Kids Style

Even if you're not in the market for kids products, I'm sure you'll appreciate these great designs.

Lego Storage

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These Lego storage boxes are awesome. My son got the yellow Lego head for his birthday recently and he loves it. If you're sick of tripping over your kids Lego pieces (and we've all been there) then these are ideal for keeping them in one place. Available from Design Denmark in NZ, the range also includes lunchboxes and drink bottles.

Porsche Baby Stroller

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If you have money to burn and want only the best for your wee tot, then the Porsche Design P'4911 stroller could be the ticket. Sweden based designer Dawid Dawod has created the ultra stylish, foldable stroller to fit into the boot of any - you guessed it - Porsche.   

Baby Acapulco Chair

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The Baby Acapulco chair is the miniature version of its grown up relative. With the same ergonomic design and retro-modern aesthetic, your kids will love the comfort as well as the cool factor. Even better, they can be used indoors or out.  

Rokii Animal and Rocking Egg

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The Rokii by Bower & Beyond is a versatile and innovative new product designed to last from newborn to preschool age. Converting from a baby rocker and child's chair to a ride-on toy, this clever gem was a recent finalist in the 2012 Australian International Design Awards.

Smart Playhouse

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Inspired by Japanese avant-garde architecture, the Kyoto Junior Playhouse by Smart Playhouse has a futuristic look that kids will love. With a range of playhouses in varying architectural styles and sizes, this company is taking the humble wendy house to an entirely new level!

Ubabub Pod

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Australian company Ubabub produce a range of gorgeous, eco-friendly cots, furniture and accessories. With a sleek, rounded design, the Pod Cot is a modern beauty. Clear acrylic sides with star shaped cutouts make checking on baby easy, and it also converts to a junior bed. Stylish and innovative - we love that.

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Bathroom Tile Trends

When it comes to bathrooms, the tiles you choose can really enhance the space. If you want to add colour, pattern or even a bit of shimmer take a look at these clever ideas.

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Colourful mosaics look amazing against an all white bathroom. Let the tiles take centre stage by keeping the space uncluttered. Add brightly patterned towels in a similar hue.   

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Mirrored mosaics and metallic tiles add sparkle and glamour to your bathroom. 

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I first spotted this image in the June issue of Livingetc. Since then, I've seen it numerous times on Pinterest. The tiny tiles pixelate giant blossoms with such eye-catching effect, it's no wonder it's become such a popular pin!

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Even tiling a single panel can make a big impact. You could choose to tile one or more areas like the side of the bath or shower cubicle, behind the basin or inside the recessed shelving.

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Move the focus from the walls to the floor with some bright floor tiles. I love the matching claw foot bath!

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Colour blocking works beautifully with mosaics or decorative tiles. Bright colours like these are sure to wow! 

For an extensive range of tiles in NZ, visit The Tile Warehouse.

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Homes to Inspire | Colourful Design

The home of Danish contemporary artist Maggie Kempinska is bursting with colour, much like her art. Working primarily with mixed media and paper cuts, her portfolio is full of colour packed collages, created with a range of varied and interesting materials including ink, textiles and cardboard.

Maggie's love of Italian furniture and design is also evident in her home, which features some incredible Italian pieces of furniture. These are mixed with beautiful furnishings and homewares sourced from the best Danish design houses.

Maggie loves collecting colourful bowls and vases found at flea markets or CasaShop
and Hay in Denmark. 

The bedroom is a haven of colour, pattern and texture. The use of rosewood is enhanced by gorgeous bedding and a mix of cushions from two of my favourite Danish brands Hay and Ferm Living. 

Isn't this the most fabulous photo wall? The black and white portraits by Maggie provide a striking backdrop and a wonderful contrast to the surrounding colours and stunning Italian furniture. 

I love the combination of rosewood, black, white and pops of bright colour in the bathroom. The black tiles carried through from the kitchen add a touch of luxury. 

Originally divided into five small rooms, the house has been reconfigured to include an open plan kitchen, dining and living area. The installation of skylights has made it a lovely, light-filled space. Maggie's colourful artworks are displayed throughout.

Are you a fan of colour in the home? I'd love to know what you think. 

To read more about Maggie's home, take a look here. 

All images: bo-bedre.no

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Minti

When it comes to fashion for the kiddy set you can't go past Minti. Started in New Zealand in 2003, the brand is now based in Melbourne, Australia and is stocked extensively throughout both countries. 

The Minti team bases its designs on what they would want to wear if they were small. A simple philosophy that works, the clothes ooze style and personality with clever graphics, quirky designs and bright colours. I love that the designs are also simple, unfussy and comfy enough for kids to kick around in. If you want to dress your kids and babies 'with a much needed dose of cool', Minti delivers just that. 

I was very excited to see the 'sneak peek' Minti put up on their Facebook page yesterday of the new Summer '12/'13 range. Arriving in stores soon, I want one of everything for my boys, and of course the girls range is gorgeous too!  

