100 issues!
For our 100th issue, we asked some pals of homestyle whose work we’ve featured over the years 10 questions on subjects close to our heart, then turned the spotlight on the top 10 answers.
To mark our major milestone, we asked homestyle contributors 10 personal questions.
1. Homestyle’s all about elevating the everyday — what functional object do you appreciate most in your home?
Erena Te Paa, stylist The humble stool. I use them so often, as much for side tables as for sitting on, climbing on and storing things in.
Annique Hessen, Gezellig Interiors
My Pallarès bread knife. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend you treat yourself.
Evie Kemp, stylist & maker My Samsung Frame TV. I love a good Netflix binge and also appreciate being able to make the television part of my décor — unlike at my first homestyle shoot many years ago, when we hid the TV out on the deck while we shot our photos!
Alana Broadhead, curator & designer
I’ve been road-testing a Fog Linen towel and I’m converted. The linen takes a few washes to break in, but once that’s done, it’ll spoil you for any other fabric.
Imogen Tunnicliffe, designer at Città
My secateurs by ARS. They fit perfectly in my hand, never seem to blunt and satisfyingly snip delicate stems and tough branches with equal ease.
Gem Adams, Blackbird Goods
My cane laundry basket. Whether it’s holding washing to be done, go out, come in or be put away, every time I see it, I’m thankful for how lovely it is.
Bec Snelling, Douglas & Bec My shower. I love water and cleansing rituals, so in the morning, I use it to transition into the day, then I use it if I ever need to reset, and again at night to finish my day.
Charlotte Rust, Babelogue I recently bought a handmade potato masher from Frances Nation and it’s incredibly effective.
Amber Armitage, art director & stylist
My vintage marble coffee table. I got it from Future Goods and it functions as a central entertaining piece.
Alex Fulton, interior designer & stylist
Things that look a little different to the norm, like my Cacti salt and pepper grinders by DOIY. They add a little something extra to the everyday.
2. We’re endlessly inspired by our local creative community — who’s one maker, designer or architect you admire?
David Moreland, designer at Città
Anyone who’s still practising their craft is nailing it in my book. Seeing work of such a high international standard being produced locally is inspirational.
Juliette Hogan, fashion designer I love Fearon Hay Architects’ creations. Our Auckland workroom was designed by them and we were lucky enough to shoot a recent campaign at Tim Hay’s own home. He designs spaces that just feel so right.
Evie Kemp, stylist & maker Lissy Cole and her husband Rudi Robinson, who combine super-bright fibre craft with traditional Māori art. I love seeing these craft forms brought into a contemporary art setting.
Toni Brandso, Material Creative Nat Cheshire of Cheshire Architects. He’s a creative genius whose work inspires me to keep pushing the boundaries with materials and craft.
Charlotte Rust, Babelogue Ghastly Studios, for their originality and strong aesthetic sensibility.
Annique Hessen, Gezellig Interiors
I’ve always had an affinity for Martin Poppelwell’s ceramics. They’re thoughtprovoking, cheeky and charming.
Imogen Tunnicliffe, designer at Città
I really admire Christopher Duncan’s work. His beautiful hand-woven textiles are so subtly textured and coloured, and include little unexpected details throughout the fabric.
Kirsty McLay, Klay My local community garden in Auckland, OMG —Organic Market Garden — by For the Love of Bees. I’m inspired by their projects and regenerative focus, and consider myself lucky to be able to get a weekly vege box from this urban farm.
Alex Fulton, interior designer &
stylist Gosia Piatek and her fashion label, Kowtow. I really admire their commitment to making a positive change in the fashion world.
Alana Broadhead, curator & designer
There’s a whole new generation of women potters who have left ‘stable’ jobs and come to ceramics as a second career. They’re creating on their own terms, often working from a home studio and around raising a family, and the work is world-class.
3. We’re fans of natural and clever materials — what’s one you’re loving right now?
Nanette Cameron, interior design
educator Wool. Hard-wearing and biodegradable, with acoustic and insulating benefits, it’s so versatile and has so many great properties that it’s often called ‘man’s best friend’.
Janice Kumar-Ward, JK-W Interior
Architecture & Design For our furniture business Mr & Mrs Ward, my husband Julian and I use Plytech for its plant-based glues, and we’ll be trialling their ZeroE board made from horticultural waste material in the new year.
Alana Broadhead, curator & designer
I’m seeing terracotta popping up a lot lately, and I’m here for it! I especially love raw terracotta floor tiles, for a Mediterranean vacay-everyday vibe.
Michelle Halford, The Design Chaser
& Studio TDC I’ve always loved timber. It ages beautifully and adds character and warmth to any space.
David Moreland, designer at Città
We’re working on more ranges in collaboration with Asili, whose makers handcraft pieces from sustainably sourced soapstone and reclaimed olive wood, which have inherent qualities that are wonderful to work with.
