The Art Issue: our new cover

Our new cover, which we're rather pleased with, features a photo by Nicole Bachmann of the London home of New Zealand sculptor Francis Upritchard and her husband, furniture designer Martino Gamper. It's on newsstands from Monday February 4. We think it's pretty good, and we hope you like it too. 

Inside the magazine is a visual feast, featuring homes and studios of artists and collectors including Tony de Lautour, Rohan Wealleans, Fiona Pardington, Bill Sutton, Dick Frizzell, Anthony Goicolea, Emily Wolfe, and more. We cover a lot of ground, from Christchurch to Hawke's Bay, London and Auckland - all of it in the service of inspiring you, our readers, of course.

Puddle Skipping

 Isabel Marant Spring 2013 & Stella McCartney Spring 2013

In Spanish "Cropped Pants", they fall above the ankles, are called Puddle Skipping.  Funny name ha?  The pants themselves are also pretty funny-looking.  One of the best qualities of cropped pants is how young and fresh they look compared to regular long pants and how much slimmer they can help us look especially when worn as a one-color suit.  

Chloe Spring 2013 & Rachel Roy Spring 2013

Cathleen McGuigan visits New Zealand

We're delighted to announce that this year's Home of the Year lectures will be given by Cathleen McGuigan, the New York-based editor in chief of Architectural Record magazine, the most important architecture magazine in the US. 

 

Cathleen is giving talks in Auckland (on February 19) and Christchurch (on February 21) on the topic of New American Urbanism - how architects are rejuvenating US cities, and what New Zealand can learn from them. 

Cathleen will be in conversation with HOME editor Jeremy Hansen, and will show a number of ingenious urban developments from a range of US cities. Please come along, as it's going to be a great and stimulating talk. 

Cathleen is visiting as the international member of our Home of the Year 2013 jury. We're very grateful to our Home of the Year partner, Altherm Window Systems, for making Cathleen's visit possible. 


The details:

Auckland 6.30pm, Tuesday February 19
Auditorium, Auckland Museum

Christchurch 6.30pm, Thursday February 21
Lecture Theatre C2, University of Canterbury

Tickets are $20 ($15 for subscribers and students). You can buy them at the link here. Numbers are limited, so get in quick.

Please contact us at 09 308 2739 or homenewzealand@bauermedia.co.nz if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you at one of Cathleen's talks.

Wearing that room: Home office

I've been having so much fun organizing my home, we just got our furniture after 4 long months of waiting for the shipment, and since I love fashion so much I've been baptizing each room with a fashion designer's name.  Here is a list of one of the coolest-looking home offices I've seen lately (and not so lately) and here are the designers who I would pair them with.  Enjoy and have a happy mid-week!

Home office images from Elle Decor.  From top to bottom Balmain, Balenciaga, Stella McCartney and Jil Sander.

Top 5 Tips for Renovating an Old House

Each time my wife and I finish renovating a home, I tell myself that I will never fix up an older home again.  And yet, I find myself in the midst of yet another time consuming, budget sucking makeover that is sure to last well into the next decade.  Each time we finish a house, we suddenly get bored and romanticize about the next project around the corner.  I fully understand the appeal of wanting to buy something unloved and turn it your own masterpiece.  The reality however, is that most people are not really good at managing a project like this and jump into it with both eyes closed.  To that end, I've put together my Top 5 tips for those about to leap. Having done this dozens of times for myself as well as clients, I can honestly say that these are the best lessons to learn:

1- Don't do any work immediately unless you have to.

I understand your old home may need a new roof or a heating system or something else really important.  However I have seen too many homeowners take down walls or rip out kitchens well before they should have.  I always advise people to live in the home for 6 months before doing anything major.  Experience how the sun moves through your home.  Figure out where the cold leaks in or where you may need to change doors.  This kind of exercise will not only save you money in the long run, but allow you to make more informed decisions about what changes are necessary.

Before

After








This kitchen didn't require a full gut as originally planned.




2- Don't start work without a REAL budget.

Most homeowners have no idea how much things really cost.  The internet is full of bad information on how to 'do it yourself' and save thousands.  I once had a client who spent over $1000 on tile that he installed himself and wondered why the tiles were all popping off of the floor.  Products like tile have associated components (underlayments, grouts, sealers) that go well beyond the cost of just the tile itself.  He ended up having to rip all the tile out and start over.  There is also no substitute for qualified labor, which is not cheap.  I would suggest getting bids from a qualified contractor for anything you want to tackle.  Even if you don't use them, it's good to get a reality check before starting any project.  You can also hire an Architect to give you some ideas and estimates based on their recent projects.

3- Use the internet as a tool, not as a school.

