People and Places

Wax up your surfboard and head to Raglan - we've found the best accommodation for a weekend escape

Kim Lawrence uses embroidery and rug-tufting to create vibrant and nostalgic works of art

Dust off your skis and pour yourself a glass of Otago's finest, we're off to Queenstown to stay in one of these swoon-worthy stays.

Tiny but mighty accommodation for a holiday getaway

We've found five dreamy spots to rest your head after a big day exploring the South Island's picturesque Garden City

This Dunedin muso, potter and illustrator is happiest when immersed in a creative project

With its picturesque beaches and bustling CBD, fun for the whole family awaits in (and just outside of) Auckland

Emily Timoti knows the best kind of blossoms are the ones that last forever

The best shops and restaurants to visit on a weekend in sunny Mount Maunganui.

This Christmas, Sue's stationary explores fictional shopfronts in an enchanting village.

An exhibition of colour, light and plenty of joy.

Cosy cushions, throws, towels and blankets? Ironically, they were once out of Justin's comfort zone.

This multimedia artist combines community and colour in Hawke’s Bay

Mount Maunganui design store Kayu Studio has expanded its horizons with Kayu Casa, an Airbnb allowing guests to experience their favourite pieces

Raffaella and Bevan offer beautiful, sustainable homewares from the Kapiti Coast.

Often photographed from the air, her work shows a rarely seen, natural beauty.

Ponsonby's latest fitness and recovery studio offers something a little different.

From her studio on Waiheke Island, the designer is ready to embrace a new challenge.

Tracey Finch’s love of a long, hot Kiwi summer is present in all her work

All the homewares the mother, full-time student and business owner can't live without.

From coffee cups to candle holders, meet the Taranaki artisan you will want to have on your homewares radar

 The world of secondhand furniture is a vast maze of treasures and trinkets.

Samantha Peacock is putting a contemporary twist on an age-old art

It may be windy, but Wellington has a huge amount to offer in terms of cuisine, arts, culture and, of course, swoon-worthy accommodation Plimmer Bolthole Apartment, from $195.00 per night, at Airbnb (book here) It may be home to parliament, and infamous for its gruelling southerlies, but Wellington has plenty to offer for a weekend […]

Green room or greenhouse? British comedy star Caroline Quentin says she’s happiest pottering around outside We know Men Behaving Badly and Jonathan Creek star Caroline Quentin best as an actor, so you might be surprised to know her first book is about gardening – and she also did the illustrations. It all started during the […]

Visitors come to this Northland town for its surf beach and safe harbour swimming, but there’s also an unexpected bonus – the shops Sun, sea and sand. Mangawhai’s town slogan is: “A little out of the way. A lot out of the ordinary.” Find out if it delivers on this promise. Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 […]

Discover for yourself why Te Whanganui-a-Tara is often dubbed the “coolest little capital in the world” Don’t miss the cable car for a new perspective on the city. If the weather’s fine, disembark at the Botanic Garden and wander down to the Beehive to see why the locals say, “You can’t beat Welly on a […]

Meet Matt Watkins, the talent behind the 3D-printed stools we're seeing everywhere 

Enter the bright and blooming beautiful world of Wānaka-based artist Agate Rubene Latvian-born Agate Rubene was destined to be an artist. Her mother is an art school teacher and, from the age of three, she went to various art schools, including the Riga School of Design and Art in Latvia, where she majored in fashion […]

Known for its sunny clime, the Taranaki city is a mecca for art lovers, foodies and adventure seekers New Plymouth is a very well-endowed city. It has amazing public gardens as well as private ones to visit, international festivals (that would be Womad), a world-class art gallery and public sculptures, a brilliantly long coastal walk […]

Bypass the city centre and explore an area peppered with boutique shopping, niche retailers and fun eateries A Whole Different East The east side of Christchurch changed forever in the 2011 quakes. The land cracked and liquified, buildings collapsed, and whole subdivisions were erased almost as if they never existed. But now the red-zoned land […]

