Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2026 i Your Home and Garden

Midsummer: I’m spending a lot of my spare time lying in the shade of a pōhutukawa in the garden, which I haven’t done very much to in, oh, years. Turns out I’ve been chaos gardening all this time without realising it. Well, there’s a bit more to it than just letting the wisteria grow over the fig tree, the wild ginger go on a rampage and the path through it all to disintegrate, as I’ve done. This is commonly called neglect. Nicola Guinness’ stunning garden on the cover and page 24 is, on the other hand, deliberate and well planned. She just follows more of a naturalistic ethos. I love the fact that it’s concealed from the street and only revealed when you’ve walked through the house and, suddenly, there’s…

COUNTING THE DAYS Bring even more sunshine to a summer’s day with this bright and cheery Abacus beach towel. Made from 100 percent cotton, it’s the perfect companion for a day by the pool or beach. $85, from cittadesign.com CHECK IT OUT This Noss and Co jug is a colourful and perfectly sized addition to your picnic table or alfresco dinner party. $129.95, from louisandmax.co.nz FIRE FLEURS CAST-IRON FLORALS? YES PLEASE. ELMORE CANDLE HOLDER, $169, FROM NOTTINGHILLINTERIORS.CO.NZ REAL PEARLER Bring the ocean indoors with this La Sirene cushion cover, crafted from 100 percent French flax linen – aka the perfect summer material. $90, from bedthreads.co.nz CAMPGROUND CHIC Settle the yearly debate by taking the leap and purchasing a new tent. Ditch the poles with the Inflat-a-Bell and its high-pressure air-frame…

You will need • Tablecloth or length of fabric • Ready-made napkins or fabric to make them with • Fabric paint • Paint brushes • Optional stencils, or fruit and vegetables, such as an orange or a potato to be used as stencils 1 If you have fabric and intend making the tablecloth, wash the fabric without fabric softener to get a clean surface to paint onto. I recommend ironing and hemming the edges before you start sewing all four sides. I used two different fabrics and cut one smaller to make napkins. 2 If you’re using a pre-made tablecloth all you need to do is get creative and start painting. I created a border and then filled the middle in with three shapes I repeated but placed randomly. This…

Some plants are toxic for our furry friends, who are often curious and like to play with or nibble on leaves. It’s important to research and choose varieties that are safe for animals. Always check for pet safety before bringing new plants home. If you have your heart set on plants that are considered toxic to pets, then it’s a good idea to position them out of reach, such as on high shelves, in hanging planters or within enclosed terrariums. FERN LEAF CACTUS Epiphyllum chrysocardium (syn. Selenicereus chrysocardium ) CARE: LOW MAINTENANCE PET FRIENDLY: YES LIGHT: BRIGHT, INDIRECT LIGHT This is such a beautiful plant, don’t you think? The fern leaf cactus looks similar to the fishbone cactus, but its broader, lush, flattened stems (cladodes) give it a softer appearance.…

Spiced lamb larb with crisp vermicelli SERVES 4-6 INGREDIENTS 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated 1 lemongrass stalk, white part only, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely grated 4 spring onions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated 400g minced lean lamb 75g crisp chilli and soybean oil (we used Lao Gan Ma Chilli In Oil) 6 radishes, thinly sliced Vegetable oil, for frying 40g dried vermicelli 1 baby gem lettuce, trimmed, leaves separated 1 cup Vietnamese mint, Thai basil and coriander leaves, firmly packed 1 long red chilli, thinly sliced DRESSING ¼ cup lime juice 1 Tbsp brown sugar 2 tsp fish sauce 1 Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add ginger, lemongrass, garlic and spring onion (white part only)…

