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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The Lovely

The Lovely is a new online gift registry here in NZ, created by Auckland-based creatives Georgina Kivell and Sarah Melrose. The concept, a site that is not simply about giving and receiving, but one that allows you to create a uniquely personal registry, came about when the girls were planning their own weddings late last year. Faced with a lack of choice and impersonal online purchases, they wanted to find a way of putting the excitement back into giving and receiving gifts on special occasions.

Wondering how it works? Well, it's really very easy. The Lovely allows those marking any special event, be it a wedding, baby shower or milestone birthday to create a personalised gift registry using a simple Pinterest-like platform adding gifts from anywhere, anytime. This unique platform means that you are not restricted to a certain ‘type’ of gift from the one retailer. On The Lovely a Simon James pendant can sit beside a BBQ from Mitre 10 or the latest Citta throw, meaning you get exactly what you want on your special day. I'm sure like me, many of you are wishing you'd had this service back when you got married!



Here's a breakdown of the four simple steps:

1.Choose your gifts from anywhere using the Pinterest-like Lovely interface which pulls gift choices to the user’s page in one click. This means a drill from a hardware store can sit next to a piece of custom art from a gallery

2.Send the URL to guests and they can reserve the item they’d like to purchase

3.The reserved gift is then emailed to the buyer and the gift is marked as ‘taken’ and no longer available to other guests*

4.The buyer can then purchase the gift via traditional bricks and mortar stores or alternatively online

*If the buyer decides not to purchase the item, it can be returned to the registry list page via this same confirmation email and becomes available once more

In addition to providing a unique registry platform, the site also features Inspiration and Journal pages that showcase beautiful gift ideas and interesting news updates. The best bit is The Lovely is free to join! 

George and Sarah kindly answered a few questions for us... 

Can you tell us a us a bit about yourselves and what inspires you?

George: My love for ‘lovely’ things and images can be traced back to a lifelong passion for photography, so much so that a few years ago I up and left NZ and headed to Parson's School of Design in New York to study it. While I didn’t quite make Bill Cunningham status, I do have a house full of my own prints and it’s something I want to pick up again in the future.

You’ll notice that simple, clean and minimal design feature strongly on the site and most recently I’ve been inspired by the crisp aesthetic of Japanese design following a trip to Tokyo earlier this year. I’ve been busy curating an Inspiration page on The Lovely along these very lines showing some of our favourite local retailer finds. As we finish renovations on our home in Grey Lynn and I look for finishing touches to dress our new spaces, this could prove dangerous as it also serves as my own personal wishlist!

Sarah: As well as having a love for all things design, I have a crazy passion for food. Not so much cooking (though definitely eating!), but mostly around food photography and cookbooks. My latest favourite is Paris Bakery Club. The pages look so beautiful you want to eat them.

And more randomly, my favourite time of the day is early morning when no one is up. I love this time of day so much as it's so quiet, calm and empty. A total contrast to the rest of my day! I also have a gorgeous and hilariously entertaining two and a half year old daughter. A welcomed contrast to the 'design' side of my life.

Sarah Melrose and Georgina Kivell of The Lovely

What are the current top 5 most popular gifts on The Lovely?

1. Printed cushions such as the beautiful Quilted Cushion from Juliette Hogan 
2. Wine glasses, especially the Ciotola stemless wine glasses from Citta Design
3. Cookbooks are making a real comeback, such as My Petite Kitchen from Maree & Co
4. For the boys definitely a Drill! (The De Walt Drill from Mitre 10)   
5. Anything by Fog Linen, such as the Fog Linen blankets from Father Rabbit

What are your personal favourites?

George: Engelbrecht Cushion from Douglas and Bec
Sarah: Tom Dixon Champagne bucket from ECC

A few of my picks above from The Lovely Inspiration page show just a glimpse of what's on offer. There is a thoughtful and diverse range of products from many fantastic local retailers such as Douglas and Bec, Father Rabbit, Let Liv and Endemic World. It's clear that the girls have great taste, and you can certainly see George's love of Japanese design coming through. 

To join The Lovely Registry for free, pop over here. 

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Interview | Milly Nolan of Mildred&Co

When Mildred&Co burst on to the Auckland scene last year with a boutique online gift store and wedding registry, it soon became clear that this was something we'd all been waiting for. Born out of a desire to offer beautiful and unique gifts for weddings and other special occasions, Mildred&Co is lovingly curated by founder Milly Nolan, and sells everything you could ever want for your home and beyond – from leading brands to unique, designer pieces.

