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NEW IDEAS FOR YOUR HAPPY PLACE

NATURAL ATTRACTION SLEEP IN BEAUTY Easy bedroom updates

A MASTERCLASS IN PAIRING WHITE INTERIORS WITH WOOD THE COVER UP

MAY 2022 $9.50 (INCL. GST)

Wallpapers you’re going to go crazy for

Be inspired

House mother

MAKE A CAKE THIS MOTHER’S DAY GET MUM SOMETHING FOR HOME

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A CHARMING CITY FLAT THE ALL-WHITE HOUSE RENO A DARING PINK APARTMENT

MATTE

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CONTENTS May

12

56

40 Shopping 12 14

F R E S H F I ND S I N TO T H E WO O D S

Homes 28

G L I ST EN HE RE

Golden glow 18

MA MM A MIA EAU J OY

Scented gifts 2 0 WOM EN WE LOVE

Artist Helen Dean 24

LIVING WELL

Experiences for Mum 1 4 6 L AST LO O K

Take inspo from a hotel lounge with heritage

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YOUR H O ME A ND GA R DE N

56

H I DD E N P OT ENTI AL

This tired house divided a husband-and-wife team, but once they’d finished the reno, they were both delighted with their airy space

4 0 M A N O F ST Y L E

Mother’s Day gift ideas 19

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A new house was built in homage to a mid-century family home

Delights of the forest 16

FA M I LY R E S E M B L A N C E

Renovation

An inner-city Wellington apartment is an eclectic amalgam of pre-loved treasures, bargain pieces and lush greenery

8 0 PAT T E R N P L AY

B L A N K CA N VAS

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Empty nesters built a house their way and the result comes complete with an artist’s studio

Wallpaper is the darling of the moment R E NO PR E P TA LK

Jen Jones navigates the supply chain options for shortages on any projects you’re planning

Makeover 94 PRE TT Y I N P I NK

An apartment is given a full going over in blush tones with plenty of white for dramatic effect 1 04 AND SO TO BED

What the best-dressed bedrooms are looking like 1 1 0 FORT U N E FAVO U R S THE B OLD

This year’s Resene Colour Home Awards winner revealed

Cook for Mum this Mother’s Day

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80

132

Food

Gardens

11 4 P OT SH OT

132 WINTER ROSES

Vegetable and lentil pot pies 11 6 SW E E T SE NSAT IO NS

Whip up a cake for sweet-toothed mums this Mother’s Day 125 SOUND BITES

The latest food and beverages to behold 1 2 8 M A K E I T H E A LT H Y

Hellebores are the darling buds of May 1 3 4 T H E C O N STA N T GAR D EN ER

Mary Lovell-Smith checks off what to do this month

On the cover Take a closer look. That’s not a flokati on Sally McGarry’s floor – it’s Shelby the samoyed retriever cross, posing very convincingly as a luxurious rug.

For the rest of this house, turn to page 28.

1 3 8 P OW E R P L A N T

Ten of the best pot plants for your home whatever your style

Nutritious recipes from Body Coach Joe Wicks

YOU R HO M E AND GARD EN

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Hello Fiona Hawtin, Editor

This month I’m…

Reading Experience Italy (Lonely Planet, $36.99).

The Lonely Planet and Rough Guide books served me well on my OE through Europe first-time round. I’m desperate to get back and, now the skies are opening up, I’m boning up on where to go. Italy is top of the list.

I know I should just Google it all, but I do love a book in the hand and many of the mentions “are totally un-googleable”. shop.lonelyplanet.com Watching season two of The Parisian Agency: Exclusive Properties or L’Agence as they say in French on Netflix. The reality TV series follows the Paris-based Kretz family of real estate agents (father, mother and three of the four sons) who deal in luxury apartments with views to the Eiffel Tower, chateaux in the country and incroyable resort-style houses in St Barts. It’s compelling viewing and not just because most of the real estate has their own personal hammamstyle spa. They’re such a lovely family, it’s a heart-warming show.

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YOU R HO ME A N D GA R DE N

Wishlisting these Muuto shelves. In my perfect house these will be a key feature to display books, precious pottery, feathers from various pet hens, a paper dragon from a lantern festival – and so on. Compile Shelving System Configuration 4, $3759, from bauhaus.co.nz

PHOTOGRAPHY, HAIR AND MAKE-UP CAROLYN HASLETT. FIONA WEARS ZOE & MORGAN NECKLACE, LONELY CAMISOLE AND HELEN CHERRY JACKET.

M

y mother was an avid wallpaperer and no painted wall was safe from her attentions. She’d have her glue brush out in no time, happily pasting up some giant repeat pattern onto it.

I must have missed out on that particular gene or was scarred from the Mary Had a Little Lamb print on my bedroom walls.

I’ve had a roll of Australian wallpaper doyenne Florence Broadhurst’s gold foil and black wallpaper tucked away for at least 15 years, though.

Unhung but not unloved, it would look groovy in a sunken lounge with a conversation pit. Except, I don’t have either. It really is so graphic, but during the years of sensible neutral painted walls, it never stood a chance amongst the greys and beiges.

Maybe 2022 is the year I’ll be emboldened to hang it somewhere because wallpaper is on the comeback trail big time, which you can read about on page 80. There is plenty to love about the papers in the feature, as well as Andre Afamasaga’s eclectic flat on page 40, and Rae Prentis’ art-filled home on page 56 in this issue. They all share a life-affirming attitude.

If I do end up wallpapering, I will have to get the experts in.

My ability to plastic-coat school exercise books each year is abysmal – air bubble central.

Designed by you, made by us.

Freedom’s Autograph range makes it easy to create a customised sofa in just 5 easy steps. Choose from over 30 fabric and leathers, and customise the design to suit you. When it’s made for you, it’s made just right.

Freedomfurniture.co.nz

Social club Lots of colour and a little bit of fun

ART & EDITORIAL Deputy editor Caroline Moratti Art director Nicola Feeney Chief sub-editor Michelle Joe Garden editor Mary Lovell-Smith Senior designers Béla Trussell-Cullen, Tanya Wong Designers Demelza Callesen, Alice Bush CONTRIBUTORS Kate Battersby, Holly Jean Brooker, Florence Charvin, Gina Fabish, Jen Jones, Living Inside, Michael Mansvelt, Babiche Martens, Leanne Moore, Eleanor Ozich, Catherine Steel, Swell Productions, Shelley Tustin, Joe Wicks

Get lost in the city of dreams with fabulous rooms styled by an up-and-coming LA interior design firm. @lalareimagined

WE LOVE

EDITOR Fiona Hawtin

PODCAST OF THE MONTH Sydney artist Britty Flynn brings together the outrageous and the ordinary with her canvases of giddy, unadulterated joy.

Jessie and Lennie Ware host Table Manners, a food show about all things delicious – and even better company.

ADVERTISING | CORPORATE Sales director Claire Chisholm Commercial sales manager Mae Kelly, mae.kelly@aremedia.co.nz, 0212460276 Senior account manager Chloe Thomsen chloe.thomsen@aremedia.co.nz Campaign manager Angela Wei angela.wei@aremedia.co.nz Classified sales Kim Chapman classifieds@xtra.co.nz EXECUTIVE Chief executive officer Jane Huxley General manager Stuart Dick Editorial director Sarah Henry Distributor Are Direct + Contact us Email yhgnz@aremedia.co.nz.

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Email magshop@magshop.co.nz or visit magshop.co.nz. + Advertising enquiries Sales Director Claire Chisholm, email: claire.chisholm@aremedia.co.nz. Directory Advertising: Kim Chapman, email classifieds@xtra.co.nz.

@brittyflynn

CONNECT WITH US We love seeing images from our #yourhomeandgarden community. @yourhomeandgarden

Your Home and Garden is published by Are Media Ltd of Level 1, 317 New North Road, Kingsland, Auckland 1021. Printed by Webstar, 114 Swanson Road, Henderson, Auckland 0610. © 2021. All rights reserved.

Your Home and Garden (ISSN 1173-8642) is subject to copyright in its entirety. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved in material accepted for publication, unless initially specified otherwise. All letters and other material forwarded to the magazine will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled “not for publication”. Opinions expressed in Your Home and Garden are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of Are Media Auckland. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material. Paint colours may alter in the printing process.

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YO U R H OM E AN D GA R D E N

FLOOR IT Even if you’re all in on the white-on-white approach to decorating consider adding a coloured rug to make the room more dynamic. This Nodi Rugs Bamboo Silk Blend Stripe rug, which is handwoven on a traditional loom from bamboo silk and New Zealand wool, not only adds a punch to interiors but feels luxurious underfoot. $4495 (2m x 3m). nodirugs.com

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YOUR H OME AND GAR DE N

SHOPPING 12

Fresh finds Hot trends and cool finds.

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We love A big thank you to our mums.

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Women we love Auckland abstract artist Helen Dean.

YO U R H OME AN D GA R DEN

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Fresh finds The latest looks and products we love

LIGHTS UP Soften any space with these tactile Muskhane felt lampshades. Handmade in Nepal, using natural and renewable materials, these will have you reaching for the light switch. $149, from hapa.co.nz

SLEEP LIKE A BABY

Be our guest T RA NSF OR M YOU R OFF IC E INTO A S PA RE B E D R O O M W I T H T H E E F F O RT L E S S LY C O N V E RT I B L E OV E R L A P S O FA B E D. C O O L I N C O P P E R , I T ’S S O F T TO T H E TO U C H . $ 1 7 9 9, F R O M N O O D.CO. N Z 12

YO UR H OM E A ND GAR D EN

A soft cotton jacquard finish meets playful Sage x Clare styling with the Benny baby blanket. With hues of pesto, rose and strawberry, it’s almost good enough to eat. $129, from shutthefrontdoor.co.nz

S CHEERS! Make going to dinner parties a breeze with an all-important wine bottle carrier.

We’ve got our eyes on this leather and brass number, which is also perfect for picnics. $182, from leopoldhall.co.nz

WELCOME HOME Greet your guests in style with a statement-making Bringolla doormat.

We love this fresh take on bold geometric shapes. $32.95, from freedomfurniture.co.nz

Stick out WITH OVER 500 STICKERS TO CHOOSE FROM, DECORATE A PLAY-ROOM WITH A TOUCH OF WHIMSY. $84, TESSUTI.CO.NZ

POT-LUCK SERENITY IS IN YOUR GRASP WITH HAVE YOU MET MISS JONES’ LATEST SCULPTURAL MASTERPIECE. THE GATHER BOWL IS PERFECT FOR HOLDING PLANTS OR JEWELLERY, OR SIMPLY ADMIRING FOR HOURS ON END. $95, FROM REPUBLICHOME.COM

On a platter A serving tray or art piece? You decide with Ibride’s character-filled Galerie de Portraits range. $225, from teapea.co.nz

CHECKS, PLEASE! Add a bold touch to your bedding with a handwoven House of Hazar cushion. $149, from sundayhomestore.co.nz

A QUICK STUDY Form and functionality is maximised in Anglepoise’s Type 75 mini Paul Smith lamp, in autumnal colours we love. $590, fatherrabbit.com YOUR H O ME A ND GAR DE N

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2 NEXT BIG THING

Into the woods

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Cast a spell of enchantment with some fairy-tale forest magic

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1 Caribbean brass and leather lantern, $435, from Leopold Hall. 2 Cole & Son wallpaper Forest Greens, $1097 (10m roll), from Inspiry. 3 Wild & Soft Louis the Fox animal head, $154 (large), from Little Whimsy. 4 White Moose acorn secret box, $44.99, from Shut the Front Door. 5 Baby Bunny linen tea towel, $27, from Father Rabbit. 6 Penny & Bennett Yugen cushion, $99 (small), from Paper Plane. 7 Aged moss French urn, $169, from Junk & Disorderly. 8 Emily Winfield Martin Boxing Match art print, $59.50, from Little Whimsy. 9 Autumn Friends toy pack, $186, from The Woodlands. 10 Muskhane dotty felt mushroom, $20, from Moi on George. 11 Klippan baby blanket forest green, $129. from Cosi Fan Tutte.

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S T Y L E S TA L K E R

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Glisten here

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Lift your spirits with a golden glow during the cooler months

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10 1 Tom Dixon Form bowl, $235 (small), and $445 (large), from Simon James. 2 Anglepoise desk lamp, $590, from Father Rabbit. 3 Claybird ring cone, $25, from Karen Walker. 4 Vase, $38, from Apartmento. 5 &Klevering spiral jar, $95, from Smith & Caughey’s. 6 Chartreuse vase, $500, from Monmouth Glass.

7 Pebble tray, $109, tea light holder, $49.90, and candle holder, $79.90, all from Citta. 8 Coco Flip Puku ottoman, $1150, from The Ivy House.

9 Tom Dixon bone bowl, $698, from Simon James. 10 Gilt teak coffee table, $1435, from Coco Republic.

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YH&G + THE WAREHOUSE

Get cosy

Creating a relaxing sanctuary is more affordable than you think

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or winter wellbeing, we’re all about creating warm interiors to make your home look and feel inviting to family and friends. The Warehouse has a range of quality, cosy bedding and homeware to help you stay on-trend, with affordable options for every corner of your house.

Cosy style. Snug price. Swap your cool summer linen for cosy blankets and duvets.

A soft mink blanket is the perfect topper for extra warmth during the colder months.

Consider a plaid-patterned bed covering and wooden furniture in honeyed tones to create a restful and comfortable sanctuary. At $59 for this Dylan duvet, you can afford to change with the seasons.

Layer on a blanket in a warming shade and congratulate yourself on making some savings at the same time. There’s nothing better than mustardy-rust colours to elicit the comforting, natural hues of a welcoming fireplace.

Make saving look hot. Hunker down in style with simple add-ons to your space, such as hanging a large canvas print for an easy and inexpensive way to switch up a wall. A rainy day lie-in calls for comfort, so make sure to stock up on $15 Living & Co linen cushions, which are available in a range of warm and vibrant tones. You can never have too many. Add a lamp to create that oh-so-important ambience, perfect for reading a good book or a whānau movie night. It’s never been easier to stay cosy this winter with wallet-friendly styles.

Style tip A new duvet cover is a smart pick to style up a bedroom for winter. Layer on a blanket in a warming shade and congratulate yourself on making some savings at the same time.

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1 Living & Co 400gsm Mink Blanket Charcoal Queen, $35. 2 Living & Co Linen Rich Cushion Gingerbread Rust, $15. 3 Living & Co Enzo Lamp Natural, $23.

thewarehouse.co.nz @thewarehousenz

Stonewashed French linen loungewear, $300, from Slow Store.

Sage x Clare resin kitchen board, $112, from Tea Pea Home.

Fog Linen brass cake server, $56, from Father Rabbit.

Bonnie & Neil chocolate quilted throw, $399, from Father Rabbit.

Samsung Galaxy S22, from $1299.

WE LOVE

Jonathan Adler Eve triple bulb vase, $399, from Smith & Caughey’s.

MAMMA mia Gifts to delight your favourite wonder woman

La Vita e Dolce desserts cookbook by Letitia Clark, $55, from Smith & Caughey’s.

Rattan coffee table, $89 from Kmart.

Moodi tripod planter, $21, from Republic Home; Moth orchid plant, $49.99, from Kings Plant Barn.

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YO UR HO M E A N D GA R D EN

Sage x Clare tufted bathmat, $99, from Tea Pea Home.

Chaya travertine round tray, $145, from Coco Republic.

S WE LOVE

EAU JOY! Sweet-scented thoughts for Mother’s Day

Bon Parfumeur 402 eau de parfum, $79, from Maman.

Maison Balzac Brule parfum oil burner, $74, and Le Soleil essential oil, $49, both from Maman.

Castro incense, $50

White mixed bouquet, $79, from Blush.

(50 sticks), from Th e

Virtue.

Narcosis candle, $89, from The Virtue.

Pear & lime soy candle, $44.95 (350g), from Circa Istros aromatique room spray, $80, from Aesop.

Sisley Izia eau de parfum, $325 (100ml), from Smith & Caughey’s.

Saffron Madison candle, $54.95, from Ecoya.

No. 14 reed diffuser set, $58.65, from George & Edi.

Abel Parfum Extrait travel minis, $75 each, from Slow Store.

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WOMEN WE LOVE

Art from the heart After two decades away, an art school graduate returned to a lost love, creating beautiful abstract paintings from her studio in Titirangi Text Leanne Moore Photography Babiche Martens 20

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backpacking trip with a friend to Kenya and Uganda when she was 22 tapped into Helen Dean’s adventurous spirit. It was an enormous cultural contrast to life in the English coal-mining village where she was born and raised.

“Visiting the developing world at this age had a big impact and led to my interest in working with migrant communities,” says Auckland-based artist Helen, who also teaches English to refugees and migrants.

After finishing art school, she travelled and worked in France and Spain before taking off on another big trip, this time to South America travelling through Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Helen settled back in the United Kingdom, living in London for the first time. It was here she met her Kiwi partner Tony Drumm and how she ultimately landed in New Zealand in 2004.

These days home for Helen, Tony and their daughter Albertine, 11, is a 1950s house in the bush at Titirangi, Auckland.

It is also the place where she began to paint again seriously for the first time since art school. “Titirangi is a lovely place to live. It has a village centre and a friendly community where you can bump into people you know. And it’s close to both the beaches and city.”

Were you always creative? I always loved to draw and paint growing up. I went to art school to study painting but the reality was that I left knowing how to paint but knowing nothing about how to be an artist.

