It might not feel like it this week, but summer is around the corner, and with seasonal change comes a raft of exciting new developments in our local hospitality scene, from new openings to new menus and more.
One such development that has landed on our radar (and should definitely be on yours too) is a mouthwatering new menu at East St. Hall, for which East St.’s Owner, Henry Mitchell Temple, called on the renowned culinary stylings of Dan Pinto, the man behind foodie-favourite pop-up, Passa Passa.
Passa Passa started as an ode to Italian food and flavours done right. And for a while, it operated as an under-the-radar pop-up kitchen, dubbed by those who tried it as one of Auckland’s best-kept secrets. But when people cottoned on to Pinto’s delicious offerings, all of Passa Passa’s pop-ups garnered something of a cult following — and for very good reason. Pinto plays with Italian classics by giving traditional flavours a unique, modern and unexpected twist, and his pizza fritta and pasta creations have taken the local foodie scene by storm.
Now, Pinto has brought his signature Passa Passa flair to the new menu at East St. Hall, which Mitchell Temple tells us is an ode to summertime in Northern Italy. Built on the idea of tasty, made-to-share bites that harness the best seasonal produce around, the concise menu starts with a series of small plates. From creamy stracciatella served with anchovies and lemon basil, to smashed cucumber with buttermilk, to parsley, orange and fennel salad to agria potatoes with rosemary, parmesan and aioli, these bites are simple, unfussy and full of flavour — the perfect way to whet the appetite.
But it’s the pizzetta that really steal the show. There’s a chilli and butter iteration, a version with leeks, lemon and taleggio, one with anchovies, tomate and pickled cucumber, and a deliciously simple marinara, with mozzarella and basil. And if all those didn’t sound delicious enough, each pizzetta comes with the option of adding extra toppings like pancetta, prosciutto or nduja.
To finish (much to the delight of those harbouring a sweet tooth) is a satiating chocolate tart with sherry, mascarpone and vanilla.
In true Passa Passa fashion, Pinto isn’t afraid of breaking the mould, so expect new flavours, rotating specials as well as seasonal changes as the weather gets warmer. The new menu is running now until Christmas, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm, so we suggest getting in while you can.
Alongside the new menu, East St. Hall has also reinstated its popular Jazz Nights, set to see some of the city’s most talented musicians fill the space with sultry sound. Taking place on the first Thursday of every month, keep an eye out for October’s instalment, on next week.
So, whether you’re looking for somewhere to catch up with friends for an easy meal, or are simply seeking something out of your ordinary routine, snap up a table at East St. Hall. From the good vibes to the live music to the tasty new food and always-good cocktails, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.
Passa Passa Menu Available: Now until Christmas, Thursday to Saturday from 5pm
The weekend is here, which means that it is time to write out a hit list of where you want to go for your morning brunch, long lunches and delicious dinners. Here, in a bid to get you out there supporting local hospitality (and enjoying some utterly delectable food while you’re at it), we have curated a comprehensive weekend dining guide for the days ahead, from Friday night drinks to Saturday lunch to Sunday dinner, and everything in between.
This intimate and exquisitely-appointed oyster bar and restaurant opened in the space alongside Viaduct Harbour’s Oyster & Chop earlier this year and quickly established itself as the perfect spot for an easy drink or a bite with friends. The Terrace offers delicious drinks, a seafood-centric menu that showcases the oyster in all its glory and a vibe that is both elevated and welcoming. This is the ideal place to kick off your Friday night in style.
When drinks and nibbles are done, take a short walk to Commercial Bay and park up at Pōni for a delicious dinner. Lead by hospitality guru David Lee, Pōni offers a menu of mouthwatering Asian fare, focusing on Japanese and Chinese flavours, with dishes like popcorn shrimp with nori-sriracha-mayo sauce, cold dan dan noodles with black sesame dressing and char-siu pork jowl with jalapeño relish and mustard oil. Its wine list is also one of the best in town.
