Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2025 i Your Home and Garden

Last month’s spring cleaning went so well, I’m turning my attention to the outside now. Waterblasting the deck isn’t glamorous or exciting like choosing a new benchtop, but it needs to be done. We’ve put together a guide for the essential spruce-up jobs you really should work your way through, on page 78. Because hard work deserves a reward and when you’ve done the maintenance comes the fun part – putting your outdoor room together (that’s what we call the deck/patio/ backyard now). This means approaching your outdoors the same way you would your living or dining space, using similar materials, colours and styling to what you have inside. That way, the prized indoor/outdoor flow becomes even more seamless. To get the lowdown on creating the outdoor room, turn to…

If you happen to see a stylish man with black Joe 90 glasses in a heap on the floor of Ikea in the opening days, that will be Ikea New Zealand’s home furnishing and retail design manager, Edward Hincks. He’s joking. You’ll be too busy finding the Dejsa lamp, the Barslov sofa, or any other of the Swedish furniture giant’s best sellers to notice him anyway. But he and members of the management team will all be on hand. “It’s the way we work at Ikea. We don’t have offices for the team. We’ll be there, pulling our sleeves up, helping the guys on the floor, stacking shelves.” Don’t worry. There will be plenty of product for all – pallets and pallets of it, says Edward. So, how to navigate…

Home to a family of five, this suburban Californian bungalow in Sydney needed some TLC and extra space to accommodate a growing family and their busy lifestyle. With a dream of polishing their rough diamond into a sparkling jewel, the family handed Bonnie Hindmarsh, Erin Cayless and Lana Taylor of Three Birds Renovations their keys, budget and trust, then moved out. The vision? A “Cali Cool” family retreat that’s both stylish and functional for everyday life. Cali Cool is a relaxed yet refined design inspired by the laidback California coast. It blends natural textures, soft neutral tones and open, light-filled spaces to create a calm and inviting vibe. Layered textures, ceramics and greenery add warmth and character, while a strong connection between indoors and outdoors keeps things relaxed. The transformation…

TAKE NOTE Lean into a home’s existing charm with a thoughtful colour palette and carefully chosen furniture. Even if you’re not used to the style, let yourself enjoy it. Chances are you’ll fall in love, just like these homeowners did. 1 Tube vase, $69, from Flux Boutique. 2 Abode Design Carson 400 pendant, $279.90, from Lighting Direct. 3 Namika kitchen mixer, $428.90, from Abi Interiors. 4 Parvani bouquet mirror, $849, from Early Settler. 5 Ankara rug, $499, from Early Settler. 6 Landscape at Collioure by Henri Matisse art print, $59 (A3), from Pop Motif. 7 Resene Timeless paint, $5.70 (testpot), from ColorShops. 8 Resene Valentine paint, $5.70 (testpot), from ColorShops. 9 Leo armchair, $799, from Cintesi. 10 Odelia freestanding bath, $4949.90, from Abi Interiors. 11 Ella sideboard, $2999, from Nood.…

COASTAL GRANDMA Comfortable but refined, take a leaf from Nancy Meyers’ style book and let an oversized marble kitchen island take centre stage. W ho doesn’t love a day at the beach? Coastal-style interiors tap into a rich vein of seashore inspiration, from colours and materials that evoke the sea and sand dunes, to objects of nautical whimsy. But most of all, coastal style is about a mood, channelling the barefoot bliss of a day at the beach with interiors that make you instantly unwind. Perhaps the ultimate anti-trend, coastal interiors have an evergreen – and even global – appeal. The serenity of a salt-spray vacay is always desirable, after all, and anyone can appreciate the allure of a home that’s as soothing as a holiday – Kiwis included. Here…

More Resene colours to try: Painting walls and timber is straightforward and much more commonplace. But, if you have melamine cupboards in the kitchen, you may not realise you can actually do the same. You will however need to use a special primer such as Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer before painting. You will need • Paint tray, paint roller and brushes • Sandpaper 220 grit • Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer • Resene Lustacryl Semi-gloss waterborne enamel paint in Resene Kelp • Resene SpaceCote Flat Kitchen & Bathroom paint in Resene Spanish White for the walls and ceiling (to complement cabinetry) • Optional: Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path in Resene Spanish White for the curved wall 1 If you can, it is easiest to remove all the doors and…

