Wharekauhau Ottomans

We've just had two more ottomans made for Wharekauhau, aren't they gorgeous? The fabric is called 'Rosa Alba' by Nina Campbell, and they're topped off with lovely cabriole legs.

Feature Fabric Friday - Design Team

Coming all the way from South Africa today are these fantastic prints by Design Team, a great textile company created by Lisa Butler and Amanda Haupt.

In true South African style they are bright, bold and unbelievably striking when mixed and matched together. We have some of the sampling at esdesign now, so have a look through these images for inspiration and pop by to see it in store!

                                         All images from Design Team

Map It

Maps are hot hot hot right now - and we are certainly guilty of hoarding maps from our round the world travels as reminders of good times and memories - I'm sure you are too! So here are some great ideas on how to get them out of the cupboard and onto display, or used in quirky ways...

                                      House Beautiful

                                      Not On The High Street.

                               We Heart It

                            An Indian Summer

                               The Inspired Room

                               Pinterest

                     Pinterest

                             Shelterrific

Heads Up - Closed Next Week!

Just a little heads up and apologies in advance, but we will be closed all of next week for a spot of major spring autumn cleaning! We have a lot of housekeeping to do and some exciting changes happening in the store. If you need to pop in and drop off sampling or see one of us urgently please knock as we will likely be squirreling away inside, or call the office on 04 939 7899!

Image from The Pleated Poppy!

Eleanor's House - Girls' Bedrooms

After a 2 year search the Steel family found their dream home and moved in last May, and so after almost a year in situ we have now decided to get things moving on the reno front. We are very excitied - well I am! The projects ahead of us will involve every area of the house - from childrens rooms to kitchen and bathrooms.

This is the beginning of what I know will be a long journey - I invite you to join me on this journey and hope that you will get some ideas out of it, even if it is what not to do!.

We are starting downstairs in the girls' rooms, TV room and creating a new bedroom for our son, Jack.

If you know anything about children you will know that generally they are untidy - my solution is to give the girls wardrobes that are the size of small countries. My plan is then to put anything and everything that belongs to them in these large storage units and hope that I can then transit across their rooms (and the rest of the house) without injuring myself.  Here are some images of the wardrobe progress.

My eldest daughter's bedroom post wallpaper stripped - pre tidy!!!

My parents are currently visiting from the UK and are convinced that if we have an earthquake the wardrobe would be the safest place to take cover! I managed to source some old doors for these wardrobes - I will keep you updated on progress.

Over the last few weeks we have had my 18 year old cousin and her friend here from the UK on their Gap Year. Board doesn't come free - they have managed to strip the wallpaper from the bottom floor of the house. In future blogs we will look at decorating these spaces.

Our house has 2 hallways on the bottom floor. The original front door and veranda had become redundant and so we are keen to use it as our main entrance. This left us with a 1.8m x 4.4m space plus an entrance porch - see below...wait and see what we are going to do with it!

 Just moved in - still unpacking...

Wallpaper stripped and ready for the builders. Recycled wardrobe doors for the girls' rooms.

Bye for now!

Victorian Ship Cot

Check out this gorgeous wee Victorian ship cot that is now in the shop! We've made him a brand new mattressed squab out of a sweet ticking stripe, and he's now ready for a new home. Come and take a look!

Wallpaper Wednesday: Black & White Stripes

Black and white striped wallpaper is making a comeback - so versatile, graphic and dramatic - run a broad stripe horizontally in a contemporary setting, or a narrow stripe vertically for a more classic, traditional look.
Check out these examples!

                            Spearmint Baby

   The Style Villa

    Tudorks

                                              Small Space Style

   Apartment Therapy

Custom Made Rug - 'Carnival Stripe'

Check out this fabulous rug that we've had custom made for a lovely client of ours - it's so neat to see something that started out as a conceptual design on our computer screen, turn into a finished product!

Eleanor's House - A Reno Project

Over the next few months we are hoping to start a new feature here at the esdesign blog, following the real time renovation of Eleanor's own home in Oriental Bay. The builders are there this week to start tweaking, and Eleanor is planning to update regularly to take you through the changes that occur, showing you the nitty gritty before shots and the fabulous after shots, as well as everything in between.

Use the button on the right hand side bar to keep updated with the progress!

In the meantime, here's a little teaser of some of the work that's beginning this week...

Mattressed & Buttoned Squab

Here's our latest mattressed and buttoned squab, all finished and ready for it's new home! These take a lot of work, but are certainly worth it, we're so pleased with how it's turned out, and we hope the client is too!

Display It

Got it? Love it? Display it! Here are some creative ideas on just how to do it!

                                      Flickr

    Simply Grove

                                       Wood & Wool Stool

                                    Martha Stewart

   Bridal Guide

                                Design Sponge

                 Emmas Designblogg

Kitchen Stool Revamp

Look at this sweet little kitchen stool that we've just revamped for a client of ours - the rust was cleaned off the chrome frame, the little wooden steps were oiled to look like new again, and we reupholstered the stool top in this sunshine yellow vinyl and topped it off with white piping. Delicious!

Music Monday: The Cults 'Go Outside'

Great beats for your Monday!

And The Winner Is...

Congratulations to the winner of the 2011 esdesign Textile Design Award - Massey University student Bronwyn Ewers!

The design of Bronwyn's print, 'Wobblyknobs', was inspired by a careful study of the Presbytarian Church on Adelaide Rd in Newtown - in particular the lovely small details on the building facade.

As the winner of the prize, esdesign has made Bronwyn's 3 metre drop of fabric into 8 limited edition cushions, which as of today are available in store, pop in and take a look!

You can also check out last years' winner here.

                                        Small snippet from the Dominion Post Sunday Magazine