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6 days ago | 
yourhomeandgarden.co.nz | Bryony Ammonds-Smith
Bringing the beach home tends to mean sand tracking in on your shoes or a seashell in your pocket. In Carol Larson’s case, she created a permanent souvenir in the way of a painted mezzanine floor. The Pourerere Beach bach had just been completed and the flooring was laid out with laminated chipboard. The initial plan was to cover it with carpet, but the texture inspired Carol, who has a background in marine science and a love for the ocean.
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1 week ago | 
nowtolove.co.nz | Bryony Ammonds-Smith
It’s almost as though this blanket chest was plucked straight from a fairytale. The intricate, hand-painted detail is breathtaking, particularly when paired with the rest of the colourful bedroom. Artist Hayley Elliott-Kernot and her husband Andrew Piselli are the creative minds behind the chest, as well as many other projects in their Waitara home in Taranaki. They took a second-hand treasure and transformed it into a piece of art.
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1 month ago | 
yourhomeandgarden.co.nz | Bryony Ammonds-Smith
Believe it or not, there are benefits to the winter chill: thicker layers, comforting meals, and curling up under cosy throw blankets. A blanket is as much a statement piece as it is a necessary winter warmer. An easy way to refresh your decor—drape it over your couch, occasional chair or bed so it’s always within reach. If you’re always cold, a wool blend, plush fleece, or faux fur throw will keep you cosy and warm.
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1 month ago | 
yourhomeandgarden.co.nz | Bryony Ammonds-Smith
The figurative paintings Jenni Stringleman creates are hypnotic. The vibrant colours, the fluid movements. Her figures are dancing and swimming and existing in ways that make you yearn for the world they inhabit. She is inspired by the lives she has lived and the challenges she has faced, and the result is breathtaking. Tell us about your journey to becoming a full-time artist.
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2 months ago | 
yourhomeandgarden.co.nz | Bryony Ammonds-Smith
It comes as no surprise that Reb Fountain’s home is as magical as her artistic prowess. Her Auckland property, rich with natural abundance and sentimental heirlooms, is the perfect place for nurturing creativity. It is also the very spot where her latest album, How Love Bends, came into existence. Tell us about your studio. Has it always been a part of your home? Do you find that the studio is an extension of your home life, or are they two separate entities?
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2 months ago | 
yourhomeandgarden.co.nz | Bryony Ammonds-Smith
It all started with a pergola. The towering structure in Murray Churchill’s New Plymouth outdoor area had seen better days and he was ready to breathe new life into it. “I’ve been a keen DIYer for many years with different projects,” he says. First, Murray removed the trellis, put up some new wooden boards and added a small roof to cover the barbecue area. “It looked better, but not quite right,” says Murray.
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Mar 31, 2025 | 
yourhomeandgarden.co.nz | Bryony Ammonds-Smith
Red is an energising colour, said to stimulate conversation when used in social spaces like dining rooms. But while fiery red is a polarising choice, burgundy has a depth and complexity that speaks of old-money opulence. “Burgundy was the key colour seen at Milan Design Week this year – think berry, deep red, maroon (and all the shades in between),” says Dulux colour specialist Davina Harper.
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Mar 17, 2025 | 
yourhomeandgarden.co.nz | Bryony Ammonds-Smith
If you’re a fan of New Zealand art, chances are you’ve already seen Jen Sievers’ abstract landscapes. From Bukit Cinta in Bali to Matauri Bay in Northland, her paintings take you around the globe in pastel hues. She carefully balances nature, abstract and colour throughout her portfolio. It’s no wonder her art is coveted by so many. Tell us about your creative journey. I always wanted to be an artist.
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Mar 16, 2025 | 
nowtolove.co.nz | Angela Wei |Bryony Ammonds-Smith
Talk about a memorable Christmas present! Four-year-old Addie Gittoes loves her brand-new playground, which is now the perfect addition to the playhouse that is already in the backyard. “We had built a play area for Addie under the house a few years ago with a fairy garden, playhouse and climbing wall,” says her mum Natalie Langley. “As she has grown, we have adapted the area to suit and the playground was the next step.
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Feb 20, 2025 | 
yourhomeandgarden.co.nz | Bryony Ammonds-Smith
One glimpse at the colourful Instagram feed that Kim Lawrence has curated and you’ll be gasping with glee at the nostalgia. Her artworks are inspired by Kiwi food and classic children’s books, such as Snifters, Tangy Fruits, dollhouses and Judy Blume novels. The Motueka-based creative has acquired a following eager to consume her vibrant art – her rug-tufted loaf of Vogel’s “went a tiny bit viral on Trade Me”. Tell us about your creative journey.