So I ended up teaching English, which allowed me to travel and work overseas.

I always thought I would get back to making art again someday.

BRUSH STROKES Auckland-based artist Helen Dean’s colourful, layered works are seen on the walls of homes all over the world.

How did you turn your passion for art into a full-time job? I’m not quite there yet – I still do a few hours each week teaching English to refugees and migrants.

In 2015, after we moved to Titirangi, I started creating small colour studies and posting them on Instagram. Through this I met other creatives from around the world and really enjoyed being part of an online community. After a year or so people started asking to buy my work.

I made my own website and started selling paintings to people in the UK, US and Australia. When I started creating larger pieces, shipping costs pushed me to focus on the New Zealand market.

So I switched my focus to participating in Auckland art shows, and taking part in open studio events.

Over the last couple of years I’ve reduced my teaching hours and spent more time on my art, and now my work is available at a couple of great galleries, as well as on my website. I have also done commissions and have worked with interior designers to create artwork for specific spaces.

What influences and inspires your work?

So many things. It is often the beauty of colour combinations in everyday life. It might be a yellow bag left next to a wall casting a mauve shadow, or driving along I might see rust-coloured leaves at the side of the road and the dust-covered quarry truck in front that has neon orange reflectors. Another influence is my immediate environment, the light and shadow of the native bush. The forms YOU R H OME AND GARDEN

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“I love that moment when I take a risk in painting by doing something bold and it just works, and I know the painting is complete.”

H E L EN DEAN

have resonated most with me. There are so many female artists of that period, which I was only aware of later in life like Grace Hartigan, Mary Abbott and Yvonne Thomas. As well as Matisse for colour, he’s so inspiring.

How important is having your own studio at home? Very important. After beginning painting again, I realised after a while that I needed a dedicated space, so we converted the large downstairs bedroom to a painting studio.

appear in my paintings, though I don’t try to reproduce them. I’m also influenced by a lot of graphic art and textile design, especially hard-edged shapes and the kind of flat colour you find in screen printing.

I’m drawn to cheerful, playful designs that look like cut-outs and I often find this coming out in my paintings. When it comes to painters, then it’s the abstract expressionists of the ’40s and ’50s that 22

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Do you have a favourite subject? As a nonrepresentational painter I don’t really have a subject matter – it’s all about the paint and what I can do with it.

What’s the biggest challenge? Because of the way I paint, I don’t know how a finished painting is going to look when I begin.

There is a middle stage where I feel like I’m getting nowhere and I can start to overthink everything and that’s where

self-doubt can come in. In the past this would derail me, but lately I’ve realised that this is something my paintings go through and I need to keep going. I tell myself it will work out in the end.

And the best part? I love that moment when I take a risk in a painting by doing something bold and it just works, and I know the painting is complete. It feels so exciting – nothing compares.

What have learned from working for yourself? As an emerging artist I’ve discovered I need to be the website designer, the marketing department, social media manager, the shipping department, the photographer, the accountant and more. I’ve had to learn so many new skills, but over the years I’ve realised that you can find out most things by googling to find a tutorial. As it has developed and grown, I’ve found I can’t rely on remembering things or writing things on scraps of paper. I’ve learnt

S DRAWING INSPIRATION As a non-representational painter, Helen is inspired by the works of artists from the ’40s and ’50s, including American abstract expressionists Grace Hartigan, Mary Abbott and Yvonne Thomas.

that having systems in place makes everything easier.

What role does social media play in your work and how do you navigate it? I’m active on Instagram and I use it to share my work in progress, as well as things like going to the framers or work that’s in a show. I don’t post every day and don’t have a strategy, but I enjoy sharing there and I’ve had genuine conversations with strangers who have become online friends.

I find that art and interiors communities are really supportive. I try to confine my Instagram use to a specific time of the day, and sometimes even set a timer of 15 minutes. Otherwise, it’s so easy for me to start mindlessly scrolling.

What is it about your work that gets you excited? The beginning of a new series is exciting, or when I’m using a new technique. But also new opportunities, doing things I haven’t done before. I like to say yes to things that sound exciting.

How do you juggle being a full-time artist with staying connected to family and friends? For the first few years it was hard to find enough time for everything. I was teaching, and Albertine was at primary school, so I used to sit up late at night trying to get things done and would spend any free time at weekends on my painting.

Things have become easier since painting has become more my main work during the weekdays. Now I can keep weekends free for family and friends.

Anything in the pipeline? Yes, I’ve been creating a new body of work for an exhibition, which opens July 29 at Turua

Gallery in St Heliers, where I’ll be exhibiting with a sculptor, John Allen.

How do you define success? I think it’s when you get to do what you are passionate about, make your own decisions about how you organise your time and still get opportunities to experience new things.

Does your work make your happy? Yes, definitely. Painting offers me a place for unpredictability, spontaneity and risk taking, and this has had a good effect on my life in general. My life has also become much richer from the connections I’ve formed since taking up painting again – people I work with, collectors and the other artists I’ve met. I can’t believe I get to do this for a job now – yes, so happy.

My 22-year-old self would be pleased with how it’s turned out. helendeanart.com YO U R HOM E AND GARD EN

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home, or is there a dish passed down the family line? Celebrate Mother’s Day by sharing the secret to making Grandma’s decadent chocolate pudding or Aunt Pauline’s caramel pie. And, if there no family recipe to speak of, be the one to start a new tradition.

2. Write her a letter There’s so much joy to be experienced in writing a letter. Taking the time to slow down and put pen to paper, the thoughts, the words, the sending, and the reading.

Have you ever considered how much magic is in the process? Not only for the receiver but for yourself, too?

The tactile and considered nature of a letter helps us experience love more deeply than a text, email, or phone call. The art of writing a letter is as simple as it comes, yet it’s so incredibly personal, something to cherish and hold on to.

LIVING WELL

Celebrate your mum ELEANOR OZICH Home wellness expert

It’s not always about the price tag on Mother’s Day

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ince becoming a mother, 14 years ago, I’ve learned how complex, messy and relentless raising children can be. Chances are, if you’re a mum, you’re nodding your head while reading this.

Despite its beauty and life-giving experience, being a mum requires us to access an extra dose of patience and energy daily. Knowing this, I can’t help but ask myself: Is one day a year truly enough to celebrate your mother and show her how much you care?

There are numerous ways to show love on Mother’s Day; however, if you’d like to do something a little more special than the requisite Mother’s Day card or box of chocolates, might I suggest a few simple and meaningful ideas?

1. Recreate or start a family tradition Despite the chaos of the past couple of years, sharing a meal together is a tradition we consistently keep, giving everyone a deep breath in and out, a moment to pause time and remember how important family is. Perhaps a specific recipe reminds you of 24

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3. Learn something new together Book a pottery, cooking, or dance class for you to enjoy together. A flower-arranging workshop is another lovely idea. When learning something new, you’ll be able to bond over the mishaps and discoveries, creating connections and memories along the way.

4. Make a playlist The mix-tape – a curation of intentionally arranged songs – is one of the most endearing forms of love. And although digital playlists have replaced the likes of a cassette or CD, the concept is still lovely and meaningful. A few songs that spring to mind include You are the Sunshine of My Life by Stevie Wonder, That’s How Strong My Love Is by Otis Redding and Where You Lead by Carole King.

5. Plan an impromptu night away Book a boutique hotel or Airbnb somewhere nearby and take your mum away for a fun and unique excursion.

Even better, book in a massage or beauty treatment for her while you’re there.

6. Wander your local gardens Pack a picnic lunch, pick up your mum on the way, and head out to your local botanical gardens for a wander to admire this season’s blooms. Don’t have any gardens in your local area? Bring a bright and beautiful pot plant to her instead. eleanorozich.com

Tip Let the hardest working member of the family have a well-deserved lie-in on Sunday morning.

S Three lovely gift ideas 01

L I G H T T H E W AY

This limited edition Mother’s Day fragrance blend is called Grace, a combination of neroli, rose and ginger. It’s available as a candle, a perfume oil, and a face and body mist. @poetbotanicals

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HAPPY THOUGHT

I’m obsessed with Bonnie and Neil homewares, particularly this marigold printed linen cushion. Just imagine the happiness it’d bring to almost any space. @bonnieandneil

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PHOTOGRAPHY ELEANOR OZICH

Vegan sticky date pudding with coconut butterscotch sauce 1½ cups dates, soaked in boiling water for at least 1 hour 1 cup plant-based milk 11⁄3 cups coconut oil, melted 1½ cups spelt flour 1 cup coconut sugar 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground ginger ½ tsp sea salt BUTTERSCOTCH SAUCE

½ cup maple or rice malt syrup 1 cup coconut cream ¾ cup vegan spread (like an olive oil spread)

1 tsp ground ginger ½ tsp sea salt ¼ tsp ground cardamom 1 Preheat oven to 160°C. Grease

a 20cm bundt cake tin with a little melted coconut oil.

2 Drain the water from the dates, then place dates in a food processor with the remaining pudding ingredients, and process until well combined.

Pour the mixture into the cake tin and spread out evenly.

3 Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean

when inserted into the middle.

4 Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before carefully turning out onto a serving platter.

5 W hile the pudding is baking, make the Butterscotch Sauce.

Place the syrup, coconut cream, vegan spread and spices in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, about 6–8 minutes.

6 Serve the pudding warm with the Butterscotch Sauce poured over the top.

S W E E T D I S P L AY

I believe one can never have too many vases of flowers placed around the home. This sweet little Petit Artichoke Vase is the perfect vessel for a single stem or small pickings from the garden. @ornament.nz

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Family resemblance A new build takes its cues from a mid-century house.

THE ARTIST’S WAY This purpose-built self-contained art studio, which is located in the sightline of a modern pavilion-style home, also doubles as a private sanctuary for its owner.

For more about this house, turn to page 56.

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Man of style A Wellington apartment’s eclectic appeal.

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Blank canvas Empty nesters build what their heart desires.

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SOAK UP THE VIEW The kitchen was designed to have a great visual connection with other areas within the home. “I can be in the kitchen preparing food while watching the kids in the pool or through to their bedrooms and play area,” says homeowner Sally McGarry.

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FA M I LY R E S E M B L A N C E An architecturally significant post-war home was the design inspiration and sentimental impetus behind this coastal abode

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KITCHEN COMPONENTS The couple went for a mix of textured materials including hardwood cabinetry, brushed brass Lo & Co door handles, brass and rattan pendants and Caesarstone Airy concrete for the benchtops and splashback. “There’s lots of storage to maintain our minimalistic aesthetic and hide the mess,” Sally says. TABLE TALK The family of five enjoy casual meals at the Sarah Ellison Earth table, which has a linen ball pendant from The Society Inc hanging overhead (opposite). Among the sculptural ceramics on the table are pieces from Kas Australia, Nikau Store and Softedge Studio.

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H Meet & greet Sally (town planner and project manager) and Matt McGarry (electrician and solar power installation company director), Jasper, 11, Duke, nine, Sonny, five, and samoyed retriever cross Shelby.

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he options are endless when you build from scratch, but Sally McGarry had a very specific home in mind when she and husband Matt built this sprawling pavilion in a coastal hinterland. “Our main intention was to capture the essence of my grandparents’ home, the Fenner House, a mid-century home commissioned by my grandfather, Frank Fenner,” Sally says. “As a child, I spent most afternoons there, climbing trees, picking fruit and making cubby houses in the shrubs and wisteria. The extensive use of glass, the connection to the garden and different functional zones were all memorable features to me, and we wanted to carry them through to the design of our house.”

The couple worked with good friends, architects Kirrili Zimmer and Teneil Van Dyck, to form the initial concept before inviting a local firm to collaborate on the final design. Like her grandparents’ house, this home, named Las Palmas, is divided into two wings – one for entertaining and the other for sleeping – each orientated to take full advantage of the site’s natural light, cool breezes and rolling views. “It features the same elongated roofline, large expanse of glazing, modernist lines and passive orientation as the Fenner House,” Sally tells. However, as the homes were built 68 years apart, there are some obvious differences – namely, the roof- and ground-mounted solar energy systems installed by Matt’s solar installation company and an infinity edge swimming pool nestled into the hillside.

“It reflects the contrasting locations and lifestyles led by our family today and my grandparents in the past,” she says.

Sally went for a minimalist aesthetic so as not to detract from the clean lines of the mid-century architecture and the surrounding landscape, with the addition of different textures and vintage pieces for warmth and interest. The burnished concrete flooring throughout was chosen for its slightly patchy appearance, which feels amazing underfoot, while hardwood timber cladding in the kitchen contrasts the concrete benchtops and brushed brass hardware. Lighting is deliberately kept simple: “We wanted to see the ‘effect’ of the light without seeing the light itself,” Sally says.

The result is a laid-back home with an intimate connection to the land and the perfect blend of indoor-outdoor living. “Dinners are eaten outside taking in the views, the pool is used year round and outdoor movie nights are a regular occurrence,” Sally tells. “When we come home, we feel relaxed – like the weight of the world has been lifted.”

“The open space, the hinterland view and the sunset orientation – we knew this was the one the moment we arrived.”

SAL LY M C GAR RY

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H LAP OF HONOUR An infinity swimming pool surrounded by Fibonacci Stone pavers connects the entertaining wing to the rolling hills and blue skies beyond. “Most days start (and end) with a dive into the pool,” Sally says.

KEEP IT COOL Concrete floors and natural cross ventilation keep the dual-aspect living space cool in summer, while the centrally located fireplace keeps it toasty come winter. All internal walls are painted in Dulux Natural White. NATURAL STYLE Sally, pictured opposite, has filled her home with a mix of second-hand and new pieces, including a Tigmi Trading rug, a modular sofa from HK Living and a Sarah Ellison coffee table. “Sarah’s collection seems to match my style perfectly.” The curvy chair is from a local store. The throw, white square cushion and ceramic objects are all from Nikau Store.

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How to create a passive energy home

1 Give careful consideration to the layout and orientation of your home to take best advantage of natural sunlight and cross ventilation.

2 Concrete flooring has a high thermal mass, drawing in heat from the sun during winter and storing it into the evening, and vice versa in summer.

3 Use textiles to help control the interior temperature. Curtains and shutters block out the heat and cold, while rugs will take the chill out of concrete floors.

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BEACH READ (from left) Travel tomes add a touch of summery style to the Sarah Ellison coffee table. SET IN STONE A timber bookcase is built into the stone-clad wall, which “was our nod to mid-century architecture,” Sally says.

PEACHY KEEN Brushed brass tapware and earthy ceramics pop against the terracotta tones in this bathroom. The arched mirror is from a local homewares store, the plate is from Marr-kett, and the bottle is from Nikau Store. SUNSET HUES A rug and tables from Tigmi Trading create an intimate zone within the open-plan space. The urn is from Softedge Studio.

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NATURE CALLS A textural, neutral palette of finger tiles in the bathroom ties in with the rest of the home and the verdant view from the large window.

FINE FIXTURES Brushed brass details feature throughout the home and are a nod to the ’70s. The ceramic object is from Nikau Store and toiletries from Mecca.

VANITY FAIR All of the bathroom vanities are bespoke and were made by a local company. The ceramic vase and candles on the bench are from Nikau Store.

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Tip While most toys are best stored in a chest or basket, a wall shelf is a great place for kids to show-off their prized possessions.

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TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY ARE MEDIA SYNDICATION

PRIVATE RETREAT “My bedroom is my sanctuary,” Sally tells. “I love lying in bed taking in the view. It’s the perfect spot to watch a storm roll in; I find it hard to draw the curtains.” The bedhead was bought locally, as was the peach-coloured bed cover, and the side table is from Tigmi Trading. The ceramic vessel is from Nikau Store and the Byredo fragrance is from Mecca.

BRIGHT WASH With three young boys in this household the laundry gets a good workout, and Sally’s is equipped with a functional layout and lots of bench space.

The Caesarstone concrete and Lo & Co door handles continue here, with a brushed brass sink and tapware for added impact. A mirror from Marr-kett and Dior hand soap adorn the laundry benchtop.

STAY A WHILE “Being a little out of town, we had a bunk room constructed, making it easier to accommodate extra friends after evenings of entertaining,” Sally says of the fun bedroom. The throws and print on the bottom shelf are from Nikau Store, the pink cushion is from Tigmi Trading and the bag is from Marr-kett.

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SHOP THEIR STYLE Mid-century modern is given a relaxed, coastal feel with rattan, neutral tones and sumptuous textures 1

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1 Holiday book by Pamela Fiori, $195, from Boheme Home. 2 Flokati rug, $349, from Flux Boutique. 3 Orbit Lighting lantern, $12.06, from Mitre 10. 4 Malta rattan chair, $399, from Nood. 5 M&Co Wright vase, $19.99 (large), from Farmers. 6 Linen duvet cover, $195 (queen), from Bed Threads. 7 Juniper arch mirror, $89.95, from Mocka.

8 Terrace Lounger chair, $999, from Nood. 9 Celine basin, $461.90, from Abi Interiors. 10 Rattan and oak dining chair, $410, from Coastal Style.

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A LOT TO TREASURE Old and new, colour and texture abound at Andre Afamasaga’s inner-city home. Some of his favourite finds were bought at auctions and markets with his father when he was younger.

Meet & greet Andre Afamasaga (New Zealand Human Rights Commission senior manager) and flatmate Paul Whiting (Ministry of Education lead).

