Izzy and Jean Co. | Giveaway!

Recently I introduced you to the new NZ online store Izzy and Jean Co. The write up included an interview with the founder Claire Ongley, who kindly shared her background and story of how the store came about. I also gave you a taste of some of the gorgeous products on offer, many of which are handcrafted and sourced from around the world. If you missed that post, take a look here. 

I remember at the time thinking how great it was that the range also included gift ideas for guys as they can be tricky to buy for. With Father's Day fast approaching here in NZ, Izzy and Jean Co. have come to the rescue with some beautifully curated gift boxes for Dad.

You can choose from two boxes (one has two items, the other has three) and you can select which items you'd like to include, from a list of five fab products.

The boxes range in price from $25 through to $180 so there's something to suit every budget. Pop over here to see the full collection, and make sure you get your order in by Monday 26th August to deliver in time for Father's Day! 

Now for the second part of this post, the giveaway! Thanks to Izzy and Jean Co, one lucky reader will win a beautiful Fouta Towel and Klars Classic Soap of their choice. 

To enter, simply click click here and sign up to receive the Izzy and Jean Co. newsletters and tell me you've done so in the comments below, along with your full name. You must also like the Izzy and Jean Co. Facebook page and The Design Chaser Facebook page. For extra entries share to Facebook and Twitter, let me know you've done so in the comments and I will count you twice. The winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced on Monday, 26th August via The Design Chaser blog and Facebook page. 

Note: The competition is open to New Zealand Residents only. Once announced, the winner must contact me within three days, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. 

Good Luck!  

Home Build | Living Room Update

I'm really happy with how the living room is coming together and I've spent a lot of time taking photos over the last couple of days to show you. I'm working really hard to improve my photography, but because I'm a perfectionist and such a 'details' person, I'm finding it a challenge, but certainly a welcome one! It helps that this upstairs area is filled with light. We've had the most gorgeous sunny weather here lately and it's been fun seeing how the light moves around the space during the day. 

So firstly, we got the picture wall up last weekend. I started out by laying them out on the office floor and then once I'd decided on the configuration I cut out the shapes with paper, and used washi tape to stick them on to the wall. Dean then had the hard job of putting them up, and I think he did an amazing job. Probably due to the fact that his life depended on it. Ha - just kidding, but I was very particular about getting the spacing even between the frames. I also had to look ahead to where I would place more pictures down the track. For starters I'd like one more for the left hand-side near the tiger (slightly smaller) and one large one over to the right, in the centre of the picture wall.  

To see where I got several of these beautiful artworks, take a look at my Home Build | Living Room Inspiration post. The X by Jane Denton is a favourite, having interviewed Jane on the blog here. New additions are the Graphic/Alphabet Print by RK Design from The Minimalist and a small print given to me at a Citta Design launch which I placed in a bought frame.

The Tiger, Alphabet and the Circles Print (on the String Shelf further down the page) all came from The Minimalist in Australia so needed to be framed. I asked around and one that was recommended to me by a friend was KS Thompson in Epsom, Auckland. Being specialist framers and fine art dealers that have been around since 1928, I gave them a call, and was really impressed with their experience and knowledge. When I took the prints in I realised that the lady I had been talking to was Sarah from Trees Furniture where I got the dining table trestle legs! I knew I would be in great hands. In fact Sarah is a trained graphic designer who worked at the magazine publisher ACP Media prior to me. They had the narrow frames I wanted which they strengthened due to the large size of the prints. The results are amazing. I couldn't be happier!   

I'm in love with my new Gran Cushion cover from Jamie Kay. We finally put our Stockholm coffee table up from Freedom Furniture, and it's made such a difference to the space. It also gives me another area to style, at least while the kids aren't around! The little grey and black milk bottle vases are recent finds from the online store Good Regards in Mt Maunganui.

I moved the couch away to give you a full view of how the String (from Bob and Friends) looks today. I change the shelves around daily! The white Origami Vase is a another new one from LET LIV.  

Finally, my favourite new additions are the Leather Poufs, also from LET LIV. I couldn't decide between natural or snow so ended up getting both! The colours are perfect and I'm loving the new leather smell. I used old duvet inners to stuff them, and I'm thrilled with the results. Personally I prefer the look of poufs when they are loosely filled, rather than being stuffed tight. 