BRING THE INSIDE OUT One of the biggest changes to how we live now is treating the inside as an extension of the living room. It helps to have a seamless progression from inside to out with sliding doors that open fully to a deck, courtyard, or sprawling backyard in the warmer weather. To make this as natural as possible, repeat your interior furniture style and fabrics outside. So, if you tend towards minimalist Scandi style with clean linen sofas inside, repeat the vibe with an uncomplicated light wooden lounge suite in a neutral outdoor fabric on the deck. Modular furniture also replicates the indoor set-up, as does a generous coffee table and a couple of side tables. Keep them within easy reach of the seating, so guests can put…

There’s nothing like an upcoming family event to spur on a DIY project. When Mohan (Mo) and Niru Patel’s daughter Sivani decided to get married at her parents’ home in Papakura, Auckland, in 2022, holding the wedding at her childhood home was a no-brainer. The Patels’ thoughtfully curated subtropical garden is a tribute to their love of cultivation. There are lush green pathways to explore, brightly coloured blooms, an ancient tōtara forest backing onto a stream and an eclectic orchard with unusual delights like custard apples and ice-cream beans. It’s a plant-lover’s paradise and a joy to visit. But to make it the ultimate venue for the celebration, Mo and Niru decided the garden needed one more feature – a wooden archway overlooking the tree-covered valley. It would be the…

Fish ceviche with mango & avocado SERVES 4 INGREDIENTS 300g sashimi-grade, firm white fish fillets (such as snapper), cut into small 1cm cubes 120ml lime juice (about 4–5 limes) 1 tsp salt, plus extra to taste 1 small red onion, diced 1 bunch coriander, chopped 200g ripe but firm mango, peeled and diced 1½ hass avocados, diced 1 Tbsp olive oil Freshly ground black pepper, to taste Corn chips or tostadas, to serve Store-bought habanero hot sauce, to serve (optional) 1 In a glass or ceramic bowl, combine the fish with half the lime juice and 1 teaspoon of salt. Let the fish “cook” for 15 minutes. 2 Strain the juices from the fish. Add the onion, coriander, mango, avocado, olive oil and the remaining juice. Season with salt and…

TV BAR Why not convert an old TV set into a cute minibar? Screw it open and remove the innards so that just the framework remains. Spray paint the framework in the colour of your choice and leave to dry properly before you fill it with your drinks. NOTE Finish off your bar by fitting it with a coloured LED light on the inside. Everyone will notice this bar. TRY THIS Break the mould like a punk rocker and bump up the kitsch decor with something unexpected. How about a wibblywobbly jelly? GRAFFITI FIGURINES Give plain porcelain figurines a fun graffiti effect. Wipe the figurines clean with a damp cloth and first apply a coat of white spray paint. Now add a bit of spray paint here and there in…

Late spring/summer eating might possibly be my favourite of all the seasons. The first bite of a sun-ripened tomato, juice running down your wrist from a juicy nectarine picked warm straight from the tree, the fragrant scent of fresh herbs crushed between your fingers. My mouth is watering just writing about it. You see, eating seasonally doesn’t just taste delicious – it’s nature’s way of telling us exactly what we need, right when we need it. After months of indulging in hearty, winter food, something undeniably shifts when the warm season arrives. The days stretch long and golden, and suddenly, our bodies no longer crave comfort, but instead lighter, fresher fare: crisp cucumbers, plump raspberries, salads that sparkle with zingy dressings. It feels instinctive, as though our appetites are falling…

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, Shane Kelly CONTRIBUTORS Anna Briggs, Bureaux, Emily Chalk, Florence Charvin, Rachel Clare, Eleanor Cripps, Debbie Harrison, Nikki Kettle, Jacob Leaf, Living Inside, Babiche Martens, Ben Parry, Shelley Tustin 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; Jacquie Fraser, Jacquie.Fraser@aremedia.co.nz  Classified sales Kim Chapman, Classifieds@xtra.co.nz  Head of digital Melissa Walsh  Commercial editor Sarah Templeton  Senior digital content producer Katie Delany  Shopping editor Hemma Vara EXECUTIVE Chief executive officer Jane Huxley  General manager Stuart Dick  Editorial director Sarah Henry  Distributor Are Direct + Contact us Email…