Websites like Houzz and Youtube give people lots of inspiration and advice on how to create the home of their dreams.  There is nothing wrong with using Pinterest or Houzz to save boards full of ideas you can take and make your own.  Be careful though when it comes to implementing those ideas.  Just as colors look different on different screens, you must be familiar with the existing conditions and the nuances of different environments.   People who have installed wood floors in humid climates often find that the floors don't stay down for long.  Professionals understand these things and videos are no substitute for hands on experience.

4- Understand your goals.

Are you renovating a starter home that you plan to sell in five years?  Do you plan on never moving and raising a family here?  Make a list of the top priorities you have for the renovation and then determine if those make sense with your goals.  It may be cool to turn your garage into a great home theater  but your future buyers may not think so.  

5- Be honest with yourself as to how much you can do.  

There is nothing more frustrating than living in a renovation that never ends.  It places a great strain on a relationship as well as makes it difficult to move on with your life.  If you have a realistic budget in place, plan to get some help with the tougher stuff that might take you alot of time.  You might be able to lay a wood floor in a weekend, but tiling a bathroom could possibly take you a month of weekends or more.  If you follow steps 1-4, this one should be pretty easy to figure out.

In closing, remember that your home is your castle.  Fixing it up may be alot of work, but the rewards can also be great.  If you take your time and do it right, you are more likely to protect your investment as opposed to becoming a cautionary tale. Good Luck!

Pyramid Mania

Since I posted that beautiful family room with studded paneling walls yesterday I realized that even though not everybody is keen to be bold and panel their walls with pyramids, many still like to add small touches of it to their lives.  Studded fashion is far from ending, you know!  Fendi Spring 2013 collection let that known very clear.  We'll be seeing more of it in the coming year.  If you are willing to get on the wagon, here is a list for you.  enjoy!  Valentino Flap bag, stud hip, Iphone case, pyramid statement necklace, Valentino pyramid sunglasses, pyramid leather cuff,  Rockstud leather gloves, Fendi Spring 2013 shoe collection. 

Above, Fendi Spring 2013 shoe collection.  I'm so waiting for these babies to go on sale like an Apple fan waiting for the next new gadget. Yes, I want my feet to look like a Crocodile with scales. 

The eye has to travel

Diana Vreeland said "The eye has to travel." Either we take these wise words literally and start traveling the world appreciating the different cultures and architecture or we decide to take her advice in a more comfortable yet intellectual way and start reading and searching in whatever it is we are interested in, we should all be prepared for something Diana did not warn us.  Disappointment and board.  You see I have discovered that I love to shop.  Who can't live without shopping?  If not for pleasure then for the need of replacing something, but there is always something to buy.  But, I get bored to death when I go into a store and all I find is the same things.  When I look at the racks and all I see are the same shapes I've seen all my life.  Nothing stands out in form, shape or fabric!   The thing is that I don't have thousands of Dollards to spend on a Lanvin top or on a Balenciaga revolutionary piece of clothing.  So I'm left with what I can afford like the rest of the world.  Living here in SP doesn't make things any easier, we don't have Marshall's, Century 21 or famous warehouse sales.  We can't even shop online internationally unless you are willing to spend the same amount twice for shipping.  I'm not kidding!   So I've been asking myself, is it really that hard to make a sleeve a bit more puffy, grander?  Is it really that hard to add some geometry to a uninteresting piece of garment.  Since I don't know anything about fashion patterns I couldn't answer myself until I saw this house designed by Kelly Wearstler and then I thought is it easy to pull this off?  Not quite! It takes years of experience and knowledge to be able to trust your mind that everything you are putting on paper and in your thoughts is going to work successfully on practice.  I know many people would not like this style but this home to me looks a lot like the clothes I would like to wear.  It's a perfection in modernism and geometry.  Every piece of furniture is sculptural yet they look livable and comfortable.  It's a home that for sure no one else would have.  So, is it easy to be successfully innovative, no it isn't!  Enjoy!

I adore the ceiling fixtures Kelly used throughout the house.  The floors, some painted others inlaid, are amazing. 

In love with this bathroom. 

In the living room, there is a harmonious color palette.

This is my favorite room.  The pyramid-paneled walls are to die for and this is what I meant when I said that all the furniture are very sculptural but they all look very comfortable.

The fabric that Kelly chose for the Paul Evans chairs make them look as if they were meant to be together. 

Oh... and what girl wouldn't want this as her office.  I'll take it!

The kitchen floor is beautiful and there is so much modern symmetry in this room it's ridiculous.  Again comfort!

Can you believe this is a pool pavilion?  I can have this entire assemblage in my living room right now.

Everything I love in here, especially the ceiling.

This daughter's bedroom is another eye catching with that amazing wall treatment.  Wallpaper?

