1950's Group Architect House, Auckland

We followed a link on Facebook today to this fabulous mid-century home in Meadowbank, Auckland. It's going to auction on May 27th so get your cheque books out people!

Designed in the early 1950's by Group Architect Bill Wilson, this home has been tastefully updated over time in a sympathetic way, still embracing many of its iconic, original feautures and is presented with a lovely overall mid-century feel.

It would be worth just popping along to the open homes to have a closer look!

A Little Light Reading - 'Beyond the State'

I was lucky enough to receive this book in my Christmas stocking at the end of last year - 'Beyond the State' by Bill McKay and Andrea Stevens. For those of you with a soft spot for the iconic NZ state house, this book is well worth getting your paws on; a great mix of history, inspiration and case studies showcasing the different ways kiwis have chosen to adapt to, alter, and embrace their state homes.

'...New Zealand's distinctive state houses from the 1930s and '40s are an enduring symbol of this country's egalitarian values. Modest houses, they were built from quality materials and with an emphasis on family and community. More than seventy-five years since the first state houses appeared, they are enjoying a renaissance as new generations of homeowners find ways to adapt their sturdy form for a more contemporary way of living. Beyond the State pays tribute to the New Zealand state house – and explores what it still offers us today....'

Pump House by Branch Studio Architects

It's currently school holidays for many of us kiwis, and this simple, stripped back and relocatable retreat has us dreaming of quieter, less cluttered moments.

The team at Branch Studio Architects in Victoria, Australia originally designed the lakeside getaway to store various pieces of farmland equipment, but the brief morphed over time to become a slightly more extravagant spot for resting, relaxing and watching the world go by, as opposed to a purely functional storage shed!

Such a lovely, subtle use of materials to evoke just the right amount of warmth and character in this idyllic lakeside spot. Follow the link for many more photos and details on the design.

All images via

Quirky Architectural Design - Ibiza

We have fallen in love with the quirky interior and exterior of this beautiful getaway in Ibiza, if only we were soaking up some rays there right now!!

With spectacular views of Ibiza’s west coast, Villa Terramar is a vacation home like no other. The ultra-modern, two-building residence is split over several floor-like layers and sits within the natural habitat that surrounds it over the beach of Cala Tarida. With a quirky and super fun color palette, the villa was designed, by Andres Jaque Architects.

Desert Breath - Art Installation in the Sahara Desert

Nature is amazing, and here is an art installation to prove it! There's nothing like digging 

and sculpting in the sand, but this is taking it to the extreme...

'Desert Breath' is located near the Red Sea in El Gouna, Egypt. It is an impossibly immense land art installation dug into the sands of the Sahara desert by the D.A.S.T. Art Team back in 1997. The artwork was a collaborative effort spanning two years between installation artist Danae Stratou, industrial designer Alexandra Stratou, and architect Stella Constantinides, covering an area of about 1 million square feet. Wowee!

The Home of Orla Kiely

Over the last year, well known pattern designer Orla Kiely has moved into a new home in Southwest London - have a sneak peek!

So often we see Orla's wallpapers and cushions through saturating marketing campaigns where they are layered up for maximum impact which can be quite overwhelming - isn't it interesting how effective her designs can be when used in small bursts only? A much more realistic interpretation!

Our favourite aspects of her new house? The superb mid century inspired kitchen, the light fitting in the living area, and the pop of murky yellow paint at the window seat surround contrasting with the crisp white of the stairwell. So simple, so clever.

Remember, her wallpapers are all available for order through us!

All images via

A Simple Shoal Bay Bach

The warmer weather is creeping ever closer and there's a feeling of the festive holiday season in the air already. I hope you all have some time off planned over the next couple of months - nothing better then kicking back and getting back to basics.

This bach in Shoal Bay, NZ is a great example of just that. Parsonson Architects have created a warm and inviting, yet unpretentious rural getaway for their client - a great balance of comfort and functionality - there is no fear of tracking sand through this house. We like that idea!

                              Images and article via

Studio For An Artist - Napier, NZ

A neat little studio for an artist to work from - perched on a hill in beautiful Napier, New Zealand - designed by Ashley Cox Architect.

                             All found via Leibal Blog

Sustainable Sled Beach Retreat - Whangapoua, NZ

Perched on a beach in the Coromandel is this neat little beach retreat. Built on sleds and designed to be moved  up and down the beach or onto a barge, this little hut is raw and simple in design with great industrial features and opening window hatches to the world around. Designed by Crossan Clarke Canarchan Architects it is considered a sustainable structure, from the use of timber in the cladding, lining and joinery through to the portable grey water tanks.

Found via 1 Kind Design.