T.D.C

I have baby girls on the brain right now. One has just entered the world, and belongs to my gorgeous cousin. She has two big brothers who are very close to my boys, and we cannot wait to meet her! Another dear friend whose baby shower I'm going to this weekend has her first child, a girl due early next year. Both of these ladies have great style and are opposed to dressing their daughters in pink, which makes me smile. I think I would be same, at least until they were old enough to choose for themselves! When it comes to decorating a girl's nursery, I like the idea of white and soft greys, and while a touch of soft pink is okay, I prefer yellow, pale blue and coral tones. Here are some girls rooms I'm loving right now.

A gorgeous interior design project by My Deer who I introduced you to last week, I love the white canvas, yellow accents, cosy sheepskin and polka dot wall stickers.

I love everything about this Nursery Project by The Animal Print Shop. Featuring the beautiful Baby Elephant fine art photography print, it is part of a series of Baby Animals by the hugely talented photographer Sharon Montrose, created especially for nurseries. Showcased perfectly here, the white walls, addition of natural materials such as wood and sheepskin, together with pops of yellow and coral compliment the print beautifully.

This last room belongs to Kenzie, the daughter of blogger and La Petite magazine editor Rachelle Francey. Kenzie is the inspiration behind Rachelle's blog Kenziepoo. I love the colour scheme and Scandi-style. There's loads of inspiration here for little princesses, whether they are babies, toddlers or big five year-olds like Kenzie!

For more ideas and inspiration, take a look at my Pinterest Kidsrooms board.

I recently discovered the blog MyDubio, written by Joyce Croonen, a lovely young Dutch psychologist, who loves to share her passion for interior design, fashion and photography. She juggles blogging alongside her consultancy job, running her business, and writing a book, admitting to being more of a "workaholic and computer addict than a let’s-party-and-sleep-all-day kinda girl." Well good for her, I say! Especially with all the cool content she posts on her blog, including an impressive line up of DIY projects. If you love a clean, monochrome Scandi-style but struggle to find (or afford) homewares that you love, then you should follow along. You're bound to pick up some great ideas to help add those finishing touches to your home.

First up, I want to show you Joyce's walk in wardrobe. I have to admit that since moving into our new home, and unpacking the wardrobe, I haven't done very much at all to our walk-in, but this has inspired me! I'm adding it to my bookmarks, along with my Wardrobe Inspiration post I wrote earlier this year.

As much as I try to colour code my clothes, they always end up getting mixed up. This is perfection! I also love the Small Talk Print, marble paper covered storage boxes (see the DIY below), vintage industrial cabinet and hanging light cluster (also a DIY, seen here).

Simple and affordable, Joyce made this Magazine Holder from a rack that she bought for €10 from Gamma, a Dutch home improvement retailer.

Any mention of diamond-inspired homewares gets me excited, and these Clay Diamonds that Joyce made are awesome! See how to make them here.

Being that marble is another one of my obsessions, I've been lapping up all of the marble objects Joyce has cleverly created. Perfect for the home office or wardrobe (as shown above) these Marble Boxes are so easy to make. The DIY Marble Cage Lamp is another favourite.

These DIY Coasters would definitely come in handy over the festive season.

I think Joyce needs to make and sell these Painted Ombre Candles. I'd be her first customer! For her DIY on how to make your own candles, take a look here. The second image shows the Ombre Candles alongside her DIY Concrete Pyramid and Thrift-shop side table that she partly painted white.

For more of this DIY goodness, as well as interior design and fashion inspo, sign up to MyDubio on Bloglovin. I also recommend following Joyce on Instagram.

I'm really excited to introduce you to a new online shopping experience today called Mybuckett, founded by well known kiwi business owner, designer and TV personality Peter Reid. Officially set to launch on Monday, I just got the inside word that the website is now live, so you can all get in early and check it out! Just make sure you allow a bit of time, because as you will discover, there is an abundance of beautiful products on offer, including homeware, apparel, beauty products and more.

A 'global nomad' and design guru, you may remember Peter from his days with Auckland design store Republic and The Warehouse, where he sold his 'Republic Revolution' range. Passionate about design and fashion-forward products, he has an eye for vintage, exotic and contemporary style of exceptional quality, and has personally hand-picked each item for Mybuckett.

