If you’ve searched high and low but haven’t been able to find that one place that ticks all the boxes on the forever home front, chances are you might be thinking of taking on the challenge of building your own house from scratch. If you are considering taking this route, […]
There is an old-school definition of success, which is defined by individual achievement. You know what I mean; the bank account, the platinum card, club lounge travel, the mansion, the cars and even if you hit the double jackpot, the money and the fame. This is all cool, but I...
Wallpaper is an aspect of interior home decorating that has passed in and out of vogue over the years, however 2022 looks to continue its recent revival with homeowners embracing bolder aesthetics for their decorating choices. This year’s trends brings an abundance of flora- and fauna-inspired patterns, exotic prints, scenic […]
If anything, the last couple of years have been an opportune time to connect more deeply with ourselves; to self-reflect on how we live our lives, who we are as people, and to perhaps take stock of what we might previously have taken for granted. As the world starts to […]
Crafters Union are putting out a call to action to inspire women to express and celebrate our individuality no matter what phase of life we are entering. Huh, I scoffed, I don’t need a brand to tell me how to live. But then I realised that I haven’t exactly been […]
Green homes and eco-friendly living have made great strides over the last couple of decades in shifting the idea of alternative living to the mainstream and, in turn, the belief that you need to go off the grid to be eco-friendly. As more people do their part to make greener […]
Your home is your sanctuary – the place where you and your family gather to relax, play and work. It is also the place where you will entertain friends and extended family. Ultimately, it’s where everyday life happens and that one sanctuary in which you can just be. When considering […]
With summer well and truly in the rearview mirror and along with it, socialising with rooftop cocktails on balmy evenings and al fresco dining with friends, the colder months call for an entirely different tack. The cold temperatures make venturing out for friends and family get-togethers distinctly less appealing which […]
When it comes to the facial cleansing aspect of any modern beauty regime, gone are the days of a simple face wash tackling merely the outer surface area of the skin. With the daily onslaught of dirt, germs, makeup residue, blemish-causing grime and free radicals accumulating deep in our pores, […]
The topic of women and money is one that’s been long overdue for some more in-depth scrutiny on the back of the fact that there’s a robust and growing body of evidence that shows an undeniable link between women’s financial confidence and financial wellbeing, in being able to meet current […]
With so many of us remaining ensconced for the most part in our homes these past couple of years, taking a forced hiatus from travel, it’s likely for more Kiwis than ever, visions of balmy sun-kissed island getaways have never felt more visceral. But with restrictions easing and borders around […]
Designing and building a new home from the ground up – one that is an accurate reflection of your lifestyle, which perfectly encapsulates the story of the people who reside there – is exciting, and can be a very rewarding experience. While it may feel like an overwhelming task, the […]
Our enduring fascination with the zombie genre goes as far back as the 1930s and since then, the concept of the zombie outbreak has enjoyed several renaissances. We are attracted to narratives that depict human survival against the odds amidst bleak post-apocalyptic landscapes, and understandably, the proliferation of this idea […]
Life is all about making an impact. Making things better, making ourselves better and the lives of those with whom we are connected. It’s to forge enduring values, affect lives and to aspire to goals that connect us as individuals and groups to our immediate world. If you’re an athlete […]
I’m slightly conflicted about our celebration of celebrity. Yes, I know I am possibly in the wrong industry. I think that innate human tendency to reference our worth and success against others can not only detract us from the wonderful gift that each day is (I didn’t mean for that...
We go through life, our lifestyle priorities change and evolve, however, there are some constants necessary to thrive and one of these is to have a place you can always feel at home. We have a mental list of the things our dream home would have, if and when we...
