Your Home and Garden 09.2022_downmagaz.net-сжатый

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CONTENTS September 26 60 36 Mid-century coastal is a winner every time Shopping Homes Renovation Makeover 12 WINDOW SHOPPING 36 SLICE OF HEAVEN 76 LUCKY FIND 96 BELLA CASA 17 GREEN WITH ENVY An expat family’s A small workman’s cottage An artist’s colourful return to a classic grows into a decent-sized centuries-old stone house Colour du jour Kiwi bungalow family home on the Italian Riviera is the stuff of dreams 18 SEND IN THE CLOWNS 48 LAY OF THE LAND 84 NATURE CALLS 107 SPRING TRENDS Circuscore starts now A split-level new-build Transforming your overlooking coastal bathroom with some of Ten trends to take you into 20 CITY SLICKER Taranaki the hottest looks right now the new season – biophilia or desert boho anyone? Father’s Day gifts 60 BOLD & BEAUTIFUL 90 RENOVATE NOW 22 JACK OF ALL TRADES An artist moves into her Jen Jones tells how to beat childhood house and product shortages and And for the outdoors dad makes it her own unstable pricing on a reno 26 WOMEN WE LOVE Alice Toomer’s lifelike confectionery art 4 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

Check out our new 118 Living section 137 126 Salad days are here again Garden Food Living 112 THE BEE’S KNEES 124 BLUE CHEESE AND 138 DOWNTIME On the cover Time to plant some LEEK TARTS Down tools and relax A classic weatherboard house lavender – not only for its won Kate Sumner-Brown and looks and fragrance, but All topped with sweet 140 COME CLEAN her family over for good when also as a boon for bees roasted grapes they decided to move from Eco cleaners for the big England back home. To see 114 THE CONSTANT 126 MODERN SALADS spring spruce up more, turn to page 36. Photography Babiche Martens. GARDENER Light meals to herald 141 COASTAL GRANDMOTHER spring – and they taste as Your checklist for springing good as they look Are you one? into the garden 132 FATHER’S DAY FEAST 142 LIVING WELL 118 GREEN PEACE Show your dad how Eleanor embraces spring How do you work magic much you care by grilling in small spaces? Australian some ribs 146 CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT celebrity gardener Charlie Albone has some ideas 135 SOUND BITES A textile creative is inspired by Elvis, The culinary world’s latest the movie tasty treats YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 5

Fiona Hawtin, Editor Hello PHOTOGRAPHY, HAIR AND MAKE-UP CAROLYN HASLETT. FIONA WEARS ZOE & MORGAN NECKLACE, LONELY CAMISOLE AND HELEN CHERRY JACKET. This month I’m… I’m just back from the Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes exhibition at the Auckland Museum. Aside from the little boy who said to his mother “they’re broken” when he saw the life-size statue of Nike without a head, what I most loved were the amphoras. It’s incredible to think these vessels have survived 2000 or more years. The ones on display were delicately painted ceremonial ones and used as prizes to give to sports champions in the Panathenaic festivals, but a large number of everyday amphoras used to store oil and wine have also survived. In 2000 years, our everyday plastic storage containers will have broken down and what will we have to show for ourselves in terms of domesticware besides our cornflakes in Sistema containers, however ingenious the seals are? We’ve got plenty to be proud of if flicking through this issue is anything to go by: decorated ceramic plates, considered art, beautiful textiles, purposefully built homes that are about bringing family and friends together. It may be hard to pigeonhole us, though: Kate Sumner- Brown’s house from the cover and on page 36 is about modern ease, whereas Ludovica Basso’s place by the Italian Riviera on page 96 is full of drama and reflects her artistic disposition. Homes and our choice of decoration is very much a sign of the age of individuality. Taken with this Using Ashley & Co’s Ruff Star Sika lucky animal. Freshen and Tame on my dog Chalkie. The naturally fragranced They’re inspired plant-based spray has kānuka, by ancient cultures calendula, aloe vera and macadamia who thought they’d seed oil in it to tame fur. The rhubarb, iris, crab apple and cut grass fragrance bring guidance, protection and beats wet dog smell any day. $30, from ashleyandco.co.nz power. It’s a lovely idea and a beautiful object. $45.60, from smithandcaugheys. co.nz Wearing my Carlson jumpsuit almost to death. Aside from a denim jumpsuit as a teen, I’ve steadfastly avoided them. That was until I saw Tanya Carlson wearing one of her own designs recently. It looked so good I invested in the black one and haven’t looked back. Simultaneously slouchy, dressy and comfortable – because that’s what clothes have to be for me these days. $599, from tanyacarlson.com 6 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN



