Completed Work - New Kitchen

If there is one thing that I been doing a bad job of this year, that would be not taking photos of my work after it has been completed. It is so easy to finish a job and move on to the next one without reflecting on the whole process and enjoying the results. Also, interiors can be difficult to photograph! Excuses aside, I have been calling up a few clients and I'll be slowly going around and recording some of the work done this year.
This hardwearing family kitchen is located in a traditional house in Wellington - the client wanted clean lines, lots of storage and to use traditional materials like timber and stone to give texture.

Upstand detail on kitchen island



Vertical subway tiles

New Emeco bar stools with red leather seats at the breakfast bar 

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

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Table Manners

Just some gorgeous eye candy for a miserable Monday - feast your eyes on this tableware series, 'Table Manners' which was featured in Elle Decoration NL earlier this year. Styled and photographed by Mirella Sahetapy who is from the Netherlands - I am inspired by her use of colour, arrangement and textures.

Photographs via Mirella Sahetapy.

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Inspiration Profile - Claire Ongley

Here we are at the end of another week and I have another great Inspiration Profile for you. Say hello to Claire Ongley from Izzy and Jean Co. Enjoy!

Claire Ongley

Avarcas Pons sandals are the newest addition to the Izzy and Jean Co. range. They are handmade in Menorca, Spain.

Name: Claire Ongley

What do you do: I run an online store called Izzy and Jean Co. We sell fine home goods and accessories from around the world. All our goods are either handmade or produced by small designers or long-established family businesses. I believe that the story behind a thing is just as interesting as the thing itself.

We opened in June of this year, so it’s still all very new to me. There’s lots to learn, but it’s great fun to do something completely different.

Where do you live: I currently live in Oakura, just outside of New Plymouth. However, my partner Daniel and I are moving to a farm near Otaki where we plan to farm pigs (free range of course!). We will have 80 acres and no farming experience. It’s definitely going to be a big challenge, and we can’t wait.

What are you working on: Izzy and Jean Co. has only been running for four months, so I feel like I’m still really getting things organised and running smoothly. At the moment I’m working on restocking and ordering for summer and Christmas. Sourcing stock is a very time consuming exercise! However, we have some lovely new things coming in, which I’m very excited about.

In fact, I have just finished loading up our new Avarcas Pons sandals onto the website. They are handmade in Menorca, Spain. Take a look, they are very simple and stylish, and also just in time for summer!

We’re also working on moving to the farm. There’s lots to organise, and once we get there we will never have a moment to be bored. On top of that, we just got engaged, so we now have to plan a wedding!

Hedgehog table brush made by Redecker, a family-run business in Germany that has been handcrafting brushes since 1935.

Polka dot socks from Etiquette Clothiers in New York

Flowers: Peonies, roses, lavender and hydrangeas spring to mind. They are all quite old-fashioned, now that I think about it.

Food:  When I’m asked this question I usually say Mexican food. I love anything with fresh fish, hot chillies and lots of coriander.  Having said that, I like all sorts of food and there is nothing I won’t try. But maybe that just means I’m a bit greedy.

Style: It tends to change, but in terms of decor I would say I’m currently a fan of Scandinavian simplicity with a pop of colour and texture in the form of rustic, vintage or ethnic furniture and accessories.

Handwoven pink striped throw from Tunisia

Hand loomed fouta towels from Tunisia.

Who/what inspires me: I’m inspired by people who successfully run their own creative businesses. I want to be one of them! There are so many inspiring people around who love what they do, and they help me keep believing that I can do it too.

I work best: First thing in the morning and last thing at night. In the afternoons my mind tends to wander and I make endless cups of tea and write lists, but not a lot gets done.

What I do when I’m stuck for inspiration: Go for a run, wile away some time on Pinterest, read a blog, or go and do anything that is totally unrelated to work.

The best advice I have been given is: Don’t worry about making things perfect, just get it out there and figure things out as you go.

My latest discovery is: Fiji! We just went there to escape the winter blues and it was divine. The people are gorgeous, the ocean is warm and the cocktails have umbrellas in them. What more could you want?

Striped linen cushion covers made by a family-run business in Lithuania

Handwoven vintage 'Rose' kilim rug from Turkey

Books that I get inspiration from: ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey is a book that I picked up in a secondhand shop about a year ago. It is really inspiring and practical, and it helped me put my Izzy and Jean Co. plans into gear.

Magazines that inspire me: Inside Out, Vogue Living, Your Home & Garden, NZ House & Garden, Homestyle

Blogs that I enjoy: The Design Chaser, Made From Scratch, Milo & Mitsy, re: Address, The Design Files, Kara Rosenlund.

My favourite room at home is: Our house is a temporary one, so it’s not really a home. We moved back from Sydney earlier this year, so once we move into our own house, then I’m sure I will have one or two favourite rooms. I can’t wait to put my stamp on them!

My office is: I used to work in the sleep out, but I have recently swapped offices with my partner, so now I’m inside. My little office gets lots of afternoon sun and I can gaze out at our back garden and dream up new ideas for Izzy and Jean Co. (or just procrastinate).

