This month's homes and gardens signal a change of pace

From the team at NZ House & Garden [NZ House & Garden] [NZ House & Garden - From the Editor]( Hi {NAME}, This weekend I attended my first pottery class. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for some time having seen how much joy it brought my mum, Eileen. I signed up to local classes that are actually taught by this issue’s Style Insider Humphrey Tait, whose own Auckland home is filled with his creations. To learn how to produce pieces as beautiful as Humphrey’s is years in the making and I love that his tiny apartment has been redesigned to showcase his work. Check it out in our March issue, on sale today. The magazine features a number of smart creatives who have focused their talents on their homes with terrific results. Auckland architect Thao Nguyen designed her family’s two-level, five-bedroom Pt Chevalier house on an “overgrown part of the section with a rickety old garage and carport”. She says a lot of people said “there was no way” it was big enough for a family home and it certainly took some nutting out but considered planning has meant it works well for their lifestyle. Similarly, when Jude Lydia renovated she focused on ensuring her Whanganui house had loads of personality while remaining true to its mid-century origins. She wanted to keep aspects of the era while also making it more liveable and suited to all the art and objects collected during her many trips overseas. You can visit Jude’s home as part of the NZ House & Garden Tours on March 15-16 in Whanganui. For more information see [nzhouseandgardentours.co.nz](. The subject of our Special Feature this month is furniture, and we found that unusual and design-led pieces are filling our homes this season. We’ve produced a buyer’s guide for those in the market for sofas, dining tables and chairs, along with storage ideas. Well worth a read. [Naomi Larkin] Naomi Larkin Editor [Naomi Larkin] Naomi Larkin Editor     In our March issue   New life for grand Napier villa After six children and two decades, an expansive Hawke's Bay home has had a much-deserved refresh. Its owners lived in the five-bedroom villa, on Napier's Bluff Hill, for some time before embarking on their renovation, which has ensured the home is now future-proofed for their ever-expanding family. It's the Home of the Month in our March issue, on sale now. Finding happiness in Whanganui A well-travelled woman has found much joy in the hands-on renovation of her mid-century home in Whanganui. It was in a poor state of repair when she bought it and it took a lot of work to get the house looking this good. The era of the home has dictated many of the decor decisions such as the use of retro fabrics and wallpapers and keeping the original light fittings.     Open season at a modern home in Christchurch This Merivale property can expand or contract depending on the weather or occasion. Built to the owners' specific requests – single storey, a pool and extra garage space, a garden – the architects coined the name The Big Little House thanks to how big it feels, as a result of many clever design features. See it in our March issue, in stores now.   Sponsored content Sculptural lighting design Made in Italy, the Isol Pendant Lamp is the result of high-precision work and technological advancement. The patented Snowsound Fiber textile lends the lamp outstanding sound-absorbing qualities and acoustic performance. Part-sculpture and part-light source, it can be used in myriad combinations as an aesthetic way of bringing acoustic properties into a space. [Shop now](   Sponsored content Pavilion living at its finest – step inside this exquisite home Nic and Hannah built their timeless four-bedroom home with two wings and cathedral ceilings. [Find out more](   Next-in-line in North Canterbury An enterprising couple have built on the work of previous generations at their farm above the Waipara Gorge. The bones of the garden are well established and its structure has been retained, though some parts of it have been revived and more light let in. The property is also home to many farmyard animals including a pair of kunekune pigs.   Sponsored content FREE making on custom-made ILIV curtains Beautiful interiors have never been easier with Harvey Furnishings' bespoke range of textiles from ILIV – trend-led interior fabrics for every space in your home, with collections ranging from traditional English florals to contemporary and eclectic designs. Choose fabrics for your custom curtains and let one of the experienced design consultants help transform your home. Book your free in-home consultation today. [Book now](   Special Feature: Furniture Eye-catching and forward-looking furniture is filling our homes in 2024. In this month's Special Feature we look at the latest trends in sofas, dining tables and chairs and storage pieces for your living spaces. Auckland home fit for purpose An architect designed her Pt Chevalier home to make the most of every square millimetre. First and foremost the five-bedroom house is a practical, smart home that simplifies and improves family life.   [Visit our website]( [Buy now]( You are receiving this email because you are opted in to receive the NZ House & Garden newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Terms and Conditions]( | [Privacy Policy]( © Copyright 2023 NZ House & Garden, a division of Stuff Limited (Magazines). Stuff, 4 Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, Auckland 1021, New Zealand [Instagram](