Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 i Your Home and Garden

The roof of my laundry sprang a leak a week after we shot the glorious one on the cover. It’s an omen. I really do need to spruce mine up as it’s a place I try to get in and out of as quickly as possible. I’m holding up Kate Rogan’s pink one as the pinnacle of aesthetic perfection. Who’d have thought pink Formica could look so desirable? Architect Kate, that’s who. She’s managed to turn a room given over to boring chores into a place you actually want to be. Plus, she finally got a Vitra wall storage board which, rather than a pony, she’d wanted since she was a child. It’s a vision of form meets function. If you’re thinking about designing or tweaking your laundry, there are…

Completely floored A rug can transform the vibe of a room in an instant. The brassy hue of the Norfolk rug pairs beautifully with creams and natural furnishings. From $1840, from bayaliving.com SWEET AS CITRUS Stretch citrus season as far as possible with this Loewe Orange Blossom scented candle. A rich smell in a bold hue is a decor piece that’s hard to resist. We won’t judge you for keeping the gorgeous packaging, either. $279, from smithandcaugheys.co.nz FIVE LITTLE BIRDS KEEP YOUR TRINKETS SAFE IN THIS SUPER SWEET MORGAN & FINCH TRAY, SHAPED LIKE A LITTLE BIRD FOUNTAIN. $36.95, FROM BEDBATHNTABLE.CO.NZ Take your time We’re swapping the phone alarm for a traditional alarm clock like this Karlsson one. The colour is a dream. $42.90 from alliuminteriors.co.nz BIT OF SPICE DECANT…

WELCOME HOME Homeowners Melissa and Scott Cossey with Yorkshire terrier Harley at their front door. The house exterior is painted in Dulux Mt Aspiring. MUMMY’S LOUNGE The rust-coloured rug is from Nood and customised with an electric razor by Melissa. The mirror is a Marketplace find, the fireplace screen is by Rachel Donath and the lightshade was made by Melissa using wire and papier-mache. The sofa was found on Marketplace and reupholstered by Melissa. The words “family home” have a special meaning for Melissa and Scott Cossey. The creative DIY dynamos have been hands-on during the revamp and refresh of their 1930s house in Epsom, Auckland. “We did the demolition work, painting, insulation and Gibbing,” explains Melissa. “We recently finished painting the exterior of the house as well.” They aren’t…

home profile MEET & GREET Cissi Ahlen (music/tech company team lead), her partner (web developer) and their son, Cyril, nine. THE PROPERTY Colourful ’50s 124sqm two-level villa, which is partially built into a hill. In a quiet corner of Bandhagen, a small neighborhood on the outskirts of Stockholm, lives Cissi Ahlen with her partner, their nine-year-old son, and a home bursting with personality and vibrant colour. The house – a 1957 villa that had seen better days when they first encountered it – is a testament to transformation, creativity, and the unspoken connection between space and the people who inhabit it. “We had seen the house for sale online but weren’t that impressed,” Cissi admits. “It wasn’t until one morning, on a walk to the park, that we passed by…

Lighting is the unsung hero of any room. It’s the key accessory, the one that ties every element together. Recent social media trends have seen the masses abandon the cool-toned recessed lights (or, “the big light”), in favour of interesting stand-alone pieces. Here’s how to add excitement into the home through lighting choices, whether you’re a fan of vintage or prefer a bit of minimalist glamour. Scandi The European design style isn’t going anywhere. Take inspiration from the Scandinavians and blend minimalism and function with artistic flair. Lampshades and bases should ideally be white, black or natural tones, but the occasional burst of navy or pale pink can add a touch of interest. Prioritising natural light is a key design principle, so focus on statement table and floor lamps and…

HAPPY ENDING Third-generation dairy farmer Glen Herud’s story is heartwarming. He wanted to be ethical and have a sustainable model of farming more than 10 years ago, but it wasn’t financially viable and, after four years, had to close it. Customers sent messages of support and, long story short, he’s been back in business since 2019 supplying milk to those who want to drink the milk of happy cows that haven’t been separated from their calves almost immediately. He and his fellow Happy Cow Milk Co farmers leave them together for eight weeks before being separated over the fence while the natural weaning process happens. The collection points for the refillery subscription service is growing and there are plenty of pick-up places in Auckland now. Introductory offer $4.99 for two…

WE LOVE A masterful mid-century kitchen and a cute dog is the recipe to a good life. @un.flipping This bedroom is the right blend of soft and cosy (and we love the gold touch). @sarahshanahan_lifestyle PODCAST OF THE MONTH It’s all in the title. This podcast highlights legendary designers you’ll fall in love with. CONNECT WITH US We love seeing images from our #yourhomeandgarden community. @yourhomeandgarden TOP INSTAGRAM POST Our followers loved this sun-soaked reno. @yourhomeandgarden TRENDING ONLINE Beautiful craftsmanship won readers’ hearts. yourhomeandgarden.co.nz…