Opera costume and set designer Tracy Grant Lord is setting the scene for her best show yet Tracy Grant Lord was only 23 when she designed the costumes and set for her first opera, an experience she recalls as terrifying. “When you are young, with such opportunities, each step of the way is a completely […]

Kristine Crabb shares the inspiration behind her green thumb As head-turning as her clothing designs, Kristine Crabb’s garden features hibiscus, banana palms, bougainvillea and a giant bird of paradise given to her by a friend. After closing her eponymous fashion brand known for its dreamy silk designs in 2019, Kristine Crabb is back from hiatus […]

Stay for three nights on Waiheke Island and only pay for two? Sign us up.Matapana House on Waiheke Island available to book via Airbnb When the wintery bite of late autumn kicks in and summer begins to feel like a distant memory, there is only one option: start planning your next holiday. We’re almost reluctant […]

Two Kiwis are changing the nursery game with their made with aroha baby products Dayna Tavendale and Amy Barratt first met more than eight years ago, introduced to one another by their husbands over a get-together to watch the UFC. At the time, their husbands had no idea their wives would soon become great friends, […]

Janeen Page is a true rock star, making gorgeous ceramic glazes from her explorations of the earthVisitors to Janeen’s coastal studio and garden are welcome. She’ll also be opening her doors for the Taranaki Arts Trail and holding a workshop on rock glazes during Nelson Clay Week. Janeen Page has always been a maker, happiest […]

Visiting the gateway to the Southern Alps? Book the best Wānaka Airbnb accommodation today Kanuka Cabin, from $180 per night at Airbnb (book here) One of the South Island’s most popular destinations, Wānaka is a must-visit all year round. Its breathtaking lake and alpine views make it a must-see on your travel bucket list. You might […]

This southern city bustles with beautiful shops and eateries Dunedin is cool both in temperature and style. The gothic little city, perched on a sweeping peninsula, feels the same as the city might have done 20 or 30 years ago. That is to say, it’s near timeless, smattered with cafes where students loiter over a […]

Jess Anderson had never used a jigsaw in her life, and now she’s churning out bold, brilliant mirrors and shelving with Get Wavey Creator Jess Anderson produces her wooden pieces from a home-based studio in Mount Maunganui. In the heart of Mount Maunganui, you can be sure that Jess Anderson is always working on something. […]

This small Wairarapa town is as pretty as a picture, with shops to match Greytown’s reputation for being really good-looking is well deserved. Why, if you drive down the main street, the restored Victorian buildings make you feel as though you’re on a Peter Jackson film set – if hobbits lived in a bucolic colonial […]

Escaping to the south? Book these utterly unique, Instagram-worthy Dunedin accommodation picks Korimako Suite and Kaimata at Cape Saunders, Dunedin, from $443 at Airbnb There’s something undeniably alluring about spending the night in a hotel or luxurious Airbnb, and Dunedin, a city rich in heritage and culture, offers plenty of beautiful boutique accommodation. We’ve compiled […]

Childhood road trips inspire an award-winning design for artist Alice Berry.

Support local artisans and watch your interiors thank you for it Shannon Courtenay of Shannon Courtenay Ceramics. Photo: Luisa Apanui If your table is missing that certain je ne sais quoi, or perhaps you’re woefully underprepared for receiving flowers on your birthday, it’s time to invest in some ceramics. Ceramics help ground any room, providing a focal […]

Get swept away by the dreamy, sun-kissed creative works of Alex and SonySony Nuth and her husband Alex Hall (below) are big fans of travelling and have amassed a huge archive of photographs from their many trips overseas and around Aotearoa Every picture tells a story, and Auckland-based Alex Hall and Sony Nuth’s fine art […]

Poppy and Sage founder Anieszka Banks creates her beeswax candles and other treasures with joyous colour and shapes Aniezka Banks at her home in Karekare Being creative allows Anieszka Banks to feel most like herself. Whether that’s painstakingly adding tiny wax flowers to candles or carving tiny wooden mushrooms, she says, “It feels like mine […]