Head out east for a satiating brunch at Nic Watt’s Akarana Eatery. There, enjoy dishes like shakshuka eggs, housemade banana bread and cinnamon French toast, classic Benedict and more. And if you have the family in tow, little ones can exert some energy on the front lawn or nearby playground. A win-win, we say.
If you decide to linger in the eastern suburbs, why not pop into Azabu Mission Bay for lunch and sample its enticing new menu? Offering a raft of tantalising dishes and flavours, Azabu’s new menu builds on its already stellar reputation, dreamt up by Azabu’s talented chefs as the venue’s answer to summertime dining. (But you can still enjoy it, even if the summer weather hasn’t quite arrived.)
Enjoy weekend drinks in the elevated environs of Somm Cellar Door. This cosy Princes Wharf spot offers an exceptional wine list (in fact, it holds some of the country’s most exclusive bottles in its cellar), alongside a menu of tasty bites designed to pair perfectly with your chosen pour. Take your experience one step further by opting for one of Somm’s Wine Flights, where you will be taken on a sensory journey that expands your wine horizons.
You really can’t go wrong at this Viaduct Harbour stalwart. No matter what the weather decides to do this weekend, Soul Bar & Bistro is the place to go for a soul-warming and utterly delectable dinner. Start with some wagyu beef tongue or goat fromage frais, order the beef short rib ragù pappardelle with chilli and torched raclette or the Hawke’s Bay lamb rack (if you’re hungry) and dabble in the halloumi salad on the side. Outstanding.
Up your brunch game at Amano, where you can either take a seat and enjoy dishes like granola, avocado with poached eggs on toast or breakfast frittata. Or, simply stop in at the adjoining Amano bakery for breakfast to-go with a tantalising pastry (or two), a freshly-made juice and a takeaway coffee.
Gather your nearest and dearest and head to Huami at SkyCity for a sprawling yum cha lunch. Offering a delectable range of classic yum cha dishes including steamed dim sum, fried dim sum, dumplings, Shanghai xiao long bao, barbecue duck and pork, wok-fried noodles and more, this is the perfect place to escape the weekend weather for a flavoursome feast.
End your week on a high note by enjoying a satiating dinner at Auckland’s most lauded steak house. If you haven’t been to Jervois Steak House since its facelift, or sampled the new additions to its menu, consider this a sign. Cosy up by the open fire and order one of JSH’s famous cuts or, if red meat isn’t on the cards, opt instead for something like the grilled crayfish with lemon butter, the handmade gnocchi or the pan-fried market fish. And with a line-up of new desserts on offer to satisfy those sweet-tooth cravings, there really is something here for everyone to enjoy.
Set in a historic building that was once a Presbyterian manse, this distinct, monolithic home in Melbourne has undergone a meticulous restoration, transformed into a tour de force of contemporary design.
A stunning testament to architectural innovation, Mim Design’s Park House is an extraordinary residence that artfully juxtaposes the grandeur of a former Presbyterian manse with a striking, modern extension.
Drawing inspiration from the house’s historic but rough-and-ready bluestone facade, Park House boasts a captivating, textural material palette, where brutalist concrete (reminiscent of industrial minimalism) creates bold juxtapositions against the softer living areas inside. Rough-sawn cut and chiselled stone, echoing the home’s heritage, instils a sense of rugged elegance throughout the residence, while the prevailing palette of dove grey and charcoal alongside details like timber panelling and aged accents infuses every space with a moody, almost gallery-like ambience, laying the perfect foundations for a collection of visually-arresting, sculptural artworks.
“Park House boasts a captivating, textural material palette, where brutalist concrete (reminiscent of industrial minimalism) creates bold juxtapositions against the softer living areas inside.”
In fact, Park House offers a series of enchanting moments and moods, elevating the living experience to unparalleled heights. The front rooms, for instance, are cosy, private and intimate. Here, organic forms and more gentle tones create a calm oasis, inviting occupants in to take solace from the outside world.