Social club EDITOR Fiona Hawtin European sensibilities and mesmerising pattern play ART & EDITORIAL WE LOVE Scattered light over Deputy editor Caroline Moratti pebbles inspired new Art director Nicola Feeney linen stock at this New Chief sub-editor Michelle Joe Zealand showroom. Garden editor Mary Lovell-Smith Perfect for walls and Senior designer Béla Trussell-Cullen Designers Alice Bush, Anna Petursdottir cushions, or both. @theivyhousenz CONTRIBUTORS Kate Battersby, Anna Briggs, Holly Jean Brooker, Gorge yourself silly on PODCAST OF THE MONTH Gina Fabish, Jen Jones, Babiche Martens, beautiful homes served Eleanor Ozich, Swell Productions, Living Inside, Take a trip across Catherine Steel, Shelley Tustin up on a silver platter the pond with from three French a deep dive into ADVERTISING | CORPORATE tastemakers. Who Sales director Claire Chisholm needs to spend a year Australia’s favourite Commercial sales manager Mae Kelly, interior brands and [email protected], 0212460276 in Provence? personalities in “The Senior account manager Chloe Jordan @ateliervime [email protected] House of Style”. Campaign manager Angela Wei [email protected] CONNECT WITH US Classified sales Kim Chapman [email protected] We love seeing images from our #yourhomeandgarden community. EXECUTIVE Chief executive officer Jane Huxley @yourhomeandgarden General manager Stuart Dick Editorial director Sarah Henry TRENDING ONLINE TOP INSTAGRAM POST Distributor Are Direct Monochrome worked its magic in Eric Murray’s kitchen reno gets a this charming heritage home. gold medal from our followers. + Contact us Email [email protected]. Postal address: PO Box 52122, Kingsland, Auckland 1352 yourhomeandgarden.co.nz @yourhomeandgarden + Subscription enquiries Phone: 0800 624 746. Email [email protected] or visit magshop.co.nz. + Advertising enquiries Sales Director Claire Chisholm, email: [email protected]. Directory Advertising: Kim Chapman, email [email protected]. Your Home and Garden is published by Are Media Ltd of Level 1, 317 New North Road, Kingsland, Auckland 1021. Printed by Webstar, 114 Swanson Road, Henderson, Auckland 0610. © 2021. All rights reserved. Your Home and Garden (ISSN 1173-8642) is subject to copyright in its entirety. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved in material accepted for publication, unless initially specified otherwise. All letters and other material forwarded to the magazine will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled “not for publication”. Opinions expressed in Your Home and Garden are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of Are Media Auckland. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material. Paint colours may alter in the printing process. PRIVACY NOTICE This issue of Your Home and Garden is published by Are Media Limited (Are Media). Are Media may use and disclose your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy, including to provide you with your requested products or services and to keep you informed of other Are Media publications, products, services and events. Our Privacy Policy is located at www.aremedia.co.nz/ privacy/. It also sets out on how you can access or correct your personal information and lodge a complaint. Are Media may disclose your personal information offshore to its service providers and agents located throughout the world, including in Australia, USA, the Philippines and the European Union. In addition, this issue may contain Reader Offers, being offers, competitions or surveys. Reader Offers may require you to provide personal information to enter or to take part. Personal information collected for Reader Offers may be disclosed by us to service providers assisting Are Media in the conduct of the Reader Offer and to other organisations providing special prizes or offers that are part of the Reader Offer. An opt-out choice is provided with a Reader Offer. Unless you exercise that opt-out choice, personal information collected for Reader Offers may also be disclosed by us to other organisations for use by them to inform you about other products, services or events or to give to other organisations that may use this information for this purpose. If you require further information, please contact Are Media’s Privacy Officer either by email [email protected] or mail Privacy Officer, Are Media, 54 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia. This publication has been printed by Webstar, a Toitū enviromark diamond certified company and a winner of the Green Ribbon Award. Instagram @yourhomeandgarden | Facebook facebook.com/yourhomegarden | Website yourhomeandgarden.co.nz 8 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

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RUG UP Irish designer Orla Kiely’s Cut Stem rug really is hand-tufted using New Zealand wool. Soft and luxurious underfoot, it’s a beautiful way to roll out the welcome mat. $1290 (120cm x 180cm), from Bolt of Cloth. 10 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

SHOPPING 12 Window shopping What’s hot in store. 17 Trending Go for green, Circuscore fun and Father’s Day finds. 26 Women we love Alice Toomer’s sweet spot. YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 11

