Useful and beautiful –objects to enhance life this winter

by Alice Lines, Stylist and Editor of Homestyle Magazine

Good Grade

Top marks go to mid-century British furniture maker Ercol. It’s produced more A+ pieces under the banner of its offshoot L Ercolani (a homage to the brand’s Italian founder, Lucian Ercolani), which the good folk at Good Form are stocking bit by bit in their store in Ponsonby, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland and online. The latest additions are sofas and an armchair from the Grade lounge collection by Jonas Wagell, Swedish architect, and designer. Wagell was inspired by minimalism, soft shapes, and a desire to convey an inviting sense of playfulness while providing serious comfort. Customise your selection with a range of high-quality fabrics, and natural or stained finishes for the sustainable ash base.

Totally Hooked

London based Italian designer Martino Gamper’s recyclableplastic Arnold Circus stool and its baby brother Arnoldino have developed a cult following. If you’re among the numbers who can’t get enough of them, you might be into this. Hookalotti is a sturdy, zinc die-cast hook, here with a rumbled finish, that New Zealand interior designer Katie Lockhart produced in collaboration with Martino.

More Fill You

We’ve sung Everdaily’s praises before for the way their dilutable, refillable, biodegradable, plant-based house cleaner Ever Concentrate deftly does the trick from kitchen to bathroom. Now there’s another reason to bring this Tāmaki Makaurau brand home: their new Wash Concentrate. Launching with two natural fragrances, Sage Leaf and Tulip Rosa, every bottle of concentrate can be mixed with water to top up this glass vessel seven times and form a foaming cleanser that’s suitable for hands and body.

Heart Felt

Artisans in Kathmandu handcraft Muskhane’s homeware from entirely natural, renewable materials. This cute fruit bowl, in hypoallergenic, antibacterial, dust-mite-resistant felted wool, will delight adults and kids alike. It is available locally at Paper Plane, alongside other fruit and veg, and some charming clementine and pear-shaped rugs. One of the fair trade, community supporting, waste conscious, French brand’s co-founders, Valérie Maille Billot, suggests you use these items to ‘re-enchant your home’ as part of her sincere intention to help ‘co-create a cocoon that reflects your personality and soul’.

Go With the Flow

Its name meaning ‘wave’ in Japanese, a cardinal characteristic of the Nami collection by Nau is that each component part of a piece’s profile flows into the next. Attention has also been paid to the grain of the sustainably certified timber during the making process, resulting in beautiful natural detail in every item. This Nami desk is joined in the range by bistro, conference, dining, coffee and side tables, a sofa, an armchair, an ottoman, and a bed.

Nami collection by Nau

Where-it’s-at Stake

As the health of the planet hangs in the balance, sustainably minded and brilliantly named brand Secateur Me Baby supports you to support plant life with rad, sculptural garden stakes that pack a punch visually but not environmentally. Pictured is Boa II, which comes in several colours of recycled plastic or steel. Intertwining form and function, and for use inside and out, there are a bunch of other designs where this came from in Australia, all deliverable to Aotearoa.

Smokeshow

Sandalwood, spice, and all things nice rise in a mesmerising but not overpowering plume from Sarashina, our pick of Aēsop’s three new incense options. Included in the pack are 33 sticks, developed with perfumer Barnabié Fillion and made at an esteemed Japanese studio, plus a pumice holder to maximise the situation’s smouldering good looks. Each stick takes about 30 minutes to burn, subtly infusing the room with warm, woody notes and sweet whiffs of cinnamon and cloves.

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