VIEW MASTER If you’ve ever been to the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican and got a crick in your neck staring up at the ceiling to wonder at Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam (that’s the most famous bit), head to Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre for a more chiropractor-approved viewing. Michelangelo - A Different View has 50 full-scale reproductions, including The Genesis, which you can wander past and view on a wall from only 2 metres away. On until 8 February. takina.co.nz 140 Women we love Ceramicist Debra Powell’s works are inspired by crime history and anthropomorphism. 144 Tomato girl Meet the creator of this month’s Year of Art print, Maria Francesca Melis.…

COLLECT ALL SECOND OF 12 PRINTS Immortalise summer with our February print artist, Maria Francesca Melis. Her breathtaking illustration is a rich and thoughtful depiction of the end of the warm weather, as told through the lens of her upbringing in Sardinia. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your art. I’m an illustrator, currently based between Sardinia and New Zealand. My work is rooted in the visual language of my homeland, its botanical forms, folk decorations, colours and traditions. I love blending these influences with a contemporary sensibility and creating pieces that feel nostalgic but fresh. Whether I’m working on editorial pieces, posters, packaging or personal illustrations, my art is often inspired by everyday beauty, memory and the emotional connection we have with the places we call home.…

WE LOVE This bathroom is absolutely everything. @gina_fabish Mid-century Scandi minimalism is always a winner. @emma.ranne PODCAST OF THE MONTH Service95 with pop star Dua Lipa is your new favourite book club. CONNECT WITH US We love seeing images from our #yourhomeandgarden community. @yourhomeandgarden TOP INSTAGRAM POST Our hearts will always belong to this kitchen. @yourhomeandgarden Scan here to sign up to our newsletter TRENDING ONLINE This natural light is hard to beat. yourhomeandgarden.co.nz…

A charming 1950s cottage in the equally charming village of Matakana is the perfect place to experiment with colour and creativity. Suzie Stanford fell in love with the architecture and the surrounding farmland when hunting for a new character home for herself and her two sons, but there was one surprise that caught her eye – the exterior, which had been painted in Resene Lumbersider in Resene Double Mondo. The previous owner hadn’t warmed to it, but Suzie was a huge fan. “I loved it. The earthy and organic colour was a contributing factor to purchasing the house. The colour mirrors the surrounding rural area.” The dense brown hue, described as a contemporary rustic crossover, was enough to seal the deal, but the interiors needed some love. When the opportunity…

Anzac muscovado custard pie MAKES 1 X 23CM TART A base of crumbled Anzac biscuits (you can buy them or make your own) forms a buttery, toasty foundation, perfectly complementing the custard that follows. If you can’t find Anzac biscuits, replace them with 250g oat biscuits and 50g desiccated coconut, pulsed together in a food processor. INGREDIENTS 300g Anzac biscuits 80g coconut oil 550ml plant-based milk plus an extra 1⁄3 cup 1 cup muscovado sugar 1 tsp vanilla paste 70g cornflour Pinch of fine sea salt 70g deodorised coconut oil Plant cream, lightly whipped, to serve BISCUIT BASE 1 Blend the biscuits in a food processor until they form fine crumbs. 2 Melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan over a low heat, then pour the coconut oil into…

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 Brigid Arnott, Anna Briggs, Emily Chalk, Rachel Clare, Stephanie Hope, Nikki Kettle, Living Inside, Babiche Martens, Matilda Ringrose, Ingrid Schumann, Kristina Soljo, Catherine Steel, Sophie Wilson 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…

SPLASH PAD One of the many highlights of moving 300 metres up the road to a modern, architecturally designed home was that Luci and Craig’s kids now had a swimming pool. LUCI’S 5 TIPS TO STEAL 01 Art to bring colour, fun and spark conversation. 02 Plants to soften and make it feel homely. 03 Cushions and throws to bring the colours and space together. 04 Invest in an interior designer as it will save you in the long run. 05 If having things custom made, make sure you have lots of reference images to refer to as it’s not like buying off the floor. home profile MEET & GREET Luci Marshall (founder of public relations agency Rise and Shine), Craig Marshall (procurement manager at Spark), Taylor, 12, Enzo, 10,…