What am I looking forward to: Moving into our new house on the farm! Getting married! There’s a lot to look forward to right now.

You can keep up to date with Izzy and Jean Co on their online store, their Facebook page, Twitter or their Pinterest boards.

Photographs used with permission from Claire Ongley and Izzy and Jean Co.

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Roald Dahl Fantabulous Collection

Well, this definitely appealed to the child in me. I was (still am) a huge fan of Roald Dahl books as a child and it was nostalgia that got me checking out this new textile range. Illustrations from the likes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, Matilda, The BFG, The Twits and other well known books make up this charming children's textile collection. I like that this range is unisex and you just know that parents will get a kick out of these fabrics as well as the children. Available in New Zealand through Charles Parson.

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Father Rabbit at BLOC

 

I love receiving invites to openings of stores and other design events, however invitations of late have been located in Auckland, which is just a bit too far from Wellington. One such recent invitation was to the opening of the new Father Rabbit store. While I didn't make it, I have added the new shopping destination as a must visit when next in town.
Well known online store, Father Rabbit have relocated from their charming Grey Lynn villa to a new retail space at the successful BLOC.
BLOC is a collaborative community of design focused brands who have created a collective environment for the astute shopper. Located in Mt Eden, BLOC also houses other great New Zealand brands including Citta Design and Douglas & Bec. It looks like a great place to shop!

Thanks to Father Rabbit for use of photographs.

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Inspiration Profile - Gemma Cagnacci

Welcome to the latest instalment to our Inspiration Profiles - this week we have the lovely Gemma Cagnacci, whose creative and inspiring blog, line x shape x colour, I found earlier this year. I recommend checking out this seasoned traveller's blog as it is a visual feast and a great way to travel vicariously from your chair. It's a treat to have her featured here today.

 

Gemma Cagnacci

Los Angeles, USA

 

Name:Gemma Cagnacci

What do you do: By day I am textile designer for a large home wares wholesaler, which I have been doing for about seven years. However, in my spare time, I love to visually document my travels and creative projects for my blog line x shape x colour which is over two years old now.

Where do you live: Surry Hills in sunny Sydney, Australia

What are you working on: I’m always working on our next travel plans, trying to fit a in a sneaky trip  wherever possible! My husband Andrew and I are planning on doing some trekking in Nepal next year, so I’m in the process of researching that. I also just received a printmaking kit for my birthday and am currently working on some ideas to get started with that. I did a bit of printmaking while at uni, so I’m pretty excited to get back into it.

Lake Wanaka, New Zealand

Tasmania, Australia

Sailing, Turkey

 

Colour:Any shade green

Plant/Flowers:Big lush tropical greens like Nicolai palms and Fiddle Leaf figs

Food:It’s a tie between Lebanese and Mexican (especially tacos!)

Smell:Jasmine on a balmy spring day

Style:I love both minimalism and eclecticism, separately and together.

Khiva, Uzbekistan

 

Urfa, Turkey

 

Who/what inspires me: My grandmother has been a massive influence and inspiration, having travelled and lived all over the world, filling her home with all sorts of treasures from her travels. She also had great interest in textiles, creating all sorts of amazing pieces including weaving on her very own loom. Growing up, it was incredibly inspiring being in that environment, hearing all her stories and just her general attitude to life.

I work best: I’m definitely a night person when it comes to getting into a productive groove.

What I do when I’m stuck for inspiration: Pinterest is great when I’m a little bit stuck, otherwise getting off the computer and listening to some music also does the trick.

The best advice I have been given is: Pretty simple but, be yourself and trust your gut. Also, to be patient.

My latest discovery is: Toro Y Moi. Why it has taken me so long to discover his music, I have no idea. But I’m glad I finally have!

New York City, USA

 

Books that I get inspiration from: I find photography books by the likes of Steve McCurry are always super inspiring. So too are are any on ethnic textiles and jewellery. I’m not a big reader of novels and prefer my non-fiction - especially when there are lots of pictures. I’m a very visual person!

Magazines that inspire me: Vogue Living, Monocle, Saturdays Surf and National Geographic.

Blogs that I enjoy: The Design Files, Mr and Mrs Globetrot, a Merry Mishap, Veronica Loves Archie and the Sartorialist

My favourite room at home is: Either my living room, as it is full of sunshine and some of our most precious treasures or the dining area, as my husband and I love to entertain and have our friends over for dinner whenever possible - especially in summer.

My office is: Wherever I have my Macbook!

What am I looking forward to: My sister and I are taking our mum away on surprise overseas trip to celebrate her 50th birthday. We have given her a packing list, but she has no idea where she is going, and won’t find out until she arrives at the airport! We leave in a couple of days and are all super excited!

Frankfurt, Germany

Lisbon, Portugal

 

Photographs are by and used with permission from Gemma Cagnacci

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Butler Sinks

A butler sink in a cabin kitchen from Smitten Studio

I was working on a kitchen design with a client when he mentioned he liked the idea of a butler sink. I haven't used many of these before so I did some visual exploring and now I think the sink is going to look great in the smart contemporary kitchen with traditional details that we have designed.

A large butler sink via Martha Stewart Living.

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