1 Ara emerald knob, $16 (4cm), from Early Settler. 2 Myka brushed nickel knob, $49.40, from Abi Interiors. 3 Eclipse half moon solid oak pull, $43.80 (15cm x 7.2cm), from CS Studios. 4 Solace fluorite knob, $19.90, from Bed Bath & Beyond. 5 Pika aged brass knob, $24.90, from Abi Interiors. 6 Dax cube knob, $16, from Early Settler. 7 Buster + Punch T-bar steel pull, $130, from ECC. 8 Taskmaster Oslo handle, $10.08 (9.6cm), from Bunnings. 9 Hafele furniture knob, $10.49, from Mitre 10. 10 Farfalle brass knob, $45.95, from Urban Outfitters.…

HOME INVESTMENT The open-plan kitchen and living area is where owners Sian Godbold and Callum Rawlins splurged. It was also high on the renovation priority list after the bedrooms. The countertop is Super White Calacatta honed dolomite and Dulux Okarito and Dulux Cardrona Half was used on the walls. OUTDOOR OPTIONS The family spends a lot of time in the open-plan kitchen and living space, and the outdoor zone that flows from it. Strategic hedging and clever planting give them privacy. The dining suite is from Cuchi, gold clover leaves are by Kristin Hyde, the outdoor table is by Soren Liv and the chairs are from King Living. home profile THE PROPERTY Four-bedroom ’70s home with family living and three bedrooms upstairs, and an internal double garage, plus a one-bedroom…

1 Aruba cushion, $49, from Early Settler. 2 Melody washable rug, $299 (180cm x 230cm), from Miss Amara. 3 Dulcy Nordic pendant, $350, from Misterlamp. 4 Special Studio Bubble side table, $410, from Paper Plane. 5 Resene Wallpaper Collection IF3-048 wallpaper, $750 (roll), from ColorShops. 6 Resene Wallpaper Collection IF3-049 wallpaper, $750 (roll), from ColorShops. 7 Ice cream money box, $24.90, from Iko Iko. 8 Roy Lichtenstein Girl with Hair Ribbon print, $99 (50cm x 50cm), from Pop Motif. 9 Compound sideboard, $3890, from Citta. 10 Dune dog, $49.95, from Louis & Max. 11 Ceramic banana, $59, from Design Withdrawals. 12 Replica chair, $390, from DerLook. 13 Avaro ball, $9, from The Warehouse.…

In 2022, Poppy Prendergast left her full-time pharmacy job and decided to study horticulture and organic primary production at Lincoln and SIT. When her parents bought a property outside Alexandra in Central Otago, she decided to leave Christchurch and join them, renovating a second dwelling near her mum and dad’s home. The 27-year-old content creator, whose farmyard includes two kunekune pigs, cats, dogs and chickens, juggles co-managing her mum’s clothing boutique with pharmacy technician work and being the “official garden gal” for Tui. “As is typical for someone with ADHD I have lots of different hobbies and interests, some are fleeting but others, mainly gardening, have stuck like glue.” What or who inspired you to start gardening? One of my earliest memories is of playing with runner bean seeds, they…

DO AHEAD Make the cakes a day ahead. Assemble cake several hours before serving. Passionfruit meringue dream cake SERVES 8 INGREDIENTS 125g butter 1 tsp vanilla extract 1¾ cups caster sugar 2 eggs ¾ cup self-raising flour 2 Tbsp flour 1⁄3 cup milk 4 egg whites ½ tsp cream of tartar ½ cup passionfruit pulp ¼ cup caster sugar, extra MASCARPONE CREAM 300ml cream 250g mascarpone 2 Tbsp icing sugar 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease two 22cm round springform pans; line bases and sides with baking paper. 2 Beat butter, vanilla and ¾ cup of the sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Fold in combined sifted flours and the milk, in two batches. Spread mixture evenly into pans. 3…

1 Studios of Their Own by Alex Johnson and James Oses ($45, Quarto Publishing). One for those who have ever wondered where the great artists worked. 2 Frida Kahlo’s Love Letters by Suzanne Barbezat ($39.99, Quarto Publishing). Words from one of history’s most iconic artists to the people she loved. 3 Bake with Brooki by Brooke Bellamy ($55, Penguin Random House). A baker shares her secrets to deliciousness. 4 The Good Life by Gillian Swinton ($45, Allen & Unwin). A self-sufficient life has never looked so good – or achieveable. 5 Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid ($38, Penguin Random House). Budding astronauts embark on a life-changing mission. 6 The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly ($38, Penguin Random House). Two sisters start a book club during…

