Words Margie Riddiford | PHOTOS Hamish Lewis | 7 Oct 2019
There is a real art to conceiving interiors that feel at once decorative and contemporary. Aside from a shrewd use of colour, this aesthetic really comes down to an ability to layer textures and choose accessories that add depth and dimension to a space. It might sound straight forward, but it’s a balance that’s rarely done well.
Trenzseater, however, driven by the vision of interior designer Ben Lewis, seems to have this down to a fine art. In this sophisticated home, a clean palette anchored by navy blue, organic tones and swathes of cream, gives rise to tactile, raw finishes and intriguing accessories.
It exemplifies the harmony that can be achieved in a home when the decor has been applied meticulously. The finished effect is modern, certainly, but in a way that still feels warm and inherently liveable.
It’s no wonder then, that Ben Lewis and his team at Trenzseater were the recent recipients of an international design award in London for the work they did on this property.
Taking home first place in the Global Category at the International Design & Architecture Awards, Lewis emerged on top after over 75,000 votes were cast in his category, marking the first time he and Trenzseater walked away victorious but the third time they had been selected as finalists.
The unconditional love our pets give us makes leaving home in the morning almost impossible, but coming home a total joy. And as such, there isn’t much that we wouldn’t do for them. In that vein, we have gathered together some of the best pet accessories around right now — from the practical to the delicious — in order to give your furry little friends the treats they deserve.
Furf Pets bowl Any pet owner will know the tedious struggle of having to deal with spillage from their furry friend’s water bowl. Looking to solve the unsightly and annoying problem, Furf Pets has reimagined the bowl’s design by extending its edges and lining the bottom with silicone, making it almost impossible to flip.
Number 8 indoor dog kennel from 8 Paws Unlike any dog kennel we’ve seen before, this sleek, sculptural iteration was designed by Tim Webber for 8 Paws. Featuring a comfortable inner made from 100% blazer wool and a series of bent steel rods connected by solid oak joinery that comprise the roof, this dog kennel is the ultimate home for your precious pup.
Walk Kit from Wild One Considering our nation’s efforts to reduce plastic, it’s crucial that we cut it from all facets of our lives, including using single-use bags to clean up after our canine companions. These bags by Wild One are made from a blend of plant-based material and are compostable, (when disposed of in a compost bin) which means they won’t contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Extra-thick to dispel any risk of breakage, the eco-friendly bags can be bought with a matching carrier which comes in a range of shades and an elastic attachment to make them easy to add to any leash.
Handmade pup biscuits from Amy’s Secret Kitchen Having cultivated a reputation for creating some of the most beautiful and delicious cakes we’ve ever come across, Amy’s Secret Kitchen has branched into treats of the canine variety. Made using only the best ingredients — wholemeal flour, chicken stock, brewers yeast, olive oil and salt — they’re sure to keep your four-legged friend happy and healthy
Doggy-Do Bag by Cloud 7 from 8 Paws Despite the cringe-worthy nature of picking up dog poo, there’s no reason why the accessories around it need be cringe-worthy too. 8 Paws’ Doggy-Do bag is made from 100% wool felt and looks simple and sophisticated. Easily velcroed onto a lead, this will take walkies to a whole new level.
If you didn’t already know Tim Brown’s name from being the co-founder of eco-friendly footwear brand, Allbirds, you might recognise it from one of the covers of our Heroes issue earlier this year.
Tim Brown is an innovator in the truest sense of the word. His company was recently reportedly valued at around US$1billion, and the products he creates continue to redefine the environmental potential of footwear.
So, it was in the same kind of environmentally-aware spirit that we invited Brown, on his last visit back to open New Zealand’s first Allbirds store (the Kiwi now calls San Francisco home) to come for a ride with us in Range Rover’s own innovative answer to carbon emissions — its new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
The car is a beautiful combination of Range Rover’s signature sleek aesthetic and all the expected inner-workings of a hybrid vehicle so that lovers of the marque can keep the style they love while working to reduce their wider environmental impact.
