sunny days with festive notes of mango, berry and praline? Look no further than Allpress Espresso’s limited edition Festive Blend. For coffee heads, it’s a mix of Ethiopian Jigesa and Werka beans, as well as Guatemalan La Providencia ones. Velvety sweet is the word. $18 for 250g, allpressespresso.com Love by any other name CHRISTCHURCH’S J’AIME, WHO QUITE POSSIBLY MAKES THE BEST MACARONS IN THE LAND, HAS REPACKAGED ITS OFFERINGS FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON. THERE’S A NEW LINE-UP OF TREATS FROM THE LITTLE SAUCE POTS, $11.50, TO THE BUTTER CRAYONS, $14.50 A BOX, WHICH IS REINVENTED SHORTBREAD; AND THE BUTTER CRUNCH, $23.50. GIFT THESE AND PUT A BOX OF MACARONS, $26.40 (FOR SIX), UNDER THE TREE FOR YOURSELF. J-AIME.COM SPARKLE…

EDITOR Fiona Hawtin ART & EDITORIAL Content producer Bryony Ammonds-Smith Art director Nicola Feeney Chief sub-editor Michelle Joe Garden editor Mary Lovell-Smith Senior designers Hayley Pearce, Béla Trussell-Cullen Designers Anna Pétursdóttir, Debby Wei CONTRIBUTORS Helen Bankers, Bureaux, Jo Cribb, Eleanor Cripps, Stephanie Hope, Living Inside, Babiche Martens, Nikole Ramsay, Lauren Olive, Shelley Tustin ADVERTISING | CORPORATE Sales director Claire Chisholm Commercial brand manager Bridget Yee, bridget.yee@aremedia.co.nz, 021 1591265 Senior account managers Chloe Jordan, chloe.jordan@aremedia.co.nz; Amy Madden amy.madden@aremedia.co.nz Account manager Sara Grace Aldis saragrace.aldis@aremedia.co.nz Senior campaign manager Angela Wei, angela.wei@aremedia.co.nz Classified sales Kim Chapman, classifieds@xtra.co.nz Head of digital Melissa Walsh  Senior digital content producer Katie Delany  E-Commerce/shopping editor Sarah Templeton EXECUTIVE  Chief executive officer Jane Huxley  General manager Stuart…

ISLAND TIME THE WHARE IS A HISTORICAL HOMESTEAD NESTLED ON KĀPITI ISLAND. NOW, IT’S BEEN IMMORTALISED IN THIS NOSTALGIC ARTWORK, $90 (A4). CHECK IT OUT New sheets are the best. Jazz up your (or your children’s) bed with this vibrant cotton set, $164.90. TAKE A DIP PERFECT FOR CHARCUTERIE BOARDS OR A LITTLE AFTERNOON NIBBLE, THESE DIP BOWLS, $28 (FOR ONE), ARE A GREAT STOCKING STUFFER FOR CULINARY LOVERS. SHINE A LIGHT A PORTABLE LAMP IS THE ACCESSORY YOU NEED THIS SUMMER. THIS SOLAR-POWERED LIGHT, $548, IS WATERPROOF, HAS ADJUSTABLE LIGHT LEVELS AND IS SUPER CUTE. TICK TOCK Analogue will always be cool. The Objectify blue blush wall clock, $53, is a pretty and practical asset to have adorning your wall. FESTIVE AROMAS THE ’TIS THE SEASON ROOM AND…

TREASURE TROVE The sofa upholstered in squiggly red stripes is a favourite piece. Designer Matilda Goad is a friend of Pandora’s and her work, including this scallop-edged lampshade, can be seen throughout the house. The local antiques market has also been a great source of many vintage finds. home profile MEET & GREET Pandora Sykes ( journalist and author), her husband Ollie Tritton (marketing executive), their daughter Zadie, six, and son, Sasha, four. THE PROPERTY Renovated three-storey Victorian terrace house in north-west London. TOUCH OF SPICE Can you have too much yellow? Not if you’re Pandora who selected leopard print curtains and set them against “India Yellow” painted walls and a sofa covered in turmeric-coloured chenille. In the main bedroom, Pierre Frey’s Lasso cotton covers the headboard. As someone who…

There’s no denying the appeal of store-bought decorations, but a good, old-fashioned craft session with (or without) the kids is wholesomely satisfying. We succumbed with some felt baubles and foil decorations. What’s even better is the level of skill required for these is practically nil for the results – even if we say so ourselves. Felt bauble Perfectly imperfect, creating this ornament is child’s play 1 Using the template, cut two bauble shapes from white felt. Stitch both pieces together with black thread using large stitches. We opted for a childlike look so neat sewing is not required here. 2 When you’re done with the exterior, stitch a pattern onto the middle and run some stitches through the top to replicate the metal part of the bauble. 3 Cut a…

