HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

YOUR TREASURED POSSESSIONS DESERVE A BEAUTIFUL SPACE

The best way to look after your favourite accessories – from jewellery to designer handbags – is to have specially designed storage, and the best place for this is in a customised wardrobe crafted by Innovative Interiors.

First and foremost, a wardrobe is the place where you start your day, selecting clothes, shoes, and accessories. But this space doesn’t have to be purely practical, and when you are keeping beautiful items in your wardrobe the way they are stored can make all the difference – both to the aesthetics and to your convenience.

Innovative Interiors has been designing and building luxurious, customised, walk-in wardrobes for clients to provide storage for clothing, jewellery, handbags, and other accessories that they value and want to look after.

“Our clients appreciate their collections of clothing and other items, and they truly care about how they are kept,” says Innovative Interiors co-owner and designer Neil Robinson.

“When I meet new clients, or design a wardrobe for an existing client, one of the first things I do is assess what it is they want to achieve – many people have luxury items that they want to look after and have on display, often because they are a beautiful collection. And, of course, a well-designed wardrobe space also makes it easier to find something when you are getting dressed.

“We often suggest glass display cabinets for valuable collections such as designer handbags – as well as adding a look of luxury it means your bags are easy to locate and are easily protected from dust and damage. To enhance the sense of opulence, LED lighting can be concealed at the back of the cabinets, so it falls softly down, subtly highlighting the items.“

Designing display drawers with black velvet linings for specific items is another specialty of a wardrobe from Innovative Interiors.

“If we know what type of items you have, and there is enough space, we can create customised solutions for various types of jewellery, for example, bangles, which can transform the collections into bijou art displays. Plus, because they are stored neatly and safely, they are protected from being damaged,” says Neil.

“Over our more than 30 years in the business, Innovative Interiors has custom made drawers for many different purposes. Collections of belts and ties can look stunning on shelves or in drawers lined with black velvet; in one wardrobe we designed, the owner had a collection of hundreds of ties, and the resulting display was quite spectacular,” says Neil.

FRENCH COUNTRY – OOH LA LA!

Who launched French Country? French Country Collections was founded by Sonia Watts 35 years ago, born from her untold passion for interiors and beautiful things. Today her legacy continues with her daughters Vanessa and Stephanie running the business.

When did French Country open in Ponsonby? Our head office and warehouse began operating on Pollen Street, Ponsonby in the late 80s. The opening of our trade showroom and outlet store soon followed. We opened our first flagship store in Jervois Road, Ponsonby in 2014.

What is the brand philosophy/values/culture behind French Country and has that remained the foundation or has it evolved over the years? Our collections are inspired by the simple luxury of the French way of life, and our passion for creating homes made to be lived in, loved and shared. Enduring, timeless style and quality has always been a cornerstone value of the company, and this serves us well as we move into an era with sustainability as one of our key pillars. We want to ensure we are doing our best for the home we all share – the planet. This is front of mind in all our supply chain decisions – to reduce the impact on our home while we furnish yours!

35 years is an extraordinary milestone – what do you think has been the core contributor to this success? Family is very firmly at the heart of our brand. Our story was born 35 years ago with a vision to decorate homes with pieces that you just couldn’t otherwise find. A lot has changed since then, but this founding premise has not. We continue to develop unique product that stands the test of time. Our products can be found in stockists across New Zealand and Australia all of whom share our love of timeless homewares. It is these longstanding partnerships and customers that have enabled our brand to flourish, and the reason French Country Collections can be found in homes across the country.

Do customers want similar or different things from 30+ years ago? Our customers have their own well-developed sense of taste and personal style and come to us for that piece of furniture or finishing touch they know they won’t find anywhere else. Our customers love their homes and enjoy collecting pieces that will stand the test of time.

Has your product range grown over the years? Our buying team are continually sourcing the globe for unique pieces that fit our brand values. We introduce seasonal collections throughout the year to surprise and delight our customers, however we have been selling some of our favourite ranges, such as Dragonfly dinnerware, La Chamba cookware and Embelli bed linen, for years.

How many people do you have on staff? Our French Country family is made up of over 50 staff throughout New Zealand and Australia.

What do you love most about Ponsonby? Our customers! Whether they live near or travel to visit us, we are very thankful for their support!

@ FRENCH COUNTRY

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1. Antler Bowl - $298

2. Ploughmans Board Cake Dome on Stand - $199

3. Vitro Olive Tumbler $14.50, Vitro Olive Wine Glass - $22

4. Labrador Iron Bookends - $89

5. Clouds Cushion Cover Linen - $92.50

6. Dragonfly Stoneware Jug Large - $79

Dragonfly Stoneware Salad Bowl Large - $79

Dragonfly Stoneware Oval Platter Small - $39.50

7. Sunday Morning Hand-blown Glass Candle - $69.50 Sunday Morning Hand-blown Diffuser - $69.50

8. Terracotta Scallop Planter - $69

9. Chess Set 32pc - $249

10. La Chamba Baking Dish - $79

11. Dax 3 Light Gold Candlestand - $74.50 10.

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS SHEER BEAUTY BY LAHOOD®

With summer on the way now is the time to prepare your home for the sun and heat. Lahood® Window Furnishings will help you choose the right window furnishings to enhance your home and your lifestyle.