In contrast, the rear extension of Park House introduces a deep, tonal inversion, striking in its dramatic allure and monochromatic furnishings. A double-height fireplace, clad in domino quartzite, commands attention, engaging in a sculptural dialogue with the surrounding environment — embraced by Edra Design’s Standard sofa. The grand, modern spiralling staircase, finished in blackened metal, serves as an enchanting focal point, weaving sinuously through the space. While the adjacent kitchen, a harmonious symphony of materials, combines chiselled and hammered grey marble, black-stained American oak cabinetry and gunmetal detailing. A charming dining nook where the Gallotti&Radice 0414 chair accompanies a sweeping custom booth seat adds to the atmosphere that is inviting, albeit intimidating in its composition and scale.
Ultimately, Park House exemplifies the art of balanced design, skilfully intertwining the home’s devout past with contemporary elements. Its masterful execution by Mim Design showcases the stunning effect that can come from the fusion of rugged materials and refined architectural gestures. The harmonious balance here, between restraint and textural detail, offers a captivating journey through evocative spaces that will leave a lasting impression and creates a grand home befitting of its holy origins.
Get The Look
Edra Standard sofa by Francesco Binfaré from Design55
ClassiCon Sol side table by OrtegaGuijarro from Matisse
Waxing Gibbous to Waxing Crescent, November 2022 VI by Kate van der Drift from Sanderson Contemporary
Contemporary artist Freeman White has confidently positioned himself within New Zealand’s rich lineage of landscape painting, known for his works that bring a refreshing perspective to the genre and deftly bridge past and present.
Originally renowned for his portraiture, Freeman White’s acclaim grew after winning the prestigious Adam National Portrait Award in 2006. Invitations followed to exhibit at Germany’s REAL international symposium for Figurative Art and to paint portraits in Edinburgh under James Holloway’s Tutelage (at the time. the director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery). In 2009, White’s artistic journey led him to explore landscape painting; redefining the genre through innovative techniques and a modern context. White’s textured canvases pulsate with energy, offering a contemporary reflection on the natural world’s political and emotional charge. Referencing both art history and current environmental realities, White’s landscapes and seascapes create a deliberate juxtaposition. His brushstrokes expertly evoke shifting sunlight, rolling hills and crashing waves; inviting viewers into an undulating scene.
The artist’s plein-air approach also captures the palpable qualities of painting, imbuing each piece with a human touch and cultivating a profound connection between viewer and artwork. White’s contribution to Aotearoa’s landscape painting and art history is widely recognised. His unique visual perspective invites us to embrace the enduring and ever-evolving allure of New Zealand’s natural wonders, making him one artist to keep firmly on your radar.
Here we present an exclusive interview with the lauded artist, as his new exhibition of paintings, Salt, opens at Sanderson Contemporary.
Exclusive Q&A
When did you become an artist, and what were your first inspiring moments that made you want to become an artist?
I remember at the age of three getting my first pair of glasses. It changed my world completely. Before then I had been living in a blur of light and colour and all of a sudden everything came into sharp focus. From that moment on I wanted to document my world. I entered lots of art competitions when I was still at school and started exhibiting my work when I was 13. Art has never felt like a choice for me, rather it has always seemed like a calling. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be an artist.
You started out as a portrait artist but have also become known for your landscapes and seascapes, painting ‘en plein air’. When did you make this transition?
Although I first gained recognition as a portrait painter when I won the ADAM portrait award back in 2006 I had always painted landscapes, as well as portraits. After that major career break, I wanted to show people that I also painted landscapes so in my first solo show after winning the award, at Black Barn Gallery in Hawkes bay, it was all landscapes. The show went really well and from then on my landscapes have become the basis for my career. I still paint portraits, however. I love painting people who inspire me and I don’t think that will ever change.