The result is a uniquely curated collection, inspired by his adventures travelling the world. What makes Mybuckett even more compelling is its truly original method of sharing. Every purchase is granted a 10% giftback which can be kept in the customer's 'buckett' for future purchases. Or, if they choose, it can be donated to a selection of New Zealand based charities. What's more, another 10% is then available for the customer to share with their Facebook friends. How cool is that?

Not only can you take the stress out of Christmas shopping by doing it online, you get to be the first to try out a truly unique shopping experience. With so many gorgeous products on offer, I think it's inevitable you'll be sneaking in a few for yourself! To get started, pop over here where you'll find easy to follow steps, information on choosing a charity and a video of Peter talking about his exciting new venture. Keep up to date with store news by following Mybuckett on Facebook.

I'm delighted to be launching The Design Chaser 12 Days of Christmas series today, to celebrate the festive season! It's been an incredible year on the blog, and this is my way of thanking all of you who follow along and show your support. Over the next 12 days, I will be bringing you an incredible line-up of giveaways and exclusive reader discounts, from some of my favourite New Zealand-based interior and homeware stores.

There is however one exception! Kauniste comes all the way from Finland, and I'm thrilled to be kicking off the Christmas series with such an exquisite range of products. Derived from the Finnish word Kaunis, meaning beautiful, Kauniste unites the talents of young Scandinavian graphic designers and craftsmen, to combine fresh colours and design ideas through traditional methods of painting, illustration, and screen printing. When I first came across the stunning Sokeri Print by one of the designers, Hanna Konola, it was love at first sight! You may recognise it from the gorgeous cushion that graces our living room sofa.

Hanna is a talented Helsinki-based graphic designer and has studied in Finland, Norway and Japan. I love her Japanese minimalist inspired design, and the linen-mix fabric, which gets better with age. Designed to last, the Kauniste products will keep bringing joy to your home for years to come.

The collection features a colourful range of textile products including cushion covers, bags, aprons and blankets. There is also a gorgeous range of trays, made form Finnish birch veneer. All products are produced using water based, solvent free inks. The Kauniste Shop is located in Helsinki, but you can see the entire Kauniste collection and shop online here. You can also follow them on Facebook, Pinterest and Tumblr!

Now for the really exciting part! Kauniste have very kindly offered three prizes for three lucky readers. Each winner will receive a Kauniste 2014 Wall Calendar, beautifully illustrated by Hanna Kanola, and a Kauniste Kitchen Towel of their choice. See the full range here.

Bright and playful designs of the Retki Wall Calendar which tells the story of 'a journey in the forest'

Choose from a gorgeous selection of Kitchen Towels

To enter, simply email me at enter@thedesignchaser.com with KAUNISTE in the subject line. Please also let me know your full name. Entries close on Friday, 6th of December and the three winners will be selected via random.org, and contacted via email straight away. All winners will be announced on the blog at the end of the series.

Please note that this competition is open to worldwide readers, and that we will do our best to ensure the prizes arrive prior to Christmas.

Good Luck!!

The 12 Days of Christmas series got off to a flying start yesterday. Judging by the number of entries flooding my inbox, you're all as excited about this as I am! Today's giveaway is from our friends at Superette Home, and once again, I'm happy to tell you that it's open to worldwide readers!

As mentioned in my recent interview with Superette founder Rickie Dee, the Nuffield Street store in Newmarket was about to close down and undergo a huge transformation, to make way for Superette Space, the new lifestyle, homeware and furniture collection, launched earlier this year at the flagship Ponsonby store. Now reopened, and bigger and better than ever, I have some exclusive photos to share with you.

Talk about some serious eye candy. Perfect for Christmas shopping, it would be near impossible not to treat yourself to something while you're there!

The store is located at 35 Nuffield St, Newmarket. If you're outside of Auckland, remember you can also shop the range online.

And now for the bit you've all been waiting for! The fabulous prize includes one Framed Super Pretty Print and one Peach Triangle Pillowcase Pair, from the brand new Superette exclusive home range, valued at $218....

To enter, simply email me at enter@thedesignchaser.com with SUPERETTE in the subject line. Please also let me know your full name. Entries close on Friday, 6th of December and the winner will be selected via random.org, and contacted via email straight away. The winner will be announced on the blog at the end of the series.

Please note that this competition is open to worldwide readers, and that we will do our best to ensure the prize is shipped and delivered to the winner prior to Christmas.

