Midcentury Melinkt

Bold graphic patterns such as those found in Scion’s debut Melinkt fabric and wallpaper range are currently big news. Drawn both from mid-century design archives and modern Scandinavian design, Scion’s patterns are contemporary but still lush enough to be welcoming. Curtains in Rosehip, chair in Lace, wallpaper in Flight, all from Melinkt Two. Available in New Zealand from Malcolm Fabrics.

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Beauty backgrounder: rosehip

According to Trilogy co-founder Sarah Gibbs, the demand for natural skincare has grown so much that the category can hardly be considered alternative. “It’s not a niche. It’s not even ‘lifestyle’… It’s mainstream,” she says. Recently sold to Ecoya in a deal reputedly worth $20 million, Trilogy is a huge Kiwi success story.

The essential ingredient in Trilogy products is organic rosehip oil. Superfine and certified organic, the oil easily absorbs into the skin, helping to boost its moisture barrier and protect it against environmental damage.

In the years since its launch, Trilogy has gone from strength to strength. Its products are trialed (and co-opted) by beauty editors worldwide, and it has a massive international following. Its rosehip oil has also just been supercharged by the addition of additional antioxidants from red fruits such as tomatoes, cranberries and acai berries. Give it a go... you'll be among the many who swear by it.

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White is right

A little while ago I posted on an all-white interior that I didn't think worked. Here's a few that do. I've reblogged them from annaleenashem.blogspot.com, the blog of Swedish interiors stylist Annaleena Karlsson.

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Savar giveaway winners

Congratulations to Claire Walkinshaw of Cromwell and Sally Laurie of Papakura... Bottles of Savar's beautiful Energizing Body Wash are on their way to you now!

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Let there be light

Some people love shoes; others handbags. I'm obsessed with light fittings. My search for the perfect pendants for our house has taken me all over Auckland. I see them as accessories; as capable of 'lifting' our house as a designer handbag is of an outfit. These are some of the ones currently catching my eye. I have a budget of $5000 for all the entire household lighting (everything including wall mounts, recessed and vanity lights) which I know to some is a fortune. But to others – like the lovers of the $2000-plus Simon James Octo pendant featured here – it's miniscule. Needless to say I can only dream about the Octo but I have managed to pick up a few gems, mainly on sale.

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Pedestrian pile

Oprah has re-listed her huge Chicago apartment for US$2.8m, less than half of the US$6m she wanted for it when she first put it on the market in 2008. Global recessions aside, I can't say I'm surprised. Fab views of Lake Michigan notwithstanding, it's hardly spectacular from an interiors point of view. (And I can't even begin to guess how much she would have paid an interior designer.) Only room I'd like to hang out in is the wood-paneled TV room. And even a dinner conversation with Oprah herself wouldn't make the dining room interesting. Unlike the person who owns it, it's all a bit blah.

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The house speaks

Our house has started speaking. It hates white. It loathes bleached or blonde wood. And it also doesn’t appear to much like the fine-boned furniture that comes attached to its mid-century heritage. A house of straight lines and sharp angles, it’s screaming out for softness, luxury and just a bit of glamour.

Since glamour is so subjective, it’s better restricted to fittings rather than fundamentals. This means I’m keeping the flooring, kitchen cabinetry, the bathrooms, paint and wallpaper, and appliances as timeless as possible and injecting bling into items that can easily changed, such as lighting. So my search for flooring has me running around showrooms that specialise in natural materials, such as stone and wood. I’m researching natural-textured (or grasscloth) wallpapers and wooden veneers and I’m looking for simplicity in the kitchen – the fewer buttons, bangs and whistles the better. But I’m going for serious glam in the lighting, finally selecting this Tom Dixon pendant for the open-plan dining/kitchen area.

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Natural wonder

I recently spent a long time interviewing Antipodes founder Elizabeth Barbalich for a story for NZ Life and Leisure and came to greatly admire her intelligence and her passion for her brand.

The company which, to date, has been the recipient of two Technology NZ research, is focused on achieving scientific validation for its products. “I don’t believe in miracles when it comes to skincare,” Barbalich says.

Now sold in Hong Kong, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Slovenia and Australia as well as 220 stores throughout New Zealand, several of Antipodes’ products have been scientifically proven (through third-party laboratory in-vitro tests) to significantly stimulate collagen production at a cellular level. Collagen is the all-important building block for all the body’s systems. The fact that Antipodes can prove its products stimulates its development is significant because when it comes to its effect on wrinkles more is less. More collagen, less wrinkles.

Antipodes' latest release is called Apostle Skin Brightening and Tone Correcting Serum. Its key ingredient is Vinanza Performance Plus, a special antioxidant blend drawn from sauvignon blanc grapes and kiwifruit skin, which helps target and reduce pigmentation. It also contains Vinanza Oxifend, from pinot noir grape seeds, a proven anti-inflammatory. This product helps to lighten and brighten the skin and, as a result, can have a huge impact on how good you look. Give it a try.