BRIGHT BEGINNINGS A clean white wall can provide the backdrop to anything your heart desires. Use it to highlight pre-existing features, like stained glass, or let your furniture garner the room’s full attention. PANTONE COLOUR OF THE YEAR New year, new colour. Stepping into the shoes of 2025’s Mocha Mousse, the 2026 Colour of the Year is Cloud Dancer, a ‘billowy white’ that represents calmness and peace. It’s the perfect structural colour to build upon and integrate into a colour palette. We’re imagining it paired with pastels, powerful cool tones or peachy hues. Really, it goes with anything. Its versatility is extraordinary – perhaps an important lesson to take into 2026. EARTHY NEUTRALS If you’re not feeling the billowy white of Cloud Dancer, you’re likely to be in the camp…

MAKING AN ENTRANCE Arriving at this holiday home, the owners and their guests are greeted by a grove of 50-year-old Port Jackson figs along with a hardy Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ plant, which produces year-round, cream-coloured foliage in contrast to the green scheme. ROCK ON Guest bedrooms open out to the under-stair garden, where green mat rushes (Lomandra hystrix) are planted among the gravel.. Peace and privacy reign at this coastal New South Wales holiday home, thanks to the prolific gardens that wrap around it. A wall of native Australian shrubbery along the shared driveway shields the house, while trees and grasses act in soft contrast to the charred-timber exterior. Upstairs, elevated decks and balconies look out to lush canopies with views to the beach beyond. “The aim was to create a…

Arancini with basil pesto & smoked scamorza SERVES 6 (MAKES ABOUT 24 ARANCINI) INGREDIENTS 1½ Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 onion, chopped finely 2 garlic cloves, crushed 250g arborio rice 1½ tsp thyme 2/3 cup dry white wine 1L hot chicken stock 50g parmesan, grated finely, plus extra to serve 150g smoked scamorza (or mozzarella) ¼ cup basil pesto (see recipe on page 126) ¾ cup plain flour 3 eggs, lightly whisked 1½ cups panko crumbs Vegetable oil, for frying POMODORO SAUCE 11/3 cup tomato passata ½ cup roasted pepper strips 1 garlic clove, crushed ¼ tsp chilli flakes ¼ cup basil, firmly packed 1 Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over low heat. Cook onion and garlic until softened. Increase heat to medium, stir in rice…

SMOOTH OPERATOR Straight from the freezer, Fruzio’s Smoothie Pops are a naturally sweetened snack ideal for cooling down on hot days. Made from fruit, lemon and flaxseed, they come in three flavours including Strawberry, Mixed Berry and Tropical Mango. $7.99 for a box of five, fruzio.co.nz Open-door policy If you’re heading to Hawke’s Bay, check out Swift Wines’ cellar door. You’ll know you’re there as soon as you step into the watermelon-pink interior. The hot pick for summer is their Sparkling Albarino, Pipi. $18 tasting fee, refunded on the purchase of two bottles. Dogs are very welcome. Swiftwines.co.nz IN THE CAN WINE IN CANS (WIC) ARE THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR ALFRESCO DRINKS OVER SUMMER. CONVENIENTLY, VILLA MARIA HAS JOINED THE WIC GANG WITH ITS EMINENTLY DRINKABLE PRIVATE-BIN SAUVIGNON BLANC, PINOT…

From her home studio in rural Waikato, Debra Powell crafts whimsical and wonderful artworks. Rich with detail and story, it’s hard not to fall in love with every piece. Tell us a little bit about your creative journey so far. My first job out of school was painting fine china figurines for Hereford Fine China. That led to a two-year diploma in craft design at Waikato Polytechnic where I majored in ceramics. In the intervening years, I moved from being a self-employed studio potter and single mum into the world of academia. For 10 years, I was completely lost in learning, soaking up everything from world history and politics, art history and classics, gender studies, law and criminology. I came out the other side with degrees in New Zealand history…