Kmart clever window OFF THE SCALES Kmart’sWE LUST shopping all-new DIY range has us itching to make the most of TAKE A PEEK AT THE LATEST FINDS a spare Sunday morning. There’s something for SPRING BLOOMS every home DIYer, from removable wallpaper, vinyl Florals? For spring? floor tiles, cupboard and Sometimes the combo really door handles and terrazzo is groundbreaking. Rosetta paint chips, to help you love your home that much more. tablecloth, $250, from Resistant to water, oil or annabelles.nz mildew, these self-adhesive 3D tiles will help you make a 12 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN splash, without the mess of grout. $30 (five-pack), from kmart.co.nz A TALKING PIECE FOR ANY TABLE, THIS ASH CANDLE HOLDER IS SURE TO IMPRESS. BETTER YET, IT’S HANDCRAFTED BY A DARFIELD BLACKSMITH WHO IS BRANCHING OUT. $85, FROM FRANCESNATION. CO.NZ

WARM S WELCOME Brush off the day in style Date night sorted with the latest PERFECT FOR PICNICS OR, AT THE VERY door mat drop LEAST, A CUTE INSTAGRAM PHOTO. RUBI from Bonnie and PICNIC BASKET, $59.99, FROM COTTONON.COM Neil. The only downside? Jealous neighbours. $120, from smallacorns.co.nz Your better half BLUSHING IF YOU’RE THE INDECISIVE TYPE, THIS RUG WILL BEAUTY FEEL LIKE TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE. SKYLAR RAINBOW OVAL RUG, $499, This geometric vase FROM EARLYSETTLER.CO.NZ looks as pretty as the cut flowers it holds. No need for rose-tinted glasses here. Etta vase, around $83, from capradesigns.com J’ADORE Perfect for COVER GIRL outdoor and indoor dining, there’s plenty As if we needed a better reminder to eat our veggies to love about these – it’ll be easy to love your leftovers with this handy timeless French-style lanterns. If you need reusable set. Garden To Table dish covers (set of to make a sudden four), $29.90, from wallacecotton.com declaration of romance, look no YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 13 further than these swoon-worthy wares. Medium lantern, $115, from orlandostore.nz

Butter you up SPLURGE Light show SAVE Legendary designer Marcel Wanders brings his magic Save: Beaded pendant, touch to the humble butter knife. We’re spreading the $109, from Kmart. good news so you can spread better. Alessi dressed Splurge: Deep Jungle butter knives, $125 (set of six), from Askew. 360 light, $185, from Super Sunny. RHUBARB & CUSTARD SOFT TOUCH Treat yourself to these European linen Made from Gotland wool and cushions for a luxurious night in. Stonewashed lambswool, this blanket is sheepishly for that ultra-soft vintage effect, these darlings good. Gotland wool has been used come in delectable shades such as rhubarb, since the Viking era, and we’re sure tobacco and limoncello. Como cushion, from $120, from mcfinteriors.co.nz those seafarers knew how to keep warm. Cosy up with the Klippan Gotland blanket, $230, from studiobestwishes.com Waste management OFFICE BINS CAN BE HARD TO GET RIGHT. THANKFULLY, FREEDOM HAS STEPPED UP TO THE CHALLENGE WITH A RANGE OF RECEPTACLES IN DROOL-WORTHY COLOURS. JUST MAKE SURE TO AIM. CAPSULE WASTEBIN, $34.95, FROM FREEDOMFURNITURE.CO.NZ 14 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

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1 S SPLURGE 5 2 VINYL-BACKED 3 WALLPAPER CAN BE USED IN BATHROOMS 4 7 8 6 TRENDING 10 GREEN 11 9 with envy Fresh, light and peaceful, take a few leaves from nature 12 13 1 Silk pillowcase, $99 (pair), from Home Lab Store. 2 Porcini table light, $109.99, from Adairs. 3 Cast iron casserole, $650, from Le Creuset. 4 Monkey Business wallpaper, $481.80 (per roll), from Mokum. 5 The Poster Club Green Ocean print, from $99, from Paper Plane. 6 Resene Wallpaper Collection 296012 wallpaper, $249 (per roll), from ColorShops. 7 Roxby dining chair, $219, from Nood. 8 Striped tea towels, $19.90 (two), from Wallace Cotton. 9 Philodendron plant, $39.99, from Kings Plant Barn. 10 Floor cushion, $72.90, from Iko Iko. 11 Metal planter, $209, from Shut the Front Door. 12 Stitch 3-seater velvet sofa, $2599, from Early Settler. 13 Pillar candle, $32, from Husk Home. YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 17