Vivace, 2023, oil on linen, 525x1035mm, framed
When did you begin painting the ocean?
It was after relocating from Wellington back to my home region of Hawkes Bay that I took an interest in painting the ocean. I bought an old, run-down villa in Napier, with views looking out to the sea along Marine Parade. Seeing this beautiful and ever-changing scene and listening to the waves crashing from my home is what drew me to start painting Seascapes, like the collection I am currently showing at Sanderson Gallery.
How did you get into painting En Plein Air?
I was first exposed to plein air painting on Instagram, in fact, and I still follow lots of incredible artists on there as a result. Plein air painting has made a huge resurgence in recent years and is considered by many to be at the forefront of contemporary landscape painting.
The action of painting ‘En Plein Air’ is simply painting outside on location and was popularised in the nineteenth century by the Impressionists. It has a very long tradition though, that dates back to the fifteenth century with Artists like Da Vinci drawing directly from nature. It is something I wish I had gotten into at the beginning of my career, as it has really changed the way that I paint.
When I was in my twenties I travelled to Europe with a sketchbook in my hand, making drawings of the old buildings and people that I met. At the time, these sketches became my travel memories as opposed to photographs or the modern-day selfies. Now I always take my painting travel kit. I can’t think of a better way to experience a location than to sit down and paint it. Painting ”En Plein Air” has become my absolute passion and what I choose to do in between painting gallery shows and producing commissions.
Freeman White painting ‘En Plein Air’
Is there one genre of painting that you love more than another?
I love paint as a medium and believe it has many expressive qualities. I am a realist painter but I don’t only love realist art. I have been profoundly moved by works of art that I did not expect to be moved by, works that were more abstract than realist. So in this way the genre of the artwork has seemed less important to me than the reaction that it inspires from within me. I am interested in many forms of Modern and contemporary art and I have made it part of my life to travel and visit museums and international collections, seeing historical works in their original state.
What part of the world has been the most inspiring for you to paint?
I recently did a painting trip to Germany and France where I painted castles. I’m always inspired by new surroundings but I think some of my best work has been painted of the Te Mata hills where I grew up in Hawke’s Bay. I would have to say that New Zealand is really the most inspiring place for me as a landscape painter. There is something very powerful about connecting to this place.
FWH 2021 Te mata symphony in green
We were told you are friends with Tilda Swinton and her partner and have spent time with them in Europe. How did this friendship come about and what has your experience been like spending time with them?
Yes, it’s true I’m friends with Tilda and her partner Sandro Kopp. I was recently in Paris with them and we had a wonderful time. I met Sandro almost twenty years ago at art school in Wellington. We sat next to each other on the first day at orientation and have been best friends ever since. Over the years I have been lucky enough to spend many memorable moments with Sandro and Tilda. They are two of my favourite people.
Which artists inspire you and why? And what advice would you give to young artists?
I’m inspired by many of the historical Greats Like Sargent, Sorolla and Velazquez to name a few. There are so many great painters that have inspired me, too many to list here really but there is no substitute for seeing artworks in their original form. So one piece of advice that I would give to young artists is to see as much original art as possible – work out what moves you and don’t be afraid to experiment and make mistakes, it’s the best way that you can learn.
Tell us one thing about yourself that people wouldn’t know
Ha ha well not many people know this but I am a passionate cook and recently I have been upping my Wok game. I love lots of different styles of cooking but my recent obsession is Asian cuisine.
Freeman White’s exhibition ‘Salt’ is on now at Sanderson Contemporary until the 22nd of October 2023.