Since its launch, the company has provided gifts for a huge (and growing) number of happy couples, and has now opened the doors to an incredible new showroom, which I was lucky enough to attend the opening of recently. Architecturally designed, the stunning space offers a place for couples to choose gifts in person, over a glass of champagne.

Having known Milly for many years (her older sister and I are close friends from school) the idea of an interview came up when Mildred&Co first launched. Following a whirlwind wedding season and setting up the showroom, Milly has somehow managed to squeeze in time to answer my questions, and I'm thrilled to be able to share them with you today.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what led to the launch of Mildred&Co?

I actually studied law but desperately wanted to work for a magazine 'when I grew up' so after uni I chased my dreams and after a lot of hard work - mainly interning for free (!!) - I landed my first job at Gourmet Traveller magazine in Sydney. I then worked at Wallpaper* in London before returning home where I became the beauty editor at MiNDFOOD magazine. After four years there and plenty of wedding-going in-between as all my friends starting tying the knot, I came up with a business idea that I just couldn’t shake off – to launch a one-stop-shop wedding gift registry that sold beautiful things for the home and beyond – and so, with that Mildred&Co was born in 2012 and here I am today....knee deep in running a business!

You've kicked off your first wedding season with great success. How many weddings have you done so far, and what have been some of the highlights to date?

Over eight months we have provided gifts for 67 weddings. This has meant a lot of gift-wrapping! I guess the highlight to date has been seeing how happy the couples are to receive and open their gifts! The letters and photos we get from them thanking us makes our hearts sing!



What's been the most popular wedding present so far?

As dull as it seems, wine glasses are probably our most popular gifts. I guess everyone loves a vino! Actually most of the usual household items like kitchenware, cookware, tableware etc are still very popular but we have also found that the more unique pieces such as art works and coffee table books are snapped up quickly. As are gardening tools!

In addition to providing a wedding gift registry service, Mildred&Co is an online everyday store, offering gorgeous homewares and furniture from around the world. What are your current favourites or standout pieces?

That's a tricky question as there are so many things I love, but at the moment some of my favourite pieces are; Le Creuset Cast Iron Casserole Dish in white, Seletti Burlesque Monkey Candelabra, Kartell Jelly Vases, Nathan Goldsworthy Kimono Stool.



You've recently opened the doors to the Mildred&Co Showroom. How will this space be used?

The showroom is a place couples can visit to see all the gifts Mildred&Co offers. They will be greeted by a style consultant and offered a glass of bubbles or coffee while they peruse the collection. It's basically so that they can get a better feel for the products and therefore choose what colours and sizes etc they want. The showroom is also available to hire for functions as it's too good a party space not to!

Once a mechanics workshop, the transformation is remarkable! Can you tell us a bit about the architecture, design, and interior fit out?

You honestly would not recognise it if you saw the 'before' pictures! Although in saying that, our clever architect Jose Gutierrez was very careful to maintain the 'industrial' bones of the building while also creating a sleek, modern and sophisticated space with its polished concrete floors, white walls and black lacquered fittings. I think one of the best features is the inner courtyard which is a bit like a mini oasis in the middle of the city.

You're due to host the highly anticipated Megan Morton workshops that are coming to NZ later this year. Tell us about this collaboration and how it came about.

 
Actually I can thank the lovely wedding stylist, Erin from Erin Lovich Events for that as she had been to a Megan Morton course in Sydney and on her return mentioned to me that Megan was looking for a space to hold her Auckland workshops so we made a connection and voila, The School is coming to New Zealand in November and will be held at the Mildred&Co showroom. I can't wait!

How would you describe your own personal style and how is this reflected in your own home, and the products you source for Mildred&Co?

Being a fussy Virgo my personal style is quite minimalist. I know what I do and don't like and there's no grey matter in between! But in saying that, I don't think that is translated very well into how I dress or how my house looks! Maybe this is only reflected in my dreams...or my Pinterest boards! As for sourcing for Mildred&Co, I think that my personal style definitely has a lot of influence, although I try and step outside the box as much as possible so that the products appeal to a wide audience and all styles. There's definitely an emphasis on clean, contemporary, no-fuss, high-quality, design-led pieces, although this doesn't necessarily mean high price tags - I'm very weary of making sure there are prices that suit all budgets.

What inpsires you right now - people, travel, the web etc?

Instagram is up there, as is Pinterest, style/fashion/nutrition/wellness blogs, travelling and also all my loved ones that keep me believing.

Huge thanks to Milly for sharing her inspiring story with us along with the lovely showroom and launch party photos - the cake made by Bluebells Cakery was divine! To set up a wedding registry or browse the everyday online store, take a look here. Bookings for The School's Auckland workshops can be made here.