From another angle, the poufs look gorgeous here with the kitchen/dining area behind. As I'm sure you know by now, the Striped Rug is also from LET LIV, which I move around the house as the mood takes me! I love these rugs so much I've ordered another large one for under the dining table! Speaking of rugs, the large white cowhide was a great find at Lapco Leather. 

Being the fusspot that I am, I wasn't happy with the photos I took of the TV Unit, so I'll show you that another day. Oh, and hopefully the Diamond Lights will have been installed by then. I'm still hunting downs some brass screw fixtures that I want to go on the end. 

Have a lovely weekend and I'll see you back here Monday!

LET LIV | Cotton & Flax Launch & Giveaway!

Since first introducing you to LET LIV last year with this post, the gorgeous NZ online store has become my favourite local haunt for sourcing Scandinavian inspired products. Whether it be for my product moodboards, or my new home, I can't get enough of all that LET LIV has to offer. Continually growing and expanding with new product ranges, the latest arrival has just landed, and I'm super excited to be able to share it with you today.

Cotton & Flax is a beautiful collection of limited edition textile goods, created by LA-based designer Erin Dollar. Hand crafted using natural materials, like quality linen fabrics and water based inks, each step from pattern design through to silkscreen printing is carried out by Erin in her home studio. The result is a stunning range of tea towels, coasters and cushions, all now available exclusively from LET LIV.

Having been on the hunt for new tea towels for a while now, I was so taken with the Scandi-style hand drawn patterns and traditional craftsmanship of these products, that I immediately put in an order. I know you will love them too, which is why I was delighted when LET LIV director Natalie Sorensen very kindly offered a giveaway for one lucky reader!

All you need to do to go in the draw to win a Cotton & Flax Tea Towel and Coaster Set of your choice is pop over to LET LIV, choose two of your favourite products and tell me what they are in the comments below. You must also 'like' both LET LIV and The Design Chaser Facebook pages. For extra entries share to Facebook or Twitter and make sure you tell me in the comments, so that I know to count you twice. Don't forget to include your full name!

The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Thursday 1st of August via The Design Chaser blog and Facebook page. Open to New Zealand residents only. 

Note: Once announced, the winner will need to contact me within three days, otherwise another winner will be selected. 

Good Luck!! 

Update: The winner has now been announced. Congratulations Kelly Van der Heyden!! Thanks to everyone who entered and to LET LIV for their generosity! 

Greece Under The Sun | Citta Design

I'm a Summer girl through and through. Take me to the beach, give me sun, sand and water and I'm in my element. When Winter kicks in it's not long before I'm pining for Summer to return, but even more so when I get a taste of what's around the corner. That's exactly what happened when I attended the recent Citta Design Summer 2013-2014 launch, Greece Under the Sun. Taking inspiration from the country's beautiful surroundings as well as its people, the new collection reflects the sunlit yellows, calm sea blues and easygoing vibes. 

Organic materials and rustic textures of wood, linen, leather, enamel and woven baskets are seen throughout. Vibrant colours, textures and luxe metallics also feature. In fact, as soon as I entered the Citta Design showroom, beautifully decked out with the new products, these gorgeous metallic cowhide rugs gracing the floors immediately grabbed my attention...

The hanging planters were next to catch my eye...

No one does a cushion stack quite like Citta Design! Bright colours, stripes and triangles? Yes please... 

The white dipped baskets are also a favourite...

Look out for the new collection in stores and online late August. I'm not sure I can wait that long. Roll on Summer!

Before I go, I'm thrilled to announce the winner of the Koko Classics Giveaway. Congratulations Jolene Van Wonderen, you have won yourself a stunning reindeer hide. Thanks to all of you who entered, and a huge thanks to Koko Classics for their generosity!

Because we are moving house over the next couple of days and will be without internet access, I'll be back on Wednesday. In the meantime, you can follow me on Instagram where I'll be posting some pics of the move! 

IDH | New Online Magazine

With the house due for completion tomorrow, and our move in date now set for next Tuesday, to say I'm feeling a little overwhelmed is an understatement! Very excited, but there's just so, so much to do between now and then.  