Freeman White in his Studio
Cabaletta study, 2023, oil on linen panel, 355x450mm, framed
Grazioso study, 2023, oil on linen panel, 355x450mm, framed
Rubato study, 2023, oil on linen panel, 355x450mm, framed
Vivace study, 2023, 2023, oil on linen panel, 355x450mm, framed
“I have been making pasta my whole life with my family,” Melissa Meo tells me, recounting stories of Christmas Days spent hand-rolling pasta shapes and trays of cannelloni with everyone (even the kids) an integral part of the process. For Meo, pasta really is in her blood. Her paternal Grandfather and his brothers emigrated to New Zealand in 1898 from Massa Lubrense in Italy, while her mother’s side was from a town called Castasegna, on the border of Italy and Switzerland. “My dad was an amazing cook,” she tells me, “we bonded over food and he taught me everything I know… typical Italian family stuff,” she laughs. Now, Meo is looking to offer a similarly visceral and memorable experience of Italian food to her customers at Stracci, a new pasta shop and deli she has just opened in Westmere.
Meo has been in hospitality for 16 years with her last venture being Fabric, a cafe and bistro in Hobsonville that she sold in 2021. But, she tells me, opening a pasta shop has always been a dream, and off the back of what she explains as a tough couple of years, Stracci has emerged in what calls a kind of “rising from the ashes”. “It’s definitely my passion project,” Meo tells me, “and this year finally felt like the right time to make it a reality.”
Essentially, Stracci is set to become our new go-to destination for deliciously fresh Italian meals. In the small but sleek store nestled within the Westmere shops, you will find a front cabinet filled with a range of extruded, hand-rolled or filled pasta made daily and designed to be taken home and cooked with one of Stracci’s fresh, housemate pasta sauces for a simple and utterly delectable lunch or dinner. There is a range of freezer meals, classic desserts like tiramisu and semifreddo and an array of Italian pantry staples available to buy too, from olive oil to anchovies. Stracci will also sell coffee and Italian pastries for a quick, tasty bite (think bomboloni and cannoli) and we’re told, will be looking to add brunch sandwiches and other bites to the line-up in the future. Meo also tells me that she wants to eventually offer group pasta-making or cooking classes.
The space itself (designed with the help of Mitch Addison) is clean and unfussy, with a pasta bench pride of place so that not only can Stracci customers see Meo and her chefs hand-making the pasta, but Meo can cook and chat with people in the store at the same time. “Just like how the kitchen bench is the centre point of any Italian home,” she says.
What seems to be the biggest difference with Stracci, is the way in which Meo is looking to cultivate her community. Her passion for food and for sharing it with others seeps into everything she does. She explains, “I want customers to come in and feel excited about what they’re going to have for dinner! Fresh pappardelle, for example, is such a great blank canvas and it encourages people to get their creative juices flowing.” She continues, “I want people to come in and talk through their ideas with us, or ask how to make something. I’ll gladly take someone into the kitchen and show them how to make a carbonara.”
Open now, Stracci is definitely worth a visit. Not only is the food on offer here delicious, but the simple, no-frills format will get you excited about cooking at home again.
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 7:30am until 5:30pm Saturday and Sunday, 7:30am until 3:30pm
Never underestimate the power of an exquisite piece of art to transform any space. Here, we have rounded up a selection of refined masterpieces that will challenge your perspective and deliver depth and dynamism to any space, each one destined to remain an interesting addition to your home for years to come.