If you’ve already got a tree or are planning on getting one soon, here’s how to keep your Christmas tree fresh for longer, from the team at Misa Christmas Tree Farms

Lauded for her exquisite French treats, Bridget O’Sullivan is now delivering a sweet taste of Italy Bridget started small by selling her macarons at a farmers’ market stall and quickly became known for her perfectly formed baked goods. Cantabrian Bridget O’Sullivan’s macaron empire started small at the Christchurch Farmers’ Markets in 2008. After selling out […]

From his favourite Danish Furniture dining table to dark chocolate, these are furniture aficionado Drew Copestake’s five necessities Drew Copestake and Danish Furniture’s Houe – Click Sunlounger, from Shop Your Home and Garden Drew Copestake’s Tauranga home is a blend between the rustic charm of a frontier homestead and the sleek simplicity of Danish minimalism. […]

Phoebe Gander has loved painting for as long as she can remember. On canvas Phoebe Gander crafts celebratory, joyous works of art that are full of juicy cherries and zesty cocktails. However, there was a time when she put down the brush altogether. “I never really thought that painting was something I could make a […]

Meet the creator behind the luxuriously silky and sustainable bed linen brand Lisa Knowler  Renowned for its luxuriously soft and sustainable bedding, a stay at the Savoy Hotel in London sparked Lisa Knowler’s love affair with bed linen. A few years later, as Lisa struggled to become pregnant, she became increasingly aware of the products she […]

Denise Porter-Howland, aka Eleventeen Ceramics, pays homage to the abandoned and revered through her clay designs. Denise Porter-Howland’s world is wicked and wonderful, the underbelly of any good fairytale. From her home studio in Grey Lynn, Auckland she crafts surreal apple cores, ears and ashtrays. Highbrow fashion pieces, such as a ceramic Prada shoe that […]

The ceramicist shares his unique creative journey Stephen Lee Step into the world of Stephen Lee, the Auckland-based artist behind Author Ceramics. Incorporating the raw and rugged beauty of New Zealand clay and sand into his creative process, Stephen crafts evocative, considered ceramics that are often inspired by his family, his spirit of exploration and his […]

With a passion for experimenting at home, Annelies is always changing and moving pieces of decor around Annelies Leitch of Home Lab Store When Annelies Leitch went on buying trips for the fashion industry pre-motherhood, she always gravitated to homewares stores in New York, London and Paris. As a serial furniture mover and cushion changer, […]

Flow Studio’s Staci Coble shapes her clay using the gentle currents of the ocean as her museThe ocean is a big source of inspiration for Staci, who uses shells and sand to help craft her ceramic masterpieces. “I love texture and translating it from nature can be quite fun”, she says.  Out on the shimmering […]

Why saying sorry is an act of courage and not a sign of weakness There’s a saying, “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to get sick”. The same goes for holding onto a grudge or not apologising for something you did wrong. Ignoring feelings of guilt might seem like […]

Cast artist Messini Palace is going against the mould, creating a contemporary twist on time-old traditions Messini Palace is at her Auckland studio seven days a week, her self-proclaimed “happy place.” It’s there she creates the most dazzling, transfixing cast art with resin and ceramics. “The possibilities seem endless, and I am obsessed with form […]

Hyperrealist artist Bella McGoldrick is all about the small details, in life and art Every month, Bella McGoldrick packs up her life and moves to a new country. From what started off as circumstance while the Kiwi-born artist and her husband waited to get visas for the US and Australia, now the nomadic lifestyle informs […]

Meet the creative mastermind behind the iconic Miss Lolo wallpaper Tamzyn Adding Tamzyn Adding is best known for her vibrant, bold designs, proudly featured in homes across New Zealand and Australia. Through her interior furnishings company, Miss Lolo, Tamzyn brings wallpaper and upholstery fabrics to life, offering a refreshing departure from the prevalent sea of […]

