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Simply divine, darling!
Simply divine, darling! Indulging your fantasies is important to your mental health. I’m not specifically referring to those fantasies that include nursy uniforms and instruments of pleasurable pain; although don’t let me stop you going down that route if it works for you. No, what I’m referring to is the fantasy where a previously unknown wealthy relative (let’s call her Aunty Maude) departs this mortal coil leaving you with a cash cheque for $10,000 and the specific instruction to spend it all on one divinely gorgeous piece of furniture to sit on or in and reflect on how lovely it would have been to know the old dear. Perhaps this particular fantasy hasn’t occurred to you yet, but let’s indulge it anyway. So where do you start? Curl up in a Koru http://www.cruikshank.co.nz/collection/13/Koru-Chair.html My personal favourite is Cruikshank’s delectable Koru Chair. I can almost feel myself curled up in it with a good book and a nice glass of Pinot Gris. Inspired by the alpine environment of the New Zealand Southern Alps and created by a team of furniture makers hailing from the UK, this chair really does envelope the user with its gentle koru shaped curl. The outer shell is covered in New Zealand leather while the inside surfaces and seat cushion are wrapped in Possum fur. Given the horrendous impact possums have on our natural environment here in New Zealand, you can feel ethically comfortable too if you were to purchase this chair. The range of black, silver or brown ensures it’s perfect for the naturally eclectic interiors that are so in vogue. But to my mind a chair like this is a family heirloom waiting for a home. Get funky with a classic Italian http://www.kovacs.co.nz/IM_Custom/ContentStore/Assets/5/22//0_File/15931229bf8890f21d85ca1461333c75/amalfi.pdf Not everyone is a fan of the ultra-minimalist or endless clean lines. Some prefer something a little more classical and ornate but still with a modern twist. For this Christchurch furniture design company Kovacs has introduced the Amalfi range. The design templates are straight out of Italy but assembled here in New Zealand. Taking the approach of mixing old with new, the Amalfi range of classic chairs and footstools can be upholstered and trimmed in the funky fabric of your choice. OK so you might need to buy more than one chair to use your budget up, but I’m sure the late rich Aunty Maude will understand. Rest easy on a raft http://www.davidtrubridge.com/raft-series/ Almost more of a sculpture than a humble item of furniture, David Trubridge’s raft pieces are perfect for the more minimalist modern home. There is a timeless elegance about these pieces with the smooth clean lines of bent oak, elm and ash working together to create a sense of weightlessness not usually found in furniture. Nowhere is his training in naval architecture more evident than in the raft series of bench seats which reference the internal framework of wooden boats as the external structure. Trubridge has a deep seated commitment to the environment meaning each piece is designed and manufactured using sustainably managed plantation wood, natural organic oils and 70% hydro electric power. Beautiful and ethical too! Explore your Transylvanian anima www.valentindesign.com Now I’m assuming in this fantasy that Aunty Maude wasn’t specific about whether the furniture should be for inside or outdoors. And even if she was, Valentin Tinc’s Anima range would be just fine for either but you’d need just the right spot for these spectacularly fluid fibre glass pieces. Hailing from Transylvania Tinc arrived in New Zealand in 2000 and is now married to artist Christina Popovici. According to Tinc the Anima range pieces “have an inspiring and provocative organic/asymmetric shape and a strong retro look that integrates excellent with current trends”. So if you’re into the contemporary look, and have the space, an Anima Chaise could be just what you need. And if there’s still room in the budget, Popovici has been known to decorate the pieces with her own work to create a totally unique, one-off furniture artwork. Priceless! Poolside poise with an outdoor outlaw http://www.philippe-starck.com/ Philippe Starck is known throughout the world as an almost unsurpassed innovator and designer of everything from furniture to clothes, cars and even food. And if you’re looking for a piece of furniture that should hold its value forever, you simply can’t go past Starck’s work. Ever one for irreverence and humour, 2008 saw Starck pair up with furniture maker David Sutherland to create the Robinwood Deluxe Collection. The result is a collection that features beds, chairs, tables and sun-loungers that epitomise the characters from the legend of Robinhood. Classic, yet modern, using exquisite timber with gleaming polished aluminium trim, Starck has in his inimitable way, taken aim at a classic and reworked it into a uniquely attractive, clever and urbane collection of outdoor furniture. Get down with some ethnic retro http://www.planetfurniture.co.nz/ Auckland’s Planet Furniture has been distributing this exclusive natural fibre furniture in New Zealand for the last three years. Each piece is handmade using eco-friendly products found in the tropics. Take your pick from seating influenced by leaves, nests, ravines and shells. There’s even a pod for “hiding out” if a bit of minor sensory deprivation is what you’re after. There’s a natural retro feel to this furniture; it would look equally at home back in the 70’s. And yet, with today’s focus on naturally inspired homes, Planet Furniture seating with its swirling forms of vines and rattan would make an outstanding feature in any home or office. There’s even a touch of Kiwiana with a kiwi inspired chair. Aunty Maude would be impressed! Armed with these few as inspiration you should now be well on your way to a spectacular furniture purchase. After all it’s your duty to fulfil Aunty Maude’s dying wish…………you wish! 
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