homestyle's blog

Finding the perfect cover home can be a challenge. But when Mark Callander from Creative Arch opened up his own home to us, we knew we didn't have to look any further.
Mark and partner Jennie have sympathetically renovated their 1945 character bungalow into a modern and stunning home full of light and open space, perfect for a cover filled with Spring optimism.
With approximately half of the property covered in native bush and towering Kauri trees, the renovation came with its challenges! "We wished to preserve the existing mature Kauri trees so that addition was designed to step around the trees and the yard setback," shares Mark. The result is a private sanctuary that allows the outside to be brought in with large bi-fold doors opening the living area up to the beautiful outlook.
Take a sneak peak tour around Mark and Jennie's home and check out our Aug/Sept issue on sale nationwide Monday. Enjoy.

Photography Thomas Law

The following are some of our favourite kitchen trends which emerged over the six day Eurocucina in Milan.

Kitchens are places in which design most frequently becomes architecture; thinking up a kitchen means entering into a dialogue with the space, coming up with a play of volumes executed in profiles and sections.
Equally, however, destructured kitchens were up and coming and characterised by functional and formal immediacy. See “Menù” by Paola Navone for Bontempi and “Indada” by Dada, with sectional ‘units’ for washing, cooking and storage.

"36e8" by Lago 

More than likely influenced by wall systems designed for living rooms, where elongated containers still appear to be the units of choice some designers experimented with volume. Among the more interesting was that by Daniele Lago for Lago.
In contrast, this time inspired by furnishings for the bedroom, there were kitchens that took up an entire, continuous wall. Here the electrical appliances were kept as unobtrusive as possible and hidden behind sliding and even shutter-type doors. The 'Convivium' kitchen for Arclinea is a good example of this.

Another area to which much attention was devoted was that of kitchen equipment. Increasingly sophisticated and specialist, of course, yet less hyper-technological in appearance; more control- and user-friendly on one hand and completely obliterated on the other. Take for example Whirlpool’s “Glamour” oven, with its glazed glass door and touch screen display, and Marc Newson’s collection for Smeg, in which black is not just a colour choice, but a statement in its own right. Then there is also Falmec’s “Vision” cooker hood with its integral 19” LCD television, and Elica’s “Skin” cooker hood with its rotating control panel, reminiscent of the old rotary dial telephones. The days of white electrical appliances seem long gone!

Kitchen and bathroom designer Ingrid Geldof headed to Milan recently to take a look at the biannual Eurocucina Trade Fair.

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking back on the Furniture Fair and Eurocucina is that it is massive! There are 25 halls of furniture, including five of kitchens and two bathrooms. It really did take all four days to get even a decent look at most of it! As far as kitchens go there was an upswing in the number of designers using textures and curves! Curves and glass doors were featured in all forms. There were interesting technological advances with heated and chilled areas on stainless steel benches and I even saw a concrete induction hob top in an ALL concrete kitchen!

Colour in the kitchen varied from pale pastel pinks through to bold oranges and yellows. However the most popular were the classic timber white/black and stainless combinations. Appliances were varied and a number of designs featured remote controlled ovens. Slick looking colour coordinated fridges, ovens and hobs were intergrated and merged as one into the overall finished design.

Looking forward range hoods are getting very complex! We encountered some with inbuilt speakers and they tended to look more like funky light fittings than a practical appliance.

Highly decorated, very ornate, traditional looking kitchens featured in their own section. These kitchens were aiming at the Middle Eastern and Italian markets, they were incredibly opulent and I would say very expensive!

New Zealand designers are very adaptable and most learn from trade fairs like these, in regards to applying what we saw to our local market I think we will be drawing on the best from Europe. Feel confident that if you choose to use a designer who has been to a show like this that you will be getting the experience and knowledge which has come from the cutting edge designs in Europe.