Textile artist Frankie Meaden is not only blooming in real life, but on canvas too Frankie Meaden has taken the time to develop her artistic voice. Her life has always been about creating, from having her work displayed in one of London’s prestigious Tate galleries when she was 18 years old, to making and selling […]

Aucklander Hollie Ryan’s pretty creations will bloom forever After graduating from law school, it didn’t take long for Hollie Ryan to feel the pull of creative pursuits. I should’ve figured that out before incurring five years of student debt,” she jokes. In an old Grey Lynn villa in Auckland, which she shares with her flatmates […]

Lissy Robinson-Cole is crafting a world of colour and joy with a little bit of magic and a whole lot of mahi There’s not many people you could describe as a human ray of sunshine, but Lissy Robinson-Cole is one of them. The crochet queen is as radiant as her colourful mahi, which hang in […]

Through her vibrant, feel-good textile designs, Imogen Switalla brings colour and joy into her various corners of the world Textile designer Imogen Switalla’s life-affirming designs often involve flowers and the colour pink. After initially enrolling in a fine arts course, she switched to textile design when she realised that most of her artwork “was coincidentally […]

Caroline Yelavic is getting her hands dirty with an ancient form of gardening Originally from sunny Sao Paulo in Brazil, Caroline Yelavic was exposed to Japanese culture from a young age, despite being thousand of miles away from the land of the rising sun. “My godmother was a Buddhist and enjoyed the practice of ikebana […]

Interiors experts from around Aotearoa share what will be changing in their own homes Penny Fussell, Interior designer at M.Int Interiors, Napier It’s an occupational hazard that I’m always finding pieces I’d love in our home, but with so many beautiful fabrics and furniture on offer, it’s hard to decide. However, for my next project […]

A Christchurch mum has turned a favourite holiday tradition into a business that spices up the lives of Kiwi families at Christmas As the holiday season draws closer, Hilary Bothwell turns on her oven, ready to get into the swing of things. The Christchurch confectioner is the founder of The Gingerbread Company, serving up gorgeous […]

Rewa Walters and Sophie Morrison are combining art with mindfulness to create a powerhouse of puzzles Rewa Walters and Sophie Morrison had always wanted to start a business together, but the only question was what. “We wanted to do something that had social impact, something that made a difference or something that supported other Kiwis,” […]

After searching endlessly for the perfect nursery cushion, Jen Calorme decided to make her own, kick-starting a business in the process If you’ve been on Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen one of Jen Calorme’s creations peeking through a cradle or nestled in a rocking chair. She’s the founder of online home decor store Lune & […]

Alice Toomer has found her artistic groove by capturing some of New Zealand’s favourite lollies and desserts on canvas   Working from her sunny studio nestled in Wellington’s coastal suburb of Island Bay, Alice Toomer brings confectionery to life on canvas. Her work is painstakingly intricate, the results nothing short of sugar-coated, photorealistic illusions. The […]

Wellington artist Tallulah Farrar is serving up joyful tiled nostalgia, piece by piece In a screen-driven world, Tallulah Farrar loves working with her hands. As if by magic, creations unfurl from miniature tiles and a mosaic masterpiece blossoms. The 23-year-old artist, who is based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, says she finds the creative process meditative. “There’s […]

Artist Emma Crawley brings a playful touch to the rug renaissance Emma Crawley is the fabulous mind behind Tuftee, a custom rug venture. Having only tried her hand at tufting a mere five months ago, she’s already a natural at the traditional craft – and is just getting started. Rug tufting has recently exploded into […]

From painterly strokes to graphic lines,  Emma Hayes’ work is inspired by nature Living in the city, Auckland-based designer Emma Hayes is in her element. Her commute to work is a few steps downstairs to her studio, where she designs painterly collections of wall coverings and textiles that are sold around the world. Inspiration for […]

After two decades away, an art school graduate returned to a lost love, creating beautiful abstract paintings from her studio in Titirangi A backpacking trip with a friend to Kenya and Uganda when she was 22 tapped into Helen Dean’s adventurous spirit. It was an enormous cultural contrast to life in the English coal-mining village […]