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M A N of ST Y LE A passion for the beautiful and eclectic reflects the occupants of this historic Wellington apartment Text Michael Mansvelt Photography Gina Fabish

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“Above all, I want my home to be a place where people can feel joy, safety and acceptance.”

ANDRE AFAMASAGA

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LET THERE BE LIGHT Andre's orchids, palms and ficus thrive in the light-filled living area of the apartment, which opens to the balcony.

Conch and coral prints from Freedom adorn the top of the bookcase, next to an Empire State Building ornament – a reminder of trips to New York before Covid travel restrictions. The vintage movie light next to it adds a quirky touch.

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he old Aulsebrooks factory in the middle of Wellington hasn’t been making iced animal biscuits in years.

Instead, the historic building is now an apartment building with smart, spacious apartments featuring soaring ceilings and period details.

Andre Afamasaga and civil servant flatmate Paul Whiting have lived in one of the complex’s light-filled two-bedroom rented apartments for seven years. There are shades of Monica and Rachel’s New York pad from the ’90s sitcom Friends to it, with its tall bank of colonial-style south-facing windows and their eclectic mix of furnishings and decor.

The apartment is solid concrete, which is warm in winter and cool in summer, and the recent earthquake strengthening is apparent wherever one looks with large steel beams unapologetically poking through walls and midway through spaces. This only adds to the heritage feel of the space and provides comfort to its tenants who were living here during the Wellington quakes of 2016.

Andre is a human rights advocate and former pastor

who hit the headlines with his coming out column in the Sydney Morning Herald and several other international publications, which went viral at the end of 2019. It was in response to the Instagram posts by rugby superstar Israel Folau condemning the rainbow community to an eternity of judgement and torment.

He told his story about coming to terms with his sexuality, faith and self-acceptance to send a clear message to young rainbow people in the Pacific community who looked up to figures like Israel Folau, and that his outspoken comments were not only false, but unacceptable and harmful.

Andre’s life has been built on a strong foundation of faith, family and culture. The Kiwi-born gay Sāmoan man grew up in a proud and vibrant, faith-filled family and migrant home where his late parents always put first the needs of others.

“Even as a kid, I loved making spaces inspiring and beautiful,” he says. “When I turned 15, I used my birthday money to buy a large, American-style Christmas tree for our lounge. In following years, I kept adding classic, inexpensive items to mimic a Christmas-themed spread I’d seen in a Country Road/Vogue Living advertorial in the early ’90s.”

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KITCHEN/DINING The round dining table is French vintage and the rattan dining chairs were picked up on sale at Bunnings. The kitchen may be pocket-sized, but Andre is a dab hand at putting together a healthy fruit platter. He likes nothing better than hosting a gathering for friends with good food and lots of laughs.

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H TRUE COLOURS The red-brick and yellow wall and ceiling shades were not Andre’s choice, but he's made it work with the glass pendants and aged leather seating. The addition of a large framed mirror helps to create the illusion of space. Coffee table books of fashion design and photography are scattered throughout the apartment.

His love of style was apparent from a young age as he followed his father around markets and auctions, delighting in sourcing beautiful and unique objects for their surroundings. He began collecting fashion and interiors magazines as a 12-year-old in the ’80s, cataloguing the culture, clothes, people and decor, well aware that the people in these glossy publications looked nothing like him.

“I hope a young brown kid will be inspired when they see this spread of my family and I. That’s why representation matters, it gives people hope and something they can relate to,” says the senior manager at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. “Above all, I want my home to be a place where people can feel joy, beauty and acceptance.”

Bookshelves are filled with Architectural Digest and collections of international editions of GQ and Vogue magazines. There are also plenty of other hallmarks of his style and personality, which includes carefully selected curios such as Pacific ula given as thank you tokens for his community work, or his collection of theological books that have been colour coded, and other memories from a life well lived.

“I had lots more books, magazines and items dating back to the ’70s, but they got accidentally thrown out in the decade I worked abroad as pastor in Sydney.”

For some that would be disturbing but Andre puts things in perspective, “I don’t believe that style and substance are mutually exclusive, while I love stylish things, they’re a bonus – not an essential. What truly matters are loved ones and relationships.”

Style is also about finding solutions for the not-sogreat. Take the imperfect carpet in the open-plan space. It’s effortlessly disguised with a well curated selection of rugs, a mix of sisal and vintage Persian styles, and follow a common rule in good interior design – that there are few spaces that don’t benefit from an area rug.

Everything in the apartment has a feeling of place, such as the hall table with fresh flowers, a well-curated collection of shells and an antique model sailing boat alluding to the maritime environment on the wharf close to the apartment block.

Andre will happily find treasure everywhere, from the auctions his father introduced him to early on to hardware stores. The vintage French dining table is surrounded by ’80s-style rattan dining chairs found on sale at Bunnings. “The dining table doubles as my

CAPTION HEADING Doloribero quossuntus dolorepel mil illaboris restis aliquuntiat velesti oreius ut doloreium enis minvenis quaectatis accus sametum simus plaut eum vel illicia speribu scidele cae volestrum eatem quisAtem nem rest atem sit, velent venditatque quaerro cus eribeatias molo beatur, totatur?

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Tip Instead of one large picture in the bedroom consider a gallery wall with a number of favourite images. desk in a working-from-home Covid environment. But sometimes I blur my Zoom screen because I don’t want people to think I’m too ‘extra’ or to be distracted by all the objects in the background.”

Recently, he’s taken on the care of several indoor plants and it is clear to see he is keen to approach their care with as much love and empathy as he does everything else in his life. His favourite is a heliconia, a lush tropical beauty that sits alongside a kentia palm, both framing a large mirror against the brick wall.

The ’90s zombie-yellow and brick-red palette used on the walls and ceilings wouldn’t be his first choice if he owned the space, however it matches the warm, rich tones of his aged leather and vintage French furniture. In fact, it works so well with yellow and red that one would almost be forgiven for asking the question, “Wow! Are these colours back in style again?’

The curse of many inner-city apartments is a lack of natural light – something both bedrooms suffer from.

Although his bedroom has no windows to the outside, Andre has created an inviting retreat with soft linens, artworks and lighting. This is also the space where his love of fashion and style are most evident and a glance in his wardrobe could well make the most style-conscious gentleman green with envy at the beautifully curated blazers, shirts, and other classic pieces. “I like to mix classic with casual. But an ’80s- or ’90s-style navy blazers with jeans, and a white tee or oxford shirt, and Ray-Ban sunglasses are my go-to uniform,” he laughs.

After many years of serving others and his community, Andre has become more comfortable with the value of having a space to recharge, relax and reflect, surrounded by things that bring him joy. His family and friends appreciate the central location and hospitality, too, often congregating here. It’s a testament to the welcoming space Andre and Paul have created.

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BEDROOM A tranquil retreat was created using a tropical palm, luxe bed linen from Ralph Lauren Home, Urban Loft and Tommy Bahama, with subdued lighting from Early Settler. The picture wall features some of Andre's favourite ’80s and ’90s photos from Richard Avedon, Peter Lindbergh and Bruce Weber. HALLWAY The console, with its wooden tray filled with favourite sunglasses, features a model of a sailing boat, a stack of favourite books and a piece of coral from Queensland.

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OUTDOORS The balcony is the perfect entertaining area, and a place where Andre’s plants thrive.

“I have never owned plants before. I underestimated how they can bring life, vitality and dynamism to any space.”

A ND R E A FAMASAGA

Honesty box + What areas of your home did you save on? Price is always my foremost concern. Over the years, I’ve added pieces slowly but surely. + What did you splurge on? More recently I’ve updated my bedroom space by getting new linens, feather-filled pillows and botanical bedside lamps. + Best lessons learned? I have never owned plants before.

I underestimated how they can bring life, vitality and dynamism to any space they occupy. + What would you never do again? Buying on-trend items because they’re on sale or look good. I now try and look for more classic, enduring pieces.

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+ Any decorating disasters? When my bedroom became a makeshift storeroom of furniture and pieces, I told myself I’d eventually sell but never did. Giving them away to family and goodwill gave me space and a feeling of improved wellbeing. + What’s one thing you would change about your home? If I owned it, I’d give the walls a makeover, with grasscloth wallpaper, in either gold or navy, and tropical hardwood flooring. + What has been the most memorable experience you’ve had in your home (good and bad)? A bad experience was the 2016 earthquakes. Since I rent, I wasn’t able to secure furniture to the wall and some pieces became broken. The good experiences are having loved ones over with good food and lots of laughs.

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GATHERING PLACE Due to its central location, Andre’s apartment is a popular place for friends to drop by. On the day we visited, there was a delicious lunch. Andre's sister Shalleen and brother-in-law Geoff, share their recipes (below). Flatmate Paul helps serve lunch (below left).

4 eggs ½ cup milk 200g feta cheese, cut into small cubes Salt and pepper, to season Oil, for frying (see Note) 1 Slice kernels from corn cobs

Geoff’s corn fritters MAKES 30-40 INGREDIENTS

4 corn cobs 1 onion Fresh herbs, we used mint and rosemary, but coriander is nice too 2 cups grated cheddar cheese ½ cup self-raising flour 52

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and place in large bowl. Separate corn kernels.

2 Dice onion and finely chop the herbs. Add to the bowl with the grated cheese.

3 Add self-raising flour and toss through, coating all the ingredients.

4 In a separate bowl, mix eggs and milk to combine.

5 Pour the combined egg and milk into the corn mixture. Add the feta cubes and season with salt and pepper.

6 Heat 2 tablespoons oil in frying pan on medium heat. Fry heaped dessertspoons of fritter batter, about two minutes per side or when golden.

Test for doneness by pressing a finger into the fritter, if it bounces back they’re done. Or taste test.

Note: These can also be done on the hot plate of a barbecue; you may have to add more oil between batches.

Shalleen’s salsa INGREDIENTS

1 yellow capsicum 2 medium tomatoes ½ cucumber 2 nectarines or any firm summer stone fruit, such as peaches DRESSING

4 Tbsp tomato relish 1 Tbsp olive oil Juice of half a lemon 1 Tbsp sweet chilli sauce Salt and pepper, to season 1 Dice the vegetables and stone fruit into

small pieces and put in a bowl.

2 For the Dressing, put all the ingredients into a glass jar and shake.

3 Pour Dressing over salsa and toss gently.

Season to taste before serving.

Serve salsa with Geoff’s corn fritters.

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SHOP THEIR STYLE A carefree blend of Euro-chic finds with cane, plants and ent Pacifica patterns is a recipe for a truly global apartment

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1 Santana plant stand, $79.99 (large), from Adairs. 2 Flower and bird tablecloth, $199.99, from Trade Aid. 3 Chinese ginger jar lamp, $366, from Leopold Hall.

4 David candle, $69, from The Axe. 5 Fermob Montmartre table, $900, from Jardin. 6 Zigzag rug, $269.99, from Trade Aid. 7 Kauri Pacific tablecloth, $89, from Pauanesia.

8 Luca Belize chair, $1299, from Farmers. 9 Resene Dynamite paint, $4.90 (testpot), from ColorShops. 10 Resene Egg Sour paint, $4.90 (testpot), from ColorShops.

11 Pelargonium Dark Delight plant, $17.90, from Kings Plant Barn.

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Join the

jet set

Fly through the vacuuming with the light, stylish and powerful cordless Samsung Bespoke Jet, which practically cleans itself

YH&G + SAMSUNG

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hen it comes to housecleaning who doesn’t want to do the best job possible with the least amount of effort?

World-renowned electronics company Samsung has just released their Bespoke Jet cordless stick vacuum featuring game-changer technology and end-to-end convenience, including self-emptying capability.

The Samsung Bespoke Jet offers more advanced cleaning thanks to 210w of suction power and jet cyclone technology. Through its improved design, the inverter motor is now 47% lighter yet produces high-energy efficiency to enjoy cleaner air throughout your home. A multi-layered filtration system traps 99.999% of fine dust and allergens while the anti-bacterial dust bag stops 99.9% The cordless

of bacterial growth, a must for keeping your family happy and healthy.

The superior battery capacity means you can clean for up to two hours with the two supplied batteries lasting up to an hour each and, when you’re done, simply return the stylish vacuum to the integrated and clever All-in-one Clean Station. Once connected to the dock, not only will the appliance recharge at the press of a button, it will activate Samsung’s unique Air Pulse technology to rapidly empty the dust bin meaning no dust particles will escape in the process and you’ll never have to get your hands dirty again. The waste is sucked into a bag that’s housed inside the clean station, which creates a non-contact, completely sealed dust removal system.

The Samsung Bespoke Jet offers outstanding cleaning on all floor types and features a special spray spinning sweeper, which can best be described as upgraded mopping for hard floor Samsung Bespoke areas, while accessories like the long reach, flex or optional pet tool mean Jet makes cleaning you’ll be able to deal with everything hard-to-reach areas, from dog hair on the sofa to the dust such as high ceilings on top of the bookshelf. These additional accessories are all and under furniture, included. The hand-held vacuum body a breeze. weighs just 1.44kg, reducing the strain on wrists so you’ll be able to take on all those tricky jobs around the house with ease.

With its sleek design, the Samsung Bespoke Jet will fit right in with the interior design of your home while the exceptional performance and convenience will have you wondering how you’ve ever got by without it.

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canvas An artist plus a builder equals a perfect creative partnership to construct this cosmopolitan-meets-rural retreat from scratch Text Shelley Tustin Photography Babiche Martens 56

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H ROLL WITH IT Rae and Nick Prentis’ house is oriented to capture the morning sun on one deck and afternoon sun on the other. The aluminium table is on castors and can be wheeled outside for the summer months, then moved inside for winter entertaining.

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hen people wax lyrical about their dream home, what they usually mean is a house that ticks all the practical boxes for every member of their family. But with no one to please except themselves, empty nesters Rae and Nick Prentis were able to create a home that brought their fantasies to life.

Perched on a hill in rural Kaukapakapa, northwest of Auckland, the home is equal parts introvert’s retreat and extrovert’s party palace – there’s privacy and pastoral peace aplenty, but also a wealth of entertaining spaces, which are thoroughly utilised by Rae’s family, who virtually live on their doorstep. “My parents bought nearly 16 hectares and subdivided some of it – our section is part of it and my siblings have other parts,” Rae explains. “We all live here, like some sort of hippie commune. It’s nice to have my folks close, but we are independent as well.”

A shack was built to begin with, giving the couple the opportunity to live on the land and cement their vision, so by the time they started building the ‘big house’ four years ago, they knew exactly where and how to take advantage of the magnificent location.

Meet & greet Rae (artist) and Nick Prentis (builder) and their dogs, Dougal, Huckleberry and Beauregard.

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Architect Mark Butler of MD Design was brought in to put their ideas on paper, nailing the brief with an H-shaped home that combines generous living spaces, sheltered outdoor zones and decadent creature comforts.

A wealth of windows was high on the wish list, to take advantage of the bucolic location. “We wanted a lot of glass to make the most of the view and the rural setting. It’s not the kind of house you’d build in town because the whole front of it is glass,” says Rae. The enormous windows also welcome in sunlight to warm the concrete floors, which in conjunction with hydronic heating, keeps the home toasty all year round.

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Room with a view

H SITTING ROOM The vintage sofa and chairs were re-covered by an upholsterer friend in green velvet and grouped with a replica Noguchi coffee table and antique bar cabinet. The large black artwork was made by Rae to suit the space. The rug is from irugs.co.nz.

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Rae’s design tips + Use Pinterest One of the hardest things about building and decorating is making decisions about what you want. I found Pinterest useful for this. I created a board for each room, then pinned things I liked.

When I looked back there was always a common theme and that helped with the decision-making process. + Trust yourself Don’t make decisions based on what’s trendy or what others like

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or have done. Choose things you love and you will find that your style will emerge. + Rescue old furniture If you can look past the state of the old upholstery and imagine what something will look like restored, you will find a gold mine. We are lucky to have a family friend who’s a fantastic upholsterer. + Commission art Lots of New Zealand artists are happy to paint on commission.

You can order something that not only fits your colour scheme but also the space you have available. + Have fun Don’t get stuck with your current furniture and homewares layout.

Have fun, move things around, try new ways of displaying your knick-knacks and furniture. You can always move it back again if it doesn’t work, but it’s refreshing to have a change.

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“You can order something that not only fits your colour scheme but the space you have available.”

R AE P R EN TI S

HOME GALLERY The black cedar cabinetry and polished granite countertops in the kitchen were a must-have (opposite). The scarab print is from Miss Lolo and is displayed in the hallway. An incurable collector, Rae enjoys scouring Trade Me for interesting objects such as cigarette cards and bird skulls, which she displays under glass cloches. The fireplace in the lounge is more for ambience than heat, with hydronic heating under the concrete floors keeping the entire house cosy.

Made from scratch The greatest gift going into a new build or renovation is experience, and with Nick’s decades in the building industry to draw on, the couple were able to launch into the project with a sense of confidence and calm. Though Rae says they had their stresses – no build is totally drama-free – they often had cause to reflect on their good fortune in knowing the building process inside out. “It can be so stressful, but we kind of knew what to expect,” says Rae. “We knew a lot of our tradies as well, which made the process so much easier.”

Tackling the build themselves (bar a bit of help from friends, family and specialist trades), in between their full-time jobs, meant the project took a full year from beginning to end.

“I was dying to move in,” says Rae. “We actually moved in before the kitchen was finished. I couldn’t wait any longer.”