“Our kitchen is tiny and not conducive to large-scale catering.” home profile MEET & GREET Kerryn (journalist/editor) and Morne Fischer (digital strategist) and their children Luc, 17, and Guy, 13. THE PROPERTY Bungalow in an upscale coastal suburb. When you live in a beach bungalow, Christmas takes a similar route to Antipodean southern hemisphere festivities. The 1950s wooden bungalow that journalist and editor Kerryn Fischer shares with her digital strategist husband Morne, and their two sons Luc and Guy is a laidback space. Surfboards and paddle boards line the driveway while the interiors are filled with colour, pattern and eclectic finds. It’s every inch a family home. Protected from the south-easterly winds that are common during the summers, the bungalows on this part of the coast command panoramic…

Food and wine destination Ayrburn in Arrowtown features a landscape design described as a “hospitality garden dreamland” – a melding of not only vision but practicality, vibrancy and sustainability. Landscape design project lead George Watts, has been the in-house landscape architect and urban designer for Winton, the parent company of Ayrburn for more than a decade. George says that as much he loves a formal garden there’s “magic” in creating something natural and we shouldn’t be afraid to try and have both. 1Tell us about Ayrburn and how you got involved. My involvement with this project started in 2017. Ayrburn is what’s remaining of a once vast landholding known as Ayrburn Farm, established in 1864 to feed the influx of Arrowtown gold miners. Left behind from this era was a…

DO AHEAD The glaze can be made up to 1 week ahead; store in the fridge. Ham can be glazed a day ahead and served cold. Glazed ham SERVES 20 The double orange glazes can be made up to 1 week ahead; store in the fridge. Ham can be glazed a day ahead and served cold. Store leftover ham in the fridge in a ham bag, or wrapped in a cotton or linen tea towel that’s been rinsed in water and a little vinegar, then wrung out tightly. Change the tea towel daily. The ham will keep for up to 1 week. INGREDIENTS 8kg cooked leg of ham 2 cups water Sprigs of fresh herbs (rosemary and bay leaves), to decorate (optional) DOUBLE ORANGE GLAZE 300g orange marmalade (or blood…

Mulled ‘wine’ mocktail SERVES 8 INGREDIENTS 2 litres red grape juice 4 pieces orange rind 2 Tbsp brown sugar 2 cinnamon sticks 12 dried cloves 3 fresh bay leaves 2 sprigs fresh thyme 1 small orange, thinly sliced Ice cubes, to serve 1 Combine grape juice, orange rind, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, bay leaves and fresh thyme in a large saucepan over low heat. 2 Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Cool, then refrigerate until cold. Strain mixture into a large jug. Discard solids. 3 Add orange, extra bay leaves and thyme to mixture. Serve with ice. Pimm’s and roses SERVES 6 INGREDIENTS 200ml Pimm’s 80ml Campari 80ml dry vermouth (or a mixture of sweet and dry vermouths)  80ml agave syrup  80ml rose syrup  40ml Dom Benedictine …

Our lives are essentially woven together with a series of daily habits and rituals. When we’re living in a way that feels peaceful, it’s usually because our positive practices outweigh the not-so-great ones. Consider habits such as overindulging in junk food, working excessively, endlessly scrolling through social media, or overspending. I think that we usually know when something starts to become an issue. Deep down, we can sense when they start to steal the joy from other areas of our lives. It’s true that we all grapple with habits we wish to change. Breaking these unwanted habits can be challenging, particularly if they’ve been the fabric of your life for an extended amount of time. I’m sharing some simple, yet effective tips to help you break free from the…

WE LOVE ’Tis the season for beautiful flower arrangements. @thebotanistnz If you need cosy interior inspo, look no further than this account. @chalkwhitearrow PODCAST OF THE MONTH Desert Island Dishes takes an iconic concept and makes it culinary. Tip: Don’t listen while hungry. CONNECT WITH US We love seeing images from our #yourhomeandgarden community. @yourhomeandgarden TOP INSTAGRAM POST Everyone was obsessed with this landscaped wonderland. @yourhomeandgarden TRENDING ONLINE Pink interiors are still having a moment, according to readers. yourhomeandgarden.co.nz TOP SELLER Amber jar candle, $35.99. shop.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz Instagram @yourhomeandgarden | Facebook facebook.com/yourhomegarden | Website yourhomeandgarden.co.nz | Pinterest yourhomegarden…