Florists Lydia Reusser and Isabel Johnston discovered doubling up made for singular success Auckland florists Isabel Johnston and Lydia Reusser began working together at the end of 2020, after the first Covid-19 lockdown. “Lydia approached me with the idea of partnering up after we had spent many hours freelancing together and discussing our dreams of […]

Having made a big impression with Kiwi fans of cool French linen bedding, the Foxtrot Home sisters have a cosy yarn to share Sisters Kate Cullwick and Prue Watson live in different parts of the country but that hasn’t stopped them from creating a business together. Their vision from the start was to be able […]

Two creative women make life more colourful through their interior styling and property staging work Kate Alexander started her styling business, Places & Graces, on a whim. For the first two years she worked solo, with no real plan to hire staff or expand. Then, her second cousin Shelby George popped over from England on […]

Moving from a studio in a caravan to a heritage-listed central city building has given a Whanganui artist Fleur Wickes room to breathe and create Whanganui-based artist Fleur Wickes has always been a great believer in writing down what you want. So, when she found herself outgrowing a tiny 1950s caravan that she used as […]

Artist and illustrator Bonnie Brown of Studio Bon delights in colour and a playful approach to design Bonnie Brown, the illustrator and founder of Studio Bon, needs no introduction. You might have seen her colourful designs on the last limited edition Roses chocolate boxes, L’affare coffee packaging, or perhaps on a Blunt umbrella. Or, you […]

If you’ve ever broken a tumbler and thought nothing of it, think again. The business of crafting a bespoke glass is a lot like playing with fire There was one thing I was wary of going into this glass blowing experience – breathing in when I should be blowing out. This of course, I could […]

Delicate, playful, textured and full of colour – Kate Mitchell’s glass work delivers it all Kate Mitchell has honed her glass art practice by watching masters at work. She’s observed the workings of studios in Venice, Prague, Shanghai, Seattle and Canberra, and she spends her weeks working for some of New Zealand’s best glass artists, […]

Nadya France-White and Prak Sritharan champion design in their new concept store and gallery; Kaukau store Kaukau store is the sum of two great parts – Nadya France-White and Prak Sritharan. Who, before embarking on their joint venture, were each responsible for two of Wellington’s finest concept stores; ENA and Precinct 35, the former run […]

A Papamoa artist has discovered that when it comes to paint – bigger is better Six years ago, Jasmine Kroeze’s creative brand Pinch & Punch was an ethical fashion label. However, when fashion success resulted in more admin and less hands-on work – Jasmine’s bread and butter – she made the difficult decision to close […]

Hidden in the Titirangi bush is a group of potters who come together to celebrate what they love to do – create with clay If there’s one trend that’s really taken off recently, it’s pottery. Eager amateurs are willing to pay upwards of $100 to get a seat at workshops that sell out in seconds. […]

When creativity runs in the family, starting up an artisanal home fragrance business with your sister is a no-brainer. Rose and Sarah Agnew are sisters who have been running their artisanal home fragrance business George & Edi together for 10 years from their studio in Wanaka. And, much like their signature scent, it’s a partnership […]

Textile artist Leah Creaven has a yarn to us about her beautiful hand-tufted rugs and her love of wool By day, Irish-born Leah Creaven is managing the marketing, admin and photography for Drummond Farm – a Martinborough vineyard owned and run by her partner Alex Drummond. By night, or more accurately, in the in-between times, […]

Former The Block NZ winner, Amy Moore, is putting her eye for style into her very own retail store If Amy Moore’s win on The Block NZ had you searching for colourful and playful wares to put in your own home, then you might be due for a road trip to Gisborne. The former beauty […]

Pottery meets 3D printing. The top floor of a converted 1960s office block overlooking Lyttelton port is not an expected location for a pottery studio. But then Zoë Lovell-Smith, 23, who forgoes the traditional potter’s wheel for computers and a hand-built 3D ceramic printer, is not your typical potter. She’s just won a gold at […]