Adults only

HEART’S DESIRE (top) Rae’s granddaughter Pia is a frequent visitor and has her own bedroom featuring an Ikea bed, a Chinese cabinet and Vernon Ward retro prints. The Mocka cot awaits grandchild number two. Two must-haves for Rae was a room-sized, walk-in dressing room (above) and an ensuite bathroom with outdoor bath (opposite). The bedhead in the main bedroom is upholstered in the same fabric as the living room sofa.

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As all their chicks have flown the coop, Nick and Rae were able to design a home just for themselves, ticking off everything on their must-have list. “We wanted something that was quite grown-up and our own thing,” Rae explains. The initial build included well-earned luxuries like Rae’s longed-for, room-sized walk-in wardrobe, and an enviable ensuite bathroom, complete with outdoor bath.

Strategic planting gives privacy for a relaxing soak on the deck. “For the first six months, while the plants grew, if someone came up the front, you had to make a quick dash to the bedroom otherwise you’d get caught. Now that the planting has grown, it gives you a bit of camouflage,” says Rae. Next on the to-build list were the outbuildings – a cosy

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“For the first six months, while the plants grew, if someone came up the front, you’d have to make a quick dash to the bedroom.”

R AE PREN TI S

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ARTISTIC PURSUITS Rae’s studio has plenty of space for her art, which pop against the white-painted walls and floors.

LAUNDRY This functional area is made fabulous thanks to the dreamy floral wallpaper from Hovis.

‘shed’ for Nick, complete with bar and pool table, and a studio for Rae. The latter was a lockdown project, constructed by Nick and fitted out to be a space for Rae to paint, catch up on paperwork, or relax with sleepy dogs and a good book.

Treasure hunt

“Nothing is really static in our house, it’s always changing.”

RA E P R EN TI S

Neutral tones – white walls throughout the house, with black bathrooms and kitchen – allow Rae’s quirky furnishings and offbeat collectables to pop. “That’s basically all the colour in the house. My style is quite eclectic and I wanted my ‘things’ to do the talking,” says Rae. An incurable collector, Rae adores scouring Trade Me for vintage furniture and discovering eccentric objects – everything from cigarette cards to bird skulls, which she displays under glass cloches.

A career as a flight attendant gave her the opportunity to add an extra layer of charm to the home, from stone basins brought home from Bali, to rolls of velvet sourced from the Shanghai fabric markets and used to cover sofas and a bedhead.

Art of display Acres of gallery-style white space is de rigueur for an artist’s house – and the one thing the Prentis’ place is lacking. “One thing I didn’t realise with all the glass is that I would lose a bit of wall space,” says Rae. But still, there’s no shortage of fascinating art on display, a combination of retro art prints and, of course, Rae’s own contemporary abstract works, which she sells on Instagram @raeprentis_art. Often inspired by the surrounding landscape or her own flower-filled garden, they combine wild and chaotic shapes with soothing hues, bringing a punch of life and colour to the neutral-toned rooms.

Though the home is complete, right down to the charming decor details, Nick and Rae are firm believers in the adage ‘a change is as good as holiday’, and always have a little building project or a garden overhaul on the agenda. Inside the house, rooms are reconfigured from season to season, and frequently on a whim. “One of our favourite things to do is have a couple of glasses of wine, put some music on and move furniture,” says Rae. “Nothing is really static in our house, it’s always changing.” And that’s just the way they like it.

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H Honesty box

SHOP THEIR STYLE Rich greens and golds meet earthy prints to create an artistic oasis 2 1

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What area did you save on? Our labour was free so we knew we could save money by completing many things ourselves.

Where did you splurge?

Concreting our very large, semi-steep rural driveway (approximately 650sqm), Best lessons learned? Get to know your tradies and feed them. Never underestimate the goodwill gained from a cup of coffee in the morning and a beer and some pizza in the afternoon.

What would you never do again?

Paint the interior ourselves.

Painting skirtings, window surrounds and window frames is harder than it looks. Get a professional for these.

Any disasters? No. We had the benefit of Nick’s extensive building experience. We both have a strong work ethic and we really enjoyed the whole process of building our home.

What’s one thing you’d change about your home if you could?

The large windows and doors in our house mean we get lots of sun and views. However, I never knew how much damage the sun can do to your furnishings. I am not sure if I would trade the sun and views, though.

What was the most memorable experience in the home?

Unpacking our purchases prior to moving in. I had been collecting items to decorate the house and it was just so exciting moving them into the space. It was a fantastic moment when my green couch came home from the upholsterers and went inside our home.

Budget Roughly $500,000.

Finishes 9

1 Lara orange and purple distressed rug, $215, from Miss Amara. 2 Gold metal feather mirror, $249, from Interior Warehouse. 3 Earthy natural stone bathroom basin, $550, from StoneBase. 4 French Country large bell food cover, $75, from Ballantynes. 5 Fuji bar stool, $189, from Home Sweet Whare. 6 Callista armchair, around $380, from Artiss.

7 Seamus cushion, $149, from Shut the Front Door. 8 Painted trees lumbar cushion, $199, from Thread Design.

9 Noguchi replica coffee table, $480, from Derlook.

Paint Dulux Okarito; Dulux Black in the main bedroom and the studio exterior.

Exterior and kitchen island cladding Cedar stained with Resene Wood-X and exterior wood oil in Foundry.

Bathroom Wall tiles from Tile Depot, tiledepot.co.nz Laundry wallpaper from Hovia, hovia.com

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NEST MOVE

When a couple of empty nesters decided to downsize, it was a chance to design and build exactly what they wanted Photography Swell Productions

MEET & GREET

Kim (database administrator) and Neil Ford (programme manager for a large engineering company) and cavoodle Otten Ford.

1 THE DESIGN After Kim and Neil Ford’s three children left home – one lives in London and two are flatting, the couple agreed it was time to downsize. They had a strong vision of what they wanted and engaged architect Michael Cooper to design a house purpose-built to their specs on the Hobsonville site they bought. It had to be open plan, have high ceilings, a covered patio and underfloor heating to warm up the concrete flooring, as well as an industrial-style staircase in their 238sqm home, 55sqm of which has rental potential possibly for their elderly parents, children, or as an income source. They also wanted somewhere they could “have their music blaring, doors open, drink lots of wine and have lots of family round”.

2 THE MATERIALS The Fords like industrial materials and wanted to incorporate some of those into the house. “We loved the straight line of Stria Cladding by James Hardie,” says Kim. “It’s basically boxes on top of boxes. It’s also very durable and we could paint it dark. A lot of cladding products don’t allow you to paint it black, but you can with Stria Cladding and it looks really modern.”

YH&G + JAMES HARDIE

“A lot of cladding products don’t allow you to paint it black, but you can with Stria Cladding and it looks really modern.”

KI M FOR D

The black exterior works well with the concrete floors, industrial-looking staircase and is a perfect foil for the brick work used both inside and out.

3 THE INTERIOR Having an open-plan living space was important to Kim and they were committed to some industrial elements without going brutalist. “It allows me to cook and chat to our family and friends at the same time.”

The Fords splurged on heating under their polished concrete floors, as well as the steel and concrete staircase, ceiling-to-floor tiled bathrooms and interior brickwork. “My favourite time of the day is in the evening when we have the downlights on the bricks, which form lots of patterns on the walls, and we have candles going and a glass of wine. “I’m really proud when people say, ‘Wow, it feels so homely’.”

4 THE OUTDOORS The bush outlook was part of the initial draw for Kim and Neil, as was having a covered outdoor area. “Our last build didn’t have a covered patio, so we knew this time round we wanted something we could sit under to shelter from the weather and the sun.” They created an outdoor area of two parts – a dining space and a section completely given over to relaxation. “We often put a screen up to make it a bit cosier and provide privacy from the next-door neighbours.” They intend living here for another three years before they decide if they sell and downsize further into an apartment.

For now though, they’re happy to stay put.

MODERN LOVE The Fords love the industrial look and the strippedback, minimalist style was achieved with concrete floors, Stria Cladding painted black, a concrete and steel staircase, and the exposed brick used both inside and out.

But comfort wasn’t sacrificed for this design statement.

“I’m really proud when people say, ‘Wow, it feels so homely’,” says Kim.

NEW-BUILD WORKSHEET FINISHES

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STRIA™ CLADDING Made to withstand our unpredictable climate, this ultra-sleek premium cladding is made from premium fibre cement, so it’s low maintenance and can be painted any colour.

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KEY 1 Main bedroom 2 Walk-in wardrobe 3 Ensuite 4 Void 5 Bedroom 6 Bathroom 7 Office 8 Deck 9 Rental lounge/dining 10 Rental kitchen 11 Powder room 12 Scullery 13 Kitchen 14 Dining 15 Lounge 16 Laundry 17 Garage

HONESTY BOX

CONTACTS

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way? It always costs more than you think.

Remember to be patient as good things will come eventually. There’s no point getting stressed when things aren’t going to plan.

What are a couple of tips you’d give to anyone planning to build?

Always do your research, go and look at homes that have been built by the builder you’re considering, keep your finger on the pulse, keep them honest and ask your builder heaps of questions.

What’s the one thing you’d change about your home if you could? Maybe, put in an internal fire door.

Builder Sentinel Homes, sentinelhomes.co.nz Concrete floor Concrete Grind & Polish, concretegrindandpolish.co.nz James Hardie jameshardie.co.nz Landscaping Ashdown Landscapes, 022 024 2297 Merchant store Thomson’s ITM thomsonsitm.co.nz Staircase Stairworks, stairworks.co.nz Trees The Urban Jungle, theurbanjungle.co.nz Underfloor heating Gas Serve, gasserve.co.nz

BUDGET How much did the build cost? $1,166,000.

How did you keep track of costs during the build? Spreadsheets were a great help.

How did your budget forecast compare to your actual spend?

We went about $60,000 over and our landscaping was $10,000.

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PHOTOGRAPHY ARE MEDIA SYNDICATION

Hang ups Bold wallpaper is having a moment right now.

Check out the wallpaper lowdown on page 80.

Parakeet Chinoiserie, $369 per roll, from Resene ColorShops.

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Hidden potential An ’80s home didn’t impress at first.

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Prep talk Jen Jones’ guide to renovating issues.

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HIDDEN POTENTIAL When the homeowners first viewed this North Shore property together, one of them loved it – the other not so much Text Holly Jean Brooker Photography Kate Battersby

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e’ve all had one of those awkward first meetings. For Melissa (Mel) O’Shaughnessy, it took a good three or so viewings, and she still wasn’t won over.

In 2018, Mel and husband Alex, decided to sell their newly renovated home in central Auckland to move nearer the beach on the North Shore so their family could enjoy more of the water sports and fishing they loved. Connecting with a local agent, Mel was taken through a home to consider.

“When he showed me though the house, I honestly thought it was a joke,” she says.

“I walked around the house in somewhat of a daze because it was just so ugly.”

Alex was away at the time, but on his return he checked it out online and convinced Mel to return for a second look with him. As they walked through the property together, Mel says, “I knew as I walked around with Alex I’d just made biggest mistake of my life. Despite the awful kitchen, outdated interiors and crazy paper doors, Alex had found his dream home.”

With its expansive double garage, a view to die for and generous footprint, there was no turning back for the O’Shaughnessy family. “The filleting sink outside was the icing on the cake for Alex.

I would like to say that the third time I visited, I was a little more convinced, but I wasn’t. Not even a little,” says Mel.

A full house With keys in hand, the family moved into the 1980s brick abode in January 2019. With dated timber accents and bright feature walls, they made a few minor adjustments, painting everything white, to help it feel a little more like them.

In August 2021, they were ready to begin the long-awaited renovation. With 22 years of marriage and five renovations behind them, the couple play to their strengths, with Mel admitting, “We’re not YOU R HOM E A ND GA RD EN

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Meet & greet Alex (film editor) and Melissa O’Shaughnessy (stay-at-home mum), Emma, 17, Jordan, 16, Nathan, 12, Bailey the Labrador retriever and Coco the shih tzu.

BEFORE

BEFORE

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really DIY people. We would much rather leave it to the experts.” Nevertheless, with some solid experience up her sleeve, Mel took on the job of design, project management, styling and budgeting.

Unfortunately, just one week into their renovation, Auckland went into Level 4 lockdown for five weeks.

“It was a nightmare,” admits Mel. “When the builders came back on site (during level 3), we were still under heavy restrictions, so not only were we living in the house while renovating, but everyone was home, all day, every day. At one point, we were living mostly in the garage. We were scattered around the house downstairs, sleeping where we could.”

It was an intense seven months, but by February this year, the renovation was complete, with the result being a beautiful six-bedroom home that is now light, bright and open plan. It’s the perfect canvas for Mel to showcase her love of coastal Hamptons style, which can be seen on Instagram @homecreated_ .

The main living area upstairs has quickly become the family’s favourite place to be, with incredible views of Stanmore Bay framed by almost every window.

Here, the wall between the kitchen and lounge was removed to open up the living space and create more flow. Three of the four beams dominating the living

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ARCH OF TRIUMPH The half arch was inspired by an image Mel saw on Instagram and provided an opportunity to extend the countertop for more bench space, as well as a scullery and room for the fridge. The kitchen cabinetry is by interior fit-out company IPS.

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Mel’s top tips + Get recommendations when choosing tradies.

When you have good tradies they become like family, which makes the process so much easier. + The planning and budgeting stage is the most important part of the process. Make sure you put everything in your budget, including a contingency (usually 20 percent of the overall budget).

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+ Make sure your quotes (verbal and written) include GST. This can add up to be a huge expense if you haven’t factored in GST (and/or things such as delivery costs). + Design your home around what you love and how you plan to live in it. If you’re not a fan of current trends go with what works for you. This includes colour, style and the overall feel of the house.

+ Try and tie the house together so it feels cohesive. You can do this through patterns, materials and other textures. We did this by putting marble tiles on the bathroom floors to tie in with the kitchen bench.

We also used the same tapware in both bathrooms, although we used brushed brass in the main bathroom and brushed nickel in the ensuite, and it really worked.

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WHITE EVERY TIME On moving in, one of the first things the family did was repaint the walls with Resene Alabaster. In complete contrast, the house exterior was painted in a dark Dulux shade. The oak floor boards are from Allied Flooring, the sofas from Contempa, dining table from Citta, and the dining chairs from Ico Traders.

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BY EXTENSION The family bathroom was made significantly larger by removing the existing linen cupboard, hallway, separate toilet and bathroom.

Vertical join panelling was used on the walls and the marble tiles used on the floor are from The Tile Room.

Surprising solutions

space were also removed, much to the couple’s pleasure.

However, they did have to settle with keeping one beam.

“It would have cost an additional $60,000 to remove this, and we decided this could be money used elsewhere,” says Mel. The dated kitchen was completely overhauled, wooden floors installed, carpet and wardrobes put in all the bedrooms, as well as new window joinery, blinds and timber shutters. The original deck was also replaced.

The main bathroom was enlarged significantly by removing the linen cupboard, hallway, toilet and separate bathroom. This has created a generous bathroom that works really well for the O’Shaughnessy family. Here, they chose vertical join groove panelling to reduce costs, paired with a gorgeous tile in the ensuite. It mimics the tongue-and-groove style and helps bring everything together.

With Alex and Mel’s love of minimalism and white, they have created a calming coastal home that’s free of chaos and clutter. The natural timber tones, marble and textures enhances the resort-like vibe.

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Naturally, with a large family, the kitchen draws everyone in like a magnet. Mel wanted to create an open-plan area, without a scullery, to optimise space. However, a pesky pole that couldn’t be removed caused an issue here. Using creative thinking, she decided to hide it in a wall, which led to the addition of a scullery. “I didn’t like the thought that it would make the kitchen look smaller,” Mel admits. “I saw an image on Instagram with a half arch, which allowed the kitchen bench to run right through, and this was a great solution. It also matched the large arch I had already put from the lounge to the hallway and bedrooms. Funnily enough, we didn’t need the pole in the end, but I’m so glad we did what we did. It’s better than I hoped and just goes to show that problems can be a blessing in disguise.”

The scullery served another purpose, says Mel. “I also didn’t want the fridge where it could be seen and integrating it wasn’t in the budget, so hiding it away in the scullery was another perfect solution.”

Having the family at home during the renovation came with another pleasant surprise. “Our 16-year-old son helped out a little and he loved it so much that he left school to join the building company and become one of their apprentices. It’s a great fit for him.”

Future plans Now that the full home renovation is complete, the couple are planning to move their efforts outside, by levelling out the outside section, undertaking extensive landscaping, and creating an alfresco area with built-in barbecue.

Mel reflects, “Our home is everything we could have hoped for and there’s very little we would change.

Apart from hopefully putting in a pool sometime, we won’t be moving for quite some time.” It just goes to show that things can change, and you shouldn’t always make up your mind after an awkward first date.

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“Design your home around what you love and how you want to live in it.”

M E L O ’S H AU G H N E S SY

BEDROOMS All the blinds and shutters are from Carpet Court. The palm wallpaper in Nate’s room is by Boho Art and Styling, the Hang Loose light by Electric Confetti, and the Devonport wire chair from Ico Traders.

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A wallpaper renaissance is flourishing and there’s no better time to spruce up your space. Whether you’re a playful maximalist or a contemporary connoisseur, get ready to roll Text Caroline Moratti

PATTERN PLAY

BLUE PRINT The Emma Hayes Textiles Vine design wallpaper, $499 (330cm x 70cm roll), has a pearlescent finish and is printed using non-toxic inks. OPPOSITE No grout needed for this kitchen wallpaper, which looks like Portuguese tiles.