TRENDING 1 Send in the clowns 2 Tap into your inner harlequin, circuscore is everywhere 5 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 10 1 Maileg garland, $74, from Little Whimsy. 2 Longest Drink in Town cup (set of four), $34.90, from Iko Iko. 3 Ice cream swirl money box, $24.90, from Iko Iko. 4 Made by Humans balloon dog bookends, from $255 (set of two), from Peggy. 5 Suck UK goldfish pet bowl, $35, from Wonder Room. 6 Lego brick drawer, $119, from Allium. 7 Liewood room jena rug lion, $219.50, from Little Whimsy. 8 Ikea children’s tent, $59, from Good Furniture. 9 Basilur Music Concert circus black Ceylon tea, $35, from Smith & Caughey’s. 10 Emily Winfield Martin elephant art print, $59.50, from Little Whimsy. 11 Christian Lacroix circus cushion, $355, from Smith & Caughey’s. 18 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

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1 3 2 4 56 TRENDING 7 City slicker Pamper your dad with 9 modern luxuries 10 8 12 13 11 1 Bodum Chambord stove top espresso maker, $129.99, from Stevens. 2 Luigi Bormioli birrateque IPA beer glass (set of two), $49.99, from Stevens. 3 Auckland Eats: Vol 2, The Prequel book, $35, from Lazy Susan. 4 Tactica credit tool card, $49.99, from A&C Homestore. 5 Malin & Goetz salicylic gel, $36, from Mecca. 6 Cactus pyjama set, $129, from Foxtrot Home. 7 Ballarini Tevere chef’s knife, $99, from Milly’s Kitchen. 8 Bose SoundLink colour II portable bluetooth speaker, $237, from Harvey Norman. 9 Tasteology basil olive oil, $35, from Father Rabbit. 10 Orange & chilli infused olive oil, $26.90, from Al Brown & Co. 11 Apple iPad 10.2” 64GB, $569, from Harvey Norman. 12 The Freestyle projector LSP3B, $1699.95, from Samsung. 13 Y Men after shave lotion, $102 (100ml), by Yves Saint Laurent. 20 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN



3 2 4 1 5 TRENDING 6 Jack of all trades 7 Give the gift of the great outdoors this Father’s Day 9 10 12 9 11 1 Rubi cooler bag, $39.99, from Cotton On. 2 Moana Road snowboarding enamel mug, $17.90, from Iko Iko. 3 Metro umbrella, $149, from Blunt. 4 Surf wax, $15, from Crushes. 5 Victorinox classic SD colours pocket knife, $39.99, from Bivouac. 6 Campfire cast iron double jaffle iron, $39.99, from Equip Outdoors. 7 Pallares Solsona hand-forged firewood tongs, $99, from Father Rabbit. 8 Esschert Design gardener’s soap, $11.99, from Shut the Front Door. 9 Stanley classic pour-over coffee filter, $55, from Paper Plane. 10 Everdure Cube portable charcoal barbecue by Heston Blumenthal, $289, from Harvey Norman. 11 Arizona sandals, $180, from Birkenstock. 12 Waxed canvas log carrier, $129, from Father Rabbit. 22 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN







WOMEN WE LOVE Sweet spot Alice Toomer has found her artistic groove by capturing some of New Zealand’s favourite lollies and desserts on canvas Text Caroline Moratti Photography Anna Briggs 26 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

S Working from her sunny studio S U GA R C R A F T Alice’s first confectionery-related painting was nestled in Wellington’s coastal suburb of Island Bay, Alice a “challenging, multi-coloured bag of Cadbury Pebbles”. The product Toomer brings confectionery to life on canvas. Her work is is now discontinued, but she says the process felt “euphoric”. painstakingly intricate, the results nothing short of sugar-coated, photorealistic A B OV E Each intricate painting, such as Cellophane Sweets or illusions. The young painter says she is “compelled by the impermanence of food, so I choose to immortalise Double Scoop Chocolate, can take Alice three to four weeks to it in my own way, with paint.” complete. Her most recent creation, Double Scoop Chocolate, took four separate photo shoots to get the final shot – and Alice admits she consumed “a shocking” amount of melted chocolate ice cream in the process. “I love the depth and the summery aura that the warm, natural sunlight provides. The texture of ice cream is difficult to paint, so I’m proud of how it came to life,” she says. Alongside painting, Alice works as a director of photography on local music videos and short films, which she says helps her to approach her photo shoots with greater intention. While confectionery and desserts have been her focus so far, the young creative says she is eager to delve deeper into the traditional still-life genre and explore a wider range of culinary areas and subjects. “I’m in a really exciting phase of exploration at the moment, where I’m challenging myself to take more technical and creative risks to evolve my style. It feels like my works are maturing alongside me.” When did you start painting? I have been drawn to all things creative from a young age. After winning the genetic lottery and inheriting my dad’s [acclaimed Otago landscape painter John Toomer] artistic eye, I have continued to improve with his guidance and keen interest in my craft. I started selling my works when I was a 12-year-old at my high school’s art exhibition. My Andy Warhol-inspired painting of some takeaway coffee cups sold on the opening night, and I gained a number of commissions that haven’t really slowed down since. YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 27