Julia Atkinson-Dunn, Studio Home
Ceramics. My vase-collecting has reached new levels and I marvel at the differences between each find.
Imogen Tunnicliffe, designer at Città
Hemp. It’s hardy, grows like a weed, needs very little water to produce and even helps regenerate the soil. Plus, I love the textural qualities it lends to textiles.
Toni Brandso, Material Creative Resin. The Arc Dept made us some tabletops for a recent project and the fluidity of form and depth of colour is amazing.
Hannah Broatch, Hatch Architecture
Cork. It’s incredibly sustainable and can be collected without harming the trees. A harvested cork oak tree absorbs up to five times more carbon than one that’s not harvested, and cork forests support one of the highest levels of biodiversity among forest habitats. Plus, cork can be used in many ways — in building, furniture, everyday objects… I wish it was used in rental housing instead of carpet, as it’s healthier, easy to clean and longer-lasting.
Gosia Piatek, Kowtow Cotton, especially our Fair Trade-certified organic cotton, which is pretty much all I wear. It’s an incredible fibre — robust, breathable, comfortable, and the possibilities with it are endless.
4. We champion quality and longevity — what’s a New Zealand-designed piece of furniture or object you predict will be a future classic?
Toni Brandso, Material Creative
I love Luke Jacomb’s glass-blown lights. They’re handcrafted, all slightly different and have a unique quality that’ll stand the test of time for sure.
Imogen Tunnicliffe, designer at Città
Taus Ceramic’s coffee cup for the little indent at the top, the softly curved handle and how it’s just the right size for a morning coffee.
Evie Kemp, stylist & maker The artist-designed rugs by Christchurch rug maker Dilana, particularly their latest collaboration with Reuben Paterson. They’re truly art for the floor.
Alana Broadhead, curator & designer
Gidon Bing makes a series of sculptural vases in an incredible bone-coloured crackle glaze. He’s taken an ancient crazing technique and applied it to curvy, contemporary forms. Instant heirloom status.
Annique Hessen, Gezellig Interiors
Resident’s Kashmir chair has a real timeless elegance about it, comes in lots of different fabrics and is also incredibly comfortable.
Juliette Hogan, fashion designer
Homestyle Editions’ Pedestal table. We’ve just decided on a bespoke version for our new Christchurch store. I love that it’s so clean-lined yet purposeful.
Ophelia Mikkelson Jones, artist
& photographer The Slingray chair by my husband, Ryder Jones.
David Moreland, designer at Città
Phil Cuttance’s Bud vases are probably his most well-known design, but I think his Herringbone cabinets will become sought-after classics.
Michelle Halford, The Design Chaser
& Studio TDC It’s exciting to see New Zealand designers collaborate with international brands, putting New Zealand on the world stage. The TR lighting collection by Tim Rundle for Menu is one that springs to mind.
Julia Atkinson-Dunn, Studio Home
The Benmore bench seat by Ico Traders. It’s versatile, functional, attractive and destined for a very long life.
5. Personalising spaces is key for us— how do you make your home ‘you’?
Charlotte Rust, Babelogue I surround myself with objects such as lamps and chairs that have a sculptural element as well as being functional. They’re often challenging and unconventional, but they’re beautiful to me.
Yuka O’Shannessy, Public Record The house I share with my husband Tristan and our daughters reflects our eclectic taste. We love mixing old and new, and repurposing used materials in unexpected ways.
David Moreland, designer at Città By having records and gig posters around the place. I’m a huge music lover, so that’s what I like to surround myself with.
Nanette Cameron, interior design
educator When I moved into my Auckland home built in the ’70s, I had an architect friend design a floor-toceiling, wall-to-wall bookcase. She cleverly designed three of the cavities for displaying treasures to break up the books, which I painted Corbusier red, yellow and blue, and lit individually.
Evie Kemp, stylist & maker Mostly through colour, but also if I love something, I make it work, rather than having a look in mind, then only choosing pieces that fit it.
Gem Adams, Blackbird Goods
My husband Nathan Speeden and
I are avid rock collectors. Little stacks of rocks around the house remind us of adventures we’ve had, and make our house feel like home.
Erena Te Paa, stylist By enjoying trends but not sticking to them. Believe in your own vision, whatever that looks like.
Alana Broadhead, curator & designer
I love creating my own affordable, unique artworks using things that speak to my husband Warren Fryer and I — a portion of a special photo or a line from a song blown up to poster size, for example.
Kirsty McLay, Klay One thing I always do when I move into a new rental house is take down the curtains, which are typically cheap, ugly and hard to clean. I put them in storage and replace them with beautiful curtains I’ve made myself, or use simple bamboo blinds from Auckland’s Wah Lee.
Bec Snelling, Douglas & Bec I have a diverse mix of pieces in my house, including prototypes of my own work that are all a little off and antiques that have been passed on to me. The objects, art and furniture in my home all have a story, which is important to me because it makes me feel connected to my departed mother and grandmother, who were both special homemakers.
