Refreshed kitchens, real value: MF Turnbull Kitchen Renewal

Is your kitchen outdated, or does it simply no longer work for the life you are living today? There are options aplenty when you redesign with a specialist kitchen renewal business. Many homeowners believe that achieving a modern-looking, functional kitchen requires a costly, full-scale process that will take months. However, manager of MF […]

Dopamine décor

Inspired by Dame Trelise Cooper’s ‘dopamine dressers’, we invite you to oxytocin your interiors, Ōtautahi. Dopamine décor – the philosophy that heroes vibrant, personal aesthetics over rigid design rules – can boost your mood just as much as clothing that makes you feel good. What is dopamine décor? Decorating for your own happiness. […]

Dream kitchens: Dream Doors

You could have the kitchen of your dreams in just five simple steps. The Dream Doors five-step process guides clients through consultation, design, manufacturing, installation, and handover. This structured client-focused approach is designed to reduce renovation anxiety through effective communication. Managing director Adrian Kay emphasises the importance of each phase: “We focus a […]

Inside the artist: Fine Art Studio with Marek Maciejewski

Multidisciplinary artist and fine art photographer Marek Maciejewski sits down with Metropol. Q: Marek, tell me about your journey into the industry – where it began and how it flourished? A: This is both a simple and a difficult question. Simple, because photography has been part of my life for many years. Difficult, […]

Waikuku’s wicker destination: Woven Veranda

From Waikuku to the world, Scandinavian-style wicker furniture from this North Canterbury boutique is a firm favourite. “You need to experience the wonders of wicker to know why it remains so popular,” WovenVeranda owner Guy Gunn explains. Think swingseats, lounge chairs, sofas, dining settings – it’s a favourite for indoor and outdoor living. […]

Book smart

Metropol editor Nina Tucker dives into coffee table-core, on a quest to understand the art of the perfect stack-and-style. A few weekends ago, I spent hours inside my living room arranging and rearranging a precious selection of books, magazines and trinkets (all while my partner ticked off a long list of house chores). […]

Māori creativity

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2026 takes place in Aotearoa from 14 to 20 September. To honour our official language and the beautiful creativity of the culture, here are seven pieces to shop locally in celebration.

Coffee table books worth collecting

Curated by Nina Tucker A (somewhat green) collection of my favourite coffee table books you can find around the city right now – from the vivacious Iris Apfel to beautiful portraits of our home in Aotearoa.                    

Refined outdoor living to relax in

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” Take that famous (though anonymous) quote and let it inspire your outdoor living for the season ahead: refined, refreshed, and a real reset. Turn to the natural environment for inspiration; balance earthy hues like chocolate and sage with […]

Chiaroscuro

A Renaissance art technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark, chiaroscuro, has been used to stunning effect in this Fendalton home, a regional winner in the recent 2026 ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Awards. Designed by Dean Cowell of Three Sixty Architecture, Fendalton property Chiaroscuro, meaning ‘the use of contrasts between light […]