I know that there is no other tone that makes people look prettier than gold.  So this dressing room got me sold!

Perfect geometry again. 

All images via Architectural Digest.

Friday eye candy: Chic Arm Party

Above, my own arm candy.

“Costume jewelry is not made to give women an aura of wealth, but to make them beautiful” Coco Chanel

Images from top by me, Tumblr Arm Party, Snapette, Pinterest Jewelzzz and Fabsugar

How to get rid of black head and enlarged pores.

As much as we hate when men on the streets go fooii..fooiiio... or complement on our looks, let's face it, once we are past our thirties and we start to see that rarely happening then we start wondering... uhm!  Everybody wants to look their best and every woman wants to look younger than their age.  I started using anti aging serum about a year ago and I've used many different ones from Oil of Olay to the ridiculously expensive ones like Skinmedica anti aging serum.  Even though I have a pretty nice skin I have combination skin which means that I've been dealing with blackheads and enlarged pores, mostly on my nose for most of my adult life and if your skin is like mine and you use serum plus anti aging night cream then you know that it'll only get worse!  I have found a very simple and common sense solution to cure this problem for once and for all while at the same time I use my creams more smartly.   I simply don't use cream on my nose, not at nights not during the day (listen, your nose will not get wrinkly anyway).  The only product I use on my entire face is sunblock.  I've been implementing this for the past six months and my skin is as clean as a baby's.  I've noticed that my creams last longer now since I end up using less.  I also put my night creams on early, if I'm not going out at night, so they'll work for a longer time. 

For night I use.
Givenchy VAX'IN serum and it's not bad, but I'm really looking forward to start using Vichy LiftActiv Serum 10 of which I've heard wonders.
On top I use Shiseido Bio-Performance super restoring cream for the night.  It's a bit more oily than I like.  I prefer SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream which is smoother and the skin absorbs it much more quickly.
I have an obsession with my eye area.  I think that's where age shows the most.  My eye area is hyper sensitive so I wasn't able to use retinol products until I tried RoC Retinol correction SENSITIVE eye cream and it's the one that I like the most so far. 
I use Kiehl's Midnight recovery concentrate for my neck and decollate.  I also use it on my hands before bed and I love how soft and better my hands look.  

For the day.
I apply a bit of Givenchy VAX'IN serum only where I really need it.  (forehead and eye area)
SkinMedica Redness Relief CalmPlex.
And Shiseido Sun Protection Lotion 50+ face and body.  I love the liquid consistency of this.

9 Fashion Pieces you need in you wardrobe now

Here is a small list of must-have fashion pieces I put together for the fashionable girls who like to be au courant with fashion trends.  I tend to add one or two trendy pieces to my wardrobe once in a while just to keep me from being boring or predictable.  Not that it works all the time but, I don't mind learning from my mistakes - and trust me it happens often!  In no special order, A bomber jacket,  a statement sweater, a pair of masculine loafers, a lace up or military boots, fancy pants, a small shoulder bag,  funky sun glasses, statement necklace and continuing with the baseball theme a baseball cap.  Enjoy!

How to create The Best Gallery Walls

I'm especially exited today because after four long living-with-rental-furniture-months we are finally getting our stuff tomorrow.  It's play time! I have a pretty clear idea of where things are going to go, but boy can't that change? One thing that I'm certain though is the gallery walls I want to create around the house.  I'm a big fan of picture cluster walls and I've realized that when there is a lot of different ways to create them and/or to display them, each produces a different background.  From a complete harmonious and balanced display, to careless and Bohemian one to a more eclectic grouping.  Each and everyone translates the personal lifestyle of their owners, as it should be.

For creating a harmonious and balanced gallery wall is good to keep things simple and hang each picture at a same distance vertically and horizontally speaking.  One thing to keep in mind is to keep all frames and matting in the same color. 

I posted this kitchen designed by Pablo Paniagua (above) more than three months ago.  The entire house is worth to see but I love the art in this kitchen

 

This photographs hanging from a metal cord is a great idea to keep your walls undamaged.

For a more careless bohemian look, using old frames and not being a perfectionist freak (aka every picture perfectly straight) would do. 

And last but not least is the Eclectic gallery wall.  While using different frames and probably matting as well, it's always a good idea to keep a somewhat similar distance between them as well.  Enjoy! 

images from AD, House Beautiful, Elle Decor and Babble

Friday eye candy: Chic color outfits and rooms

According to Valentino, Style "is to have class and courage" and if the master says it I totally agree.  There is no finding of your own style unless you have courage to try different things while having an open mind.  Ultimately class has everything to do with taking care of yourself and getting to know yourself in every level.  Have a very courageous weekend!

Balenciaga

Images via Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Elle Decor