Launching The Quiet Home

The last couple of weeks have been an exciting time with the launch of my new book, The Quiet Home. Published by Octopus in the UK, and Hachette in New Zealand, Australia, and the US, it was lovely to kick things off here in Auckland, with thanks to Unison Spaces for kindly hosting us in their beautiful Muuto boutique.

Muuto’s ethos around neuroaesthetics — the idea that design influences our wellbeing and emotions — aligns beautifully with the concept of The Quiet Home. I have long admired Danish design, first visiting Muuto in 2017 during my Copenhagen trip for 3 Days of Design. It felt like a lovely full-circle moment to hold the launch here.

The launch was exactly as I had imagined — a relaxed, intimate celebration with friends, family and the dear people I’ve worked alongside over the years. With the support of our generous partners, guests enjoyed a beautiful selection of wines curated by Everyday Wine, delicious canapés by local restaurant Mama, and sparkling waters from Almighty. My favourite Auckland bookshop, Lamplight Books, was there too — and seeing people lining up for signed copies was a real pinch-me moment. Huge thanks to Juliette Hogan for my stunning dress, which made the evening feel even more special.

Photography by Katie Begbie

In case you missed it, I've shared more about the book and what you can expect to find inside in this recent blog post.

The Quiet Home is now available to buy at Amazon, The Nile, Dymocks, Waterstones, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, and all good bookshops. 

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Cult NZ Welcomes &Tradition

I'm thrilled to share the news that Danish brand &Tradition is now available at Cult NZ. To celebrate this exciting launch, Cult held a special event last night for media and industry friends. Cult founder Richard Munao flew over from Australia for the launch, joined by Jane Cheng, &Tradition Brand Manager for Asia Pacific. Held at the Cult Showroom in Auckland, I had the pleasure of styling the beautiful new collection pieces. 

Working closely with showroom manager, Renee Hooker, the first step was choosing a new paint colour from Dulux. Inspired by the Colour Forecast 2020, and my favourite colour palette Grounded, we chose Glen Murray. A warm biscuit hue, it has a soft, natural feel that brings a sense of calm to the space. The new colour has also helped define the &Tradition gallery within the large and airy showroom, and works beautifully with the neutral and dark green colours of the &Tradition pieces.

The dedicated &Tradition space is home to designs including the recently launched Loafer sofa by Space Copenhagen, the Palette table by Jaime Hayon and the iconic Flowerpot pendant by Verner Panton. In addition to the Loafer chair by Space Copenhagen, there's Catch by Jaime Hayon and the Pavillion chair by Anderssen & Voll, several lighting designs including the new table lamps Seta by Jaime Hayon, and Journey by Signe Hytte, and my favourite side table, the Lato by Luca Nichetto. &Tradition pieces are also showcased in the Cult window display with furniture from the Fly collection by Space Copenhagen, Marble lights by Studio Vit and the Formakami table lamp by Jaime Hayon. The Column shelf by John Astbury and pieces from the &Tradition accessories range provide beautiful finishing touches, while the Moor rug by All The Way To Paris further defines the space.

Styling and Photography by Michelle Halford/TDC

Perfectly timed, the launch follows my recent trip to Copenhagen, where I had the pleasure of spending a day with &Tradition. I'm looking forward to sharing highlights from that visit soon, including my interview with &Tradition founder Martin Kornbek Hanson. 

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Taking Part in the Design Panel Discussion for Club Viva x BoConcept

Last week I was invited to speak on a design panel for Club Viva's Interior Design Trend Forecast, hosted by BoConcept. Led by Viva deputy editor Johanna Thornton, the panel also included BoConcept interior designer Rodrigo Vidal and showroom manager Annaliese Murrell. With a focus on the new BoConcept 2020 collection, Rodrigo and Annaliese shared their expert knowledge and advice around customisation and key interior themes to look out for in the form of fabric finishes, and colour schemes. I enjoyed sharing my tips on creating a layered, sensory feel at home, while overall, the panel discussion centred around the topics of sustainability and Danish design influences.  

"Every guest departed the event armed with newfound inspiration (as well as a few key BoConcept pieces on their collective wishlists)." —Viva

To find out more about the event and Club Viva, pop over here. 
And look out for coverage on the new BoConcept collection coming to TDC soon! 