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o the uninitiated, wallpaper can be intimidating. Where do you start? What are the options and how do you install it? Why choose it over paint? But for space-defining, forwardthinking interiors, there’s nothing better than a patterned wall to distract, relax or intensify your senses.

Interior designer Bridget Foley from Bridget Foley Design says wallpaper is one of the easiest, quickest ways to transform a space.

“A whole house of paint can get rather dull.

Adding wallpapers to a few rooms adds an element of surprise and interest,” she says.

Florals help to soften, stripes widen a room and a whimsical mural can enliven our homes.

NO LIMITATIONS From lounge to bathroom to dressing room shelves, wallpaper will add texture and interest.

AQUAMARINE SCENE (left) 1838 Wall Murals Bellavista 1905-123-01, $841.95, from Resene Colorshops.

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TRENDS Large florals ● Trompe l’oeil ● Scenic landscape murals ● Archival designs ● Botanical greens ● Textured neutrals ● ’70s retro waves ● Victorian maximalism ● Bohemian blushes ● Art deco panels ●

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OFF THE WALL Don’t let the name mislead you. In the past, wallpaper was also used to line cupboards and other small spaces. Take a few pointers from history; if you’ve got a leftover roll from your wallpaper hanging project, consider adding some flair to your furnishings. Attack drawers – inside and out – decorate panels, shelves or whatever else strikes your fancy. If you’re unsure about a pattern or colour, there’s no better way to test-run it in your space than through a good old-fashioned arts and crafts day.

BUSY LIFE, BUSY WALLS White painted walls will show smears, stains, cracks and chips whereas wallpaper might seem more forgiving and the perfect alternative for busy family life. But any style-savvy decorator should consider practicality alongside fashion before taking the plunge.

Bridget recommends thinking about how a room is used. “Is it a high traffic area with children and pets running through and possibly knocking into walls, a den-like space that can handle darker colours, or a restful bedroom?” Asking yourself these questions can help whittle down seemingly overwhelming choices such as colour, size and texture when it comes to your walls.

For busy areas where people tend to congregate, such as kitchens, hallways and living rooms, try a paper in heavy-duty vinyl or glass-fibre, which can withstand everyday knocks and bumps. Opting for patterns in these spaces can distract the eye from day-to-day imperfections amongst the clutter. For darker spaces, invest in light-reflecting paper-backed silks to widen and lighten your space.

“The scale of a pattern can affect the feel of a room with large scale patterns making a room feel more intimate and smaller patterns giving the illusion of more space and light,” says interior designer Kirsten Ford from Kirsten Ford Design. She notes that a large-scale pattern will also have more impact for big walls that aren’t broken up by windows or doors.

“Don’t be afraid to use wallpaper in small spaces – particularly the powder room, to provide friends a stylish and unexpected surprise when they visit. This space doesn’t have to compete with other furnishings, so be bold and make it a showstopper.”

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EASY UPDATE If you’re looking to change the look of a room without the permanence of paint, try removable vinyl wall decal stickers such as this birch trees and birds design.

DOUBLE ACT If you’re yearning for industrial-chic exposed brick, or a floor-to-ceiling grand bookshelf, look no further. With wallpaper, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The ancient Romans did it best, using painted frescos to add doors and windows to give that all-important sense of depth and drama to a room. Create space through forced perspective, whether that’s a cityscape mural or a leafy jungle in a children’s bedroom. Add patterns such as simulated concrete or wood in living rooms for interest and intrigue. Wallpaper can go beyond the natural limitations of buildings and spaces, so have fun. The world is your oyster, or your oyster-themed wallpaper.

TEXTURE IS TRENDING Our spaces stimulate our feelings – not only emotionally but physically too.

In an increasingly digital world, there’s nothing better than a sheepskin rug underfoot or a dazzling sequinned cushion. Walls are no different.

“I recently used a black beaded wallpaper in a powder room, and it made a very plain room look incredible,” says Bridget.

From fish scales to cork to grass weaves, texture is making waves across our humble abodes. But if you only want to dip a toe in the water, Bridget recommends a light seagrass weave, which adds a sophisticated look to a room without the busyness of pattern.

ART DECO INSPIRED 1838 Wallcoverings Elodie Wallpaper Collection Astoria features towering leaves in a symmetrical pattern 1907-139-01, $585.95 (per roll), from Resene ColorShops.

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A RENTALSOLUTION Making modifications in a rental space can be a costly task, especially if you’re in the habit of moving around a lot.

Thankfully, peel-and-stick wallpaper has emerged in recent years to provide an easy and affordable alternative to traditional methods. There’s no messy primer or paste, simply wipe the walls down with a damp sponge a day prior, then you’re good to go. Working much like a huge sticker, peel-and-stick has the added benefit of being reusable, so renters can continue to have familiar walls, no matter where they live.

CHINOISERIE CHIC Heron’s Landing vinyl wallpaper in mint, $279 (108cm width), from Miss Lolo in Auckland, is sold by the lineal metre and is matched with black tapware and a metal-framed shower screen.

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VICTORIAN REVIVAL Hand-painted artisanal papers are increasingly winning over consumers with their nostalgic charm. Chinoiserie, a unique mural-like pattern that never repeats itself is heating up in the interior world, finding its roots in East Asian artistic motifs. These dreamy, worldbuilding prints provide a contrast to minimalist and modern furnishings for the contemporary client. “Lots of wallpaper houses are employing young artists to work on archived designs with different scales and colours to update them,” Bridget says, pointing to Sanderson’s William Morris collection as an example of the up-and-coming trend.

This 18th-century maximalism has even coined a new term among its devotees: grandmillennial. It’s the elegant, bold-patterned push of your grandparents meeting the selective modern flair of youth. “After years of a more minimalist, mid-century feel, the millennial’s antidote is a “more is more, look,” says Kirsten, and is achieved by combining florals and fringe detailing with contemporary furniture.

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R IN WITH THE NEW While wallpaper can bring walls alive, sometimes outdated trends can do exactly the opposite.

If you’re stuck with a pattern that no longer appeals, there’s only one question on your mind: can you wallpaper over existing wallpaper?

The short answer, according to Resene’s Northern Region retail manager Ingel Janssen, is no. “Back in the day, it was common practice to paper over old wallpaper. However, once vinyl became the standard top surface for wallpaper, wallpaper wouldn’t stick to that vinyl surface.”

Old textures and patterns also have a bad habit of showing through the new layer of paper, which is far from ideal.

Previously applied wallpaper should come off reasonably easily, but if not, a couple of coats of wallpaper stripper and a broad knife should do the trick.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

PHOTOGRAPHY ARE MEDIA SYNDICATION, EMMA HAYES DESIGN, MISS LOLO, ALLIUM INTERIORS, RESENE

Much like bringing a bottle of wine to a dinner party, a die-hard DIY-er should always be prepared. Gather all the essential equipment needed for your wallpapering project to cut down on those time-consuming return trips to your local hardware store.

You don’t need a lot, but you will need some necessities. A plumb bob or spirit level will ensure the paper is hung straight, while a sharp snap blade utility knife will guarantee a clean cut.

“Always use a sharp blade to avoid jagged edges,” says Ingel. Don’t forget a straight edge to trim scotia and skirtings.

For pre-pasted paper, use a water trough to place the paper into to react with the water.

If you’re pasting by yourself, a table or large flat surface will come in handy for the task at hand, as will a ladder and a drop cloth.

Finally, remember a bucket of clean water and a sponge to remove excess paste from the front of the paper, making sure to refresh the water regularly.

ISLAND LIFE An original fabric design of a tapa cloth pattern, this is printed over three rolls for maximising the pattern repetition. MInd the Gap Samoa, $499, from Allium Interiors.

Tip It’s important to always read the label on the wallpaper roll and follow any specific instructions.

STICK WITH IT Take time to prep your walls by filling any cracks or holes to ensure a smooth, flat finish. Next, prime your walls with wallpaper size to seal the walls and aid movement of your wallpaper when hanging.

“Size and wallpaper paste go hand in hand,” Ingel explains. “If size isn’t used, you run the risk of edges and seams curling during and after the wallpaper has dried.”

With wallpaper paste, it’s available in premixed, powder or flake versions, although take care with ratios when mixing.

When you’re ready to hang, your left-toright instincts may not always be correct.

“You may have chosen a large bold pattern, which may look great centred on the wall.

Start in the middle of the wall and work outwards – this will create good pattern balance,” Ingel says.

Wall sealer is also essential. “Nearly all internal walls in New Zealand are made of paper-faced plasterboard,” says Ingel, which can create a “patchwork effect” visible under wallpaper, as well as bleed-through sunburn stains. To mitigate this, Ingel’s go-to is Resene’s Sureseal pigmented sealer to ensure an even coloured surface.

When in doubt, check the instructions as they can vary from product to product.

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Reno prep talk

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How to beat product shortages, unstable pricing and supply chain problems in your 2022 home remodelling

JEN JONES Renovations expert

f you’re thinking about renovating your home, you may be wondering how you’re going to navigate the long lead times and constant price increases you keep reading about. Ultimately, it all comes down to planning – which is the 101 of any home renovation, global pandemic or not. Some of the choices you make in relation to materials and design can have a flow-on effect to construction, never mind the supply chain problems we’re already navigating.

Here are 10 important decisions to think about if you’re planning to renovate this year.

1. Flooring Floor finishes can have an impact on your project in several ways. Depending on how specialised they are and where they’re coming from, the lead time for your finishes can be longer than your construction period. Ordering early helps to ensure they arrive on time.

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All floor finishes come in different thicknesses, so if they’re sitting adjacent to one another, such as from a carpeted bedroom to a tiled ensuite, you’ll need to make allowances for floor levelling, or accept the step.

Allowances could mean levelling compound to bring it up, or it could mean cutting down the sub-floor. Both of these strategies cost money, and the former requires pre-planning for construction.

Have you ever tried to open a door and have it drag on the carpet? By knowing your floor finishes upfront, your door frames can be installed at the right height to avoid this, otherwise you’ll need to skim the door later.

2. Lighting layouts Although the exact fittings and locations don’t need to be confirmed early (subject to lead times), their approximate locations should be. This

R enables the electrician to run cabling in the walls and ceiling cavity to the general location, with a bit of extra slack in case the location shifts more than a few centimetres. Given how in demand all subcontractors are right now, the last thing you want is to mess your sparky around and have them move onto another project. Try have a plan ready for them to work off when they come to the site.

3. Power outlets Much like the lighting layout, you need to have an idea of where and how many power outlets you’ll require early on, to enable cabling through the wall framing before plasterboard linings are installed. You’ll never wish you had fewer power points, so don’t hold back when completing your layout.

4. Windows You’ll need to include the size and location of new windows in your documentation, especially if the project requires a building consent. The supplier will also need to be notified of the programme so they can book you into their manufacturing schedule. Otherwise, if you wait until you’re ready for site measures to let them know, they may not be delivered on time. All manufacturers, especially local ones, are under immense pressure to keep up with the building boom, so if you don’t order early, you risk holding up construction on-site, or needing a workaround.

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5. Plumbing fittings Different fittings have different requirements. The location of your shower or bath drain, whether your toilet is plumbed through the wall or floor, and the position of your basin water supply and waste are all determined by their specific fittings.

The bonus of making these decisions early is that you might be able to secure a package deal if purchasing everything from one supplier. Be mindful of anything that triggers building consent, such as adding a second toilet, as this will add a few months to your project timeline, not to mention additional cost.

Tip It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the vast array of tile samples.

Pick hardy, long-wearing and timeless tiles in porcelain, glass, natural stone or concrete for bathrooms.

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6. Finishing lines Although standard profiles of skirting and scotia are easy to source, custom profiles aren’t. If your home has a mismatch of trims, you’ll need to decide upfront if you’re going to replace any to match. Depending on the decision, your builder may need to measure up off the plans and place an order before walls are built, particularly if you’re trying to match existing heritage finishing lines that can’t be sourced off-the-shelf.

“If your home has a mismatch of trims, you’ll need to decide upfront if you’re going to replace any to match.”

7. Utilities For those building new or renovating a house before living in it, you may need to submit applications for water and power accounts so your tradies have services to connect to during construction.

In a subdivision scenario where a new water meter and pillar-box for power is required, the lead time can be literally months, and ideally both will be connected when the build commences so don’t forget.

Similarly, getting your Optical Network Terminal installed so your internet service provider can connect your wifi can be a painfully long process. Book it early – it’s better to need to reschedule than move in without internet. Imagine!

8. Custom anything

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The benefit of off-the-shelf is just that; it’s off the shelf. Bespoke items such as custom joinery for the bathroom or kitchen however, can take time to be designed, have materials sourced and made – often by hand. The flipside of this, in this current climate, is that if the off-the-shelf item is out of stock, it may well be quicker to have something bespoke fabricated locally to expedite your schedule.

9. Made-to-measure As with custom products, anything that requires a site measure (structural steel, kitchen joinery, bifold doors) will need to have the site measure booked in advance to secure the spot, even if the timing is indicative only. If you’re working with a builder, then it’s likely their responsibility to arrange this, but a good DIY project manager would check that they have.

10. Window coverings Be it blinds, sheers, shutters or curtains, choosing your finish, fabric and style early is a necessity. Much like floor finishes and windows, the lead times for the material, as well as booking the manufacturing, could delay your project so it pays to book ahead of time. Be prepared for the risk of needing to change your fabric selection too, in case of a sourcing issue arising. Have a second choice ready to go. jen@nineyardsconsulting.co.nz

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SLEEP TIGHT Bedrooms are an escape from communal areas of the house, so it’s always a good idea to make them somewhere you want to relax in. It could well be time for a makeover – our bedroom update has the lowdown on how to do that on page 104.

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MAKEOVER 94

Pretty in pink Life looks rosy at this city pad.

104 Pattern play Roll out the good times with wallpaper.

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COOL COMBO Taking a few pointers from Miamiinspired interiors, pink and green should always be seen as far as homeowners Chantal Assinck and Tom Klomberg are concerned.

Pink is said to create nurturing feelings while green is said to be restorative and peaceful.

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PRETTY IN PINK

Life is looking rosy for an apartmentdwelling couple who have an eye for colour and design

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hantal Assinck and her partner Tom Klomberg live on the third floor of an apartment building located in the heart of busy city situated near a picturesque, storied river.

After a nine-month period of travelling around the world, the couple moved from the metropolis to a different region because of the cheaper house prices, more living space and tranquility. Known for its parks and museums, the new location also has a nice city vibe.

Tipped off by a local real estate friend, from the outside the 58sqm apartment didn’t spark their enthusiasm at first, but after viewing they began to see the potential. Built in 1955, in a functionalist style, the building had been devastated by a fire in the ’90s, destroying all its original details. But from the ashes, it also created an opportunity to rebuild and modernise the apartment to the couple’s taste.

The apartment layout was redesigned and adapted to their needs.

The most important change was the removal of the wall between the kitchen and living room to create one big space, bringing in daylight from both sides. The lowered ceilings were removed and central heating installed. A bathroom was created in a part of the original hall – and they wanted a bedroom with just enough space for their bed.

All the structural renovations were done by a contractor, but a lot of the finishing was done by Chantal and Tom. The talented pair created bespoke cabinets, furniture – and their pride and joy – the kitchen.

For this they used the most budget-friendly wall tiles from a DIY store, plus the frame of an Ikea kitchen. The fronts of the doors were redone by an interior builder and have been made thicker.

Once the builder left, the couple focused on the finishing details, such as paint. Pink is the dominant colour, even the doors and the ceiling were painted in a rosy palette. This bold statement indicates how the residents live: audaciously – with an eclectic sense of style and love for modern art.

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Meet & greet Chantal Assinck (location agency owner) and Tom Klomberg (HR consultancy owner).

M KITCHEN/DINING Tom and Chantal tiled the kitchen island and counter themselves using an Ikea kitchen form as the base.

The grey Lyon Beton concrete chair is from the Hauteville collection, the vintage Tulip table is by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, and the pink chair by Sebastian Herkner for Linteloo.

Painting door frames, window sills and skirting boards in the same colour effectively makes them ‘disappear’, drawing more attention to furniture and artworks.

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M LIVING The still life photograph on the window sill is Stripe by Mirella Sahetapy, the vintage Bachelor chairs are by Verner Panton for Fritz Hansen and the Cord lamp by Design House Stockholm. The Jasper Morrison stool for Moooi is made of agglomerated cork and the graphic lollipop-shaped Paper Lamp is by Rene Barba for Ligne Roset. The large vintage Berber Beni Ourain wool rug helps to soften the area.

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A bathroom was created in a part of the original hall – and they wanted a bedroom with just enough space for their bed.

ON THE TILES After the building contractor left, the couple did the tiling in the bathroom and kitchen, themselves. The concrete Lyon Beton bar stools are part of the Hauteville collection and the Wiggle side chair is by Frank Gehry for Vitra. On the sideboard is a miniature Gerrit Rietveld chair, an heirloom Oriental vase, a vintage abstract white vase and Lotek lamp by Benno Premsela..

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M LOUNGE TIME The daybed-like sofa was built by Tom and Chantal and the round artwork is by Studio Mieke Lucia.

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Tip Fitted cupboards and storage units with doors help to streamline a room, making a compact space like a home office easy to keep free of clutter.

