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Showing posts with label new zealand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new zealand. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Courage is rightly considered the foremost of the virtues, for upon it, all others depend.Sir Winston Churchill
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
I've long been a fan of New Zealand fashion designer Trelise Cooper....her collections are always exciting, a little boho & most of all full of sumptuous, rich colour! She has just released her first line of fabrics for interiors & the range is fabulous. Each design a little jewel all on its own, what possibilities they present.
Monday, October 26, 2009
2 speccie white houses for your enjoyment today.
Firstly this old 1900's villa in the lovely suburb of Freeman's Bay in Auckland. Brown Day were the architects & Paula McIntosh the Interior Designer. With sweeping harbour views, I don't think this house really needs anything more except to be owned by me!
Love the soaring ceilings & huge skylights here.
Interesting scalloping on the dining chair slip-covers & once again those soaring ceilings add to the wow factor in bucket loads.
And a gorgeous vacation house in Fiji. Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects were responsible for this beauty. I used to take the kids to Fiji with TOH (That Other Husband), haven't been for years, however this house has definitely renewed my interest (in Fiji not TOH!).
Ni sa bula vinaka (wishing you happiness and good health!)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
I've had a love/hate relationship with New Zealand for over 30 years. Although unfairly deserved by them for the most part - I've now forgiven them for past trangressions, mainly for producing an ex-husband & his very 'unusual' family! From my first trip there as an 18 year old backpacker, it has always bowled me over with its beauty & diversity. And I've seen it grow from a sleepy backwater with no confidence in its abilities, to a vibrant, sophisticated country full of a confident self-assurance that makes me positively bubble up with pride & emotion.
One of New Zealand's greatest icons is the Kiwi bach. When I lived there in the late 70's as a very young new bride, they were all a bit of a mystery. Some Friday nights, Husband # 1 used to head off 'Over The Rimutakas' from Wellington to spend the weekend with his uncles in their bach. What they did there I was never quite sure, but it definitely had the Secret Men's Business thing happening. It took me quite some time to 'get' that a bach was the Aussie equivalent of a shack or an American cabin.
Wiki says 'Bach pronounced Batch (or a Crib in the South Island), is the name given in New Zealand to structures akin to small, often very modest holiday homes or beach houses. They are an iconic part of New Zealand history and culture, especially in the middle of the 20th century, where they symbolized the beach holiday lifestyle that was becoming more accessible to the middle class.'
'Bach was originally short for bachelor pad, but actually they often tended to be a family holiday home. Baches started to became very popular in the 1950s, as better roads and more available cars allowed family beach holidays, often to the same beach every year, and hence to the construction of a bach in that spot. One humorous definition of the bach is 'something you built yourself, on land you don't own, out of materials you borrowed or stole.'
This is a current offering of a Kiwi bach - on gorgeous Waiheke Island close to Auckland. It's a beauty & yet unpretentious & welcoming. I hope you agree. I know for sure I'll get some comments from my dear NZ friends - be kind now!!
Images: SVB
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Image RE
As much as I love the national greeting of Kiwiland (aka New Zealand), I think in the case of meeting this amazing villa in person, I'd definitely have to replace Hey Bro with the more refined Ciao Bello!
I'm not sure what the Italian equivalent of a Francophile is, but these folk sure fall into that category. This wonderful property sits on a hill near Waimauku in the Rodney district, just a 35 min. drive from Auckland City. The region was for many years a traditional farming area, however in recent times, the wine industry has taken over & boutique wineries & restaurants abound. For me it's as if a beautiful little piece of Tuscany has been simply lifted up & transplanted into an equally wonderful part of the World.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Front aspect - after
Front aspect - before
New rear entertaining area & deck - after
Rear area - before (showing the challenges with the rear land)
Glass bridge spanning the water feature links the original part of the house to the new addition
The bridge's see-through stairs
Sliding recessed doors open up the entire entertaining area on warm, sunny days
The formal living area in the original part of the house with hallway leading to the front door
Casual living area in the new addition
More sliding doors give the deck unimpeded access during summerImages Trend Ideas
I do love a good before & after story - even though at the moment I feel like I'm living in the & space! Half a lovely house, half a disaster zone! This little timber cottage in Auckland is a beauty, but the architects were faced with quite a dilemma. A very big drop-off half way down the sloping block (or 'siction' if you're a Kiwi !). Left brain creativity ruled & a covered glass bridge complete with see-through stairs linking the original part of the house to the new addition was built. I also love the way this then creates 2 distinct living zones, the bedrooms, bathrooms, formal living areas & study in the front & the kitchen, laundry & entertaining area at the rear.
The ultra gorgeous bridge also spans a water feature, adding more visual beauty to the design. Just a fabulous, relaxed home given a whole new lease of life.
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