Inside the eye of an interior designer. Ōtautahi interior designer Olivia Kennedy talks texture, styling small, and statement décor.
After building two homes in modern subdivisions, interior designer Olivia Kennedy was ready for something different. She found her answer amongst the leafy suburb of St Albans; a charming, previously renovated three-bedroom bungalow oozing classic old-home character. A young Olivia Kennedy was always found immersed in the idea of creating beautiful spaces. Before […]
Globetrotter: Map World
A love for adventure and exploration fuels Aotearoa’s only independent map store. Follow your curiosity down Colombo Street and find something unexpected. Inside MapWorld, you are instantly transported: floor to ceiling maps, globes in every size, and the quiet thrill of discovering somewhere new. It feels less like a shop and more like […]
Find your signature
Playfully sweet like a Simon Lewis Wards glass gummy bear sculpture, old money meets modern with a globe or vintage clock, or abstract and art-is-everything… here are some décor prompts to stamp your signature style.
On our radar
From the insights of local interior designers to takeaways from award-winning Canterbury homes, here are three homestyle features we can’t stop thinking about. 1. The statement sofa Vogue Living says this might be the piece of furniture to have in 2026. The statement sofa isn’t necessarily the one you sink into for a […]
Steal their style
From décor to statement details, we deciphered three key trends that came across in winning Canterbury homes from the 2026 New Zealand Architecture Awards. Award-winning homes are some of the best places to find inspiration for new ways to style or elevate your space. True to their status (each home must first be […]
Architecturally-pleasing outdoor living: Louvre Solutions
In pursuit of an architecturally pleasing and functional outdoor living space, the owners of this stunning home sought a custom louvre roof solution to seamlessly integrate with the unique design of their property. Shade from the sun, protection from the wind and rain, and an engaging environment for the whole family was what […]
Snug as a rug
There’s nothing like layering with a beautiful rug for creating warm and inviting spaces in your home during winter. While summer calls for minimalism, winter is the season for more – more colour, more texture, more layers to create cosy and nurturing interiors. Where to start? From the floor up. The right rug […]
7 reasons to invest in a wool rug: Carpet Binders
Investing in New Zealand-grown warmth underfoot is something you’ll wish you did earlier. Here’s seven reasons why. “We’re passionate about supporting New Zealand wool and the rural communities behind it,” says Michelle MacWilliam, co-owner of Carpet Binders on Hayton Road. “At the end of the day, no one ever regrets investing in quality, […]
Cosy up
As winter flicks our internal ‘hibernation’ switch and we feel the urge to hunker down, it feels good to create spaces that support that hunkering. How do you switch up your décor to make it more winter-appropriate? Through a combination of comfort (soft textiles), ambience (warm lighting), and styling (seasonal accessories). You don’t […]
Sleep on sheep: Dreamwool
What’s the true cost of a bed that doesn’t immediately send you into a deep, restful slumber? In a wellness-focused world swamped with supplements and the latest feel-good fad, studies show that one of the quickest ways to boost your energy, health and happiness is by way of a brand new bed. Because, […]