For that reason, today's post is brief, but it's an important one that I've been trying to sneak in since last Friday. You see that's when a fantastic new online magazine from Sydney company In A Designer Home went live. Now one of my sponsors, I first introduced you to Idh with this post. If you missed it, then let me tell you their site is one to bookmark! Firstly they have an amazing online store which stocks a stunning range of design products from Australia and around the world. With new designers and products coming on board all the time, they also have a fantastic blog with inspiring news and interviews. In fact just yesterday I was excited to see they had interviewed architect Nick Travers from Techne in Melbourne, whose work I featured recently with this home. 

A while back Jamee, the founder of Idh contacted me to say they were launching an online magazine and that they'd like to include me in the the first issue. Of course I jumped at the chance, and was so excited to finally see it on Friday. Packed with loads of design goodness including interviews, a travel guide, new products, interior inspiration and more, I'm so honoured to be included, and I'm already looking forward to the next issue! 

Here's a sneak peek...

And for free, you can read it all here. Enjoy! 

Jonathan Adler

Creative genius Jonathan Adler has come a long way since launching his first ceramic collection in 1994 at Barneys New York. He now has over 20 stores worldwide, and over 1,000 stockists globally, with his internationally recognised design brand offering a huge range of home furnishings including decorative objects, tabletop collections, bedding, bath accessories, gifts, candles, furniture, rugs, pillows, lighting, and most recently handbags.

When I think of the signature Adler aesthetic, vibrant colours, clashing patterns, and quirky objects immediately spring to mind. That said, his individual designs are in fact all about simple lines, clean shapes and clear pattern, and being that I'm a lover of pared back minimalist style, that really appeals. Inspired by mid-century modern, art and global culture, it's Jonathan's commitment to impeccable craftsmanship that wins me over every time. A self-described 'minimalist maximalist' he admits to designing objects with minimalism in mind, while believing we should live in spaces that showcase bold gestures, strong colours, all while surrounding ourselves with things we love, regardless of how eclectic that may turn out! Judging by his success and huge following, Jonathan's unique philosophy is clearly one that resonates with many people worldwide. 

Here are my ten picks from across all of the gorgeous Jonathan Adler collections. 

links below images

01 Maxime Dining Chair in Linen & Brass

02 Fox

03 Brasilia Triangles Pillow

04 Large Horn Sculpture

05 Claude Walnut Bar

06 Rio Pendant

07 Cross Throw

08 Black & Brass Rider Tripod Table

09 Whitaker Sofa in Aspen Smoke

10 Grey Arthur Kilim Rug

To find out more, including store locations and information on international shipping, pop over here. Jonathan Adler ceramics are available in NZ from Mondegreen, Wander Harland and Askew. 

I'm also very excited to have discovered that Jonathan Adler has created an exclusive collection of fabrics for Kravet Fabrics, and these have made their way to NZ through Warwick Fabrics. The incredible range features linen and velvet designs with bright colours, modernist forms, bold graphics, geometric patterns and embroidery.  

Now available from Lahood's, who specialise in beautiful window furnishings, you can check them out at www.lahood.co.nz or visit their Auckland showroom located at 25 Nugent St in Mt Eden.

Images courtesy of Lahood Window Furnishings

Koko Classics | Giveaway!

About a year ago I introduced you to one of my now sponsors, Koko Classics, the Auckland based company who specialise in vintage and industrial inspired furniture. Having been a frequent visitor to their retail store in Mt Eden well before I started the blog, I really enjoyed interviewing them and taking photos of their gorgeous shop for that post. Since then, there have been lots of changes, including the opening of a new store in Ponsonby and most recently the launch of their online store. 

With an eclectic mix of furniture and objects sourced from around the world, the range is constantly evolving and expanding. The most recent arrival includes leather occasional chairs, additions to the reclaimed Elm furniture range and exotic hides.  All beautiful, timeless pieces to treasure, here's a small taste...