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'Kitchenzilla'

These are the images that have inspired our new kitchen. They are all very sleek and minimalist; quite unlike anything I've ever chosen before but somehow right for the house. Their simplicity puts a huge emphasis on detail – one of the reasons why I found myself almost having a complete meltdown at Kitchenworks a week or so ago. There to finalise the kitchen plans, we were told that although the inners of our  cupboards and drawers are going to be black, the hardware required to make the drawers close properly (we're not having handles, just touch latches) only comes in grey and white. This meant I would be looking into a black drawer with contrasting white/grey plastic panels on the side. I suspect I may be the only woman in the world to care, but care I do. Problem was, at that stage (all the materials had already been purchased) there appeared to be no other option. It took a few deep breaths and the steadying influence of Stu to get me to accept it all and move on. I resigned myself to covering the black drawer bottoms with grey non-slip mats and mentally crossed my fingers it would look ok. And, then, a few days later I get a call from Tony, the Kitchen Guy. They had managed to source a new brand of drawer hardware that – joy –  actually comes in black (and had done some clever wrangling to ensure it didn't cost any more). By now, a little over my 'Kitchenzilla' moment, I felt vaguely embarrassed. But very grateful; I know I shall appreciate our kitchen-maker's willingness to go that extra mile every time I reach into the drawer for a knife and fork.

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Ode to a rose

On counter today is Lancome’s new Absolue L’Extrait, a high-end anti-ageing miracle-worker spurred by the application of stem-cell science in skincare. L’ Extrait, though, isn’t exactly based on human stem cells but on those of a special rose, known as the Lancome rose, which is recognized for its amazing resilience. Over a decade of intensive research, Lancome scientists have discovered how to cultivate the rose’s stem cells in the laboratory through a patented biotechnological process called fermogenesis. The results have been developed into a special extract – with the potency of two million rose stem cells – that is the essence of L’Extrait. A rich, luxurious cream, L’Extrait encourages the skin’s own dermal cells to renew themselves, thus promoting fresher, younger-looking skin. In accordance with its luxury status, each smoked glass jar comes with a special tool that helps activate micro-circulation and promote better penetration of the cream’s active ingredients. Available from leading department stores and selected pharmacies for $448. I'm impressed by the science behind Lancome so I'm going to enjoy using this. Stay tuned for results.

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Love NZ Life and Leisure

Belinda and I have just finished shooting the fashion and beauty pages for the next issue of NZ Life and Leisure magazine, which isn't on sale until early July. We went for a really romantic modern vintage feel. Here's a sneak peek. It's a shot that didn't actually make the cut so I don't feel like I'm giving too much away. And Zoe and Morgan's cute necklace deserves at least some exposure (it's available from Macy Home in Auckland). Talking of NZ Life and Leisure, the latest issue is on sale now and it's fantastic; so inspiring. I love the work I get to do for it. For good look inside the current mag visit www.nzlifeandleisure.co.nz.
Image: Belinda Merrie

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Giveaway: Savar

Like many great brands, natural-skincare company Savar was launched because its founder, Vicky Woolford, couldn’t find products that suited her. It wasn’t so much her skin that objected, it was her nose and eyes. Woolford, an artist, mum and all-round enthusiast, has an appreciation of fine fragrance and a pedant’s eye for design.

Reduced to decanting products such as body lotions and hand soaps into her own containers because she couldn’t find packaging she was happy to display, she kick-started Savar, an online business based out of her Auckland home. With her daughter (above) as the range's new face, Vicky employs natural and organic ingredients enriched with pure plant extracts and oils and uses very low levels of fragrance, a recognised skin irritator. The collection is simple, sustainable and stylish and is marketed online at www.savaronline.com.

Strangeandbeautiful has two bottles of Savar's gorgeous Energizing Body Wash, a luxurious hydrating unisex cleanser to give away.

Email editor@strangeandbeautiful.co.nz with your name, address and date of birth by Tuesday 22 May to enter. Good luck!

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Pure Fiji faces up

I am a huge fan of Pure Fiji. There’s something so very blue-skies about it: all-natural, environmentally responsible, smelling of the islands… Mainly available through salons, the brand has a loyal New Zealand following that’s well deserved. It’s hip, socially conscious and value for money. Until now, the focus has been mainly on body products – luscious, great-smelling ultra-hydrating body butters, scrubs, cleansers and oils. This month, however, sees the launch of a small facial skincare range – just three products with another to come soon – containing ingredients that communicate with and stimulate the skin’s own systems to function in a more healthy manner. This whole concept of cell-communicating ingredients is an important one, and one you’ll definitely be hearing more of, since there is increasing evidence that some ingredients do have the ability to instruct aged or damaged cells to behave more like younger, healthy ones. The range is also packed with hydrating oils, antioxidants and plant-based peptides, which positions it perfectly to repair the skin and protect it against age-related damage. Prices start at $45. A must try.

