The countdown is on and we couldn’t be more excited that the summer holidays are on the horizon. A break from our usual deadline-driven commitments provides a welcome opportunity to take a load off, catch up with family and friends and reacquaint ourselves with everyday pleasures at home.
For me, summer’s all about indulging in life’s simple luxuries, giving up the nine-to-five routine and slowing the days right down, starting with laid-back breakfasts eaten with the radio on and a stack of magazines to browse – and (ideally) not a phone, iPad or computer in sight. This year, I’m even considering investing in pyjamas that double as daywear, albeit a set that’s appropriate
for dashing out for supplies!
From ways to welcome guests with serene seasonal styling (à la our ‘Three Ways With’ feature on page 38), to tips for good-looking get-togethers that make entertaining easy (the granola recipe on page 45 is my go-to for the prettiest prepare-ahead brunch), this issue we’ve compiled a whole lot of tricks to help make you the host with the most.
“For me, summer’s all about indulging in life’s simple luxuries… I’m even considering investing in pyjamas that double as daywear.”
With the good life top of mind, why not utilise your downtime to gather inspiration for your own home projects for the year ahead? The houses we showcase on the following pages are all imbued with a sense of place and personality that reflects their owners’ lifestyles. Take Finders Keepers – about the home Stacey and Jake Pyne share with their three kids in Mount Maunganui – where ideas abound for how to infuse an architecturally designed new build with character. Find out more about Stacey’s playful approach to mixing high and low on page 70, or step inside our cover home in Auckland’s Mt Eden (Splash Palace, page 84), a bungalow built in 1910 that has been expertly modernised with the addition of a sophisticated self-contained pool house and deep green swimming pool. Let’s just say we regretted not packing our togs when we visited for our cover shoot.
Wherever you’re celebrating and unwinding this summer, our team wishes you all the best. We’ll look forward to returning in the new year, in high spirits
and with more homestyle to share.
Alice Lines, Editor
@lineslikes