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KEY 1 Living room 2 Kitchen 3 Bedroom

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4 Balcony 5 Hall 6 Cupboard 7 Bathroom 8 Office

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SHOP THEIR STYLE Millennial pink meets chequered chic in this effortlessly cool abode

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1 Cord floor lamp, $683, from Finnish Design Shop. 2 Anne Nowak Blue Interstellar print, $82.90, from The Poster Club. 3 Kuzina coffee table, $1400, from Iris Studio.

4 Cushion in grey stripes, $45, from Foxtrot Home. 5 Thomas Maxam Abomination bud vase, $180, from Infinite/Definite. 6 Sansevieria trifasciata laurentii plant, $36.99, from The Plant Project. 7 Arnold circus stool, $260, from Scout Home. 8 Resene Cupid paint, $4.90 (testpot) from ColorShops. 9 Harmie vase, $14.99, from Urban Stock.

10 Slim retro colour one-door bedside table, $999, from Mood. 11 Melting disco ball sculpture, around $10,500, from France & Son. YO UR HO ME A ND GA RD EN

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WORKSHOP

And so to BED Of all the rooms in the house, the bedroom should be the dreamiest and most expressive of your personality. We flesh out 2022’s hottest trends in these soothing spaces that will look great and leave you feeling even better Text Catherine Steel

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ometimes there’s only one place you can get some peace – the bedroom. It’s a retreat from the chaos of daily life, a space for sleeping, reading a book or recharging.

As work and home life have blended, we’re re-evaluating what we need in our private spaces and want to make every inch count. Now, more than ever, bedrooms should be our places of refuge and representations of our true selves.

Brilliant bedheads Whether you’re a sleek minimalist or relishing the resurgence of maximalism, a key bedroom feature is the headboard.

Toni Brandso, interior designer and co-founder of Material Creative, says bedheads in the current climate are not for the meek. They’re going larger than life, creating a way for people to express their favourite colour, shape or print.

“We design interiors for boutique hotels, as well as residential homes, and are finding the biggest request from residential clients, is to bring the hotel feeling into their homes, especially bedrooms,” Toni says. “Bring in a feature headboard, not just the classic square or rounded edges; think oversized and bold, free-form and asymmetric, and other interesting shapes.”

The beauty of bedheads is that they bring an extra dimension to the bedroom, transforming a plain wall into a visual statement. Fluted forms or sumptuous curves in a print really pack a punch. Or bring in a simple, serene linen that won’t dominate but gently steps your bedroom up a gear.

Not only will this material must-have anchor your relaxation space, it acts as a focal point to draw the eye in and works as a true expression of you.

“Bring in a feature headboard, not just the classic square or rounded edges; think oversized and bold.” bold.

TONI BR ANDS O

Dusk upholstered bed in Augustus wool zinc, $5647 (queen), from Citta.

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1 Made of Tomorrow frameless blob wall mirror, $499, from Flux Boutique.

2 French flax linen scalloped cushion covers, $179 (for two), from Bed Threads.

3 Wanaka flannel sheet, $149.90 (queen), from Wallace Cotton.

4 Berto table lamp, $169, from Freedom.

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Keep those curves Say goodbye to straight lines and sharp angles as sensual, smooth-shaped forms make themselves at home in bedrooms.

From the curved corners of bedheads to the inviting contours of a comfortable chair by the window to curl up with a book, repeated curve elements hold court. These have the simplicity and clean lines of an angular chair, but exude the visual warmth of open arms.

Luxurious shapes are easy on the eye and the senses, especially in soothing or spicy colours. They can also make you feel joyful and enhance your daily routine. Curves introduce an organic experience to a space, reminding us of the perfectly imperfect forms found outdoors, be it round pebbles or a winding river.

What better feature to have in a room that is your sanctuary?

Remember round forms can go beyond fittings and furniture.

A painted archway brings a vibrant element to a rectangular or square room and can be used to define spaces such as the ensuite or walk-in wardrobe from the bedroom. This playful concept sets an optimistic tone amid fluid forms and suggests a return to the raw beauty of nature.

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Savvy storage

Tip Look to textiles to add organic curved forms and enhance with other features, such as a lamp or bedside table.

As more homes are being built smaller in scale, storage adapts to suit, bringing about the rising trend of beds with built-in features. “With the rise of apartment living and people choosing smaller apartments that may be more affordable or in city locations, built-in storage is becoming a more prevalent design feature,” says Alinta Lim, designer at King Living. “Creating storage beds helps meet the ever-changing needs and space requirements of apartment living.”

There is also a move towards incorporating timber shelving with hidden bed storage so you can keep that favourite book and cup of tea easily at hand.

Lessening the amount of furniture will also help with the clutter. “Reducing clutter and creating space transforms the look and feel of a room. A bedroom needs to become a sanctuary for rest, and our surroundings contribute to this,” says Alinta. “Opting for bed designs that offer hidden storage allows you to keep your bedroom looking streamlined and contemporary while solving storage needs at the same time. Storage beds make the most of a large space that would otherwise be unused, which in compact living situations can be essential.”

While some bedroom furniture is still needed to complete your bedroom, Alinta says, bed storage creates a space for items such as seasonal bedding that would generally take up wardrobe or cupboard space.

“By freeing up space in other storage areas, you can maximise your space,” she says. “Everyday items like throw cushions can also be tidied away effortlessly, making cleaning easier.”

Tactile fabrics Layer, layer and layer some more. This is key to bedroom interiors this year, notably in bed linen.

Christie Maartensz, head of homewares from Freedom says the quilting 3D effect is strong with textile interiors, which translates so well to bed linen.

“Mix interesting textures, in both solid colours and neutrals, which are soft and tactile to touch,” she says.

“Interesting weaving techniques create beautiful multi-layered fabrications. Tonal yarns can accentuate layers of matelasse (quilted fabric) and coverlets for a sophisticated, timeless style.”

Covering your bed in soft textiles that vary in washes, is Christie’s suggestion, the focus being to steer away from the pattern. “Washes are becoming the hero rather than the prints, exposing the beautiful base cloths to allow for an aged stonewash finish,” she says. “What I adore about this trend, is that the more you wash it, the softer it gets.”

The homewares expert says to invest in versatile pieces that can be easily mixed and matched, allowing the natural fabrics to marry well together: “The colours organically become more muted, so they are nice and calming and easy to live with for years to come.”

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1 Washed velvet quilted throw in jam, $179, from Citta.

2 Rattan headboard, $995 (queen), from The Foxes Den. 3 Bonnie and Neil mini marigold pillowcase, $149 (set of two), from Father Rabbit.

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The iconic Ettore Sottsas Jr. Ultrafragola mirror/lamp.

“Warmth is a key thing right now and spicy tones are coming back in a softened way.”

JACKIE NICHOLLS

Playful shapes

Paint colour Wall colour, the base for our bedroom decor, is paramount to holding it all together. Colour is food for the soul, nourishing the senses. When you use it on your walls, it does the talking for you, speaking volumes about your sense of style.

This year, warm, spicy browns and pinks are making waves in interiors, pleasingly soothing us. “Warmth is a key thing right now and spicy tones are

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coming back in softened way,” says Jackie Nicholls, colour consultant at Resene. “Whites are getting warmer and some of those beautiful soft browns are returning, but with more complex cinnamon undertones not like the ’70s browns.

Soft pinks are turning heads, especially those with earthier undertones. “Dusky colours through to the warmer, sunset tones are on-trend. They’re the colours of nature

and nestle together easily, unlike the brighter ones, which can be more jarring to tie into place,” says Jackie.

The calm, fresh and serene bluegreens from last year are still popular.

As people are spending more time at home, restful colours will create a relaxing mood. Deeper tones will help to create a cocoon-like feeling that is both homey and dramatic, which after all, is the gold standard for bedrooms.

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Toni says we’re seeing a revival of ’80s and Memphis-style furniture. “Think bedside tables with interesting forms or lucite legs, checked bedspreads, waves juxtaposed with strong angles, and that famous Ettore Sottsass Ultrafragola mirror.”

The pastels and boldness of the ’80s embrace colour and form in a way that fast tracks our optimism. What’s also eye-catching are frilled cushions and you’ll also find these flounces around the edges of duvet covers, reminiscent of Laura Ashley florals. In the ’80s we may have gone overboard with such prints and patterns, but today’s version is more sophisticated and pared back. Add them to your bedroom in a plain fabric or in gingham. Continue this playful squiggle in your decor – think lampshades with a wavy trim or a scalloped bowl to place your jewellery in. There’s something reassuring about the nostalgia these elements bring.

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COLOUR HOME AWARDS

WINNER

great idea MAKE THE SMALL K I TC H E N S PAC E LOOK BIGGER BY EXTENDING THE C O LO U R I N TO T H E DINING ZONE.

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Meet & greet Arna and Dave Marshall, Willa, eight, and Nash, five.

Fortune favours the bold

This year’s Resene Colour Home Awards winner had some sleepless nights about her edgy paint colour choice, but it was a champion decision Text Caroline Moratti Photography Florence Charvin

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he 2022 Resene Colour Awards winner rewrote the rule book when it came to using bold, unapologetic colour without compromise.

Awash in a world of white kitchens, Arna Marshall’s fearless use of Resene Black paid off in all the right ways.

Softened by rattan pendant lights and creative wood panelling, the inky kitchen brings a depth of maturity to the newbuild. It’s as coy as the Mona Lisa portrait, which takes pride of place on a wall across from their dining table – a secret smile that comes only from the triumphant use of colour.

Arna was thrilled with the result, after it

gave her more than a few sleepless nights.

“It’s super edgy and not at all dark because of our big skylights,” she says. It’s also balanced by the use of Resene Black White in the kitchen. The couple was so fond of the shade that it now features in their dining room and on internal doors too, proving once again you can’t have too much of a good thing.

After the thrill of that success, the adventure continued to the children’s bedrooms, where colour continued to tug on the heartstrings. Resene Waiouru, a martial olive green, was the winner for daughter Willa’s room, while Resene Rusty Nail, a dry lemon-tinged ochre, adds warmth to son Nash’s space. “I wanted a YO UR H O ME A ND GAR DEN

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great idea MAKE A ROOM APPEAR W I D E R BY PA I N T I N G A THREE-QUARTER COLOUR-BLOCKED WALL .

Arna added more warmth and character to Nash’s bedroom with soft furnishings in different textures.

unisex option so the kids could swap rooms if they wanted to,” Arna explains.

The delightful hues complement a multitude of soft furnishing textures and shades, from pastel plaids to woven greys. “I love this deep army green. I think it works really well in Willa’s room because it offsets all her pretty pink and pastel linen, so it’s a little less girly and a little more edgy,” Arna says. The three-quarter colour-blocked style is offset by the Resene Black White upper quarter to define the earthy pigments, elongating the space while still maintaining the cosy trappings of warm colour.

With such a fierce love of design, it’s no surprise that Arna and her family are walking away with the coveted title and $5000 cash prize.

“We’re over the moon,” Arna says, although admits she hadn’t given the competition much thought since she was the first finalist. “I was really thrilled and really surprised since all the other entrants were so cool too.”

“Every time the new magazine came out, I’d go straight to the back because I knew that was where they were,” Arna confesses, “and every time I thought, this could be tough.”

Meanwhile, colour continues to define and dominate the Marshall family’s domestic life. A large white wall in Arna’s media room drives her mad “because it’s so boring”. Brainstorming is 112

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already underway for a street-artist friend to do a large mural to counteract the blank space.

Arna says, “We’re thinking pretty seriously about getting him to do something edgy on that wall. You won’t see it from the rest of the house, but if you enter that room it’ll be a real ‘woah’ moment.”

As for the $5000 cash prize, Arna has more than a few ideas. “We’d really like to go to Rarotonga, but in saying that, our house is reasonably newish and a portion of it will definitely go towards finishing our landscaping,” she laughs. “Plants are so expensive.” The dream would be an outdoor courtyard, complete with a pizza oven and built-in barbecue.

The Marshalls have ditched the rule book and they advise others to do the same: “If anyone else is thinking about colours and is nervous using colour, just go with your heart and do it because it’s only paint. You can change it later,” says Arna.

That mentality allowed Arna to break the mould and have fun with the process. “We really enjoyed playing with the colours and choosing, because obviously, as you know with Resene, there’s like 50 million choices,” she laughs.

“Even if you think it’s hideous two years down the track, it’s quite an inexpensive change to make, so just do it! You know? Be bold.”

More Resene colours to try:

RESENE Highball

RESENE Meteor

RESENE Big Stone

For more colour ideas and inspiration, visit your local Resene ColorShop, or order free colour charts online, resene.co.nz/ordercharts.

Jumping for joy. Nash and Willa are happy about their family being this year’s Resene Colour Home Awards winner.

Resene Waiouru on the walls helps to counterbalance the pink and pastel linen.

“We’re over the moon. I was really thrilled and really surprised since all the other entrants were so cool too.”

ARNA MARSHALL

Resene Black not only makes an impact in the kitchen and dining area, it also looks great on this door.

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Vegetable & lentil pot pies MAKES 4 INGREDIENTS

1 Tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped finely 1 medium carrot, chopped coarsely 2 stalks celery, trimmed, chopped coarsely 1 medium parsnip, chopped coarsely 2 cloves garlic, crushed 200g button mushrooms, sliced thickly 2 bay leaves 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary, plus extra leaves to serve ¼ cup tomato paste 1 cup vegetable stock 400g can diced tomatoes 150g green beans, trimmed, chopped coarsely 2 x 400g cans brown lentils, drained, rinsed 300g potatoes, chopped coarsely 300g orange kūmara, chopped coarsely 60g butter ½ cup finely grated parmesan-style cheese

medium-high heat; cook onion, carrot, celery, parsnip and garlic, stirring, for 10 minutes or until vegetables soften.

Add mushrooms, bay leaves and rosemary; cook, stirring, until fragrant.

Stir in tomato paste, stock and canned tomatoes; bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer for 20 minutes or until thickened. Add beans and lentils; cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until beans are tender. Discard bay leaves.

Season to taste.

2 Meanwhile, boil, steam or microwave potato and kūmara, separately, until tender; drain. Mash potato with half the butter until smooth; season to taste. Mash kūmara with remaining butter until smooth; season to taste.

3 Preheat oven to 200°C. Spoon lentil mixture evenly into four shallow 1¾-cup ovenproof dishes. Cover filling with both mash mixtures (see tip); sprinkle with parmesan.

4 Bake pies for 20 minutes or until cheese is browned. Serve pies topped with extra rosemary.

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Tip For a decorative top, spoon each mash into a piping bag fitted with a fluted tube; pipe onto lentil filling.b aking.

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1 Heat oil in a large saucepan over

FOOD 116

Sweet sensations Celebrate Mother’s Day with some home-made love.

125 Sound bites What’s new in the cuisine and beverage scene.

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Make it healthy Body coach Joe Wicks’ feel-good food.

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FOOD

SWEET SENSATIONS Home-baked cakes are at the heart of many fond childhood memories. Repay the love and bake one of these delicious beauties for Mother’s Day

Beetroot & chocolate mud cake

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Beetroot & chocolate mud cake

Goats’ cheese cake with figs & honey

SERVES 8

SERVES 10

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

2 cups mixed macadamias and brazil nuts ¼ cup dried currants or dried cranberries 6 medjool dates, pitted 1⁄3 cup maple syrup 2 large beetroot (about 300g), coarsely grated, plus extra to serve 200g desiccated coconut, plus extra to serve 1⁄3 cup pure raw cacao powder 1⁄3 cup carob powder 2 Tbsp golden flaxseeds (linseeds), coarsely crushed Scraped seeds of 1 vanilla bean Shaved dark chocolate, for decoration

500g cream cheese, at room temperature 250g goats’ curd, at room temperature (see Note) 75g butter, softened 4 eggs ½ cup raw caster sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract Finely grated zest of 1 lemon 6 black figs, cut into wedges Honey, to serve Chopped pistachios, to serve

ICING

2 avocados, coarsely chopped 170g raw honey ½ cup pure raw cacao powder 2 Tbsp coconut oil, softened ½ tsp sea salt Scraped seeds of ½ vanilla bean 1 Line an oven tray with baking paper

and place the ring from a 22cm-diameter springform cake tin on top; set aside.

2 Place nuts in a food processor and process to fine crumbs. Add dried fruit, dates and maple syrup and process until smooth. Add beetroot, coconut, cacao and carob powders, flaxseeds and vanilla seeds and blend until even in texture (add up to 2 tablespoons water if mixture is too dry).

Press mixture into prepared ring and place in freezer until firm, about 40-50 minutes.

3 For the Icing, place all ingredients in a food processor; pulse until smooth.

4 To unmould cake, run a knife around inside of cake ring, then release ring and remove. Use a small spatula to spread icing over cake; refrigerate until set, 30-40 minutes.

5 To serve, garnish cake with extra grated beetroot, a sprinkling of extra coconut and chocolate shavings.

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ALMOND PASTRY

240g plain flour 200g butter, coarsely chopped 80g ground almonds ¼ cup icing sugar 1 egg yolk 1 Preheat oven to 175°C. Grease and line

a 23cm-diameter springform cake tin lined with baking paper.

2 For the Almond Pastry, place flour, butter, almonds and icing sugar in a food processor and process to fine crumbs. Add yolk and 20ml cold water and pulse to bring dough together. Turn onto a lightly floured work surface and knead lightly until dough comes together. Press into base of prepared cake tin and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.

