Diane Keaton - actor, director, producer, and a recipient of an Academy Award, BAFTA, and two Golden Globes. Feeling slightly inadequate yet? Sorry to prick your bubble further, but she’s also a photographer, real estate developer and singer too – and now she’s giving our Book Club something to write about.
Close your eyes and picture oversized glasses, red lipstick and intoxicating outfits. Did Iris appear? Most of us know her face, dwarfed by those punchy glasses, “all the bigger to see you with my dear”. Her red lipstick has a ‘sit up and listen’ powerful, glamourous quality, and she’s perhaps the world’s oldest living teenager (self-proclaimed).
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we are borrowing it from our children.”Frieda and Javvy. Even the names possess a kind of razzle dazzle, a magic, a bohemian rhythm. On a brisk December day last year, I was lucky enough to step inside the world of these two exquisite humans - the founders behind House of Hackney.
A series of stories from people who see work more than a simple job. Some with a single vision, some in a working partnership and some creating communities. Followed by a lengthy chapter of TIPS (worldly advice from workers in the know).
Much to our delight, we’ve been profiled inurbis news.From its fascinating muses, architectural wonders and stylish interiors - urbis magazine has captivated me since forever.The article highlights our recent win at the Amara Interiors Awards and talks about an invite to London that stopped me in my tracks. A shiny bright summons to join the Amara winners at the Tom Dixon Studio at King’s Cross. Umm, okay (exuberant happy jig).
I’ve hovered over the keyboard, bitten my pencil and tidied the desk six times. You see I’m bashful at best over this blog, a tad scared at most. The real Nikki puts a spotlight on clients, blogging with reckless abandon about topics close to my heart while staying under the radar. But sound the drums, raise the soapbox… I’m stepping out of my comfy zone and swinging the doors wide open to our home (eek shy feels are peaking right now).
At Stylemaker, we have been soaking up Robyn Cooper’s blog with oohs and aahs. You possibly have too? Robyn’s support of the New Zealand design industry is to be applauded. Using elegant photography and snappy words, she is putting the spotlight on many talented Kiwi creatives, and capturing a heavy following.
We can’t thank you enough for your votes. Ole London town kicked up its heels at a ritzy awards ceremony on 25thOctober while we waited (impatiently) in Aotearoa for news.
Eeep… we were crowned, WINNER.
We feel so humbled to be chosen from such epic talent, everyone is very deserving.
This book had me at; “A home is one of our most important creations. Within its frame, we create lifelong memories and manage our lives…” and, “Homes must not start with the end in mind.
They need to begin with our story. To unearth a home, we have to dig deep, to understand ourselves as well as others who live there… home design should shift from the surface to the sensory.” If there is one thing I stay true to in my work, it is these very sentiments.
Our littlest Stylemakers are busy dreaming, playmaking and building bright futures. It’s our role to gently coordinate their sense of style without completely losing the stage to Buzz Lightyear or Elsa in the process. Even when those die-hard phases chill out (and they do), Miss and Master bedrooms should reflect their own personal story. With a little planning and picking of battles, you can both be proud as punch to bring a playdate inside.
Our homes are just another stage for us to share our treasured bits and bobs. They're like our favourite outfits, worn with considered little extras - a pop of red lippy, a textured scarf, or our Gran's best pendant.
In my line of work, accessories are a style weapon. Commonly referred to as the finishing touches, they're the last word in a room, and my god they pack a punch. We share the how-tos of accessorising your home.
Photos, artwork, artefacts: We all have walls that need decoration and these are the kinds of things we like to hang on our walls. But as we come to do it, we realise there is a lot more to 'hanging' than simply drilling in a hook and placing said object on the wall. Centre? Clusters? Symmetry? Matching colours? All a bit much, right? We grilled The Hangman for his tips and tricks.
This is a coffee table treasure because it delivers on so many fronts, beautiful, informative, funny.
Ellen takes you on a journey of the homes she has lived in and loved, all the while introducing you to the artists and leaders in design who have inspired her.
The joy of working in the design industry is getting the opportunity to meet amazing inspirational creatives. Today we had the pleasure of spending time with Shelley Boyd from Boyd Blue, a highly successful interior design business based in Australia.
Cooper Interiors inspires homemakers around the world to style their haven with New Zealand’s best home interiors products and design services. We were delighted to be featured on their blog, see our Q + A here
Every Interior designer has a tool box full of ideas and solutions to help bring your home ideas to life. These tools change when working with small spaces as we look to create illusions and clever tricks to fool the eye. For now, we are going to draw back the curtain and inspire you with our toolbox full of ideas to make your small space 'You Ready’ in other words, beautiful.
The joy of open plan living is that it gives you the ability to define your life with style and simplicity.
We all love a little light and space in our lives and Open Plan living can deliver just that. The down side is that you can be left with wide, impersonal areas that for all that space, feel cluttered and untidy. Follow our 'Magic of Three in Open Plan Living' to keep your space clear and uncluttered, while at the same time reflecting your personality and the way you want to live