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Hitched | Issue Two

As you know, I love magazines, so in the midst of moving house last week I received a welcome gift, issue two of Hitched. Founded by Renee Douros, the owner of multi-disciplinary creative studio Milkshake Creative, what immediately struck me was that this was very much a non-bridal, bridal magazine. 

While I love weddings as much as the next gal, having tied the knot over seven years ago means that these days it's not the type of magazine I'd usually pick up off the shelf. Now there's an exception. You see you don't have to be getting married, or even have plans to, to appreciate Hitched. If like me, you love all things beautiful, and are interested in decorating, photography, design, styling and events then this magazine is for you!



As my introduction to Hitched, the second issue has made a lasting impression. Starting with the gorgeous yellow cover, featuring the work of talented illustrator Rik Lee, the magazine has a beautifully clean design aesthetic, brimming with page after page of inspiring imagery and ideas surrounding weddings, styling and entertaining. 

Hitched stands out from traditional bridal mags by thinking outside the box with articles such as He Said He Said which takes you on a journey of one same-sex couple from their first meeting through to their wedding, and Love Ever After which features couples who made their vows over 40 years ago. 

Stunning photo spreads with titles like Grace + Lace and Bohemian Rhapsody will have you swooning.

Real Weddings includes six incredible real-life stories. So gorgeous, they almost make me want to do it all over again!

This is just a small taste of what's inside Hitched issue two. Available in stores now, make sure you grab yourself a copy!  

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Simon James

Simon James has been at the forefront of New Zealand design for some time now. Having been in production since 1996 when he received his Bachelor of Spatial Design from Auckland University of Technology, his contemporary designs are forward thinking, sleek and functional and have been exhibited in major cities around the world including Tokyo, New York and Milan.

The company Simon James Design was established in 1998 as a means for Simon to distribute his own work, and to represent some of the best international and local design talent. He also regularly works with architects and other design professionals creating innovative furniture and lighting solutions.

The Simon James Showroom, located in Upper Queen Street, Auckland, showcases products suited to the home or office, and is open to both commercial and retail clients.

Here are some of my favourite pieces. The 'Halford Bed' was originally a bespoke piece designed for my cousin Sarah (lucky girl), so the name stuck. When we build our house, this is the bed I want, and not just because it bears my name, but because I love the blond wood and beautiful, minimalist design. I also want the Trestle Table, Silver Ash Sideboard and Fleetwood Sofa. Am I being greedy? Probably, but with furniture this divine, I just can't help it!  

Trestle Table

Zepher Sofa and L5 Table

Silver Ash Sideboard

Halford Bed

Hawk Bar Leaner

Fleetwood Sofa 

Mabel Dining Table

Jetson Sofa (without arms)

Hawk Table 

The Simon James Concept Store is located at The Department Store. Take a look at my previous posts on this luxury retail space here and here. Located on the ground floor, you will find a stunning collection of luxury homeware, jewellery and design, carefully hand-picked by Simon and also available from his online store. An ever-changing, beautifully thought out selection, here are some current pieces that I'm lusting after. 

1. Benah Cleo Scarf | 2. Elva Tote | 3. Jessica McCormack Jewellery  
4. Benah Kodi Bag | 5. Bank In The Form Of A Pig by designer Harry Allen  
6. Stanley Pendant in copper | 7. David Trubridge Coral Light | 8. La Gras Table Lamp | 9. So Soap Body Soap | 10. Cup by David Chipperfield

You'd think that would be enough eye-candy for one post, but I just have to tell you about the Simon James Wedding Journal. If you are planning a wedding, or know someone who is, then you must check this out immediately! 'A carefully curated selection of wedding advice, inspiration and etiquette', beautifully presented in a 'blog' format, what more could the bride-to-be need? Full of gorgeously inspiring images and advice on everything from the dress to the cake, I'm seriously considering renewing my vows, just so I can utilise this fabulous site!

Here's a taste of what you'll find.

Wedding Inspiration: Taylor Tomasi Hill

How could the accessories editor of US Teen Vogue not have a fairytale wedding? Taylor Tomasi Hill, streetstyle star and super stylist, married her high school sweetheart in 2011 after almost 18 years of love. Themed around The Great Gatsby, there were lights in the trees, caprese salad, steak and chocolate cake and lots of dancing. Our favourite detail? Guests were asked for their shoe size upon RSVP – and found a pair of silver kicks for dancing on the back of their chair when they arrived for dinner. Perfect.

To create a wishlist of beautiful homewares, design objects, lighting and furniture for your wedding, take a look at the Simon James Design Gift Registry Service .  

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