The hotel world is abuzz with a whole swathe of mini-chains championing boutique comfort. The brainchild of historic legacy brands, these carefully curated offshoots are designed to appeal to new generation travellers who covet upscale warm and attentive service, state-of-the-art tech amenities, and gram-worthy surroundings. In recent months, Auckland has […]
When you enjoy a Mission wine, it is more than just a stellar flavour profile on your palate; you are also becoming a part of an extraordinary journey, which started over 170 years ago. Inspired by their progressive forebears who carved out Mission’s foundation, to this day, not one iota […]
For many of us, our earliest childhood memories of home are indelible, beautiful and vivid. Home is where the heart is, after all. Where function, form and feeling collide as our recollections relate the spatial relationship we had with past memories. American architect, Philip Johnson could not have put it […]
Most of us know that getting a good night’s sleep is just as important to our overall health and wellbeing as a well-balanced diet and a regular fitness routine. We all know that a lack of quality shut-eye on a regular basis spells trouble for our quality of life, affecting […]
With Easter just around the corner, heralding the cooler temperatures and shorter days of Autumn, these celebratory holidays bring with them the anticipation of egg hunts, sweet spiced hot cross buns and chocolate-covered bunnies. But for many of us, we find our chocolate obsession is matched in equal measure with […]
The art of the staycation is something that many of us will no doubt have become more familiar with, especially of late. Taking a much-needed hiatus from the fatigue of working from home or simply the stress and hustle of the city to focus on some relaxation and respite without […]
We don’t know about you but when travelling, the one thing we will always look forward to the most is the food. Taste and smell, after all, are so inextricably connected with our memories. Which is why, when a new staycation destination emerges with the promise of heroing top-notch food […]
Female representation in New Zealand’s largest companies is still a work in progress. Well, technically speaking, it’s an embarrassment. In New Zealand, less than 30 percent of board directors are women and 27 companies – nearly a fifth of all those listed on the NZX – have no women on […]
There’s nothing quite like the beauty and vitality of natural stone showcased in a home or the dramatic use of concrete left in its exposed state to create a raw, monolithic statement in architecture. The upscale natural look of stone and concrete and the fact that materials of this ilk […]
As the temperatures start to fall away, being on the cusp of a new season also brings the opportunity to renew our focus on well-being and mindfulness as catalysts to inject some warmth and vitality into our homes. Whether you are taking on a new redecorating project or simply sprucing […]
Getting a good night’s sleep is absolutely essential for our health. On par, in fact, with eating a balanced, nutritious diet and exercising regularly. Moreover, the magic number of eight hours that we should, on average, supposedly be sleeping each night, isn’t just vital internally for our bodies and brains,...
While the new year seems to be the time to lay down or recap those big ambitious goals, I got thinking a little more about the small things this summer. On New Year’s day, our family headed to the beach with some friends and took part in their annual ritual...
Refreshing, versatile, and easy to make. It’s no surprise the Margarita is one of the world’s favourite cocktails. Created in 1948 by Margaret Sames, the original recipe is simple and has remained unchanged since the beginning: Cointreau, tequila blanco, fresh lime juice, and a salt rim. In fact, Cointreau and...
There is something special about setting foot in an unfamiliar place, trying a new activity, or having a novel experience. The short of it is that venturing off the beaten path and really experiencing the world is food for the soul, be it making lasting memories, cultivating new friendships, or...
While, at first glance, there might not seem much commonality between the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms and a bottle of meticulously handcrafted gin, Hendrick’s has taken it upon themselves to channel the airs of wabi sabi and bottle the beauty of the ephemeral in life with their smooth and...
There are so many decisions that go into an interior design project, which if well-thought-through, lead to the level of aesthetic cohesion in which everything feels “just so” and nothing seems out of place. Fortunately, there are six basic principles of interior design to hand, which can help to transform...
For most homeowners redecorating a space, the fifth wall, i.e. your ceiling, is more often than not overlooked to remain a blank drywall surface with just a coat of white paint applied at best. While an untouched neutral canvas for a ceiling has its uses aesthetically, in supporting certain design...
If you are considering updating your home this summer, one of the most inexpensive ways to immediately add significant value to your home is to spruce up the old and give it a fresh lick of paint. It’s a simple and cost-effective way in which to add maximum impact to...
One of the most interesting new interior trends of the moment has to do with the temporal lobe of the brain, which is tasked with organising sensory input. More specifically, it has to do with the olfactory cortex, which is crucial for the processing and perception of scent. This portion...
Queenstown is easily one of New Zealand’s most breathtaking four-season alpine spots, blessed with the stunning jagged backdrop of The Remarkables mountain range, rising sharply from the mighty Wakatipu. There is something special about setting foot in an unfamiliar place, trying a new activity, or having a novel experience. The...
Our lives are, for the most part, measured by an index of ageing that is dictated by the number of birthdays we have celebrated. Age measured by time alone, however, does not take into account our biological progression, which is a significantly more reliable indicator of our future health than […]
The world is positively abuzz with interior design trends touting the next big design cue with which to curate that perfect sanctuary within our homes. We’ve gotten all snug and cozy with the Danish concept of hygge, only to turn our attention to being content with not too much but...
Interior design plays a pivotal role not only in defining the aesthetics of a space but also in how it influences our mood and behaviour, in recognising the importance of such factors as colour, light, solid versus void, proportion, placement and layout alongside intangible considerations including energy alignment, natural rhythms,...
Buying off the plan is one of those endeavours that is sometimes portrayed as a “risky” investment, but buying in advance of a property being built can offer many benefits including financial gains and peace of mind. It can also be more affordable and offer more flexibility than buying an...
