decor

Don’t forget about your ceiling – think of it as the fifth wall in your house. If you’re keen to ditch the drywall, here are eight creative ceiling ideas to consider 1 Moulded Ceilings Plaster mouldings are the ultimate in timeless elegance and can be custom made to your requirements. Most companies that specialise in decorative […]

A clever reconfiguration, embracing imperfections and lots of white paint transformed this historic Wellington house into a dream home for this busy family of seven Who lives here?  Matt Christie (manager at IBM), Sarah Christie and kids Boston, 14, Baker, 12, Anabelle, 8, Bridie, 6, and Paddy, 3, plus Kybi the Labrador, Oreo the cat […]

A vacant piece of land in Auckland’s St Mary’s Bay is transformed into a stunning contemporary home that champions its owners’ vision of being “ultimately uncomplicated” Who lives here? Ian Webster (founder and former owner of Verge women’s fashion label), Jianni Felpas and miniature schnauzer Bex. The vision The duo had a fairly free rein […]

Combining fashion with function to create a family-friendly space can be a challenge. Here are some creative ways to adapt your home so your children have places for play and exploration that you can enjoy, too 1 Embrace the silly Life is too short to be serious, so consider adding some silly elements to the home […]

It was cramped and boxy with possibly the world’s smallest, darkest shower, but a determined young mum knew this ‘find’ on Auckland’s North Shore was just what she’d been after Who lives here? Tarryn Donaldson, 27 (marketing manager and Instagrammer @iamtarryndonaldson), husband Ryan, 27 (sales manager), Kylan Riley, 7, and Arden Cruz, 2, plus ginger […]

Prominent members of the New Zealand art and design scene Vicki Vuleta and Gary Langsford offer a look inside their Auckland-city home – and it’s no surprise it’s a masterpiece  Vicki Vuleta and Gary Langsford are prominent members of the New Zealand art and design scene, so it’s hardly surprising their home is an absolute standout. […]

A clear vision, an eye for design and plenty of DIY helped this 1970s house realise its full potential as a stylish family home  Who lives here? Tarryn Donaldson, (marketing manager and Instagrammer @iamtarryndonaldson), husband Ryan, (sales manager), Kylan Riley, 7, and Arden Cruz, 2, plus ginger cats Ted and Harley. Style secrets Feature walls […]

Treasures sourced from all over Asia are displayed thoughtfully in this Wellington homeware store and they won’t cost you the earth It’s hard finding a slot in Tania Siladi’s diary. Not only is the Wellingtonian co-owner of Dragonfly Restaurant and the Asian Food Republic range of fresh and vac-pac foods, she’s also raising four children. […]

When it comes to decorating for children, there are numerous themes and designs to ponder over. Here we explore how a trendy Scandi-style room can grow with your child, potentially saving you money in the long run Versatile Scandi-style Scandinavian style is currently one of the most followed interior trends. The monochrome colour palette of black, […]

Mixing up styles, textures and colours for an eclectic, unisex scheme is a great way to style a kids’ bedroom in the long run Modern eclectic With so many interior trends and styles to consider, it’s sometimes hard to decide which to choose when designing a kids’ room. Many like to follow the interior style […]

For children’s bedrooms that favour a more neutral, unisex scheme, these accessories add some serious cute-factor without impacting on the overall sophisticated style How do I add more personality to a unisex style?   Busy and bright: Keep the denim, but replace the mustard and orange objects with eye-catching shades of pink and coral like Resene ‘Big […]

North & South art director and columnist Jenny Nicholls joined forces with spatial designer Michelle Ben Zur to update her space-starved Waiheke cottage – with stunning results Words by: Irving Carey. Photography by: Rebekah Robinson. [related_articles post1=”46152″ post2=”636″]

For the last word in luxury and glamour, it has to be marble. Its beauty and durability make it a fabulous choice for bathrooms Why we love marble The bathroom is one of the most hard-working rooms in the home, not to mention a big selling point, so it pays to give its design some […]

Australia’s The Block All Stars saw some famous Aussie duos back on screen, battling it out between other The Block veterans. Here we look back at the 2014 series first room reveal: the bedroom Mark & Duncan  The two “fat tradies”, who first appeared in the 2010 series, reached new heights with their room. They describe […]

Not just a fabulously diverse art form, modern macramé lends instant softness and texture to a room They say that all good things come back in fashion and this is absolutely the case here. Macramé – the art of decorative knotting – has come a long way since the coarse twine and shiny beads of […]

Neutral schemes are always going to be easy to live with and have wide appeal when selling. They work across all interior styles and also lend themselves to being dressed up with a pop of colour Natural neutral The bathroom is one of the most hard-working rooms in the home, not to mention a big […]