On one overnight charge, this car will deliver around 51 kilometres of entirely electric driving and a smooth, silent ride. And it can take as little as seven-and-a-half hours to recharge the vehicle (depending on your power supply) with a home charging cable. On longer journeys, the two motors in this Range Rover will work together to produce just 72g/km of CO2 emissions — making it the acclaimed marque’s most fuel-efficient yet.
See more of the Range Rover’s impressive interior features and hear what Tim Brown had to say about his journey in business, when our Editor-in-Chief, Claire Sullivan-Kraus, invited him for a ride along Auckland’s beautiful waterfront.
When we talk about the ‘modern’ or ‘contemporary’ home, it can be easy to assume we’re talking about an aesthetic based on industrial, minimalist detailing and pieces that feel more stark than snug. After all, those are the interior touches that are often praised for their contemporary sensibilities.
But modern interior trends seem to be moving away from the above association. Now, instead of curating a contemporary aesthetic via furniture that is exclusively pared-back and sculptural, it seems that a softer approach is prevailing, driven by luxuriously upholstered pieces that inject a sense of warmth and softness into a space.
Take Opera Contemporary’s Sophie collection. Exemplifying the way that softer furniture is carving out a place for itself in the contemporary home, this range is made in a variety of finishes that make you want to sink into its warm, rounded shapes.
Gently curving structures lend the Sophie Armchair and Sofa a presence that is both distinctive and subtle — a definite departure from modern furniture of old, but not quite a return to the overly ‘luxe’ pieces that can risk feeling ‘too much’ in a home.
So if you’re wanting to inject a little warmth back into your home, but are unsure of how to do so without disturbing the sleek, pared-back look you’ve worked to achieve, the Sophie pieces are offering an elegant balance, bridging the gap between modern minimalism and classic opulence.
If someone were to say the word ‘watch’ to you, there’s a high chance that only one brand would come to mind. Rolex. Whether this is because of the hallowed marque’s rich history, its presence in popular culture through the ages or its consistent focus on quality — or some kind of potent combination of the three — it’s hard to tell exactly. But what we do know, is that Rolex watches often sell for record-breaking prices at auction and are widely touted as a sound way to invest your money, here’s why.
The long and storied history of Rolex has undoubtedly cemented it forevermore the watchmaking hall of fame. It was responsible for creating the first water-resistant case and watch, the Oyster Perpetual. It revolutionised watchmaking with its Perpetual movement, a self-winding mechanism that is now used widely across the industry, and was the first watch to reach the summit of Mount Everest (both Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay wore Rolex watches for their famous ascent).
Left: Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay | Right: Sir Edmund Hillary’s Rolex
Beyond its historical firsts and feats of engineering, Rolex is a brand that has permeated popular culture in such a way that if you weren’t aware of the brand’s manufacturing achievements, you’d likely know its name from the singers and rap stars who wax lyrical about the ‘Rolies’ on their wrists. Or from iconic fictional characters like James Bond’s Rolex Submariner (one of the most iconic James Bond watches, worn by Sean Connery in Dr. No) or Patrick Bateman’s Rolex Datejust in American Psycho.
Left: Sean Connery as James Bond | Right: The iconic Rolex he wore in Dr. No.
Off the silver screen, too, Rolex watches have long been favoured by those in the spotlight. Take Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona, for instance, which made headlines in 2017 for the US$17.75 million it fetched at auction in New York. (This made it the most expensive wristwatch and the second most expensive watch to ever sell at auction.)
All of this has undoubtedly contributed to why everyone knows the name, Rolex. Reputation, after all, counts for a great deal. But the heights Rolex has reached could not have been achieved on reputation alone.
Rolex’s longevity has been achieved by backing up its notoriety with consistent high quality. Its focus on manufacturing with integrity, without losing sight of its purpose, has ensured that Rolex goes beyond its branding. Its watches are still all designed and made in Switzerland. It has its own, on-site foundry in which it produces the gold and platinum used in its timepieces. It apparently even has an x-ray machine, under which it checks every link of every bracelet it produces. Where Rolex could have capitalised on the chance to piggyback on its reputation, it has remained true to its origins of excellence.