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S “Art is another way of seeing – it’s a way to Your work looks good enough to eat! What drew make mundane objects feel unique.” you to the subject matter of confectionery and desserts? Food has always captivated me as a comfort ALICE TOOMER for the soul, so it felt natural to explore it deeper through my art. Blending my hyperreal influences V I S UA L H I S TO RY When developing her style, Alice says she was inspired by the with iconic Kiwi foods and brands, I tapped into a bit of a niche area of art here in Aotearoa. It was exciting works of contemporary artists such as Roberto Bernardi, Luigi Benedicenti, and Mary Ellen to bring decadent flavours to life and offer people Johnson: “I was drawn to their vibrant colours, rich textures, and minimalist compositions.” a scrumptious sensory experience, all within a New Zealand context. Documenting foods before they change or disappear can evoke a strong sense of nostalgia – especially with lolly packaging where designs and products are constantly evolving. What’s something you wish people knew about hyperrealism? Something often overlooked is the number of hours and thousands of intentional brush strokes that go into these paintings. Hyperrealism is often sidelined in the art scene or deemed pointless, as a camera can create a similar product. But to me, art is another way of seeing – it’s a way to make the most mundane objects feel unique and extraordinary. Hyperrealism is about utilising certain tools to evoke visceral feelings and vivid memories. Historically still life, particularly food, has such a rich internal struggle, often swaying between themes of fruitful abundance and inevitable decay. Where do you think your paintings fit within that context? My works strive to capture that moment in time right before eating – a beautiful yet fleeting experience. The subject of confectionery and iconic foods embraces the timeless abundance aspect of still life — however, a lot of my paintings incorporate brands and logos, so that inevitable decay is still present within a social lens. There may come a day when every lolly I’ve painted is discontinued, and my paintings will become a window into the past. I am increasingly drawn to the concept of decay in still life, and it feels like the natural next step in my exploration of the genre. How long does it take you to complete a piece? It takes me around 40 hours to paint most of my works. For more detailed paintings it can take me upwards of 60 hours. I also spend a bit of time in both the planning and distribution stages, so it would be fair to say it takes an average of three to four weeks to develop a painting from conception to completion. What does your process look like? I begin by setting up a photo shoot with my chosen subject, playing with different compositions, backdrops and lighting set-ups. Then I pick the best image, print it off to scale, and trace it onto the work surface to record accurate details and proportions. With my photo reference, I begin painting. Using acrylics, I first block in the background and then move onto the subject in small sections. At this stage I tend to focus on the intricate details rather than the bigger picture. I aim to replicate YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 29

the photograph’s tones and textures by building BREAD AND BUTTER up layers of mid-tones, shadows and highlights – working my way around the piece until it is complete. “I’m always on the lookout for inspiring imagery and have a To finish, I add a few coats of varnish to protect growing collection of visual the paint and enhance the rich colours. The painting references that I often pull from is now ready to be framed, hung and cherished by its – whether that be food, colours, new owners and/or gallery-goers. lighting, backgrounds, or textures,” Alice says. “I source How did you start out building a career as my subjects locally – from cafes, a painter? I kept involved with my regional art bakeries and dairies in the area.” community and exhibited in various shows and Pictured is a painting, which is galleries within Otago, which helped me gain still in progress, of a sourdough exposure. Because I began painting at such loaf her flatmate baked in a young age, it became a part-time job alongside isolation: “Artistically, it’s more my studies. My knowledge of business has grown dramatic than my previous over the years, especially in terms of branding and works, and moves away from my marketing myself through social media. usual saturated style and ultra-sweet subject matter.” What’s next for you? What pieces are you dreaming up for the future? Recently I’ve found How can people follow and purchase your myself more inspired by my surroundings than the gorgeous work? At alicetoomer.com. I display confectionery aisle of the supermarket. I am keen selected paintings, list print releases for sale as they to build a series of works in this moodier style to become available, and exhibit my cinematography encapsulate the evocative nature of food. Through work. I also have a joint website with my dad John, grittier textures and tones, I want to acknowledge toomerart.com, where our past and current works can indulgence, opulence, and consumerist behaviours be viewed and purchased. surrounding food and food waste. In addition to depicting the food itself, I wish to explore dining as a complex social and cultural pillar of our existence. 30 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