To see the full Summer '12/'13 range including infants wear, which is super cute, take a look here. For stockists and online stockists, pop over here and here. If you're impatient like me, you'll find some are taking pre-orders like the online store Kiddy Couture in NZ. Right then... off you go. I know you want to! 

All images: www.facebook.com/minticlothing

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Blog Love | Bodie and Fou

If you're not yet following the blog Bodie and Fou, I'm sure you'll want to after you've read this. Firstly, I recommend you check out the Bodie and Fou online boutique, where it all began. Created by sisters Elodie (Bodie) and Karine (Fou), it's a haven for design lovers, mixing European design and chic French style. Providing loads of creative ideas and inspiration you will find an extensive collection of carefully selected products for the home, including lighting and furniture, wallpaper and blinds, kitchen appliances, bed linen, babywear and more.

The store was launched in 2005 and the blog followed almost a year later. Starting out as a great place to let readers know what was going on with the shop, Karine says that 'eventually the blog became more of a creative space to share things, people and places that inspire me.' Lucky for us, Karine does just that, and everything reflects her exquisite taste and enviable French flair.




You can read about Karine's DIY projects and the decorating of her family home in London, as well as conversations with her gorgeous daughter Mila, who is seven. I love how family-oriented Karine is. As well as running the business with sister Elodie, she also works on styling projects with her photographer brother François Kong.



Photos from Karine's London Home....



European styling at its best, with a monochrome palette and warm brown leather. I love the photo wall.



A gorgeous DIY kitchen transformation. The black cabinets look fabulous paired with the stainless steel workbench.



Cluster Light by Kathleen Hills, from Bodie and Fou.



An old pallet turned into a coffee table. Of course I'm lusting over this cowhide rug. 

Karine says 'I love blogging, I love sharing and I love the interaction with people, so being able to connect with so many people around the world is simply fantastic.' Her passion and energy is contagious and this has resulted in a fast growing blog which has been voted Top 20 Best Interiors blogs by VOGUE magazine, The Telegraph in the UK, Bolig magazine in Norway and Remodelista.

Not long after I'd fallen in love with Bodie and Fou, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there was a New Zealand connection. Karine's husband Steve was born in New Zealand and they regularly holiday here in Waihi, where Steve spent his childhood.



The New Zealand Typemap print, duvet cover, linen scarf and Urbanears Plattan headphones are all available from Bodie and Fou. Beautiful styling by Karine and photography by her brother François.

Karine and her family also have a holiday home in France which has featured in several top interior publications including Grand Designs and Home Beautiful Australia. Having undergone a big renovation, the result is a 'Southern-Hemisphere style beach house' which Steve describes as 'a little slice of New-Zealand in a far-flung corner of France'. Here are a few pics.





If you do check out the online store, and I highly recommend you do, you might want to have your credit card ready because not only do they ship worldwide, they have a fabulous sale on right now! 

All images: bodieandfou.com and pinterest.com/bodieandfou

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Moa Basket

When I spotted this photograph on Pinterest yesterday my heart skipped a beat. I love the neon colours, the shape and materials. The way a product is styled and photographed is so important and in this case, the pared-back simplicity of the concrete background works beautifully. 

Wanting to find out more I clicked through and landed on the site Studio Besau Marguerre. Eva Marguerre and Marcel Besau are two German product designers who created the giant Moa Basket for Kkaarrlls. Made from elastic thread and resin, this amazing object is not for the faint-hearted. Thinking at first that it would make a lovely fruit bowl on a white or concrete kitchen island, I was surprised to discover it actually has a diameter of 130cm! What also blew me away was the process by with the baskets are made. 

How cool is that? As well as being extraordinarily large, the baskets are very light, flexible and basically indestructible. The design philosophy of Besau and Marguerre centres around technical innovations in materials or manufacturing. Even though this product can undoubtedly be put to many uses, this is of less importance to the design duo. What is most important is the 'fascination of the newly invented product'. I'm definitely fascinated. What about you? 

To see the complete photo shoot for the Moa basket and a couple of videos take a look here. You can see just how light and flexible it really is! 

All images via www.besau-marguerre.de

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Thank You!

Oh my, what a weekend! My eldest son turned five today so there were lots of celebrations! It left little time for the blog, so no 'Homes to Inspire' yesterday but I promise I'll post one this week! 

On Friday I received a wonderful surprise - a One Lovely Blog Award nomination from Anu of Decordots. Thank you Anu - you made my day! 

As part of the award, I must tell my readers seven facts about myself and then, the best part of all, I get to share the love by nominating up to 15 other blogs. 

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01. I studied ballet for all of my childhood and beyond. We're talking serious stuff - exams, competitions, full-time ballet training in Melbourne.... It wasn't an easy journey but it shaped who I am today and I still have a huge appreciation for this beautiful art. Check out my dance board on Pinterest.

02. I'd love to learn how to ride a horse.

03. My favourite number is 8.

04. I love peonies.

05. My father's passion was home textiles and furnishings and that was always the family business. My Dad also dreamt of becoming a writer. If he were still alive today I think he'd be pretty proud of me for starting this blog.