It comes as no surprise that Reb Fountain’s home is as magical as her artistic prowess. Her Auckland property, rich with natural abundance and sentimental heirlooms, is the perfect place for nurturing creativity. It is also the very spot where her latest album, How Love Bends, came into existence. Tell us about your studio. Has it always been a part of your home? Do you find that the studio is an extension of your home life, or are they two separate entities? What’s your favourite thing about it? Music has always been a part of my life, it’s woven into the fabric of my home. I grew up surrounded by music at home and when we immigrated to Aotearoa [from the US] we used music as a way to connect…

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, Fiona Barber, Emma Bass, Kate Battersby, Jane Binsley, Anna Briggs, Bureaux, Rachel Clare, Mindi Cooke, Eleanor Cripps, Gina Fabish, Debbie Harrison, Hayley Jenkin, Nikki Kettle, Living Inside, Babiche Martens, Emily Raffills, Rachel White ADVERTISING | CORPORATE  Sales director Claire Chisholm  Senior commercial brand manager Angela Wei, angela.wei@aremedia.co.nz  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  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 Dick  Editorial director…

DINING Homeowner Christina Deller chose Resene Eden Collection M37311 wallpaper to match the wainscoting. “It’s the beautiful wall panels that give so much character,” she says. The dresser is from Early Settler. SITTING ROOM/ATRIUM The coffee table is from Early Settler. Christina Dellar is a devotee of rom-coms – the kind where the heroine finds herself in a beautifully designed home and the perfect happy ending. So, when she and her husband Tyge stumbled across their dream house in Stillwater, Auckland, and it felt like stepping into a scene straight from a Nancy Meyers film, she was all in. With its sprawling grounds, classic charm and hint of potential, this was the house that Christina had always imagined for her family. Cue a little makeover magic from the seasoned renovators…

If the housewives of yesteryear saw our laundries today, they’d be blown away by how stylish they are. What used to be an unlovely nook in the darkest corner of the house, or even a garden outhouse, has morphed into an opportunity for creative expression. Kate Rogan of Rogan Nash Architects says laundries are a great place to add some colour to your home or show off an interesting tile. “We find people often want the laundry to look or feel less serious than the rest of their home.” They’re primarily private spaces, so why not have some fun and make the chores less of a bore? Depending on your attitude to doing the washing, you might opt for bright, invigorating colours to energise you while you tackle the weekly…

Colour-drenching a room by painting the walls and the ceiling is a surefire way to make it look more modern. I needed to update this bathroom, which is on the small side, so painting these surfaces one Resene colour gives a sense of cohesion, as well as making the space appear larger than it is. In the case of this brown-toned pastel pink, it’s also made the room so warm and cosy. BEFORE You will need • Sandpaper, I used 220 grit • Resene EzyFill Quick • PAL Zero Gaps filler and a caulking gun • Brushes • Resene Quick Dry undercoat • Resene SpaceCote Flat Kitchen & Bathroom in Resene Just Right (for a higher sheen finish use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom) • Plenty of microfibre…

Emma Bass knows more than most about the therapeutic power of nature. The former nurse’s large photographic works of vases bursting with blooms brighten up homes, hospitals and clinicians’ treatments and waiting rooms across the world and are soon to be part of an overseas study on the impact of flowers on wellbeing. When Emma was awaiting a hysterectomy operation in 2023, she decided she needed to take a dose of her own floral medicine and create a garden that she could look out at from her living room while she was recuperating after surgery. “The front garden had never had flowers in it and it felt unresolved. So I decided to make a beautiful front garden that would heal me.” BLOOM TOWN Emma with one of her Breast Cancer…

Mash ’n’ pea fish pie SERVES 2 INGREDIENTS 2 Agria potatoes (around 400g), peeled and cut into 3cm cubes 40g butter 20g plain flour (about 1 heaped Tbsp) 300ml full-fat milk 300g skinless white fish fillets (such as hoki, blue cod or gurnard), cut into 3cm cubes 1 slice white bread 1½ Tbsp olive oil  150g frozen peas  Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 Put the potatoes in a saucepan of salted water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes or until cooked through. 2 While the potatoes are cooking, make a white sauce. Melt half of the butter in a small saucepan over a low heat. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the flour, mix well. Gradually add the milk, stirring continuously. If…

1 Using an existing curtain or a length of sturdy denim or heavy cotton, draw a scallop shape on the end. Cut the shape out. 2 Cut a scalloped edge on a length of sturdy denim or heavy cotton for a curtain and sew the edge with a strand of yarn on the sewing machine to make sure it doesn’t fray. 3 Choose a contrasting coloured yarn to the fabric for maximum impact on the scalloped edge. Use a zigzag setting. You’ll also need to use a bigger size needle and use a longer stitch length. PHOTOGRAPHY BUREAUX …