Hello, I'm back with yet another exciting offer for Day two of the 12 Days of Christmas series! This one is from our friends at Pop Motif, a passionate team of art lovers who run an online art print store specialising in Vintage Poster Art, Pop Art, Urban Art and Contemporary Art Prints. Sourced from all around the globe, the collection includes some of today's most cutting-edge artists (see below), as well as some of the most legendary, such as Warhol and Picasso.

Diverse and affordable, the range of prints on offer are growing, and today I wanted to share with you a few recent additions that have caught my eye. The first two are from the acclaimed London-based graphic artist and illustrator Ruben Ireland. I find his monochrome pieces really captivating. One of my top picks, and featured on the blog before, you may recognise The Black Deer print from the Pop Motif from ad banner on the side of the blog. The second, Mrs Mia Wallace is also incredibly striking, and as with many of Ireland's artworks, it's the eyes that seem to draw me in.

These next prints are very special, in that they have been designed exclusively for Pop Motif by Los Angeles based illustrator Ryan Beshara. A bold accent piece for the kitchen or dining area, the Pear and Apple prints would also be a fun addition to any kid's room or nursery.

Other favourites of mine include the works by Kozyndan (seen in the collage below), and everything in the Fashion category! Shop online here, and make sure you take advantage of the following:

Pop Motif are offering The Design Chaser readers an exclusive 15% discount on all stock!

This promotion will be valid during the 12 days of Christmas series, so you have until Friday, the 13th of December (including that day) to take up the offer. Just enter TDC15 at checkout. Happy shopping!

It's no secret I love the store Paper Plane, but if you are new to the blog or need reminding, take a look at my interview with them earlier this year. Both a retail store (located in New Zealand's Mt Maunganui) and an online shopping destination, Paper Plane was founded by Timothy John and Krista Plews, and the interview with Krista will give an idea as to why Paper Plane is so awesome on every level - the design, products, customer service - the list goes on. So when Krista said they were keen to come on board for 12 Days of Christmas I was very happy. When she told me what they'd like to offer, I was ecstatic, and I know you will be too!

Before I reveal what it is, I thought I'd show you my favourite picks from the latest arrivals online at Paper Plane.

1 Mint Memphis Cushion
2 Lemon Palm & Leather Shopper
3 Organic Turkish Throws
4 Washable Paper Carry Bag
5 Paper Plane Candles
6 Reindeer Hide
7 Organic Turkish Towels
8 Kid You'll Move Mountains Print
9 Pink Memphis Cushion

Okay, here goes....

Yes, that's right! One very lucky reader will win a Sidekick Low Stool by Timothy John, in the colour combination of their choice, valued at $399!!

To enter, simply email me at enter@thedesignchaser.com with PAPER PLANE in the subject line. Please also let me know your full name. Entries close on Monday, 9th of December and the winner will be selected via random.org, and contacted via email straight away. All winners will be announced on the blog at the end of the series.

Please note that this competition is open to New Zealand residents only, and that we will do our best to ensure the prize is shipped and delivered prior to Christmas.

In addition to this amazing giveaway, Paper Plane has very kindly offered all readers far and wide, an exclusive 10% discount when shopping online, valid right through to the 31st of December. Combined with great international shipping rates, this is a fantastic opportunity for worldwide readers to take advantage of all that Paper Plane has to offer. Just enter the code DESIGNCHASER10 at checkout.

A couple of weeks ago we had our home photographed for the gorgeous Australian online magazine Adore Home. That issue, the Christmas Edition went live on the 1st of December, and I'm very excited to be able to share the article with you today!

The editor, talented creative Loni Parker was so lovely to work with, as was the NZ-based photographer Helen Bankers, who specialises in advertising and editorial imagery, working across many leading magazines, shooting covers for the likes of Your Home & Garden, and Fashion Quarterly Entertaining. We had a lot of fun on the day of the shoot, and when Loni gave me a look at the photos I was blown away! I didn't know for sure if one had made the cover (Loni thought she'd surprise me) so when I saw it, I was over the moon! A lovely start to Christmas!!

Pop over here to read the article, and be sure to check out the whole issue. It's brimming with interior inspiration, including beautiful homes, Christmas gift guides, gorgeous summer styling and so much more. I'm sure like me, you'll get to the end feeling uplifted and ready to embrace this exciting time of year!