Photography by Jonny Scott courtesy of Viva 

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Friday Finds

I have an inspiring mix of finds to share today, starting with Studio 8A by Rye London. Located on the top floor of an old print factory in East London, this industrial style kitchen photography studio is a magnificent all-white space with high ceilings, white exposed brick walls and concrete floors. Fitted out with a dream kitchen that includes expansive work benches, an island and coffee area, the studio provides the perfect location for shoots, filming, workshops, and events. Created as a place to connect, inspire, celebrate and collaborate, it has a focus on natural food, Nordic design and minimalist lifestyle. Find out more at Rye London.

Images by Rye London via Minimalissimo

I first featured The Loft, an interior design agency in Amsterdam back in 2015 - a must see, check it out here. The incredible space is curated as a fully furnished apartment and their latest look, which I recently discovered via Petite Passport, showcases a stunning bedroom setup. A great article with beautiful imagery, take a look here .  

Images via The Loft 

The interior design of the Four Seasons Downtown New York Hotel (also known as 30 Park Place), was recently completed by design firm Yabu Pushelberg. Featuring beautiful materials and unique elements, I particularly love the bespoke furnishings and soft hues used in the bedrooms. Evoking a sense of calm, this palette was chosen to provide a warm, residential quality and it has certainly delivered. 

Photography by Scott Frances via Dezeen 

These next images courtesy of Residence Magazine were created at a magical 1600-century palace in Stockholm. Featuring a mix of highly covetable furniture and objects included hand-crafted pieces, I've always found the woven S-Chair by Tom Dixon for Cappalleni to be a piece of art in its own right. See more imagery as well as a full list of the products used here. 

Styling by Alexandra Ogonowski / Photography by Kristofer Johnsson for Residence Magazine 
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My Interview for Together Journal | Issue Two

Happy New Year! I hope you're all having a great start to 2016. I was delighted when Issue Two of Together Journal arrived in my mailbox earlier than expected. The beautiful magazine which launched late last year offers a fresh new concept in wedding inspiration. Founded by talented wedding photographer Greta Kenyon whose work I have admired for a long time, it was born from a simple idea that there was space for something new and unique, with both style and substance. Greta says "Together Journal inspires and showcases the kinds of weddings that we and our friends and their friends want to have." 

Culminating the work of the most talented in the trade and the brightest creatives including photographers, writers, designers, stylists and artists, the quarterly publication will appeal not only to those planning a wedding, but anyone who appreciates great design. Blown away by the stunning layout and beautifully curated content showcased in the first issue, I was delighted when Greta approached me about being interviewed for Issue Two. I chatted to editor Josie Steenhart about interior trends and how I would incorporate these into wedding styling, along with a little shoot at home by Delena Nathuran. Another gorgeous issue, I am truly honoured to be a part of it! 

I love how Together Journal features real life couples, like Juliet and Justin Souter who are gracing the cover. Juliet is the Designer & Director of Marle label and wears her own custom wedding gown created by Zambesi. Justin also wears Zambesi. Cover shot by Coralee Stone, styled by Greta Kenyon, with cover illustration by Chloe Ruby Art. 

Still very much in holiday mode, I styled the magazine alongside a breakfast for two this morning. My husband was most appreciative!

Styling and photography by Michelle Halford for TDC

Issue Two of Together Journal is available from selected stockists and can also be purchased online.  

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BNZ GoodHome | Christmas Table Setting

A couple of weeks ago in this Feeling Festive post, I gave you a sneak peek of some gorgeous little trees and Scandi-inspired decorations I was using in an upcoming Christmas-themed shoot. I can now tell you it was for the latest issue of BNZ GoodHome, for which I had a lot of fun styling an outdoor table that had been built onsite by fellow GoodHome contributor and builder John Cocks. The perfect DIY solution when you're hosting the Christmas Day festivities, it costs less than $100 to make, and will seat an extra 12 people. Post-Chrissy, it would make a great outdoor work table or office desk! Find out everything you need to know here. 

Choosing a relaxed, Scandi-style theme for the table, a highlight was getting to use the exquisite new range of dinnerware by Father Rabbit, who also provided the gorgeous trees, decorations and Star Trays. I'm sure many of you can relate to gathering up all the chairs around home to accommodate extra guests, so I decided on an eclectic mix that included four beautiful Citta Design Oak Spindle Back Chairs. Retailing at $320 each, there is a special deal running currently where you can purchase them in store for $990 for a set of four, or $1,440 for a set of six! 

Blue skies and sunshine all around, I hope the weather turns out to be as gorgeous as this on Christmas Day! Visit BNZ GoodHome for more photos and a 'where to buy' list of all the products used, and check out my other new posts including Budget-Friendly Styling Tips, Getting Ready for Outdoor Living and Styling Your Kitchen on a Budget. 

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