TAKE NOTE Elevate a room with the flick of a switch – literally. Make an instant change to any space with a fun piece of lighting. Try wooden or raffia pendants in one room, or how about brass sconces? 1 Eric pendant, $399, from Early Settler. 2 Vitrine sphere table, $5990, from Ornament. 3 Agapi vessel, $249, from Freedom. 4 Xena coaster, $39 (for four), from Loft Furniture. 5 Nature’s Oak Sierra herringbone flooring, $170 (sqm), from Flooring Xtra. 6 Brothers by Studio Dalli art print, $129, from Kiki Bazaar. 7 Ribbed cocktail glasses, $79.99 (for four), from Home Lab. 8 Chicago swivel chair, $1999, from Flux Boutique. 9 Elysian commercial kitchen mixer, $637.90, from Abi Interiors. 10 Finnian 2-seat chaise, $3999, from Nood.…

There’s something about spring that makes you want to fling open the doors, breathe in the fresh air and give your home a good old reset. After months of rain, mud and hunkering down indoors, a little effort now can set you up for an enjoyable spring and summer. Here are the tasks worth tackling – a mix of practical jobs and small upgrades you can do yourself, which will make a big difference. Where possible, rope someone else in to help – with good company, music blasting and the sun on your back, it can almost be classed as fun. 1 CLEAR THE GUTTERS AND DOWNPIPES It might not be glamorous, but this one is non-negotiable. Over autumn and winter, gutters fill with leaves, twigs and the occasional tennis…

GROW WHAT YOU EAT Libby’s raised garden beds are in a 60sqm area. “The rocket gives and gives as it reseeds, same with the bok choy. Plus, I love to see the bees come for the flowers on the rocket and bok choy in between those crops,” she says. When it comes to growing edibles, you’d expect a renowned nutritional biochemist to have specific ideas about which fruit and vegetables you should plant, but Dr Libby Weaver’s message is simple: “Grow what you love to eat.” The keen gardener is a strong believer in “food first” when it comes to nutrition, and she packs as many of her favourite leafy greens and herbs as she can into her own 60sqm plot, where she grows crops in raised beds made from…

HOME & DRY COOL LINE-UP These multi-stripe towels from Donna Wilson are the bathroom pick-me-up you need for a refreshed spring look. It’s made from 100 percent cotton for a cosy and luxurious feel. We’re tempted to get the full range, which includes a face cloth and a hand towel. From $28, from paperplanestore.com GIN BOMB MAKE FRIDAY DRINKS MORE FUN WITH THESE LULLU GIN BALLOON GLASSES. $78 (FOR TWO), FROM FOLKLORESTORE.CO.NZ CUP HALF FULL Your pens need to live somewhere, so make their home a cute one. Spring clean your desk and jazz it up with a Tulip pen cup, $7, from kmart.co.nz DOUBLE LIFE BE IT A BIRTHDAY CAKE OR JUST FOR FUN, EVERY CAKE DESERVES A PRETTY PEDESTAL. &K AMSTERDAM CAKE PLATTER, $115, FROM BOLTOFCLOTH.COMOFCLOTH.COM CRUSTACEAN CORE…

1 Pansy bath mat, $105, from Hello Darling. 2 Hanging pod chair, $970, from Palette Design. 3 Forget me not bath towel, $39.90, from Citta. 4 Celine basin, $533.40, from Abi Interiors. 5 Joffre dining chair, $529, from Hello Darling. 6 Made of Tomorrow blob wall mirror, $399, from Flux Boutique. 7 Ejiya jute runner, $299, from Miss Amara. 8 Bongo coffee table, $1199, from Freedom. 9 Fabian sofa, $4999, from Nood. 10 Bonnie and Neil flannel flower cushion, $199, from Hello Darling.…

TAKE NOTE The tiles used in the Russells’ bathroom look like small tiles but they’re not. “The tiles look and feel like individual geometric shapes but are 316mm squares, which were considerably less labour-intensive to install,” says Ingrid. 1 Cementina tiles, $199.90 (sqm), from Tile Depot. 2 Marimekko Pieni Unikko cushion cover, $59, from Bolt of Cloth. 3 Celia chair, $515, from Cintesi. 4 Marco Tuscan urn, $245, from Notting Hill Interiors. 5 Bellagio sofa, $6519, from BoConcept. 6 Wooden squiggle mirror II, $270, from Little & Fox. 7 Garden Party by Inaluxe art print, $59 (A4), from Endemicworld. 8 Nyla rug, $349, from Miss Amara. 9 Bonnie and Neil chamomile tablecloth, $299, from Allium Interiors. 10 Resene Twice as Nice paint, $5.70 (testpot), from ColorShops. 11 Resene Tradewind paint,…

