Our People

After Lyme disease unravelled the life she’d built in Bali and Ibiza, Nadja van Osch returned to her husband’s home on the remote Chatham Islands to do the one thing she’d never let herself do – stop.

Moira Te Whata, Head Designer at Untouched World, takes us behind the scenes to explore the collaborative artistry of their new print, where natural dyes and botanical inspiration intertwine to capture the living rhythm of nature.

In an era defined by the frantic pace of digital saturation, artist Julie Battisti is making a quiet, deliberate stand. From her Ōtepoti Dunedin studio, Julie creates large-scale oil paintings that demand – and reward – patient observation.

There’s a resurgence underway in one of the gentlest crafts there is, and it begins with a book you already own. From her Wellington studio, Carolyn Austin of Forever Floral Press, turns bridal bouquets, memorial flowers and garden cuttings into artworks built to outlast the occasions that made them by decades.

Photographing people in their places has always been Isabella Harrex’s thing. Her passion for capturing the true joy of tamariki at Tautuku in The Catlin’s is having ripple effects.

From a childhood spent in a house bus to a corporate career in finance, Wānaka interior designer Kate Evans has taken a winding road to her true calling. Now, she’s bringing a focus on liveability, nature-inspired design and community spirit to Central Otago.

For Gosia Piątek, the founder of the iconic label Kowtow, life is a delicate and intentional balance between the domestic hum of London and the creative, salt-aired energy of Te Whanganui-a-tara, Wellington.

On a Taranaki hilltop, Lars and Christina Binsbergen have hand-crafted a life defined by deliberate artistry, Swiss precision and a resilient spirit that transforms timber into beauty.

Returning to Aotearoa after three decades, Ruebena Paraha, in her 70s, traded a career in interior design for a paintbrush. Crafting intricate, celestial narratives that bridge her global travels with the deep spiritual traditions of her ancestors.

Move over minimalism, wine-dark palettes are reclaiming the home with saturated hues offering a sensory sanctuary. Discover why deep tones are the ultimate tool for personal expression and mood-led interior design.

Often brilliance is driven by a touch of madness and Central Otago is renowned for mad pioneers that forged paths into unfamiliar territory to achieve beautiful outcomes. Ryan Sanders and Marco Creemers have embodied this pioneering spirit with their grand renovation of Earnscleugh Castle.

Built between calving sheds, kindy runs and nap times, Sarah and Will Kirkland have created a skincare brand grounded in A2 colostrum, science and the realities of family life.

Where Life & Design Intertwine

Miranda Osborne’s life and work are deeply inter-connected. There is no sharp line between home, family and business; instead, they flow into one another, shaped by care, creativity and connection.

For Sarah Dickie, a mindset and wellbeing coach based in Bannockburn, Central Otago, her best seat is often found in the hills that surround her.

Raised among heritage seeds, with a deep respect for the land, Amber Rose believes the future of health lies in remembering what we’ve forgotten – how to grow, cook and eat.

Small-scale flower farms are growing in numbers across the country – and for good reason. We head inside the world of cut flower farming in the sun-drenched Upper Clutha Basin.

For speech therapist Renee Taylor, food is more than fuel; it is culture, memory and dignity. After leaving the public health system to reconnect with her heritage, she discovered that the ocean’s calm offered the ultimate cure for a weary soul.

Take a moment to slow down and unwind with this easy textured canvas art project. Perfect as a solo creative reset, a relaxed date night, or a girls’ night in, it’s all about playing with texture, pattern, and depth to create something uniquely yours.

Add a little magic to a kid’s room with this DIY magnetic wall.

From Disconnection to Divine

A whirlwind of passion, enthusiasm and deep-seated compassion, Amy Shaw is a powerhouse of a business leader, creative director and healer – beautifully balancing logic with spiritual connection.

Settle Back & Swivel

Mark Lewis is no stranger to enduring design, with his furniture business preparing to celebrate 80 years in 2026. While his brand new showroom bursts with creative seating solutions, his favourite swivel chair takes pride of place.

Bright & Breezy

This summer we are all about blurring the lines between inside and out. Think texture, pattern and timeless shades to make dining, relaxing and entertaining al fresco just as easy and stylish as it is inside. Pip Goldsbury explains.

Magic in the Mundane

Nature’s greatest splendours and the grandest of objects are not all that attract this artist’s eye. It is likely to be a ray of light catching a water glass and refracting onto the kitchen bench that sparks her excitement.

At the Edge of the World

Nestled above the sandy sweep of St Clair beach in Dunedin, Derek and Rachael Morrison, have built a life as vivid and windswept as the waves they love.

All Shook Up

When Elvis Presley stepped out of his blue suede shoes and left the building for good in 1977, the world mourned. The undisputed King of Rock n Roll was dead at just 42 years old. An icon and a legend, his passing is still mourned. However, in the unlikeliest of places, a surprise awaits – a private museum of international proportions dedicated to the King himself.

Meet your Brain

Joy is so much more than a moment of pleasure; it’s a practice that rewires your brain for greater ease, connection and wellbeing. In her new book, Jen Sievers shares an insight into how to grasp onto it to ensure you are living a colourful, juicy life.

Rooted in craft and guided by conscience, fashion designer Biddie Cooksley unashamedly celebrates modern femininity in her designs. From her family’s legacy in garment-making to her thoughtful approach to sustainable production, she’s proving that style and substance can live beautifully side by side.

Visually rich and thoughtfully edited, New Zealand Rustic showcases a collection of homes designed to harmonise with the landscape, evoking a sense of place and belonging. Presented through a distinctly New Zealand perspective, the book highlights sustainable building practices, featuring locally sourced materials as well as recycled, upcycled, and repurposed resources.

As the days lengthen and we welcome the warmth of spring, it’s the perfect time to get our creative wheels whirring with the season of fresh starts! Pip Goldsbury offers some inspiration.

Melanie McKenzie challenges traditional visual perception, inviting viewers to see the world through a softer, more ethereal lens. While her hard wire stool might be a juxtaposition to that, even her best seat is an example of the different ways in which softness can be experienced. 

From sewing Barbie doll clothes as an eight-year-old, to producing award-winning World of WearableArt entries as an adult, creativity is in Leanne Day’s genes. Her far north home is the embodiment of her love for craft, colour and clever design.

A chance to build a contemporary house on a ‘cliffhanger’ site with extraordinary views also proved to be an exciting and enjoyable building experience for Bruce and Annette Cave of Whanganui.

Blenheim siblings Wendy and Ross Palmer have restored a cottage garden into a woodland wonderland, with a goal to delight and immerse visitors within the beauty of nature. Eliza’s Garden Cottage will be showcased at the Garden Marlborough Festival for the first time this spring.

Keep your favourite magazines organised and within easy reach with this stylish, X-shaped magazine stand. This simple project requires just a few straightforward cuts and no nails or screws, making it a perfect weekend DIY that’s quick, easy and rewarding!