Al fresco Christmas
Our fashion-forward friends in the Northern Hemisphere have long shown us a holiday season dusted in snow and fireside festivities. But downunder, we know a summer Christmas is a time to embrace the outdoors with our loved ones. So here’s our tips for al fresco entertaining this holiday season. FAIRYTALE […]
A local Christmas: Coco Gifts
You have been hearing it all year, shop small business and shop local. Well there’s no better time to act on this sage advice than at Christmas time, and no better place than at Coco Gifts. Owner Liz van Montfort says the St Albans store has your Christmas checklist covered. “We’ve got […]
Love of landscapes
For Struan Macdonald, art is like second nature to him. And it’s the New Zealand nature such as Mount Aspiring Nation Park, the Otago High Country, Abel Tasman and the West Coast that inspires this landscape painter. “It can be the afternoon light on a mountain side or some kind of […]
Holiday blues: French Blue
Just because our overseas escapades have been taken off the calendar for 2020, does not mean we have to deprive ourselves of all things European. In fact, Catherine Matthews of French Blue has a beautiful selection of homewares and furnishings from the continent. In Northern Hemisphere newness, aptly named A […]
Xmas wrapped up
Wrapping gifts can be one of the funnest parts of Christmas – from choosing stylish paper, ribbons and gift tags, to thinking outside the box. This year, why not pass on non-recycled paper altogether and opt for more sustainable gift adornments. A favourite idea is to use fabric – or even tea […]
Edible summer garden
The cold is (meant to be) behind us, which means in the garden, it’s time to look forward. Look forward to our homegrown fruit and vegetables, that is. From basil to beetroot, lettuce and zucchini – it’s all happening in the fruit and veggie patch this December. SOW WHAT? […]
A beautiful simplicity: Ingrid Geldof Design
Ingrid Geldof Design never ceases to enjoy its ability to change lives by transforming living spaces. “You could call it Feng Shui, to feel calmed down and at peace within the spaces we live. My clients most frequent comment is that the spaces are, ‘so easy to live in’,” says […]
Passive energy, exceptional design: Architecta X Aaron Stewart Builders
For the owners of this home built with passive house principles in mind, energy efficiency came before beautiful design. However, a fortuitous introduction to Susanne Schade of Architecta ensured they received not only a home that achieved a 1.27 rating on the Blower Door Test, but is stunningly beautiful, and cost effective […]
Hillside haven: AO Architecture X WD Build
This Richmond Hill home is a dream realised for its owners who had lived through post-earthquake flooding at their previous site. Designers of this dream are AO Architecture, and Michael John and his team are award-winners for this design that is totally at one with its surroundings. “It is a […]
