Pink Christmas tree decorations set the tone for this home's festive setting

Article by Your Home and Garden

A New Plymouth home with dark and moody decor gets decked out in festive pinks and golds

Annika and Brad’s Massimo Vignelli Metafora mid-century coffee table is a recent buy.

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Meet & Greet: Annika (kitchen designer) and Brad Rowson (joiner), sons Deacon, 17, and Lukie, 14, and their cats Jedi and Poppy.

The Property: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom 1940s house in New Plymouth.

The modern round table with its handy turntable is custom-made and matched with Hans Wegner replica elbow chairs from Cintesi. The glass pendants are by Soktas.

Annika Rowson admits she’s not traditional when it comes to Christmas, preferring a relaxed approach to the big day. Her decorations also buck the trend, with her New Plymouth home enveloped in a sea of florals and rosy tones instead of the usual red and green trimmings.

As she counts down to Christmas, the kitchen designer chats faux trees, summer barbecues and her favourite styles of the season.

On the front door is a gorgeous wreath of proteas and grasses made by New Plymouth florist Nicci Goodin, who created all the beautiful pink and gold floral displays.

What’s been the best present you’ve ever received?
Brad proposing to me on Christmas Day, a week before Deacon was born.

How would you describe your interior style?
I would say a combination of elegant yet eclectic.

What’s your perfect Christmas meal?
A barbecue with lots of salads is always our go-to, along with roast lamb and champagne.

The curvy Jaymar Tongue lounge chair is the perfect spot for unwrapping presents and the bubble saucer pendant from Mr Ralph offers some light relief.

What’s your favourite seasonal tradition?
Setting up the tree. This year we went for floral and pink Christmas tree decorations, and continued the style throughout our home.

How do you and your family like to celebrate Christmas?
We are very relaxed and not traditional at all. We like to start the day by opening presents.

How long have you lived in your New Plymouth home and what work have you done to it?
We have lived here for seven years and have completed an extensive renovation to include all the rooms, kitchen and bathrooms to open spaces up. We put in new decks, roof and window joinery along with fencing and landscaping.

The pink theme continues to the dinner setting.

What colours and styles have caught your eye recently?
Bold quartzites paired with rich veneers and I am also a big fan of burgundy and green. I do like my spaces to be elegant yet textured, too.

What are your top tips for injecting joy into your interiors?
I like to add texture, art and antiques into my spaces – items that tell a story and have history are important to me.

Do you prefer real trees? Or faux all the way?
I love real trees, but allergies don’t allow that to happen in our house, so we use an artificial tree.

“I like to add texture, art and antiques into my space.” – Annika Rowson

You’re known for your show-stopping kitchens. What’s your secret to the dream kitchen?
Invest as best you can into quality finishes – a beautiful benchtop, integrated appliances, and quality cabinetry. Flooring, splashbacks and lighting are also so important for pulling the aesthetic together. A stunning kitchen will add value to a home and being a highly utilised area, it is also important that they are functional and enjoyable to work in.

How did you get started in the industry?
I have always been interested in interiors. After we renovated our first home and started our second, we could see a gap in the market for quality kitchens in New Plymouth. With Brad being a sought-after qualified joiner, we decided it was time to put our talents together.

What’s your favourite Christmas movie?
Home Alone (’80s kid).

What’s on your wish list this Christmas?
I have been spoilt with a few special treats throughout the year so nothing major. Just some books for summer reading, sunshine and catch-ups with friends.

Text Caroline Moratti Photography and styling Gina Fabish