6. We’re interested in the transformative power of colour — what combos are you crystal-balling for 2021?
Kirsty McLay, Klay Playful and bold primary colours, combined with vintage-referenced earthy tones.
Juliette Hogan, fashion designer
I’m loving chestnut and deep olive green offset with warm chalk — just perfect.
Evie Kemp, stylist & maker I’m drawn to plummy shades at the moment, paired with quirky partners of coral or acidic green. Subtle as ever!
Alex Fulton, interior designer & stylist
I’m renovating my home and determined to find some combos that involve a colour I’ve been quite mean about in the past — sorry, beige. I’m thinking dusty beige with light blue, rusty cumin, baby-doll pink and earthy green.
Erena Te Paa, stylist I don’t follow colour trends too closely, but I’ve been finding myself drawn to grey and yellow — and now Pantone’s selected them as their colours of 2021!
Charlotte Rust, Babelogue I’ve had a feeling for red lately that I think will come to fruition in 2021, especially as an accent colour.
Amber Armitage, art director & stylist
Purple — all purple. It’s time to go back to the ideals of romance in its purest form, from soft and demure pastels and feminine mid-tones, to hot and confident electric purple.
Toni Brandso, Material Creative
Pastels with earthy, volcanic tones. We’re working on an office fit-out at the moment in which lilac and powder blue are accented with rust and forest brown.
Gosia Piatek, Kowtow Colour is a big part of our design and what I love most about the colours we work with is the tension between them. We’ve got magenta with mud, and forest green with mint coming through in our next collection.
Nanette Cameron, interior design
educator With climate change such a threat, I think we should embrace colours from nature: brown with a gold tinge, green with the hopeful lime tints of spring, gold-toned timber, and accents of warm, soft orange.
7. We’re proponents of thoughtful consumption — how do you put this into practice at your place?
Gem Adams, Blackbird Goods I find buying with intent so helpful. Understand the spaces you’re living in and the items you need, hunt for the right pieces and don’t buy things that are almost but not quite what you want.
Janice Kumar-Ward, JK-W Interior Architecture & Design
I miss Glad Wrap, my Reach toothbrush and plastic bags for gross rugby socks and boots. But I’ve given them all up because I genuinely care, more than I care about missing those things.
Kirsty McLay, Klay I’ve been trying to avoid buying from chain stores. Instead, I focus on supporting other local makers and family businesses, and look for quality over quantity.
Michelle Halford, The Design Chaser & Studio TDC We donate or resell our possessions when we no longer need them.
Yuka O’Shannessy, Public Record I choose goods made from raw materials that have been used for centuries.
Erena Te Paa, stylist I think a piece should live out many lives in a home and be changed up or moved around. It keeps things new and fresh, even if the pieces themselves aren’t.
Julia Atkinson-Dunn, Studio Home Whenever possible, I purchase secondhand. A bit of patina really does it for me.
Annique Hessen, Gezellig Interiors My husband Josh Davey and I have a ‘stand-down’ policy — if we still love something new after 14 days of considering it, then we buy it.
Charlotte Rust, Babelogue Being a vintage store, Babelogue is about recycling and I’m really proud that we’ve created an environment that makes this desirable.
David Moreland, designer at Città By educating my children. I think it’s essential to teach the next generation the importance of what we consume and how we consume it.
8. What’s next on your wish-list for your home or garden?
Bec Snelling, Douglas & Bec When designing new collections, I usually put a piece for my own house into them, which is also a way to ensure that my work actually works in the home. This time, it’s a floor mirror that’s also a floor lamp — it’s beautiful.
Evie Kemp, stylist & maker My dream is to have new pink Belgotex carpet installed in my and my husband Sam Holford’s bedroom. That’s something I’ll never tire of.
Kirsty McLay, Klay The next projects for me will be DIY furniture for my house and studio from classic books Autoprogettazione? by Enzo Mari and How to Construct Rietveld Furniture by Johannes Niemeijer and Peter Drijver.
Gem Adams, Blackbird Goods A piece by Auckland artist Grace Bader. I adore her works and would love to look at one every day.
Alana Broadhead, curator & designer
A thing of beauty is a joy forever, so I’d love a Vuelta lamp by Danish design legends Ferm Living and a Fragment dining table by Simon James.
Annique Hessen, Gezellig Interiors
I’m eyeing up Hay’s Palissade outdoor dining set and I’m also a major fan of Sabine Marcelis’s Soap table.
Janice Kumar-Ward, JK-W Interior
Architecture & Design I want to completely renovate the villa we relocated from Morrinsville to Auckland with locally sourced, sustainable and recycled products.
Yuka O’Shannessy, Public Record A brass wall lamp by Takuya Nishimoto of Sen. Charlotte Rust, Babelogue A Jean
Prouvé Trapèze table.
David Moreland, designer at Città
There’s a lot I’d love to do, but right now I wish I had a double garage — more to play table tennis in than for an actual car.