Soul IV by Ray Haydon, 2020. $39,500. Marine grade stainless steel, 1200 x 600 x 600mm. From Sanderson Contemporary
Anchor by Tia Ansell, 2023. $4,500. Acrylic on cotton and acrylic handwoven weaving in aluminium frame, 640 x 500 x 40mm. From {Suite} Gallery
Freshwater Nasturtiums by Nick Herd, 2021. $4,500. Oil on canvas, 610 x 762mm. From Parlour Projects
Endless Summer-Infinity Work by Max Patte, 2023. $65,000. Automotive paints, acrylic paints, clear cast acrylic, epoxy resin, clear coat, custom board, 2 way glass, mirror, LEDs, 24v power supply, electrical cable, 240v plug, 1800 Ø x 72mm, 114kg. From Lightworx Queenstown
Hidden Gems by Katherine Throne, 2023. $3,050. Oil on canvas400 x 500mm, framed. From Sanderson Contemporary
Inversion by Roger Murray, 2023. $4,700. Resin, pearl lacquer 600 x 600 x 45mm. Edition of 5. From {Suite} Gallery
#1 by Zara Dolan, 2021. $2,950. Monotype print, 650 x 450mm, framed. From Sanderson Contemporary
Untitled by Antonio Murado, 2022. $30,000. Oil on linen, 1650 x 1140mm. From Gow Langsford Gallery
Untitled Yellow Square IV by Robert Moreland, 2023. $27,000. Drop cloth on wooden panel with acrylic paint, tacks & leather hinges, 1016 x 1016 x 152.40mm. From Starkwhite
Glacier Country III by Stephen Ellis, 2023. $4,500. Soot on Hahnemuhle paper, 560 x 440mm. From Sanderson Contemporary
Kui & Papa by Billy McQueen, 2023. $2,150. Oil & Rabbit Skin, Gesso on Canvas, 470 x 460mm. From Föenander Galleries
Reprise by Freeman White, 2023. $8,500. Oil on linen, 420mm x 620mm, framed. From Sanderson Contemporary
Miuccia Prada said it best backstage at the Prada show when she articulated that she was sick of talking about ideas and wanted to focus on the clothes instead. “We did not want to philosophise, to propose stories about clothing,” she said. “… We wanted to focus on the work — the methods and techniques, the value… There is a respect for our work as designers, and the act of making clothes. The clothes say everything.”
Indeed, it felt like a tact taken by many of the designers who unveiled their Spring/Summer ’24 collections at Milan Fashion Week, where runway spectacles and over-the-top looks were nowhere to be seen, replaced with spectacular clothes instead; clothes that felt decidedly grounded in the now, made to carry us into what feels like a promising future (and that mercifully took a break from the never-ending 90s nostalgia that has been so prevalent on runways of late).
Some highlights included Matthieu Blazy’s joyful collection of looks fit for global jet setters (inspired by the very idea of travel and with a runway set on a tiled world map) at Bottega Veneta, as well as Sabato De Sarno’s hotly anticipated debut at Gucci, which marked a bold new era for the brand. It was a clear departure from the eccentricity and showmanship of De Sarno’s iconoclastic predecessor, and placed focus, instead, on the essence of Gucci, on cut and proportion and on reimagining house signatures into a whole new code — one we’re predicting will become as sought-after as the previous Gucci eras from which it derived inspiration.
Prada was, unsurprisingly, one of the best shows of the week, where Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons evolved the brand’s codes into a new everyday uniform and offered party-ready ensembles that felt just as wearable. Dark suiting, high waists, long sleeves, oversized workwear jackets and floaty organza looks saw the bold and the brazen collide beautifully with the delicate and dainty. While accessories (including a new bag, reimagined from one of Mario Prada’s 1913 designs) still held a central role on the runway.
Elsewhere, Fendi saw designer Kim Jones come into his own on the ready-to-wear front, sending an exceptional collection of looks inspired by Roman statues and the effortless luxury of Roman women down the runway, while Versace delivered a signature line-up of sleek minis, figure-hugging, pastel-toned ensembles and glamorous looks that fused subtle nostalgic details with elegant 60s silhouettes. Dolce & Gabbana dabbled in peignoir, with lingerie-inspired looks that were designed to highlight the beauty of women in a sultry but ultimately elegant parade of sheer dresses, stockinged legs, corseted torsos and tailored moments.
A celebration of some of the most iconic fashion houses on the planet and about the best barometer of trends to come over the next season, Milan Fashion Week pulled out all the stops for Spring/Summer ’24, and these were some of our highlights.