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REFLECTED GLORY This new build features PHOTOGRAPHY GINA FABISH lengths of pressed Viridian bronze mirror customised with an antique finish and used as a splashback and on the overhead cupboard doors in the kitchen. It’s smart thinking as it gives the newness of the home a lovely, lived-in feeling. To see what else the owners of this home have done, turn to page 48. 34 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

HOMES 36 Slice of heaven Returning Kiwis find their beach paradise. 48 Lay of the land A split-level new build inspired by a rugged coastline. 60 Bold & beautiful An artist finds joy renovating her childhood home. YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 35

LIVING The black Elbow dining chairs and Vassa American oak dining table are both from IDO Interior Design Online and ideal for family meals and entertaining friends made in the neighbourhood. “Everyone gets together for a glass of wine at the beach in the summertime,” says homeowner Kate Sumner-Brown. 36 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

H SLICE of HEAVEN From London to the beach bliss of Devonport, Auckland, a returning family discover the reality of their Kiwi life is even better than their rosy memories Text Shelley Tustin Photography Babiche Martens YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 37

home profile MEET & GREET Kate Sumner-Brown (legal recruitment company owner), her husband Kris (senior finance partner), and their daughters, Margaux, eight, and Charlotte, six. THE PROPERTY Weatherboard bungalow built in 1926, Devonport, Auckland. D istance, as they say, makes the heart grow fonder. The old adage is a truth lived by many expat Kiwis, but the luckiest ones get to keep this rosy view long after they return home. Such is the case for Kate and Kris, whose memories of an idyllic Kiwi childhood have been trumped by the charm of their current life, one of barefoot bliss with their two girls in a sunny Devonport weatherboard house that’s within a sandy stone’s throw of the beach. No place like home Covid brought many globe-trotting Kiwis back to New Zealand, but for Kate and Kris Sumner-Brown who had spent 13 years in London, it was just one part of a series of events that turned the vague notion of a coming home “someday” into one-way tickets back to Godzone. With a lovely life in London, the family were poised to further cement their ties to Blighty with a move to Surrey, when things went pear-shaped. The day after the sale on their previous house went unconditional, the deal on their new property fell through, leaving the family adrift with only a short time to find a place to live and prompting a discussion about where that new place should be. “We had always wondered if we should be giving New Zealand a go, so we sat down and had a conversation over a bottle of wine. We woke up the next morning and Kris said, ‘Well, what do you think?’,” says Kate. Covid and remote working meant it was a low-risk time to move (“I can run my business internationally and everyone’s doing everything by Zoom, anyway,” says Kate), so they promptly booked one-way tickets and were back in Aotearoa three weeks later. The decision was spontaneous, but the couple left themselves plenty of room to go back to the UK if New Zealand wasn’t the blissful idyll they remembered. But they needn’t have worried. “Within a couple of weeks, maybe a month or two, I realised we wouldn’t be moving back to London because New Zealand is uniquely wonderful for raising children,” says Kate. Waxing lyrical about barefoot walks home from school via the beach, backyard barbecues and the close-knit community they found themselves in, Kate says, “It’s

H COOL CURVES When creating a vignette, style objects at different heights, in different textures and in odd number groupings. This eye-catching solid oak sideboard has linear slatted doors and it not only looks beautiful but has useful internal shelving for storage. YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 39

ALL ON DECK The extended space has room for multiple areas. The outdoor sofa is from Dawson & Co and the dining setting from Heal’s in London. The bar leaner and stools are from Cintesi and stool from Coco Republic. A garden highlight is the diamond patterned Belgian fence of trained jasmine. 40 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

