Happy Home

Summer-up your indoors with quirky items we love

A cool collab

This is what you get when homewares and fashion collide. An extremely cute as well as cool range of homewares that add fun to the home. Say hello to Thing X Sylvester, which is a collaboration between New York-based New Zealander Bridie Picot of homeware brand Thing Industries and fashion designer Kate Sylvester. There are four pieces in the collection. Our faves include this quirky cactus hook to hang your keys on, a birdhouse bookshelf to hold your place in the book you are reading on its roof – and a ceramic bookend planter made by Auckland ceramic artist Gidon Bing (see page 68). katesylvester.com

Carson & Bird carboNZero

Becoming the first New Zealand furniture retailer to be carboNZero certified is Carson & Bird founder Kate O’Leary’s first step towards changing the industry, which she hopes others will follow. O’Leary’s next steps will be focusing on reviewing suppliers and their raw material sourcing practices. carsonandbird.com

Supporting artisans

Strong believers in buying local, Havelock North couple Peter and Nicola Coulter have launched online contemporary home store Cauliflower which puts the focus on New Zealand-made homewares by artisan producers. They have a physical store in Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay too, and their own range of furniture and printed textiles with an emphasis on using locally sourced and recycled materials. “Just as people are supporting farmers’ markets, we feel that people are looking for the provenance behind what we buy for our homes, what we choose to surround ourselves with as well as what we eat,” Cauliflower’s Peter Coulter says. cauliflower.co.nz

Sleep Gallery

Buying a bed is one of the most important decisions you can make yet the problem is you can’t really try before you buy because having a nap in an open showroom isn’t really a thing. Which is why we think the Sleep Gallery in Parnell, Auckland is on to something. Here, there is a sectioned off space where you can try out the beds and even have a nap. Eye masks are provided, and you can plug your ears in for relaxing music too. They also offer a pillow fitting service. sleepgallery.co.nz