Left to right: Rolex Submariner Date, Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 all from The Hour Glass
The combination of reputation and quality has ensured Rolex remains at the top of its field. If you are thinking of investing in a watch that will hold its value, there aren’t as many as well-respected or as timeless as a Rolex — and buying one will feel like buying a piece of history.
Flowers have always been a significant motif for the house of Dior. Blame it on the founder’s undying love for his garden. But when Maria Grazia Chiuri opened Paris Fashion Week with Dior’s Spring-Summer 2020 collection, there was a deeper meaning behind her decision to speak to the idea of nature.
It felt like the designer was trying, in many ways, to return to the wondrous beauty of the natural world. To the idea that nature is something to marvel at and to get lost in — as opposed to the subject of collective anxiety it has become. Of course, any nod to the environment in the context of fashion cannot be made without acknowledging the historically wasteful practices of the industry. So, the show’s set was festooned with 164 trees and was erected in collaboration with Coloco (a collective of urban landscapers striving to imbue contemporary landscapes with nature) so that after the show, the trees were taken to be used in sustainability projects in and around Paris.
The collection itself was also, of course, a sartorial nod to the natural world. Tones of blue, green and beige weaved their way across the classic Chiuri silhouettes. Boxy jackets met boyfriend shirts as the designer offered a line up that combined elevated, practical pieces (pieces we could see ourselves wearing every day) and utterly exquisite tailoring and gowns. Much of Chiuri’s success at Dior has come down to her ability to design investment-worthy pieces that can actually be worn by her customers (the collection offered up a new version of the Dior combat boots that we instantly fell in love with), and SS20 seemed no exception.
From the organic-looking textiles to the leafy motifs to the high-fashion gardener hats and the continued presence of raffia, this collection felt anchored in the context of its time and was a visually arresting reminder to love and look after our environment.
Giving us unprecedented access to some of the most beautiful vistas and experiences this country has to offer, Heletranz flies its customers from its heliport in Auckland to a number of arresting locations. But between Waiheke lunches and fishing adventures, there’s one Heletranz excursion delivering something particularly special.
The Great Barrier Island Experience is one of Heletranz’s most impressive offerings. Able to be tailored to suit the customer, the thrilling day trip will see you flown over to the serene, untouched coastline of Great Barrier Island and given a number of exciting options for the day’s adventures.
Avid outdoorsmen can opt for a spot of heli-fishing, an activity in which Heletranz is recognised as a pioneer and one that provides access to some of the best fishing spots in New Zealand. Heli-surfing, on the other hand, will see the helicopter land at a secluded East Coast beach, giving surfers the unique opportunity to catch some stellar swell.
Those seeking a more food-focused affair can choose to embark on a secluded picnic lunch, with the picnic prepared by Heletranz according to individual taste, or can opt for a tasty stop-over at Sawmill Brewery.
One of Heletranz’s most enticing, all-encompassing experiences, this excursion is sure to be one to remember.
The kitchen has moved away from its origins as a tucked-away room used solely for practical purposes. It has become a site for the flexing of interior design muscles, a meeting place where family and friends can gather and talk about their days and a space where sleek finishes have become as important as they are in the living or bedrooms.
A massive part of this transition has been in the treatment of appliances. Necessary for a kitchen to fulfil its function but not always in fitting with the space’s overarching aesthetic, the question of how to deal with appliances is crucial if one is to feel their kitchen represents the look of the rest of their home.
Luckily, Fisher & Paykel, a pioneer of the modern kitchen, is offering a number of integration options that allow homeowners to not only have a line-up of innovative appliances at their fingertips but to make those appliances fit seamlessly into their spaces. From refrigerators to rangehoods to Fisher & Paykel’s signature DishDrawers and CoolDrawers, the brand’s lauded range is able to be made with custom panels to match existing cabinetry, and slots so seamlessly into a space that at a glance, you wouldn’t even know it was there. In kitchens where a stainless steel refrigerator door, for example, would stand out like a sore thumb, this is an ideal option.