For most of us, windows, glazing and house layout are effectively set in stone. By contrast, window furnishings are simple to execute and will often solve the problems of harsh light and UV rays that are going to cause fading and damage to your indoor soft furnishings and furniture.

Sheer curtains are a beautiful and practical way to allow indoor outdoor flow in your living spaces. Sheers have evolved to bear little resemblance to the doily-esque net curtains of old. Florals and lace have been usurped by a desire for texture – be that fine, chunky, or smooth, with a lustrous or organic look. The romance of sheers is found in their ability to filter soft light into modern homes, but their continued popularity in interior design is due to their practical, functional prowess.

Sheer curtains disperse the soft glow of sunlight into a space either through a fine, almost translucent construction, or a loose construction with open fibres. While linen and linen-look sheers are an eternal favourite, we are seeing a growing desire for soft, optimistic colours at the window, extra wide widths in architectural builds, and luxuriously rustic, textured sheers.

At Lahood we carry a wide variety of sheer fabrics in natural, synthetic or blended constructions, allowing you to tailor your interior décor to your unique New Zealand lifestyle.

From inspiration to installation, Lahood Window Furnishings do it all.

Visit the stunning Lahood showroom at 104 Mt Eden Road, or phone 0800 LAHOOD to book an in-home design consultation. lahood.co.nz Sheer curtains form a visceral connection to our surrounding environment and elegantly frame the view within any home.

Inspired by the native New Zealand Beech tree, this tactile wide width sheer combines the natural aesthetic of cotton with the functionality of polyester.

From expansive coastlines to the wonderful southern mountain ranges, you can capture the colours of New Zealand and transfer them into your living spaces.

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS @ MELUKA

Shop our wide range of accessories, side tables, lounge suites and more with Meluka, online or in stores today.

Shop the full range online now www.meluka.co.nz

B Y D ANSK E M ØBL E R Furniture. Simply.

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ALL HOMEWARES

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ICONIC VILLA IN THE VILLAGE 20 MARITIME TCE, BIRKENHEAD POINT

An architectural beauty has come on the market in a neighbourhood known for its heritage.

This classically beautiful 1910 home in the heart of Birkenhead Point is so ideally located the vendors barely use their car. Instead they leave it safely parked behind the white picket fence in the carport, and wander everywhere: to the ferry to the city, to the Point’s popular village for a coffee or wine or to Little Shoal Bay, all of which are just a stroll away.

The downsizing couple love the area so much, they’re only moving a few hundred metres away, but say the home has been brilliant for its location, size and versatility. Both work from home, so they’ve been able to utilise two of the four bedrooms as office spaces, and the home’s spaciousness would make it ideal for a bigger family, too.

Drawn to the house for its magnificent architecture, one of the vendors, originally from Africa, says it reminded him of the heritage architecture he grew up seeing. Entertaining has always been easy here, as the home boasts a large parlour that opens onto a designer kitchen and sitting room.

Its north-facing orientation makes it enticing to throw open the French doors to the deck year-round, where the views are of other attractive heritage homes and lush greenery, including a stunning pohutukawa by the deck that attracts tui and kereru from neighbouring Le Roys bush, a favourite of locals and dog-lovers with its network of walking tracks.

The house was renovated in 2014, gaining a brand-new kitchen along with under-floor and ceiling insulation, central heating and heat pumps for cooling. The villa also boasts a landscaped and irrigated garden planted with natives, ensuring it’s low-maintenance and private.

Weekends can be spent enjoying the eateries and shops within walking distance, and families have plenty of fun in the neighbourhood with the recent arrival of the Live Wire entertainment centre at the nearby Highbury shops.

trishlove@premium.co.nz M: 021 226 6099

BIRKENHEAD POINT | 20 MARITIME TERRACE | THE BEST OF PONSONBY - ON THE SHORE

• Immaculately updated 4-bedroom, bay villa, built in the 1910’s • Polished wooden floors, ornate high ceilings, centrally heated • Multiple living – formal and family, open-plan designer kitchen • Indoor/outdoor flow to deck, garden courtyard and veranda • Lower level – master suite/guest floor/work from home? • Low maintenance landscaping, no lawns to mow • Secure gated off-street parking and double carport • Walking distance to cafes, beach, gym and ferry • Perfect for couples or families seeking a better lifestyle! PREMIUM.CO.NZ/10117 VIEW | AS ADVERTISED OR BY APPOINTMENT PRICE | BY NEGOTIATION TRISH LOVE 021 226 6099 | 558 4518 PETER FITZGIBBON 027 278 9336 | 558 4517 PREMIUM.CO.NZ | FINE HOMES | FINE LIFESTYLES