Links below images


1 Springbok Hide
2 Winchester Occasional Chair
3 Recycled Elm 2-Door Cabinet 
4 Reclaimed Elm Farmhouse Dining Table
5 D'Appoint Side Table
6 Calf Skins
7 Grange Chesterfield 2-Seat Sofa 
8 Recycled Elm Trunk
9 Classic Black Winged Chair

Koko Classics also offer consistently great service and affordable prices. When I last popped in to the Mt Eden store I was as always met with a visual feast of vintage and industrial goodness. Friend and manager Heather eagerly showed me the new arrivals but it was the mention of reindeer hides being on their way that really got my heart racing! Soft and luxurious, I've long admired these beautiful skins from Scandinavia. 

Reindeer hides look amazing both indoors and out, as a floor rug or draped over furniture. Originating from the Sami people - nomadic tribes of Sweden, Norway and Finland, reindeer provide meat, milk and raw materials for clothes and tools. They are still important to the Sami people's culture and existence today, making them an eco-friendly, sustainable product. 

The fur is incredibly soft and each skin has unique markings. Hollow hair makes them perfect for heat efficiency. As far as winter warmers and authentic Scandi-style goes, these reindeer hides are the perfect accessory for your home. The best news is, Koko Classics are giving away a Large Reindeer Hide valued at NZ$595.00 to one lucky reader! 

To enter, pop over to the Koko Classics Website, choose two of your favourite products (other than the Reindeer Hide) from the online store, and name them in the comments below. You must also like the Koko Classics Facebook page and The Design chaser Facebook page. For extra entries share to Facebook and Twitter and let me know you've done so in the comments below so that I know to count you twice.

The winner will be chosen by Random.org on Monday, 8th July and announced on The Design Chaser Blog and Facebook page. Please leave your full name in the comments. Once announced, the winner will need to contact me within three days, otherwise another winner will be selected.

Note: This competition is open to New Zealand residents only. 

To keep up to date with new arrivals, make sure you subscribe to the Koko Classics Blog. For store locations Pop over here.  

Good luck!! 

Images: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10


UPDATE: The competition has now closed. Congratulations to the winner, Jolene Van Wonderen! x

Monday Mix Up | Sidekicks, Stores & More

First up today I have the pleasure of introducing you to the new counter height Sidekick stool by NZ designer Timothy John. Joining the low stool and side table, the taller version is a welcome addition to the Sidekick collection which was recently named as a finalist in the Home NZ Design Awards for 2013. Celebrating NZ's best new furniture and lighting, you can see the full list of finalists and winner in the latest Home magazine. A fabulous edition packed with amazing architecture and inspiring designers, it more than lives up to its title of "The Design Issue", so f you haven't already, make sure you grab yourself a copy.

I'm sure I speak for many when I say I'm completely smitten with the Sidekicks, especially since getting up close and personal to photograph them for this post. As with the low stool and table, the new counter height Sidekick is robust yet light to move around with a solid ash hardwood seat that comes in a clear or black stain. The base which is availabe in black, white, blue and yellow, has three foot rest heights to suit all. For stockists and inquiries pop over here. 

There's more exciting news for Timothy John in that he and his wife Krista, an interior designer are currently setting up a retail outlet and design studio Paper Plane in their hometown of Mount Maunganui. Featuring his own work and that of other designers and artists, I'm in the process of lining up a post and interview for when it launches, so stay tuned! The online store is already up and running and for news and updates on the store, pop over and 'like' the Paper Plane Facebook page.



Some of the gorgeous products available at paperplanestore.com 

Speaking of online stores and creative couples, Jennifer Hagler of A Merry Mishap along with her husband, have just launched Kollektstore.com, an impeccably tasteful edit of items from Scandinavia. Utilising Jennifer's incredible eye and stunning design aesthetic, the couple want to "bridge the gap between Scandinavian companies and American customers". Judging by what's on offer, I'd say that those in the US just got a whole lot luckier.

Beautiful styling shots and a few of my favourite pieces from Kollekt Store

More on Jennifer. US store Need Supply was so inspired by her minimal home styling and photography (aren't we all?) they asked her to style and photograph pieces from their new home goods collection in her own space. That seriously sounds like my dream job! As expected, the results are stunning. 

For more, check out the Need Supply lookbook, and their interview with Jennifer here.