Bottega Veneta
Shop the Brand
BOTTEGA VENETA Layered grain de poudre shirt from Net-a-Porter
A great tradition long enjoyed by royalty and the aristocratic elite, afternoon tea has, over the years, become a veritable culinary art form. From the small pastries to the savoury treats to the moreish sweet indulgences, afternoon tea is the perfect way to bridge lunch and dinner (without ruining your appetite for either) and is a decidedly elegant way to celebrate a special occasion, or to simply while away a few hours in delectable fashion. All that said, nowhere does afternoon tea better than the Park Hyatt Auckland, and if you haven’t yet tried its famous offering, we think now is the perfect time.
Park Hyatt Auckland’s Afternoon Tea is an elevated affair, where deliciously savoury bites like parsnip gratin with truffle potato cream, blue cheese brûlée with wild mushroom and bacon crumb, confit duck with slaw in a rosemary bun sit alongside sweet delights like petit gateaux with yuzu curd, bergamot and white chocolate, dark chocolate Jerusalem artichoke and caramel tart and brioche doughnut with lime curd custard. A lineup that would please any gourmand, this Afternoon Tea offers an array of flavours, is available with fully vegetarian or vegan menus too and is a testament to the clever culinary forces at play here.
Available at Park Hyatt Auckland’s The Living Room, a comfortable, cosy space in which you can relax, unwind and take in the stunning views across Auckland’s waterfront, Afternoon Tea is the perfect way to spend a few hours. And with school holidays now in full swing, it could be the perfect experience to fill an afternoon or two with the kids in tow.
Park Hyatt Auckland’s Afternoon Tea is available from Thursday to Sunday, between 12pm and 3:30pm. Book here.
Drawing inspiration from traditional terrazzo tiling and other geometric shapes in nature, this eclectic trend is all about angles and lines.
Taking the idea of the terrazzo tile, with its randomly fragmented look and often vibrant colours and transposing it into other interior ideas, meet the new trend spotlighting shapes in the home. From beautifully-curved lines in elegant sofas to angular lighting and triangular coffee tables, pieces like these will add depth and dimension to your living space, and prove why it pays to know your geometry.
To achieve this aesthetic at home, don’t be afraid to play with shapes. From long lines to sinuous curves to sharp angles, this look will add dimension to any space.
Get The Look
The Pacific House by Alexander &CO. featuring the Trapeze lights by Apparatus from ECC
One of the world’s most eminent women in the contemporary design realm, Faye Toogood is a multi-disciplinarian who is well-versed in creating products that manage to be both intriguing and highly desirable. Based in London, the British designer’s eponymous company Toogood spans fashion, furniture, interior design and both functional and decorative objects.
While she is untrained, beginning her career as an editor at The World of Interiors magazine, she has honed a shrewd eye for pieces that demonstrate a focus on materiality and experimentation. No doubt, those with even a passing interest in design trends will have seen the Toogood Roly-Poly chair in all its Neotenic glory appear in multiple shades throughout luxury interior projects worldwide.
Faye Toogood.
The latest Toogood piece we’re enchanted by is the Puffy Lounge Chair, available in New Zealand from Tim Webber. Designed for European brand and platform Hem, it is an exercise in contrasts — both plump and structured, cocooning and strong. Comprising a tubular steel frame as its base, its quilt-like upholstery spills generously over the edges.
Taking practicality into consideration, the soft upper is detachable, and can be rendered in varying neutral fabrication shades to suit any interior configuration, from black leather to cream canvas and brown bouclé. The frame can also be powder-coated or sand-blasted to complement or contrast with the upholstery.
Like a warm hug, this is a chair that immediately invites the user to curl up within it, or perhaps drape one’s legs over one side. As Toogood describes it, the Puffy Lounge Chair has “a dependable durability coupled with all the enveloping warmth of a familiar duvet”. Luckily, this comfort doesn’t mean aesthetics are sacrificed in the slightest, meaning this is one piece of sensational seating that rests among the best of both worlds.
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