H something I’m super grateful to have, but until you leave New Zealand, I don’t think you realise just how incredible this kind of childhood is.” House hunting Both Kate and Kris are from the Waikato, but Kate had fallen in love with the village atmosphere and beachside location of Devonport years before, so they concentrated their house search on the Auckland suburb. It wasn’t exactly a breeze, but they finally settled on a home that ticked all of their boxes. The 1926 weatherboard bungalow features bedrooms aplenty and a downstairs studio for guests, a fresh palette of white paint and limed timber floors, and best of all, a glimpse of bright blue water through the living room window. Light floods the rooms during the day, but Kate says the deciding factor was more ephemeral than all of this: “It’s hard to put a finger on why you buy a house, but it just felt nice.” Team effort With all of this, the house would tick almost anyone’s boxes, but the greatest gift turned out to be something the couple didn’t think to put on their must-have list: a solid sense of community. They’d been told the street was something special but dismissed it as real-estate spin, until they moved in. “It’s this phenomenal cul-de-sac. We have a WhatsApp group, everyone gets together for a glass of wine at the beach in the summertime, and people help each other out,” says Kate. A Kiwi community – albeit in a virtual sense – also helped Kate furnish their new home. YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 41

WHAT’S YOUR VIEW? Kate spent a lot of time trying to find chairs with an interesting back to them as she knew they’d be the first thing guests would see when they entered the living area. These Paris armchairs with the cane wrap-around feature are a beautiful addition to the room. The chairs, says homeowner Kate Sumner-Brown, were found with help from one of her Instagram followers. 42 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

H Gorgeous furniture and homewares can be found in New Zealand – the stunning homes profiled in these pages are testament to that fact – but, used to the rich offerings of the UK, Kate found sourcing what she wanted required a lot more searching and some insider knowledge. “I knew the chairs in the living room would be seen from the front door and would become a design feature,” says Kate. “I put out on Instagram that I was looking for this particular type of chair. One of my followers got in touch and said there’s a little shop in Hastings that has something very similar.” The Paris chairs from Kindred Road are now the first style statement one sees on walking in the front door. Modern minimalist There are plenty of beautiful objects to look at in this house, but what you won’t find here is clutter. Kate’s secret to a minimalist home is a maximalist approach to storage. “I’m a really big fan of minimalism and a lot of what we’ve done in the house is really practical – we put in a lot of storage.” There’s storage under the house for kayaks, buckets and spades, and all of the gear associated with their new beachy lifestyle. Ikea cabinets (from Idiya) give the look of built-ins without the cost, while statement furniture pieces have been chosen as much for their stash space as their good looks. “I like having a really clear space, it’s so much more calm. And I think the only way you can do that is if you do the YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 43

BEDROOMS The white bed linen is from Adairs and the rattan bedsides from Onceit give the main bedroom a relaxed resort vibe; Margaux’s room (opposite) is designed to grow with her and has an ensuite bathroom. The floaty canopy is from MumMum in Takapuna; Charlotte’s room features a world map, which is a perfect fit for this globe-trotting family. Both children’s bedrooms have a corkboard where the girls can display their artwork. 44 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

H BATHROOM Installed by the previous owner, the crisp white bathroom had everything the family needed – except a mirror. The black arched mirrors look amazing and were a total bargain, says Kate. “Those were something like $45 each from Kmart and they made such a difference to that space.” boring stuff, like have enough storage for all your things,” says Kate. Kate’s bright and clean aesthetic also translates to a lot of white – and she’s got some tricks for making this work with small children. An artfully draped throw stops grubby hands from touching the beige sofa; a Bissell spot cleaner keeps upholstery pristine; while hard surfaces, like recycled timber and marble, have been chosen for their ability to disguise scratches, spills and wear. Future plans An outsider would say the house is pretty close to perfect the way it is, but Kate hints at renovation plans in their future, designed to put their own mark on the house. “We will make changes in the future, but in the meantime, we want to style it in a way that makes it feel like we live there and we’re not just passing through.” Essentially, their intention is to create a feeling of permanence. Because here is where they will stay. These Kiwis have flown home for good. YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 45

Shop their style Soft whites and silhouettes meet rustic warmth for a classic townhouse style 4 5 3 2 1 67 11 89 10 1 Arch mirror, $47, from Kmart. 2 Mele squat pendant, $259, from Lighting Direct. 3 Linen cotton cushion cover, $69.90, from Citta. 4 Living & Co chunky knit throw, $30, from The Warehouse. 5 Momento Corfu rattan condiment basket, $89.99, from Stevens. 6 Luca Oasis 2.5-seater sofa, $2399, from Farmers. 7 The Girl With a Pearl Earring pop art print, $42.28 (50cm x 70cm), from Amazon. 8 Wishbone dining chair, $449, from Freedom. 9 Zamioculcas zamiifolia plant, $31.99, from Kings Plant Barn. 10 Linear slatted oak sideboard, $1845, from Coastal Style. 11 Ferm Living incense burner, $129, from Paper Plane. 46 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