3 Bake base until light golden and cooked through, about 30-40 minutes.

4 Meanwhile, place cream cheese, goats’ curd, butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla and lemon zest in an electric mixer and beat until combined and smooth. Pour over pastry and bake until set, about 30-40 minutes.

Remove from oven and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Top with figs and pistachios, and serve drizzled with honey. Cake is best made on day of serving.

Note: Goats’ curd can be made by pouring 250g goat yoghurt into a sieve lined with muslin cloth set over a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and leave for three hours in a cool place until the liquid has drained, leaving a thick curd. Refrigerate, if not using immediately.

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Goats’ cheese cake with figs & honey

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Tres leches cake with bitter chocolate

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Lemon pound cake with creme fraiche & roses

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Tres leches cake with bitter chocolate

Lemon pound cake with creme fraiche & roses

SERVES 6-8

SERVES 10

Persian love cake SERVES 8 INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

120g butter, melted and cooled, plus extra softened, for greasing 5 eggs ¾ cup caster sugar 1½ cups plain flour 1 tsp baking powder Scraped seeds of 1 vanilla bean or 1 tsp vanilla bean paste 1½ cups evaporated milk 200g condensed milk 1 cup milk 300ml cream, whipped with ½ tsp ground cinnamon Grated bitter chocolate and Dutchprocess cocoa powder, for decoration

150g unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing 375g caster sugar 4 eggs, at room temperature 2 cups self-raising flour 200g creme fraiche, at room temperature Finely grated zest and juice of 2 lemons Crystallised rose petals, to decorate (available from select delis and cake-decorating shops)

1 Preheat oven to 170°C. Lightly butter

a 22cm-diameter cake tin and line with baking paper.

2 Place eggs and sugar in a bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until pale and tripled in volume, 5 minutes. Sieve in flour and baking powder, add vanilla and a pinch of salt. Fold to combine, then fold in melted butter. Pour mixture into prepared tin, smooth top and bake until puffed and golden, and a skewer inserted withdraws clean, 35-40 minutes.

3 Meanwhile, combine the three milks in a jug and set aside. Remove cake from oven, pierce all over with a skewer, then gradually pour milk mixture over cake, allowing it to be absorbed before adding more. Set aside to soak and cool, about 2-3 hours or overnight.

4 Serve topped with whipped cream, grated chocolate and cocoa.

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LEMON SUGAR

¼ cup caster sugar Finely grated zest of 1 lemon ICING

350g creme fraiche 70g icing sugar, sifted Finely grated zest of 1 lemon, plus 1 tsp juice 1 Preheat oven to 160°C. Lightly butter

a 22cm-diameter cake tin and line with baking paper.

2 Place butter and sugar in a bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Add flour and creme fraiche in alternating batches, starting with flour, until combined. Stir in lemon zest and juice, then spoon into prepared cake tin.

Bake until cake is golden and a skewer inserted in the centre withdraws clean, 40-45 minutes. Cool in tin for 15 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack to cool completely.

3 For the Lemon Sugar, combine all ingredients in a small bowl; set aside.

4 For the Icing, place creme fraiche and sugar in a bowl and use an electric mixer to whisk to soft peaks, about 3-4 minutes.

Fold in lemon zest and juice and spread over top of cake. Scatter with crystallised roses and lemon sugar and serve. Cake is best made on day of serving.

3 cups (360g) ground almonds 1 cup (220g) raw sugar 1 cup (220g) brown sugar 120g unsalted butter, softened 2 eggs, lightly beaten 250g Greek-style yoghurt, plus extra to serve 1 Tbsp freshly grated nutmeg ¼ cup (45g) pistachios, coarsely chopped 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly butter

a 22cm-diameter springform cake tin and line with baking paper.

2 Combine ground almonds, sugars, butter and 1 tsp salt in a bowl, then rub with fingertips to coarse crumbs. Spoon half the mixture into cake tin, gently pressing to evenly cover base.

3 Add eggs, yoghurt and nutmeg to the remaining mixture and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth and creamy.

Pour over prepared base, smooth top, scatter pistachios around edge and bake until golden, about 30-35 minutes.

4 Place on a wire rack and cool completely in tin. Serve with extra yoghurt. Will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

F

Persian love cake

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Apple tea cake SERVES 10 INGREDIENTS

3 Sift flour, sea salt and mixed spice

thinly slice lengthways. Heat butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add apples, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar and saute for 8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool to room temperature.

2 Preheat oven to 180°C and butter and flour a 22cm-diameter cake tin. Using an electric mixer, beat butter until pale, add sugar, then whisk until well combined and doubled in volume.

Add eggs, one at a time, whisking to incorporate before adding next. Add vanilla and whisk to combine.

into batter; gently fold until combined.

Spoon half the mixture into cake tin.

Spread apples evenly over batter and top with remaining batter.

4 Bake for 40 minutes or until a metal skewer inserted in the centre withdraws clean. Stand 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.

RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHY ARE MEDIA SYNDICATION

4 Granny Smith apples 30g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 1½ cups golden caster sugar 5 eggs 1 tsp vanilla paste 2 cups self-raising flour 1 tsp sea salt 2 tsp mixed spice Icing sugar, for dusting

1 Peel, core and quarter apples, then

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BY THE BOOKS

F

GOOD TIMES, NOT A LONG TIME

Make the most of feijoa season. This quick Feijoa Loaf is reliably foolproof.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup feijoas, peeled and chopped 1 cup boiled water 1 cup white sugar 50g butter 1 egg 1 tsp baking soda 2 cups self-raising flour

Basics to Brilliance Kids by Donna Hay (HarperCollins, $49.99) Donna Hay has updated her classic Basics to Brilliance Kids cookbook, so now there are more than 175 recipes for children to get a feel for the joy of cooking and start healthy eating habits from a young age. The fun-filled familyfriendly recipes are ideal for birthday parties, picnics, dinners, breakfasts… actually, any time food is warranted.

Everyday French Cooking by Wini Moranville (Allen & Unwin, $45) Secure a good stock of cheese because you’re going to need it with this book that demystifies French food and makes it as simple as you’re going to find. Granted, the food styling isn’t amazing, but this is real, honest-to-goodness family cooking. Salmon with wine, leeks and garlic or how about a lovely rolled French omelette?

1 Place feijoas, water, sugar and

butter into a pot, simmer for 5 minutes, cool slightly, then beat in egg, baking soda and flour.

2 Pour into a loaf tin lined with baking paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 45-50 minutes.

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

Sound bites

All the ingredients for kitchen and entertaining success Cocktail hour W E HAR DLY NEE D AN E XC US E F OR A C O C KTA I L B U T I F YO U D O, H O W A B O U T C EL EB RATING WORL D CO CKTAI L DAY ON MAY 1 3 ? T H E S E G L AS S E S W I L L D O YO U P R O U D.

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1 Fusion martini glass set, $54.95 (for four), from Freedom.

2 Florette coupe glass, $19.99 from Nood. 3 Smoky grey martini glass, $33, from Green with Envy.

DUCK, DUCK, ICE CREAM The incredibly delicious Duck Island Ice Cream – the brainchild of three chefs in the Waikato – is expanding its supermarket range. New flavours include Toasted Marshmallow, a vegan Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, Pecan Butterscotch, Ambrosia and Milk Chocolate Fudge in pintsize tubs. Even better, the genius ice-cream sandwiches will be available at places other than their scoop shops, too. Find the S’mores, PBJC and Fairy Bread versions in specialty stores such as Farro and Moore Wilsons. $11.50 for the pints and $8.50 for the ice-cream sandwiches. duckislandicecreamco.nz

FOR LAZY COCKTAIL MAKERS

If it sounds like hard work measuring ingredients in a shaker, then Batched has done the hard yards. Led by the trend in premium ready-made cocktails, they created bar-quality cocktails straight from the bottle. All you have to do is shake and pour.

The new Salted Grapefruit Margarita and Whiskey Sour iteration joins old-timers Strawberry & Rhubarb Gin Sour and Espresso Martini. $44.99 (725ml), from premiumliquor.co.nz

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hat started as a dream to do things differently has seen Dilmah become New Zealand’s favourite tea brand and one of the world’s most successful tea businesses. Started in 1988 by Sri Lankan Merrill J. Fernando, who named the company after his beloved sons Dilhan and Malik, Dilmah is unique. It is a brand that is founded on a passionate commitment to quality and authenticity in tea, it is also a part of a philosophy that goes beyond commerce in seeing business as a matter of human service. This is what makes Dilmah the first ethically produced tea.

As Dilmah celebrates 30 years in New Zealand, the family-owned and operated business remains very connected to this country that was one of the first to embrace the tea brand and has played a big role in the international success for the products which now sell in more than 100 countries. New Zealand was the first place invited to “do try it” and the love continues today.

W

The Beginning

1991 Weather with You by Crowded House was climbing the charts,

grunge fashion was all the rage, Keanu Reeves was Hollywood’s hottest star and Dilmah, a new player in the tea market, hit Kiwi supermarket shelves, disrupting the traditional offerings. In true no-frills, start-up style, the brand was launched to the market from the family’s distribution partner’s garage-turned-warehouse.

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2015

The Best High Tea in the World is found in New Zealand when Kiwi chefs Laurent Loudec and Camille Furminieux win the Dilmah Real High Tea Global Championship. Dilmah pioneered the concept to bring a new appreciation for tea in 2007 and the competition boasts Michelin- star chefs from around the globe.

Plus

Dilmah is voted the “Most Trusted Tea Brand”

by Kiwis, cementing the love and quality of its products.

It is a coveted position that the tea-makers have held for an impressive seven consecutive years in New Zealand.

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How a Sri Lankan family has become as beloved to us as their famous cuppas.

2018 Dilmah becomes the first

cup of the day as the sponsor of TVNZ’s Breakfast show, a partnership they still have today.

Beloved host Matty McLean visits the Fernando family in Sri Lanka to see the home of Dilmah for himself, and comes away with a new appreciation for the world of tea and the difference the company makes to the lives of many.

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YH&G + DILMAH

The

Dilmah story 1994

Dilmah’s founder Merrill J. Fernando became a familiar face in New Zealand thanks to the brand’s catchphrase “Do try it”, which invited Kiwis to give the tea a go. Created in this country, the campaign became a global success and was used in more than 100 countries around the world.

2006

1997 Standing true to its

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promise to be a brand that makes a difference, Dilmah started the MJF Foundation partnership with Hospice New Zealand. Today, more than 11 million tea bags have been donated.

It’s official, Kiwis love Dilmah! Through a commitment to quality and authenticity, the tea becomes New Zealand’s top-selling brand and cuppa of choice. The top spot is one they still hold today.

2014 NZ’s Cricket Live

Foundation partners with the MJF Foundation to set up “Life Through Cricket”. The aim is to guide and encourage poverty-stricken children in Sri Lanka through a holistic development framework that integrates valuable life skills into training regimes through a sport they love.

➧

Today

2019 Merrill J. Fernado is

awarded an honorary doctorate in Science from Massey University.

The capping celebrates his commitment to ethical business, and the NZ food and tea industry.

Dilmah acknowledges the positive outcomes of making business a matter of human service, as well as Merrill’s love for New Zealand.

2020

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Merrill J. Fernado turns 90 and is still involved with the running of the global business. What started as a dream has seen Merrill become the world’s most-experienced tea maker with his products available in 100 countries. He is still inviting people to “Do try it”.

2022 It has been 30 years

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since Kiwis fell in love with a cup of Dilmah and more than 9 billion cuppas have been enjoyed in New Zealand, but’s it’s just the beginning for the brand who dared to do things differently.

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FOOD EXTRACT

t i e k a

Known as the Body Coach, Joe Wicks shares nutritious, feel-good recipes designed to put a spring in your step

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lthy

hea

F Joe Wicks with son Marley and daughter Indie.

everything together until the oats and seeds are coated. Stir for another minute, then remove from the heat and allow to cool.

2 Divide the yoghurt between 4 bowls, top with the cooled Roasted Spiced Apples and the Toasted Oat Topping mixture.

For the Whipped Porridge 1 Pour the milk and water into a medium

Roasted spiced apples with oats – two ways SERVES 4

saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the oats and a pinch of salt, then bring back to the boil. Turn the heat off and cover with a lid. Let the oats sit for 5 minutes, then remove the lid, mix in the egg whites and turn the heat back on. Stir constantly with a whisk for 1–2 minutes until thickened.

2 Divide between 4 bowls and serve with the warm Roasted Spiced Apples on top.

JOE’S TIPS • Use pears instead of apples.

• Add a handful of frozen blueberries to the apples in the roasting dish.

• Add 50g of roughly chopped dried fruit, such as dried figs, dried apricots or prunes to the apple mixture after it has roasted.

• Try lemon zest instead of orange zest.

• Add 1 tsp freshly grated ginger with the apples at the start.

2 eating apples Zest and juice of 1 orange 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp light brown sugar or maple syrup ¼ tsp almond extract or 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional) FOR A SUMMER TREAT:

Yoghurt Bowls with Toasted Oat Topping 5 Tbsp porridge oats 3 Tbsp mixed seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, flax, hemp) 2 tsp butter or coconut oil 1 tsp honey or maple syrup 300g low-fat Greek yoghurt FOR A WINTER WARMER:

Whipped Porridge 500ml milk or dairy-free milk 450ml boiling water 160g jumbo oats Pinch of salt 2 egg whites 1 Preheat oven to 200°C. 2 Core the apples and slice into eighths.

3 Toss the apples in a roasting dish with

the orange zest and juice, cinnamon, olive oil, sugar or syrup, and almond or vanilla extract. Make sure they are well combined.

4 Roast for 30 minutes or until the apples are soft, stirring after 15 minutes. Serve warm or allow to cool, then pop into a lidded container and chill for up to 5 days.

For the Yoghurt Bowls with Toasted Oat Topping 1 Toast the porridge oats and mixed seeds in a small dry frying pan over a medium heat until fragrant and starting to brown.

Make a hole in the middle of the mixture and add the butter or coconut oil and the honey or maple syrup. Let it melt, then stir

Chicken caprese burgers

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Chicken caprese burgers Sweet potato nachos SERVES 4

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

4 skinless chicken breasts 50g plain flour 1 tsp dried oregano 1 egg 75g panko breadcrumbs 2 Tbsp olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 medium sweet potatoes (orange kũmara), peeled and sliced into 5mm thick coins 1 Tbsp light olive oil 1 tsp salt 60g cheddar cheese, grated 4 Tbsp low-fat natural yoghurt, to serve

TO SERVE

SPICED MINCE

1 x 125g ball of mozzarella cheese, drained 4 heaped tsp basil pesto 4 medium tomatoes, sliced a handful of fresh rocket 4 ciabatta rolls, halved

1 Tbsp oil 1 red onion, diced 100g veggie mince (or minced beef) ½ tsp ground cumin ½ tsp ground coriander ½ tsp smoked paprika Pinch of chilli powder 1 red capsicum, sliced

1 Preheat the oven to 220°C and line a

large baking tray with baking paper.

2 Take a large piece of baking paper, place a chicken breast on the left half of the paper and fold the right half of the paper over the top. Whack the chicken with the end of a rolling pin until it’s an even thickness all over. Set this chicken breast aside and repeat with the remaining chicken pieces. Cut each breast in half so you have 8 smaller pieces in total.

3 Take 3 wide, shallow dishes. In one, mix the flour, dried oregano, a pinch of salt and a pinch of ground black pepper.

In the second dish, mix the egg with a pinch of salt. In the third dish, place the panko breadcrumbs. Dip each chicken piece in the flour, the egg and finally the breadcrumbs, shaking off the excess. Place onto the lined baking tray, spacing them a few centimetres apart. Drizzle with half of the oil, then flip them all over and drizzle with the remaining oil.

4 Bake for 25–30 minutes, flipping them over halfway through the cooking time, until golden and crisp.

5 Cut the mozzarella into 8 slices and place one slice onto each piece of chicken.

Return to the oven for 5 minutes so that the cheese can melt.

6 Remove from the oven and top each piece of chicken with a little pesto.

Serve in the ciabatta rolls with the rocket and tomatoes.

JOE’S TIP I like to serve two pieces of chicken per roll for a larger burger, and one piece of chicken per burger for the kids.

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REFRIED BEANS

400g tin black beans, drained but liquid reserved Pinch of salt 1 tsp ground cumin SALSA

200g cherry tomatoes, roughly chopped Big handful of fresh coriander, Finely chopped juice of 1 lime Pinch of salt 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C. 2 Toss the sliced sweet potatoes (kūmara)

with the oil and salt on a large baking tray, then spread them out into a single layer

(you may need a second baking tray). Roast for 30–40 minutes, flipping over halfway through, until starting to turn golden.

3 For the Spiced Mince, heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-low heat.

Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes until translucent. Add the mince, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook for a few minutes according to the packet instructions, or until the mince is no longer pink if using beef. Stir in the cumin, coriander, paprika, chilli powder and capsicum slices. Stir until the capsicum has softened, about five minutes. Tip into a bowl and set aside.

4 For the Refried Beans, return the same pan to the heat and add the drained beans along with 100ml of the liquid reserved from the tin, the salt and cumin. Mash with a potato masher in the pan, loosening with more bean liquid as needed, to make a creamy, slightly chunky paste. Remove from the heat and set aside.

5 Mix together all of the salsa ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

6 Once the sweet potato nachos are roasted, top with spoonfuls of the refried beans, followed by a layer of the mince mixture and finally sprinkle over the grated cheese.