Award-winning photographer Emma Willetts captures the breathtaking, and sometimes unrecognisable, patterns of the land from the air You could be forgiven for thinking Emma Willetts’ photographs are paintings. Abstract shapes and striking colours dominate her work, which is taken from above. From the salt lakes in Hutt Lagoon, Australia, to Farewell Spit in Golden Bay […]

With an inherited passion for clay, potter Esther Mcdonald takes inspiration for her wares, Thea Ceramics, from her beautiful Waiheke surrounds From her Waiheke Island home and studio, Esther McDonald of Thea Ceramics, is never short of inspiration. Whether it’s from her paddleboard looking back at the shore or from her deck looking out to […]

Two student midwives and best friends share a passion for celebrating the body beautiful. They tell us all about their art Textile designer Alanna Josie and ceramicist Georgia Casey of Artemis Ceramics have a tale of female empowerment and friendship so intertwined with their creative magic it would have been remiss not to feature them […]

Listening to podcasts is a great way to stay entertained when you’re doing tasks around the house. Here are some of our faves right now Podcasts are at peak popularity right now. The problem is, with so many available to stream left, right and centre, finding a real *gem* of a podcast can be compared […]

With a homeware boutique, linen range and even a caravan bar for hire, interior designer Anna Begg is a woman of many talents Anna Begg has been on a truly global journey so far. From a farm in Balclutha, via boarding school and tertiary studies in Dunedin, to working in graphic design in Italy and […]

Eco-writer, Fi and her fellow magpies share some of the recycling centres turning trash into treasure at landfills around the country Auckland When I first moved back to Auckland after living in the South Island, I was shocked to find that there weren’t more recycling centres in the region – places I had come to […]

We’re celebrating International Women’s Day by highlighting six inspiring New Zealand architects who continue to push the boundaries of design To mark the date for International Women’s Day and champion the #eachforequal theme this year, we’re celebrating six of New Zealand’s most successful female architects. These six women from five practices are just a handful […]

Nikau Hindin is learning the art of patience as she single-handedly revives the almost-lost Māori practice of making barkcloth Nikau Hindin (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi) is reviving the ancient art of making aute (Māori barkcloth or tapa cloth) – a skill that, up until now, hadn’t been practised here for over a century. She is based […]

We scour the South Island in search of the country’s best second-hand stores, with a little help from some Your Home & Garden friends 1. Salvation Army Family Store Rangiora My all-time favourite op-shop is our local Salvation Army Family Store here in Rangiora. It is clean and well presented, the staff are really friendly […]

Changing careers to start their own pantry organisation business came naturally to Amanda Stickland and Hannah Sullivan. They talk to us about their business, Simplify My Home Amanda Stickland and Hannah Sullivan are the founders of pantry organising service and online store, Simplify My Home. Here, they share their advice on how to get the […]

Felicity Donaldson, aka Wundaire, has built a thriving ceramics brand through the power of persistence and creative collaboration What were you doing before you started making ceramics? At uni I studied science down in Dunedin, with some papers in design, but the jobs when I graduated were mainly in the research field, which didn’t particularly […]

We asked a few op-shopping experts to name their favourite spots to find bargain homeware and furniture in the North Island  1. New Plymouth Westown Hospice Shop This popular op-shop has a high turnover and puts out new stock every day, so go often and be thorough. They save some of the best bits for […]

Painter Katherine Throne studied painting on a whim, but it is hard work and determination that have built her burgeoning career You studied at two different art colleges. How did this come about? Two years into an interior design degree at Kendall College in Michigan, in the US, I had a hunch I was missing […]

As the only company in New Zealand to create wallpaper by hand, PaperHands bringing back the fine art of designing and printing wallpaper They might appear as simple botanical prints, but look a little closer and you’ll notice cocaine, tobacco and hops plants dotted amongst them. And that pretty patterned wallpaper? Lean in and you’ll […]