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Variety is the spice of life – first look at the chic inner-city apartment of Debra Hope, which overlooks the Viaduct Basin in Auckland (page 26), and then admire the 1970s glam exuberance of Murray Chick and Alan O’Donoghue’s brick and tile home near Whangarei (page 48). Where Debra’s home is cool and collected in its calm black and white palette, Murray and Alan’s home rocks feverishly on its patterned Axminster toes.
We are very excited about the NZ House & Garden Tours for the Cancer Society and Look Good Feel Better during March. This is an opportunity for you to visit wonderful homes with many different styles of decor at four locations around the country (click here for details). From our point of view, it is a valuable chance to meet some of you, our treasured readers. Accompanied by as many of my team as can be absent from the office at once, I am looking forward to attending the tours (remember, tickets are limited, so get yours soon).
We have included two House Tour homes in this issue. The first house in this issue is one in which I’ve been lucky enough to spend many fine evenings. It was once home to Harry Seresin – father of the even more famous Michael, cinematographer and producer of Seresin chardonnay (my very most favourite chardonnay). Harry was a leading light in Wellington’s 1970s artistic scene and the house was a renowned party venue. True to its heritage, today’s owners, Michael Dunlop and Glenys Coughlan, have filled it with art and, very regularly, happy guests. A warning: if Michael offers to show you his “garden”, he means the near-vertical face of Mt Victoria, which he is taming – from the safety of a harness at one stage. At its peak, it caused me to suffer from vertigo.
For a more level approach, try the home of Rod and Lyn Spence in Christchurch (page 66) – a superb example of 1960s architecture, designed by architect Joseph Moffat for his retirement. It too is a House Tour home. Thank you to all the very generous people who are opening their homes for these important charities.
During the tours I look forward to introducing Sally Duggan, who has been my associate editor during these last 12 months. From the next issue Sally will take up the reins as editor and that’s great news. I am staying with the magazine, however, as editorial director and will even be popping up on this page from time to time. Working on NZ House & Garden is a privilege. Thank you for the warm welcome back and for the great response that has seen increased circulation this past year.
See you soon.
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