7 Return to the oven for 10–15 minutes until the cheese has melted and crisped up in places.

8 Remove from the oven, top with the salsa and some dollops of yoghurt, then serve.

F Baked ricotta & strawberry cheesecake SERVES 8-10 INGREDIENTS BASE

35g unsalted butter, melted 75g ground almonds 25g plain white flour Pinch of salt 1½ tsp caster sugar CHEESECAKE FILLING

250g ricotta cheese 340g light cream cheese 100g caster sugar 2 Tbsp cornflour 3 large eggs Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp vanilla extract STRAWBERRY TOPPING

400g strawberries (fresh or frozen), hulled 2 tsp runny honey 1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 Preheat oven to 200°C. Use some of the

5 Pour the cheesecake filling over the

melted butter to grease the sides of an 18cm springform cake tin.

2 For the Base, mix all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Tip into the cake tin and press down into an even layer.

Bake for 6–8 minutes until golden, then remove from the oven and set aside.

3 Turn the oven down to 160°C. 4 For the Cheesecake Filling, sandwich the ricotta cheese between 4 layers of kitchen paper, patting it down to form a flat circle (this removes excess moisture from the cheese). Uncover and tip into a large bowl, then add the cream cheese and use a whisk to stir until smooth. Mix in the sugar and cornflour followed by the eggs, lemon zest and juice, and vanilla.

baked crust and place the tin onto a baking tray. Bake for 50–60 minutes until the edges are set and the middle has a slight wobble. Carefully slide a knife around the outer edge of the baked cheesecake, then set aside to cool completely.

6 Meanwhile, make the Strawberry Topping. Tip 100g of the strawberries into a food processor with the honey and blitz until you have a smooth puree. Cut the remaining strawberries into quarters and place in a medium bowl. Add the strawberry puree and stir to coat.

7 Cut the cooled cheesecake into wedges and serve with the Strawberry Topping spooned over.

FEEL-GOOD FACT Ricotta is lower in salt than cream cheese, so swapping out some of the cream cheese for ricotta in a cheesecake can make it healthier (excess salt in the diet leads to high blood pressure).

Recipes extracted from Feel Good Food

by Joe Wicks (HarperCollins, $45).

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GARDENS 134 WINTER ROSES Late autumn is the time when hellebores push out new growth, such as this Helleborus orientalis (Lenten rose), with fat buds emerging from the soil near the base of the plant.

Feed well with sheep manure and compost and this shade-loving beauty will reward you by flowering through to late spring.

Constant gardener Mary LovellSmith’s tips for May.

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House mates Mary’s guide to choosing the best indoor plants for you.

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The constant gardener Winter is coming, and although growth will be slowing everywhere, planting and sowing may still take place

Garden diary

MARY LOV E L L- S M I T H Garden editor

Tip This month is a good time to bring out the pruning shears and tend to your fruit trees.

Choose a fine morning and remove any diseased or cracked limbs, getting rid of the older wood to encourage new growth.

May

Sow & plant

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Trees and shrubs are best planted or transplanted now, so they can settle in before the cold, and are ready to take off once the soil and air warms up in spring. Water in well.

Plant a fruit tree – the world, and your family, can never have too many.

It’s a good time, too, to divide crowded perennials and grasses, and to shift them around if they didn’t perform as well as they could have where they were. Or if they just didn’t look good. The mobility of smaller plants is one of many joys of gardening.

Sow BROAD BEANS in blocks rather than rows so they are able to withstand the spring equinox winds, which can strike just as the plants start to bound away.

SNOW PEAS can also be sown. Save twiggy prunings to use as plant props.

GARLIC and SHALLOTS may be planted right up until early spring, preferably in free-draining and friable soil in a sunny spot. Push bulbs pointy side up halfway in and about 10cm apart in rows about 40cm apart.

Plant BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER and CABBAGE seedlings for spring eating. And sow root crops such as CARROTS, RADISH, SWEDES and TURNIPS.

G S H O U L D W E L E AV E Gather leaves on paths before the rain turn them slippery or they smother lawns Then, spread them on garden beds as mulch. Shallowrooted trees and shrubs such as hydrangeas, rhododendrons, azalea, citrus will especially appreciate them. They can also be added to composts or made into valuable leaf mould. Tough leaves, such as eucalyptus, rhododendron and karaka, can first be piled up and run over with the motor mower or a put through a shredder.

Landscaping 101 – hoggin Roads, pavements, plazas and other hard surfaces compose so much of urban environments that minimising them in the domestic garden is always a welcome prospect. But what could replace this matrix of concrete, bitumen, stone, brick and wood paths, driveways, terraces and decks blighting the garden? Even shingle has an intractable and sometimes wearying inflexibility.

Popular in British National Trust gardens, and more especially those in the south of England, is hoggin. The word is solidly British, with a northern ring, up there with parkin, goblins and butties but the effect is decidedly sunnier.

This compactable, environmentally friendly and permeable groundcover is usually composed of clay, fine limestone chip and sand; the blending of all three results in a firm yet soft buff-coloured surface with an easy-going vibe. Think French petanque courts, remote Italian village squares high in the Mediterranean Alps, or grassy, tree-lined country lanes in Kent.

In a domestic garden, hoggin makes an excellent setting for a casual courtyard or dining area, under a grapevine-festooned pergola, lavender growing up through it here and there. Heavenly.

It can also be used in a more formal manner,

as is often done in the English National Trust gardens, where the paths are commonly bordered with brick or wood. However, it comes into its own when its edges are softened with plants spilling over them and the definition between the garden bed and path is blurred.

Unfortunately, hoggin is only suitable for driveways if used in conjunction with a hard surface. And a smidgeon or so of dust can stick to certain soles, and be tracked inside.

Only a problem, if you have a household that doesn’t remove shoes on entering, and one easily solved by placing stepping stones, or an apron of hard surface immediately adjacent to doors.

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CONSIDER THIS Renting a hive from a beekeeper for your garden makes everyone a winner.

The beekeepers and bees are happy having access to all your (and your neighbourhood’s) pollen and nectar. The environment is happy as bees are crucial to its survival as we know it. Having bees on site to pollinate your flowers means more fruit. You have all the joy – and the beekeeper all the responsibility – of caring for these little workers. And, usually part of the deal is that you get a pre-determined quantity of local honey, which is inordinately satisfying. You’ll also have an interesting structure gracing your garden.

STEAL THIS LOOK

How to use seaweed What’s not to like about something that improves soil structure, increases soil microbes, contains growth-promoting plant hormones, is rich in the likes of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iodine, calcium and dozens more minor nutrients and trace elements, and is free? Next time you’re at the beach do your plants a favour and grab a load of seaweed – only that washed up on the beach, never pull it off rocks. Dump it straight onto the compost, or into a drum of fertiliser tea, where it can soak along with comfrey, stinging nettle and horse manure. Some leave it on top of bare soil to break down. Others like to bury it where potatoes are to be planted. Thick blades of kelp can be left to dry, then chopped by hand or with a shredder or lawnmower – and sprinkled over the garden.

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Ameliorate the frustration of breaking a favourite garden pot by embracing the damage – while contemporaneously adding an Elysian antiquity to your garden.

Here an old clay vessel has been filled with dirt, placed, partially buried on its side at the base of an old tree. Plants have moved in of their own accord – though you could lend a hand and plant your own. Consider some ivy wrapping its tendrils around its base. For more depth and authenticity entice mosses, which grow easily on unglazed pottery and stone, by mixing chopped up moss into plain, unsweetened yoghurt and smearing the mixture over the object. Keep in the shade and spray with water intermittently. Similarly, lichen may be encouraged using milk and flakes of lichen, although this is a much slower process than growing moss.

YH&G + THE RELEASE

THE RELEASE The latest and greatest Power-cleaning is in your hands The Samsung Bespoke Jet Stick Vacuum Cleaner brings stunning design and powerful, hygienic cleaning to your home. It features an All-in-one Clean Station that makes storing and charging the vacuum incredibly easy, while simultaneously emptying the dustbin in a hygienic way. With up to 210W* of suction and a lightweight design, you can clean your home effortlessly. $1799.

Best for blending The Braun PowerBlend 9 features a sophisticated range of new technologies and is a powerhouse of innovative features and intuitive precision. The iTextureControl allows ultimate blend customisation from smooth to coarse, with 18 food programmes and adjustment levels. Braun’s TriAction technology jug ensures ingredients are distributed faster to blending areas and guarantees faster high-quality blending. The PrecisionEdge blade can deal with tough ingredients, such as root vegetables and chunks of ice, with ease.

* Suction tested based on the IEC62885-2 Cl. 5.8 standard, tested at the inlet of the non-motorized tool, using Jet mode. Based on internal tests.

Three-in-one innovation The Tefal Easy Fry Grill & Steam is a groundbreaking 3-in-1 healthy air fryer with a 6.5L XXL cooking capacity and more flexibility than ever.

Combining air frying, steaming and grilling in a single appliance, the aluminium grill plate allows you to achieve juicy, tender seared meat without the smoke or smell of traditional grills. The steaming function helps to preserve the nutrients in food, making it ideal for dishes where you want to achieve a tender result.

Available from Harvey Norman.

Steam and sanitise Tefal lives and breathes innovation, and its latest innovation is the IXEO Power hand-held steamer and sanitiser. The all-in-one garment care solution, it combines iron, steamer and ironing board into one clever device. It offers a 3-position Smart Board, ergonomic upright design, high-pressure steaming and lightweight ironing for wrinkle-free looks every day. Winner of the Good Design Award – Best in Class Accolade in 2020, the steam also kills up to 99.99% of viruses, bacteria and germs.

Available from Harvey Norman. $859.95.

Espresso to impress Create third wave specialty coffee at home from bean to espresso in less than a minute with the Breville Barista Express Impress espresso machine with the Impress Puck™ System. Achieve the perfect dose and a precise tamp while reducing the grinds on the machine and bench top at home. If you are looking to upgrade your current espresso machine or keen to get into making espresso but hesitant about the manual side of dosing and tamping, the new Barista Express Impress is what you’re seeking for ease of use and convenience.

SCAN AND BE IN TO WIN Visit therelease.co.nz for a chance to win one of the above products.

Promotion ends 8 May 2022. T&Cs apply.

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Whatever your interior design style or horticultural bent there’s an indoor plant to brighten your home. We’ve rounded up 10 of our favourites Text Mary Lovell-Smith YO UR H OME AN D GAR DEN

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1

Palm

For its second comeback the kentia has thrown off its ’60s and ’70s connotations of Queen Victoria and the Empire. Now we’re loving it for its tropical elegance. And it hails from the Pacific Islands, no less, being endemic to Lord Howe Island, a dot in the Pacific between here and Australia. Relatively slow-growing, throwing up one frond a year, it seldom reaches more than 3.5 metres in captivity. Full sun tends to burn its leaves so give it bright but indirect light, and treat it right by giving it a shower in the rain now and then.

Fun fact: Kentia is for William Kent, 18th-century English landscape architect who started the “natural” style of gardening.

2

For animal lovers

Anyone partial to the soft and furry might find themselves drawn to another Pacific Islander. Fiji’s epiphytic rabbit’s foot fern (Davallia fejeensis) has lush bright green, filmy, ferny foliage emerging from the cutest rhizomes ever. These silvery-fawn furry rhizomes wrap themselves around and around the pot, just begging for a stroke. However, arachnophobes may detect a closer resemblance to tarantula legs. Easily grown if kept moist, it’s best kept out of direct sunlight in a warm spot with no major temperature fluctuations.

You may also like: The foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus) with its arching plumes. Actually a perennial, tuberous roots make this South African drought-tolerant – ideal for the inattentive or indolent pot plant owner.

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On the rise

Quick, sell the monstera and cash in on possibly the hottest, hippest house plant, Pilea peperomioides, aka Chinese money plant. While becoming more common in dwellings around the world, this native to southern China is rare in the wild. It most likely earned its name for its ability to reproduce frequently, from babies which sprout around the base of the parent plant. Like nasturtiums, the stalk is attached near the centre of the leaf, allowing them to hang most prettily. Small and bright green, these plants exude freshness and simplicity.

A collection of them in matching pots is the epitome of cool especially in minimalist or Scandi-style interiors. Apparently, they’re easy to grow.

Disclaimer: Mine began dying, leaf by leaf, within 24 hours of bringing it home. One leaf remained before I finally found somewhere to its liking – in the pale early morning sun.

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4

Symmetry in motion

There is something inordinately satisfying about the perfect symmetry, neatness and nattiness of succulents and cacti. Not all are, of course, but as a group they tend to be restrained and neat.

A considered collection of small ones in a pot or pots makes a perfect dinner table arrangement, and offers an opportunity to observe their beauty up close. Green, rather than grey, blue or purple do best indoors, unless in a very sunny spot. Very hardy, succulents in pots are more like to die from overwatering, than anything else.

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5

Fiddly fig

Being dramatic and imperial doesn’t always equate to a drama queen, but unfortunately it is often the case with the fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata). There is every reason why this magnificent plant with its uber-sized ultra-glossy leaves has become one of the hottest house plants of the 2020s, but it does have an annoying tendency to sulk when its situation changes. It will take time to settle down. If you’re in for the long haul, put it in a big pot, remembering it is a tree with tree-like aspirations. In its natural habitat, in the wilds of western Africa, it will grow to 15 metres tall but fear not, it seldom grows more than three metres indoors – and it can be easily pruned into submission. It does best in bright filtered light.

Treat it right: Polish its large, violin-shaped leaves now and then with a damp cloth.

7

Purple gain

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Patternalia

Alocasia, coleus, calathea, maranta, dieffenbachia, caladium, sonerila – these are those plants with the fabulously patterned and coloured leaves (and fabulously difficult to pronounce and remember names) that fill Instagram pages. The leaves that outshine their flowers a million times make you believe God was a painter, so beautiful, intricate and stunning they are.

Be they spotted, speckled, splattered, stippled or dappled, daubed or striped, splashed, rimmed, veined the beauty is in the exquisite detail.

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Oxalis, the very name sends a chill through a gardener’s heart. But that same survivalist attitude it exhibits outside means it’s a house plant that can cope with a little neglect – or too much attention.

Purple shamrock (Oxalis triangularis) has triangular leaves that resemble a host of pretty purple moths. A brimming pot of it brings a moody passion to a darker room, and eye-popping zing to light and white spaces.

To maximise the purple, give them loads of sun.

Bonus: For those who like plant action, its leaves fold up at night and on cloudy days.

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Orchids

Beautiful, elegant orchids are very much a house plant whose reputation bears little relation to the facts. Most of the more than 25,000 species are not hard to grow given the right conditions, which are essentially bright, indirect light and out of warm, dry draughts, such as heat pump air. Being epiphytes, orchids need a special potting mix – not soil, and they like tight spaces that replicate their oftenprecarious position on trees. Once the flower spike appears up the feeding regime and it should bloom away quite happily for months.

8

Classic

It would be mean-spirited and untrue to say that the only reason Aspidistra elatior has had such enduring popularity as a pot plant is because it is all but impossible to kill. That said, its popular names of cast-iron plant and bar-room plant do indicate just how tough this native of Japan and Taiwan is. Get, if you can, a variegated one, the cream patterning on the green leaves is fabulous – and on every one the splashes and stripes and markings are different. The worst thing you can do to an aspidistra is give it sunlight… drought, draughts, deep shade it will cope with, but like a vampire it hates the sun. Not too much water either.

Arguably even tougher, is – mother-inlaws tongue (Sanseveria trifaciata).

10

Monstera madness

“House plant sells for $27,100” shrieked the New Zealand headlines last June. All around the world social media rumours blossomed and the asking price for monsteras shot up. However, the plant in question, commonly called a mini monstera, was actually a Rhaphidophora tetrasperma. Similar in appearance to Monstera deliciosa, it is, in fact, a different species. As well, it was a rare white and variegated example, which like variegated monsteras, always fetch higher prices than plain green ones. Both these natives of tropical zones and their distinctive large, holey leaves, like bright but indirect light and regular watering to keep them healthy.

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F I N A L S AY

DESIGN DIRECTION An interior designer whose work is so good we want this look for home

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WALL MOULDINGS “The building’s fabric contained intricate cornices and ceiling roses, some even hidden, so we added wall mouldings throughout to enhance these original features.”

LIGHTING “This new version of the Press Club was designed to be atmospheric, both day and night. It’s a beautiful space to hang out in during the day, and in the evening the carefully placed sconce lighting transforms it into an intimate and inviting lounge area.”

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The lounge was deliberately designed to give “a nod to the history of the hotel when Irishman Thomas Bracken formed Dunedin’s first Press Club in the 1870s, explains the project’s interior designer Suzanne Lear.

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“To enhance that sense of atmosphere we chose deep blue for the walls, which makes the space feel dark and moody and cocooning, all at the same time. We used Porter’s Paints French wash in Old Havana with a Blue Steel base. This finish was selected to give the surface that sense of patina we were aiming for.”

TONE ON TONE “The composition of furniture is crucial to the success of a space.

When I was working on this project, with designers Saila Wang and Hana Stay, we gave this a lot of consideration. We wanted to create a welcoming atmosphere that would draw people in. The furniture is deliberately tone-on-tone, to create a calm and harmonious space.”

WHAT MAKES THE ROOM SING “Of course, the striking Christian Lacroixdesigned Atelier carpet from Ege is what gives the space its personality. We knew instantly it was the poetic finishing touch we were looking for and it also plays into the sense of heritage we wanted to establish.”

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