TAKE NOTE Make a holiday home as relaxing as possible. Your favourite colours, comfortable furniture, plenty of indoor-outdoor flow. The more laidback, the better (especially if days are to be spent lounging by the pool). 1 Frida’s Garden cushion cover, $55, from Bolt of Cloth. 2 Neera rug, $349, from Miss Amara. 3 Piastrella mix tiles, $155 (sqm), from Tile Space. 4 Celadon tapestry bowl, $89, from Early Settler. 5 Hone coffee table, $1199, from Freedom. 6 Eliot shelf, $289, from Nood. 7 Rochelle kitchen mixer, $699, from Early Settler. 8 Design Republique Bradford chair, $1699.90, from Bed Bath & Beyond. 9 Frankie wall light, $239, from Mr Ralph. 10 Sophia bath towel, $59.99, from Adairs. 11 Iittala Alvar Aalto vase, $455, from Ballantynes.…

DREAM SCENES The fictional places described by Lewis Carroll in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden have long inspired and enchanted us. Sandra Lawrence and Lucille Clerc’s Literary Gardens ($45, Allen & Unwin) is an evocative tribute to 30 imaginary gardens that will pique the imagination of anyone who has ever dreamed of stepping through the pages of a book and into another world. CLIPPER CLASS ESTABLISHED IN HYOGO, JAPAN, IN 1876, KAMAKI HEDGE SHEARS 550, $116, FROM GUBBA.CO.NZ, ARE THE ULTIMATE IN PRECISION AND PERFORMANCE HEDGE CLIPPING. THE STAINLESS-STEEL BLADES ENSURE A CLEAN CUT WITHOUT DAMAGING THE HEDGE, WHILE THE TRADITIONAL WOODEN HANDLES ARE STURDY AND REASONABLY LIGHTWEIGHT. A GO-TO TOOL FOR GARDENING PROFESSIONALS AROUND THE WORLD. READY TO RAMBLE? Support Dove Hospice &…

FLASH PANS New Zealand’s cast-iron cookware company Ironclad has a reputation for creating great pans. You’re going to want to hand these down to future generations. Now, instead of plain old cast iron, these beauties come in three colours: salt stone (speckled white), olive leaf and antique black as part of the satin enamel collection, making them even more attractive on the dinner table. From $180, ironcladpan.com A GREAT WHITE... AND RED THIS YEAR’S NEW WORLD’S TOP 50 UNDER $30 WINES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED AND THE CHAMPION WHITE IS HUNTING LODGE’S SEASONAL ALBARINO MARLBOROUGH 2025 (WE ACQUIESCE WITH THE FINENESS OF THIS DROP). THE CHAMPION RED IS CHURCH ROAD MCDONALD SERIES SYRAH 2021 AND THE CHAMPION SPARKLING IS LINDAUER SPECIAL RESERVE BRUT IV. NEWWORLD.CO.NZ Water with features Daeli Hydration’s latest…

SONG AND DANCE Cowboy Up is Kaylee’s latest studio album. While she usually records her music from Nashville, Tennessee, being pregnant with her son meant that she got to make the most of her home studio. The musicians who played on the album recorded their parts in Nashville, while Kaylee’s producer made his way from LA to her Auckland studio to work with her. Kaylee Bell is one of New Zealand’s finest music exports right now. The country singer, originally from Waimate, has leapt onto the world stage and made a serious impression. She’s opened for Ed Sheeran, appeared on The Voice Australia, won Toyota Star Maker in 2013 and picked up the Global Country Artist Award at the CMA Awards in 2023. With her fourth album, Cowboy Up, hitting…

ART & FUNCTION Fornasetti was founded in Milan in 1940 by Piero Fornasetti (left), which is now managed by his son Barnaba. He created more than 13,000 products, including his Lina Cavalieri plates (left) and the Architettura Celeste cabinet (below) Who created them? Milanese artist and designer Piero Fornasetti, born in 1913. In his lifetime, he created more than 13,000 works – not all plates, either. Who’s the woman on all the plates? That would be Lina Cavalieri. She was a Roman-born opera singer during the Belle Epoque and was considered “the most beautiful woman in the world”. In 1952, Fornasetti was flipping through an early 19th-century magazine and was taken with a photograph of her. So he just started drawing her all over plates, did he? Well, yes, but…