Make your presents the prettiest ones under the tree 1 Cherries wrapping paper, $34.99 (30m), from Typo. 2 Scalloped polyester ribbon, $29.64, from Anthropologie. 3 Polar bears wrapping paper, from $9, from Made Paper Co. 4 Artwrap metallic curling ribbon, $2.99 from Warehouse Stationery. 5 Wide finestripe ribbon, $17.39, from Ribbon & Blues. 6 Pomegranate wrapping paper, $20, from Ribbon & Blues. 7 Printed snowberries ribbon, $21.74, from Ribbon & Blues. 8 Hallmark gold stars wrapping paper, $6.99, from Kmart. 9 Spearmint velvet ribbon, $7.99, from Typo. 10 Christmas doggies wrapping paper, $7.99, from Typo. 11 Braided lurex ribbon, $19.76, from Anthropologie. Shop for more extra-festive Christmas wrapping…

TOTALLY WRAPPED “The day usually starts at the crack of dawn opening presents,” says Catherine, pictured with daughters Lily and Isabella, son Charlie and sheepadoodle Molly in their outdoor living area. RING THE CHANGES A beautiful wreath on the front door is a must, says Catherine. “A festive wreath is a great way to welcome your Christmas visitors.” When Catherine and Stuart Evans bought their Auckland house 12 years ago, it had been not one, but two flats. The previous owners had a go at making it one house again but it was “very disjointed and still had two old bathrooms and kitchens and a death-defying staircase to the basement,” says Catherine. Their initial renovation involved reconfiguring one of the old flat’s kitchen, bathroom and the original staircase into…

BROUGHT TO YOU BY Shark® THIS MONTH: LIVING ROOM Go to the yourhomeandgarden.co.nz website to vote for the products you’d pick for each room. We’ll then create a visual montage of what the nation’s favourite rooms look like. Everyone who votes goes in the draw to win a Shark Steam and Scrub Mop, valued at $349.99. This mop simultaneously scrubs and sanitises sealed hard floors using the power of steam. This month we’re focusing on the living room. Take a look at the finalists here, then go to yourhomeandgarden.co.nz to vote. Entries close Friday, 6 December. VOTE TO WIN Scan the code to vote and be in to win. FAVOURITE TELEVISION FAVOURITE OCCASIONAL CHAIR 1 Lupita rust velvet lounge chair from French Country Collections. 2 Felix Teddy…

Instead of making candles in jars, hunt out old jelly moulds from secondhand shops. Looks for interesting shapes, then stock up on wax and other essentials from a candle supply shop. FROM THIS How to make a candle 1 Clean the candle mould. Stick the wick to the bottom of the mould with a wick sticker and thread the top through a wick holder. Make sure the wick is the correct size for mould. 2 Melt soy wax or beeswax slowly in an old saucepan. Heat to 70°C. Add dye and stir. 3 Pour wax slowly and carefully into the mould and leave to sit for at least three hours before moving. Turn out and place on a flameproof surface. If the jelly mould will be inverted, wait for the…

SUSPENDED TREASURE This unique version of a Christmas “tree” is inspired by the handmade mobiles we all created as youngsters, and will add a very personal and whimsical feel to your space. Combining foraged shells, beach pebbles and seaside flotsam and jetsam with a simple spray-painted dried tree branch, it’s also a cinch to make. + To make a similar hanging decoration, select a multi-stemmed dried branch with delicate leaves from the garden – or forage for a suitable fallen specimen – and spray-paint in white. Allow to dry fully before attaching white spray-painted beach treasures using plain, undyed string. The look is meant to be rustic, so don’t try to hide the ends of the string or keep things too neat. + Hang your decorated centrepiece above…

Florentine biscotti MAKES 70 INGREDIENTS 1 cup caster sugar 2 eggs 1 cup flour ½ cup self-raising flour ¾ cup flaked almonds, roasted ½ cup sultanas ½ cup red glace cherries, halved 200g dark semi-sweet chocolate, chopped 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line two large oven trays with baking paper. 2 Whisk sugar and eggs in a medium bowl until combined; stir in sifted flours, almonds, sultanas and glace cherries. Shape dough into two 30cm logs. Place on trays; flatten slightly. 3 Bake logs about 30 minutes. Cool on trays. 4 Reduce oven temperature to 140°C. 5 Using a serrated knife, slice logs diagonally into 5mm slices. Place slices, in a single layer, on baking paper-lined oven trays. Bake for 20 minutes, turning…

Studio Sue’s tagline is to “create moments of joy”. One glimpse at Auckland-based artist Sue Pat’s whimsical illustrations of animals, botanicals or sweet Christmas imagery and the sense of delight leaps off the page. Now on her 10th stationery collection, Sue’s desire to share and create joy is showing no signs of slowing down. How did you get into illustration? As a child, I was always drawing and creating. One of my early memories is painting a picture of my mum in her brown dress surrounded by flowers at kindergarten. I remember all the teachers crowding around to look at my artwork and showing my mum when she picked me up. When I discovered what a graphic designer was at intermediate school, I knew straight away that’s what I wanted…