When we visited Neudorf Hall in the Upper Moutere, Nelson we knew we had found our cover home for our winter warming issue - June/July. The redesign of this former school hall, by Architectural Designer Brian Johns' won the category for Residential Alterations and Additions in last years ADNZ awards. The judges appreciated the way the design transforms the old building into a series of generous new spaces that retain sound references to the older fabric; the final result is a warm and inviting family home. The stunning house is home to Michael Macmillan, Jackie Crow and their daughter Poppy. Operating as their family home and a bed and breakfast, the beautiful chalet style and open fire provide the perfect spot for enjoying winter.

Take a sneak peak inside Neudorf Hall below, and for more check out our latest issue on sale nationwide on Monday! Enjoy.
 

With the bidding wars for celebrity coffee dates over a fairtrade brew closed, don't feel that your chance to change the world one cup of a time is over. From May 1 - 16 Oxfam are running their annual Biggest Coffee Break campaign to help struggling coffee growers work their way out of poverty. 

It's a fun, easy way to raise money for a good cause and the perfect excuse to get together with friends, or in our case the opportunity for an office bake off! Simply sign up here to host a coffee break and Oxfam will send you everything you need!

All proceeds from the Coffee Breaks go towards Oxfam’s work in the Pacific, East Asia and Africa, supporting people to access safe water and sanitation, to build a sustainable livelihood, to provide education and healthcare for their children, and to live free from persecution and violence.

As production on Issue 35 drew to a close, we said goodbye to our graphic designer extraordinaire Suzanne Grimwood, who has left us to take on the challenge of motherhood. We will miss her creative craftiness and uber organisation, which was a godsend as production deadlines loomed! We wish her and husband Kevin all the best and can't wait to meet their little one.

Taking over the hot-seat and with big shoes to fill, we welcome the return of Amber Armitage. Home from a hiatus in London, Amber is enjoying being back in the homestyle office; despite the grueling tasks of the trainee period! We look forward to seeing the inspiration Amber picked up in London. Stay tuned for her update later in the week.

Christchurch is hosting the first weekend of The Food Show for the year, with wide and wonderful range of exhibitors will ensure that every taste bud, and dietary requirement is fulfilled! Over the three day event you can visit the wide range of exhibitors to sample the latest in culinary delights. Not only that, but with a top line up of Celebrity Chefs showcasing their skills in the Electrolux Cooking Theatre, and stands of helpful kitchen accessories you will leave with all the inspiration you need to cook up a storm!

We're looking forward to hearing Peta Mathais demonstrate recipes from her culinary escape in Marakesh, Morocco!
 

Beautiful bathware producer Methven has won a highly prized Red Dot Product Design Award at the 2010 competition in Germany, for their Methven Shower Infusions; a world first which turns an ordinary shower into a personal home spa system.

The New Zealand owned designer, marketer and exporter of beautiful, water and energy efficient bathroomware, was awarded an honourable mention and the right to use the sought-after Red Dot seal of quality on its collateral to signify that the product design and innovation behind Methven Shower Infusions are among the "best of the best" in the world.
Congratulations!

 

ecostore, the plant-based household and personal care products we know and love, are now available in the city that never sleeps – New York. Duane Reade is the biggest drug store chain in New York City boasting more than 250 stores and is a popular one-stop-shop for local Manhattanites stocking up on health, beauty and convenience needs.
Founder of ecostore Malcolm Rands says: “With a 50-year history in the most exciting city in the world, the Duane Reade is the place where many of the world trendsetters shop.  And ecostore is being promoted as the cutting edge eco option.
“With 150 stores on Manhattan Island alone, providing effective, healthy home products to city dwellers in such an iconic setting is very exciting for us. “Where else in New York would you want to be?”says Rands.

 

 

Brought to you by the fabulous people behind the Sustainable Business Network and Ecobob, Greenlist, is a one stop shop for sustainable products and services. From accommodation to food, clothing to building materials, this online directory has everything you need to make the right choice. Click here to find out more.