H home truths 2 3 1 ANY SAVES? Floor plan Lower level We’ve had plans drawn up, but have chosen KEY 6 Living to make smaller changes and to invest in 1 Garage 7 Main areas that won’t change, even if we went bedroom ahead with a reno. 2 Bathroom 3 Guest room 8 Ensuite ANY SPLURGES? 4 Kitchen, 9 Office dining and 10 Entry Outdoor lighting, furniture and decking. 11 Deck Also a ducted heating and cooling system. living BEST LESSONS LEARNED? 5 Bedroom That the old adage of ‘live in a home for a 4 56 year before you make big changes’ is still 11 10 true. We had full plans drawn up within months of moving in, but found (especially 11 with Auckland’s big lockdown last year) that 7 89 2 85 we enjoy a lot of our home as it is. Top level ANY DISASTERS? We had a small plastering job taken on by a non-specialist. It took several days and resulted in not such a great finish. I got a referral for a professional and it was fixed in under 10 minutes. I learned my lesson. ANY CHANGES YOU’D MAKE? More space and maximise our sea views. Hopefully, we’ll be doing that in the future. MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE IN THE HOME? Getting the keys and realising we’d truly come home for good. Owning our own home in New Zealand after 13 years abroad made us feel so settled. Budget Top tips + Tech hack. Screenshot images $120,000 of furniture and decor you love, + Storage is everything. Our then use Google Lens to search girls have their own shoe box for the versions available in and hooks for coats. Boxes for New Zealand. I find it trickier to Lego and train tracks are all track down what I’m looking for hidden behind cupboard doors. here, so this search tool has + Consider the view. Before been invaluable. buying furniture, consider which + Be a stylist. When creating angles will be seen most. I a vignette, style objects at searched for a long time to find different heights, in different chairs that had an interesting textures and in odd number back to them. I knew they’d be groupings. Step back before the first things our guests would adding more items to a shelf, see when they walked in and often it’s the negative space that looked down the hallway. creates the sense of calm.   + Cords are a pain. I chose not + Green it up. You can never to put the back of our bedside have too many house plants. tables on so that the chargers They’re high maintenance, but can be threaded through into the so worth it. drawers and not be seen. We also + Keep it simple. If you like a have a ‘charging cupboard’ that pared back aesthetic, opt for holds our iPads and laptops. The complementary neutral tones plug is covered by the cupboard, throughout (white walls, beige but I cut a hole in the back so I and wood), with pops of black could thread all the charger to ground the look. leads through so they’re completely hidden. YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 47

Lay of MAKE AN ENTRANCE Homeowner Sally McDonald, pictured with Ian the Welsh springer spaniel, chose Resene Half Merino for her walls – the perfect shade to display the family’s art collection. The rug at the entrance is from Bijou Eliot. 48 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

H the land A split-level house set into a clifftop took design inspiration from the rugged Taranaki coastline Text Catherine Steel Photography Gina Fabish YOUR HOME AND GARDEN 49

FINISHING TOUCHES Ahome always tells the story of those who inhabit it, but it can also pay homage to Sally and Nick were selective where they splurged, where it stands. Sally McDonald and her using high door heights and designer door husband Nick O’Dea embraced a connection hardware throughout to keep the finishes to the land when they built their family cohesive. In the living area (opposite), the custom home on the clifftops in Moturoa, New coffee table is by The Arc Dept, the orange floral Plymouth. Perched high above the rugged coastline, they love cushion and the cushion with teal pom poms are to look out over to the port and ocean waves below. both from Bonnie and Neil, and the curved timber chair from Bijou Eliot. The New Plymouth-based couple bought the section in 2017, drawn to the site for its ability to be subdivided and 50 YOUR HOME AND GARDEN build new, which they did two years later. Now the four- bedroom home is home to the family of five. “We moved into the existing house (which was later sold) on the site while we built; it was the first big project we undertook together.” Not long prior, the couple had met at a friend’s wedding in Hawke’s Bay. Nick, an engineer, was living in New Plymouth, and Sally, an interior designer, was living in Melbourne, working for Australia-based DKO Architecture. “We managed a long-distance relationship for a year,” Sally says. “Then I moved here and kept working for DKO Architecture.” Fast-forward to marriage and one child, Ted, now five, in tow, and it was a no-brainer to turn to Sally’s employer to design a new home on their 699sqm site. “I could do the interior while they did the architecture,” Sally says. “It was collaborative. We had open communication on everything and they knew what we wanted as a young family.” Six months after moving in, Sally started The Arc Dept, allowing her to create her own designs and bring to life the work of other designers in resin. Some of the products are used in the house, such as the handles in the entry console, main bedroom side tables, and lounge coffee table.