If you feel like your kitchen needs a refresh, or are unsure how on earth you’re going to make a bulky dishwasher or refrigerator work in a small or open-plan space, these beautifully-appointed kitchens, each boasting full suites of Fisher & Paykel appliances, should serve as all the inspiration you need.
Fisher & Paykel integrated French door fridge and 11 function Black oven Photographer: Katherine Lu, Designer: Arent & Pyke (Studio: Surry Hills, Sydney)
Fisher & Paykel integrated French door fridge and gas on steel cooktop Photographer: Katherine Lu, Design: In association with Fisher and Paykel. Designer: Three Birds renovations
Fisher & Paykel integrated column refrigerator and freezer and Built-in oven with combination microwave oven above Photographer: Simon Wilson, Designer: Rogan Nash Architects
There is a kind of delightful nostalgia attached to the silk scarf. Wrap it around your head with a pair of cat-eye sunglasses and some red lipstick and you’re channelling screen sirens from the golden era of Hollywood. Or tie it around your neck and look as though you’ve come straight from La Rive Gauche.
Recently, the silk scarf has been experiencing something of a resurgence. No longer reserved for elegant, conservative grandmothers, the scarf is being used in outfits we wouldn’t have previously expected, styled in ways that add dimension and intrigue to an outfit. Here are four of our favourite.
1.The new wave bandana You probably dabbled in the bandana at some point in the 00s. Despite it being a favourite back then, it would seem the style has returned — albeit in a slightly elevated way. Take a larger silk scarf and wrap it around your head so that it covers the top and ties at the back. If that’s too nostalgic for you, simply tie the scarf under your chin for a more classic look.
2.The exaggerated pony bow Ponytail accoutrements are having a serious moment, so it’s hardly surprising that the scarf has been co-opted to the cause as well. Whether you sport short or long hair, an exaggerated scarf tied around a ponytail or bun will accentuate the sleekness of the style and make you feel undeniably chic.
3.The wrist wrap Give your bracelets a break and wrap a thin silk scarf around your wrist instead. An easy way to add a touch of colour to your outfit without committing to a full neck-scarf look, this option offers a happy middle ground.
4.The bag accessory Take your scarf off your head and wrap it around the handle of your favourite handbag to lend it new life. A great way to play with colours, use the tones of the scarf to bring our similar or complementary ones in the bag itself.
Left to right: Scarf with horses and feline print from Gucci, Desperado bandeau scarf from Louis Vuitton, Bandana bridle scarf from Deadly Ponies, Jonas Wood X Louis Vuitton Artysquare 70 scarf from Louis Vuitton, Empire large scarf from Deadly Ponies, Toile de Jouy Carnivora pink Mitzah scarf from Dior and Toile de Jouy Carnivora white square scarf from Dior.
Remember when dad sneakers were the footwear everyone was touting? Big, chunky shoes with various add-ons and logos you could see coming from a mile away?
Now, it seems that fashion has (as fashion tends to do) swung in the opposite direction, with members of the style set wearing shoes that are decidedly less obnoxious (to the relief of those for whom the dad sneaker was a bridge too far). This is heralding the rise of what people seem to be calling the ‘barely-there’ or ‘naked’ sandal — and honestly, it feels like a more elegant approach to the season.
This sandal is characterised by what isn’t there. Made with thin, understated straps that have been used sparingly so that the shoe stays on without any unnecessary fuss, these sandals are designed to flatter the wearer and nothing more.
The antithesis of loud fashion, the barely-there sandal has arrived at a time when the idea of curating and building on a refined wardrobe of timeless, versatile pieces is far more important than owning the latest ‘it’ thing. It speaks to a more quiet, contemplative approach. One that in our growing awareness of the waste around the industry, feels appropriate for now.
That said, finding the kind of shoe we’re talking about can be a task. Lucky then that lauded Parisian label IRO Paris has released a style that suits perfectly, and it’s just landed at Superette International.
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