We quiz interiors expert Alex Fulton for her tips and tricks for hanging a brilliant gallery wall. Kate Spade NYC gallery wall, here we come! There are a few simple steps to follow to hang a good-looking gallery wall: 1 Lay out all your artwork on the floor under the wall that you are planning to use. […]

For a Memphis Group-inspired interior, think plastics, asymmetrical shapes and bold blocks of colour. For more of the latest interior trends check out the winter issue of Simply You Living on sale now. [related_articles post1=”46771″ post2=”41365″]  

A dark, dated bedroom is transformed into a light and lovely space with a Mid-century modern makeover by interior designer Tina Stephen The problem The room was dated and dark, with awkward small wardrobes, commercial-style blinds, old carpet and brown veneer doors. The brief Lighten the space and create simple luxury with layered textures and quality […]

As the temperature drops, we chat to linen expert and Wallace Cotton owner Paula Wallace about how to transition you bed from summer to winter – and what the ideal winter bed looks like How do I transition my linen in those awkward months between late summer and autumn/winter without totally swapping my bedlinen out? […]

A New Plymouth couple paint a room in shades of pink that are fit for a princess At a glance Heidi and Kris Herbert purchased their 2.8-hectare lifestyle block in New Plymouth last August, providing more space for their two children, Bren, 3, and Ivy, 2. The four-bedroom home was in dire need of a […]

Moving house has become second nature to these homeowners after completing six renovations, but now they’re ready to settle down at this Kapiti Coast home with sea views and loads of potential Every day feels like a holiday at this Kapiti Coast home Who lives here? Vanessa Webb (interior designer at Dress My Nest), Matt […]

We’ve rounded up the latest homeware in one of our favourite shades – grey. Browse this gallery of decor in 50 shades of grey! [related_articles post1=”34908″ post2=”38748″]

Creative mums Lisa Courtney and Alanna Haysmith created this ‘Head in the Clouds’ themed birthday party for a 10 year old. Here’s how they did it… Lisa created this ‘Head in the Clouds’ setting for partygoers to play in, as well as setting up some activities to keep them busy. The party decoration details The cloud […]

Make the most of the last of the summer sun with this ultra cute range of camping gear!  Kmart’s new Active & Co glamping range includes a stylish, open plan glamping tent and a range of glamping furniture, lighting and accessories for an outdoorsy getaway with a luxurious touch. [related_articles post1=”38272″ post2=”28318″]

We’ve got four easy Christmas craft ideas using glitter, dreamed up by stylist Vanessa Nouwens Get the look Plastic baubles and glitter from Spotlight; Motex label maker and tape from Tea Pea; gold cube from Shut The Front Door; candle and jar from Look Sharp; all other props, stylist’s own. Photos by: Wendy Fenwick @ Flash […]

Wondering what to get the men in your family for Christmas? Lucky for you the Your Home and Garden stylists have been on a shopping spree The Blokey Guy Clockwise from bottom left: Estwing hammer, $68, and Craftsman wrench, $19.98, both Mitre 10. Jandals, $35, from Superette. Wooden bottle opener, $26, from Paper Plane Store. Izola […]

Finding the right furniture for your outdoor areas will be a summer breeze with our savvy six-point guide 1 In the know First up, be absolutely sure of exactly what you’re buying before you hit the stores. We all know how easy it is to go out looking for a sofa and end up coming […]

At the bach or at home, a coastal look creates instant relaxation. Nail the coastal chic look at your place with a few tips and tricks A colour scheme with natural accents of brown, taupe and grey emulates the beach, while sky blue and deep navy is reminiscent of the ocean and summer sky. Get […]

The ancient art of Japanese fabric dying is used in four creative ways by stylist Catherine Wilkinson Framed artwork Cut a piece of untreated cotton to fit inside a frame so edges are visible. Tie a rubber band around a small bunch of fabric in the centre, then continue to tie bands around the rest […]

Summer has arrived in stores with the latest homeware ranges embodying colour, fruity shapes and shades of the sea. Here are some of favourite decor pieces of the moment

Outdoor rooms expand your living spaces and add value to your home. Create a tropical, Balinese style look with these handy hints How to create an outdoor room with Balinese inspired style Lots of pretty lights sets against a simple, clean backdrop (painted in Resene ‘All Black’ create ambience and interest at eye level, and […]

We chat to interiors expert, colour ambassador and self-proclaimed ‘rebel of retail’,  Alex Fulton, about her new online shop AFD Store, which features her signature dose of bright colour and a personally curated selection of homeware and accessories   Alex, AFD Store looks bright, eclectic and fun, how else is it different from other online stores? With so many […]

The Block NZ winners Alex and Corban have opened a pop-up homeware shop in Auckland’s Takapuna Your Home and Garden contributors and stars of The Block NZ 2014 Alex and Corban Walls have opened a pop-up store in Auckland’s Takapuna, as a follow-up to their popular online store. “Corban and I have been busy little bees […]