vintage

The world of second-hand furniture is a vast maze of treasures and trinkets.

A Wellington two-bedroom cottage has expanded over the years to become a restful, warm and beautiful home to a family of seven filled with vintage treasures collected over the years Everywhere you look in Sarah and Mark Vivian’s Wellington house there’s vintage rubbing up against new. Green velvet Trade Me chairs book-end a contemporary black […]

From smoked to frosted, ribbed to coloured, unique glass is trending. Sustainable shopping advocate Fi reveals how to find this vintage treasure Smoked glass, a staple of the 1970s, is back, which got me thinking about this moody material and other types of glass worth hunting out in secondhand shops. Coloured glass is also a […]

Masters at making every dollar count, this family have worked wonders on a classic split-level house that no one else wanted When Nita Pearson and partner Francis Scordino were looking for a home, they saw potential where others saw problems. “We needed a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a boys’ backyard that sat within our budget,” […]

Reupholstering a vintage chair doesn’t need to be a one-time thing, says Your Home and Garden style director Catherine Wilkinson Seven years ago, YH&G style director Catherine Wilkinson was given a chair by her mother-in-law. Originally purchased on Trade Me, it had a beautiful frame but was covered in tired fabric. Catherine had it reupholstered […]

Op-shopper extraordinaire Charlotte Burt is both the brains behind online vintage store The Goods We Found and the designer of an ethical clothing range for kids It’s hard to believe it was only a year ago that Charlotte Burt started a little Instagram account called The Goods We Found – it feels like we’ve been […]

Vintage-style objects from around the world have been modernised with bright colours, new materials and a crisp white backdrop in this Tauranga home Meet and greet Carly Ward, co-owner and manager of Nourish Cafe, Cameron Ward, general manager of clothing company You Know We Ain’t Ltd, Jackson, 9, and Mia, 7, plus Bruce the cat […]

When this cake queen and her husband first saw the ‘banana house’, they thought it was time to split. Twelve years on, it’s a confectioner’s dream Meet and greet Trudy Nicholls, caker and co-owner of Cherry Cake Company, Alaric Nicholls, 42 teacher, Reon, 9, and Parker, 6, plus Cocoa the chihuahua. How this cake-maker transformed […]

Take inspiration from the vintage vibe of these retreats and hotels, whether it’s for your next vacation or to rejig your living room 1. For retro lovers There’s plenty of retro inspo on Route 66 in the US, but not many motels are as perfectly preserved as the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. […]

Be sustainable and stylish by swapping from paper to cloth napkins. Expert vintage collector Fiona Ralph shows us how to choose from linen and cotton combos Why we’re swapping from paper to cloth napkins – and why you should too As single-use items fall out of favour, there’s one sustainable switch that we’re finding easy […]

Tradition meets today in this old farmstead where laidback leisure and long lunches outdoors typify life. Step inside to discover it’s luxurious new style A traditional Tuscan farmhouse is fitted with luxurious interior style Elisa, Diego and their two children, Niccolò and Tilda, occupy part of the farmhouse facing the pool and boasting a small […]

Pack up the kids and embark on a vintage treasure hunt. Fill the boot with retro finds from these secondhand homeware shops in summer hotspots So Vintage You’ll find industrial, antique and designer finds from France in this Hastings shop (above), owned by French-Kiwi couple Korreen and Mehdi Sanssar. Sovintage.co.nz 339 Clifton Road, Te Awanga, Hastings. […]

A heritage garden is updated and enhanced with the addition of vintage and salvaged finds Secondhand finds add rustic appeal to this seaside garden This 1928 home boasts a fabulous view of water, trees, houses and boats and this seaside feel is reflected in its weathered, lived-in outdoor spaces. The garden retains its heritage character […]

Sitting on the street unassumingly, this weatherboard home is filled with vintage treasures collected over a lifetime by its creative owners Meet and greet Christine Collaine (interior designer), Todd Brady (electrician), Henri, 18, Emma, 20, and Molly, 19. The plain facade of this Auckland home hides a vintage inspired interior How much did you spend […]

Look for iconic, locally made pieces and everyday items that can easily be upcycled to add vintage flair to your home 5 easy upcycling ideas that will give your home unique style 1. There is no shortage of small wooden stools at op-shops. A simple sand and coat of oil or paint will revive a stool […]

Your collection of treasured knick-knacks can easily slip into the realm of clutter. Here are some quick tips to help you showcase your special pieces How to stop your collections looking like clutter Look for iconic, locally made pieces and everyday items that can easily be upcycled to add vintage flair to your home. Use […]

Vintage enthusiast Fiona Ralph give us three fail-safe items to shop for, that can easily be upcycled to give your home a unique edge New to secondhand shopping and unsure what to look for? Keep your eyes peeled for quality, New Zealand-made items that will stand the test of time. Look for iconic, locally made pieces […]

A feast of colour, pattern and texture, this sweet little cottage in Clive will make you want to downsize and escape the city This cosy little Clive cottage does country living right These days, life can often feel hectic and overly complicated. Some say the key to a simpler existence is to get rid of […]

Upcycling expert Antonia Marino of Voodoo Molly shares her step-by-step reupholstering guide to help you give your fave vintage chair a new lease on life  Your step-by-step guide to reupholstering an armless chair at home This is one of the simplest chair types to re-cover, making it an ideal first project. It can be done […]

Fiona Ralph chats to upcycling expert Antonia Marino of Voodoo Molly about restoring vintage chairs and discovers how to do it at home in 5 easy steps How to upcycle a vintage wooden chair Renovating a wooden chair is simpler than restoring an upholstered one. Pick a chair that’s structurally sound and timeless in style, […]

Here are some handy tips for vintage shopping, both online and on the street, to help you find the perfect unique piece for your home 7 best places to shop for vintage furniture in New Zealand 1. Op shops and church shops Try the Hospice, Salvation Army, City Mission and SPCA stores, among others. Small […]

Vintage, retro, antique, mid century…Don’t all these names mean the same thing? We get some quick fire answers about each one Antiques Antiques are defined as items that are over 100 years old. Antique furniture is often identifiable by its more ornate, handcrafted look. There are many different eras to discover – visit an antique […]

Shopping for pre-loved decor is wonderful way to find special pieces for your home. We discover where to begin and how to find your vintage style Adding secondhand items to your decor will give your home a unique, lived-in look, especially when pieces are combined with newer purchases and treasured objects of your own. The […]

The kitchen of this quaint holiday-cottage in Bluff was given a cheerful makeover before its Invercargill owners bade it farewell   The kitchen of this quaint Bluff cottage was given a vintage-vibe makeover Who were the owners? Peter and Karyn Necklen (pastors), Josh, 23 (engineering student), and Melody, 20 (fast food manager). Where is the […]

Darcy, the vintage caravan bar, is a dream come true for this young family.

Darcy, the vintage caravan, has given his owners a new lease on life and outdoor living. See their top tips for creating your own special outdoor space. Meet and greet Stacey Bancroft (graphic designer), Mark Bancroft (draughtsperson), and Mabel, 6 months, plus Beau the black Labrador. Stacy’s outdoor styling tips – When styling a party outside […]