06. My favourite season is Summer and the beach is my 'happy place'.

07. I have two older sisters.

I've chosen to nominate some beautiful and inspiring Scandinavian blogs that I'm following right now....

Darling Things

Cherry Blossom

Fjelby

Mamamekko

Solid Frog

Stil Inspiration 

Mokkasin

Have a wonderful start to your week. I'll be back tomorrow with some more design goodness! 

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Apple&Bee

While grabbing my coffee the other morning, I popped in to a favourite local retail shop called Box @ Home in Remuera, Auckland. Filled with gorgeous things for the home as well as handbags and other accessories, I came across the most gorgeous tote bags by Apple&Bee. Making a quick note on the iPhone, I've just had a look at their online store and I'm smitten!

Before I show you a selection of their scrummy totes, here's a bit of background. Apple&Bee is the brainchild of Brett Pattinson, founder of Bod, the successful natural skincare company and Claire Morris, who was formerly the Art Director of MarieClaire Australia. 

Not only do they have a combined wealth of experience and skills, both Claire and Brett are passionate about looking after our planet. Committed to producing the best in contemporary design without harming the environment, they are proudly associated with the internationally recognised organisation Climate Friendly.

Their range of gorgeous, natural totes have been created as a way of reducing plastic bag waste and pollution, helping to keep our planet clean. The designs are unique and timeless showing that without a doubt you can be stylish and eco friendly at the same time! 

If you like the look of these totes, you will love the feel of them. Made from the finest materials, they are designed to last. The Apple&Bee range also includes cosmetic, fashion, kids and baby bags as well as stationery and an all-natural skincare range.




To browse the Apple&Bee products or shop online, check out their website. They also have distributors worldwide, so to find your local stockist pop over here.

All images via wwwappleandbee.com

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Nadia Sakey

Nadia Sakey and her 'Metropolis'
wall design in the background

If you've been following my blog you'll have seen my recent post on the Firefly Light & Design workshop. A highlight of the evening was meeting their resident interior designer Nadia Sakey. Well respected within the industry I had heard great things about Nadia, not to mention having drooled over her beautiful home that has featured in both Homestyle and Your Home & Garden magazines.

Originally from the UK, Nadia now lives in Auckland with her Kiwi husband and their two young children. On top of motherhood and consulting to Firefly, Nadia also writes for Homestyle magazine and runs her own business, Hit The Wall. An interior design and property consultancy, the business also specialises in custom designed wall spaces within the domestic, retail and commercial environments.

While studying at Jacob Kramer, a top design academy in the UK, Nadia had the opportunity to redesign the interior of a nightclub and from there her career in interior design took off. Taking up a corporate position, Nadia's career continued to flourish. During this time she also completed a postgraduate diploma in furniture and restoration, upholstery and interior decorative techniques. The purchase of a property in London ignited a passion for property development and later a thriving business in house doctoring. To find out more about what a house doctor does, take a look here.

Nadia's love of wallpaper is the reason she now specialises in this area. She says wallpaper is making a huge comeback as people realise that it's a great way to introduce texture, glamour and variety into their home. Hit The Wall goes a step further by turning an image or design, either theirs or the client's, into a custom designed wallpaper mural. Nadia has also introduced Bleux into New Zealand, a company which provides graphic design for interiors. They offer a vast gallery of designs applicable to most mediums from canvas, vinyl, wallpaper, window film and frosting to stone, glass, tiles, mirrors, resin and even corrugated iron. Bleux is unique in the wall covering market and since discovering them I've been lusting over their products. You can take a look at some of my favourites here.

As you know, I love taking you inside the homes of the wonderfully creative people I feature on the blog so I'm very grateful to Nadia for allowing me to share photos of her stunning home. Nadia was pregnant with their second child when they purchased the small two bedroom 1930s weatherboard cottage by the sea in Bayswater, Auckland. So while the issue of space needed to be addressed, the full site allowed for plenty of room to do just that. The renovation resulted in the addition of another bedroom, a family bathroom and an open plan living space. The original floor plan was very workable allowing them to simply open up the back of house. In doing this, they achieved the indoor/outdoor flow and seamless living which they desired.

Of course Nadia took the reins when it came to the interior, turning it from a neutral palette to a black and white canvas, adding "splashes of true colour, illusions of grandeur and glimpses of glamour". Sounds fabulous? Take a look for yourself.

The gorgeous black and white kitchen with pops of colour, and a glimpse of the 'Metropolis' wall design by Hit The Wall. Don't you just love the Kartell lights and stools?

'Metropolis' in full view. That cowhide chair must also get a mention.... swoon ... 

Nadia is a big fan of Deborah Bowness wallpapers. Having been friends since college, Deborah designed this amazing hand printed paper for Nadia. The bookshelf image works perfectly in the recess of the hallway. 

I love the bedrooms in the Sakey's home. The designs are clean and stylish with eye-catching features like the Kartell bookshelves. 

I hope you've been as inspired by Nadia as I am. If you have any comments, I'd love to hear from you!

All images courtesy of Nadia Sakey.

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