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Nerves are natural... I think!

Our lovely kitchen (not) is no more and the wall between it and the dining room has been knocked out. This gives us a chance to actually see the space – rather than imagine it through an architect's eye – and work out whether our kitchen will look any good. I'm really excited that it will. One of the things I'm learning is that no matter how developed your eye is, when it's your own project nerves are natural. If I'm styling a cover, consulting on an interior or helping someone with their wardrobe, I'm always confident that what I'm recommending will turn out well. (I guess that's just as well since it's my occupation!) But when it comes to our home – or my own wardrobe for that matter – there's always a degree of anxiety. It's probably cos I'm a control freak... I didn't actually design or draw up the space myself... but one of the things I'm learning from all of this is how much creative buzz you can get out of a project like a renovation or house build even if the design itself is essentially in the hands of someone else. The guy who remodeled our home is an architect called Dean Mackenzie, and the process of how he approached it was illuminating. It was (unexpectedly) connective and very reassuring. He caught hold of our vision and reflected it back to us perfectly. I guess it's all in the communication: 'how to speak to your architect/builder etc so it doesn't all turn to custard'. But more on that later...

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Blah blah blah...

Life is not beautiful. Our laundry is my kitchen. The fridge is in the living room; the freezer in Stu's workshop. We have no wall linings or ceilings in the house and we are living in a room the size of a motel unit. Our dinner has to be carried about 30m (outside in the dark and cold) before we can sit down and eat it. We spent the weekend moving furniture. But worse – far worse – Mouse the very vocal Burmese cries all the time because her home is being demolished and Bob is tied up most of the day because the property is no longer fenced. And we're all getting just a bit grumpy... not such a good thing since we're all jammed into a small space. The only one keeping his spirits up is Euan; on the building front, it's apparently all going swimmingly.

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Floral fantasies

You might expect a stylist to stress about her wedding. But when I got married a couple of years ago, it wasn't so much the dress I obsessed about. It was the flowers. I got lucky since I regularly work with Davina Prankerd of Vida Flores www.vidaflores.co.nz for NZ House & Garden. Incredibly creative, she listened to my ideas and came up with an amazing waterfall of orchids and sweetpeas (scroll down to see it). Despite the fact we had discussed colour and size beforehand, the bouquet itself was unexpected. (I had shown her a few images of what I liked but other than that I left her to it.) I wanted it to be formal, big and colourful. It also had to be incredibly feminine. And it was perfect. Working with Davina has given me a real sense of the possibilities of flowers in the home. I'm forever on the lookout for inspirational – and modern – designs. That's why I've also fallen in love with the work of New York-based florist Nicolette Owen of Nicolette Camille. I first found her on Design Sponge. Check out more of her work here, and her home at www.designsponge.com/2009/03/sneak-peek-nicolette-camille.html.

Bouquet by Davina Prankerd at Vida Flores, Auckland.

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Shades of pale

I love sleek, minimal, well-edited interiors but I couldn't live in one. This is beautiful to look at but I'd be constantly fighting the urge to add more stuff. Where are the flowers? The texture? The bits and bobs that make a home a home? Funnily enough, the lack of clutter makes it feel agitated rather than calm. It's all a bit too white. But that's probably just me...

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Welcome to our world

We don't have one architect, we have two. One for the concept; another (who is local) to do the drawings and mother our application through the consent process. We also had a surveyor, arborist, kitchen designer and structural engineer. We met with a quantity surveyor/project manager and decided we couldn't afford him. And I have been shamelessly plundering the expertise of my interior design friend, Peter Dunnachie. All of these experts have helped enormously. And here's the thing: how on earth do you do you manage a renovation without them? How do you negotiate council regulations, structural changes and the building work itself without a comprehensive set of plans? All up, we estimate we forked out well over $20,000 in fees before Euan the builder and his team walked onto the property. And the only new structure we're adding – apart from a structural beam to compensate for knocking out a load-bearing wall and putting in a new floor-to-ceiling window – is the deck. The rest is pretty much cosmetic: new kitchen, bathrooms and moving the odd wall half a metre to the left or right to make better use of the space. By all accounts our building work is relatively minor.

But, we decided to do it properly. We wanted the ticks on our LIM, and we wanted to ensure the house we've come to love survives for another 50 years. What I'm learning, however, is enough to fill a manual. Let's call it 'How to survive a renovation'. I promise to share it as we progress.

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