Ed’s Letter: A wish-list of homes I’d love to see inside.
Ihave always been curious to see inside people's houses. But during the past few months this desire has remained unfulfilled as we kept our social distance. So instead compiled a wish-list of homes I’d like to visit. It includes those of our Prime Minister, TV personality and singer/songwriter Anika Moa who's been audible in our supermarkets telling us to shop safely, director Taika Waititi fresh from his Queen’s Birthday honour, epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker, and loads of everyday New Zealanders and others who just have great style. I recognise that some on my list are unachievable, but I have managed to step inside two gems recently – those of NZ House & Garden’s homes photographer Jane Ussher and stylist Sarah Lods.
Both of these women are extremely talented, great at their jobs and have real flair. Over the years Jane has shot both houses and covers for this magazine and a multitude of others, along with photography for books and institutions like Te Papa Tongarewa. Each month Sarah creates the Antenna Openers, the popular Style Edit section and images for the Special Feature. So I was delighted when both women agreed to let us see inside their own homes.
Jane’s is a mid-century treasure in Kerikeri that she and her sculptor partner Grant Gallagher have renovated over three years (page 60). A labour of love, it is home to the couple’s collection of New Zealand art, antique shop finds and designer classics. The garden provides a backdrop for sculptures including works by Grant and is also filled with native trees and ferns.
For this issue’s Style Edit I asked Sarah to give us an insight into her thinking by sharing ideas and tips around how she styles her own stuff, at home (page 38). Giving serious weight to scale in a room, considered placement of artwork, avoiding matchy matchy and creating vignettes that are not fixed are among her tricks. The result is a home that is both layered and lovely, and there is lots to inspire here.
Choosing furniture for your home can be daunting and big ticket items like sofas and dining tables are particularly tricky. This month’s Special Feature (page 149) will help as it’s all about new furniture trends including sofas, chairs and fabric colours. It also offers some dos and don’ts for dining room tables.
Our food editor Julie Le Clerc has created some heart-warming curries that will take your tastebuds on a tour of exotic lands (page 132). I’ve got my eye on the Quick Prawn Curry with Coconut Chutney – and on Julie’s home too. It’s already on my wish-list.