Sustainability and quality are hallmarks of this Wellington business that has been wowing shoppers for more than 26 years.
Sustainability and quality are hallmarks of this Wellington business that has been wowing shoppers for more than 26 years.
PEOPLE are putting more thought into what they buy for their homes these days, says Nicola Cranfield.
Now running the Wellington furniture and homewares store Cranfields, that her mother Valerie set up 26 years ago, Nicola has noticed the shift in mindset.
‘‘People are doing more research and they’re taking a long-term position in that they’re not necessarily rushing out to fill their house, they are putting care and thought into each decision and buying once, which is great.
‘‘And I’m really heartened by the number of people who ask questions like ‘where does the timber for this dining table come from, is it sustainably grown and where is the table made’.’’
It might mean saving hard for that special dining table, for example, but as Nicola says it will be something to pass on to future generations as a family heirloom.
‘‘People aren’t going for a quick fix, and saving for a piece is rewarding, it’s so much more than a transaction.’’
One customer recently sent Nicola photos of a hall/dining table customised by Cranfields.
‘‘She had recently bought an apartment and her furniture was a bit big, it didn’t work, so she choose one of our hall tables that opens out either side and can be used as a dining table when she wants to entertain.
‘‘She sent in some photos, telling us just how excited she was and how perfect it was to hold a dinner party around the table – to get that kind of feedback is really heartwarming.’’
Cranfields is increasingly heading down the New Zealand-made path, with 40 per cent of the collection now handcrafted ‘‘with love’’ by Kiwis.
The furniture, which ranges from hall tables, dining tables, dining suites, coffee tables and side tables, is made of sustainably grown oak and all hand built from start to finish by the same craftsman.
‘‘He chooses the timber, the patterns and puts it all together, rather than one man making legs all day, and it’s a real sense of pride and ownership in what they’re doing.’’
Nicola speaks of another craftsman, an artist who makes kitchen boards and platters from New Zealand grown elm and vintage oak wine barrels.
‘‘You can’t just order from him, it doesn’t work like that – he’s an artist and only makes them when he has the right timber and he wants to make them.’’
His pieces though, says Nicola, can add a touch of warmth or softening to a kitchen that may otherwise feel uninviting and stark.
Nicola is constantly in search of quality, New Zealand-made products which she says are not that easy find.
Supporting small businesses and their makers is something Cranfields has always prided itself on.
‘‘It’s so nice for us to be meeting the makers, it becomes a lot more personal.
‘‘I’ve visited Tom in his workshop, for example, and it’s good to be able to build those relationships.
‘‘I can put my hand on my heart and say these pieces are made with love and care, all our craftspeople are so passionate about what they do and each piece has a story.’’
Nicola points out a range of timber kitchen implements such as serving boards, treat spoons, spatulas and choppers is all handmade in the New Zealand countryside by Tom Muir.
He sources salvaged timber from ancient walnut, matai and Kauri logs, some of which are more than 3000 years old.
‘‘This is a volcanic relic from the Taupo eruption, 1800 BC, which was plucked from the Manawatu River,’’ says Nicola, holding one of the serving boards.
‘‘Each piece has a back story, and is a product of human art and workmanship,’’ she says. Whether it be kitchen implements, furniture, linen, ceramics, in fact any item instore, most are timeless and therefore long-lasting.
For example, Cranfields stocks Bianca Lorenne, a New Plymouth-based family business that produces designer bed linen, quilts, bedspreads, comforters, silk filled products and fine linen fabrics.
‘‘Exclusive collections are released every six months in limited quantities, and it is all handcrafted from natural fibres.
‘‘Each piece is not so overtly feminine, it is timeless and the quality means it will last a lifetime, and you can’t really justify a new piece every six months,’’ laughs Nicola.
‘‘But you can layer and mix it up so it’s not matchy matchy.’’
Also easy to live with is the range of ceramics by wellknown American Jonathan Adler.
‘‘They are investment pieces and people are slowly adding to their collections.’’
Each piece of pottery starts in his Soho studio, where he and his expert team design and hand sculpt each prototype, then the items are individually sculptured by skilled artisans, many of them in Peru.
Closer to home, Kiwi potter Tony Sly works out of his Raglan workshop, hand-making his ceramics from scratch too.
On a more personal note, the likes of contemporary New Zealand jewellery artist Hayley Inder successfully blurs the borders between art and fashion with her range of gold and silver artistic rings, earrings and necklaces.
Meanwhile, back-combed mohair throws from New Zealand’s only specialist Mohair weaving facility based in the Wairarapa can add a pop of colour to any room.
‘‘If you have walls and furniture that are neutral, these throws are a nice way to add something colourful and playful,’’ says Nicola.
A range of quality, Scottishmade lambswool throws and rugs are also bright and playful, ideal for freshening up the likes of living rooms or bedrooms.
As the first gift and homewares store in New Zealand to be accredited through Conscious Consumers for its social and environmental business practices, Cranfields is proud of its achievement.
‘‘There’s nothing more satisfying than being able to work with customers in-store, represent craftspeople and source new collections.
‘‘It’s about our customers buying once and having that piece for a long time, it’s turning a house into a home rather than gathering a houseful of things.
‘‘To be able to handpick those beautiful, intelligent pieces that have integrity, items that have a back story, and that will inspire and delight for many years to come is a privilege.’’
❚ For more information go to cranfields.co.nz