As day four of 12 Days of Christmas rolls around, I'm excited to have another exciting offer for you today, thanks to the fabulous Wellington-based online store LET LIV. They need no introduction, having been featured many times before on the blog, but if you are only just discovering them, prepare to be wowed. I also recommend you have your credit card handy!

For the entire month of December, The Design Chaser readers will receive 15% off everything in store! Before you dash over to the online store and start shopping, I couldn't resist curating a lovely selection of gift ideas. With so many gorgeous things to choose from, and several of these on my Christmas wishlist, I'm also hoping Santa is watching....

Links below images

01 Ball Mason Pint Jars
02 HOME by Beci Orphin
03 Hanging Miner's Lamp
04 Kip & Co Croc Orange Duvet & Pillowcase Set
05 White & Orange Kitchen Canister
06 Orange Flower Kitchen Canister
07 Kristian Vedel Birds
08 Botanical Rose iPhone Case
09 Mimi Necklace
10 Martina Organics Oil Cleanser
11 Copper House Candle Holders
12 Cream Cowhide Pouch

To redeem your 15% discount, enter the code TDCxTDC at the checkout and click submit. Easy! Thanks LET LIV. You're the BEST.

You may have noticed all the fairy lights popping up around my home lately, from photos posted on the blog and Instagram. I've always fancied the look of decorative string lights that you see in Scandinavian interiors, and since discovering The Fairy Light Shop here in Auckland, I've become obsessed! The onset of Christmas has further fuelled my excitement, and I can't wait to share the love with you today.

The Fairy Light Shop was founded by best friends Belinda Gregg and Kristina Ercolano, who together run La Lumiere, a fairy light hire company. Having travelled the world together, Belinda was previously a successful television director and producer in London, while Kristina worked as an Art Director for commercials and feature films. Their combined talents and passion for decorative lights has resulted in them becoming Auckland's leading fairy light hire and design specialists. If you are planning a wedding, corporate event, birthday or any occasion that deserves the magic and romance of decorative lights, then these are the ladies to call!

For those wanting to inject a bit of fun and sparkle into their everyday spaces, indoors or out, The Fairy Light Shop can help. They sell a gorgeous range of lights and lanterns, sourced from around the world, and while Christmas undoubtedly calls for fairy lights, there is no reason why you can't display these lights all year around. I know I will be!

As you can tell from these photos I've taken of our home, the LED Fairy Lights are one of favourite products. I love how they add a delicate touch of background ambience to any room. The flexibility of the wire, which is available in silver and copper, means you can be as creative as you like, winding them up and over shelves, around pictures, or even stuck to a washi-tape Christmas tree, as we've done above! Also available with a battery pack, there is no limit as to where you use them. The lights are available in white or warm white, and also come in a range of colours.

If you're after something a bit different, take a look at the gorgeous range of Decorative Lights. These cute paper lights are a hit in both my boys' rooms. The Reindeer are perfect for Christmas!

Two more of my favourites include the Orchid Lights and Bamboo Lanterns, which are pictured below, taken during a recent photo shoot at our house for The Fairy Light Shop. Both evoke a feeling of summer, perfect for parties and entertaining, or whenever the mood takes you!

Next on my wishlist is some string lights for outside, around our Pohutukawa tree! All available to purchase online, this is just a taste of what's on offer. To see the full product range, which includes lamp shades, lanterns, outdoor lights, solar fairy lights and string lights, take a look here. To keep up to date with news and products, follow the Fairy Light Shop on Facebook.

As part of our 12 Days of Christmas series, The Fairy Light Shop would like to gift two sets of lights to two lucky readers!

The first name drawn will win a set of the Warm White Silver Lights valued at $59 and the second will win the Bamboo Lanterns valued at $75. To enter, simply email me at enter@thedesignchaser.com with THE FAIRY LIGHT SHOP in the subject line. Please also let me know your full name. Entries close on Tuesday, 10th of December and the two winners will be selected via random.org, and contacted via email straight away. All winners will be announced on the blog at the end of the series.

Please note that this competition is open to New Zealand residents only, and that we will do our best to ensure the prizes arrive safely, prior to Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas will continue over the coming weekend, so keep an eye out for more fabulous giveaways!

I don't usually post over the weekend, but I'm back today with FOUR more gorgeous giveaways for the 12 Days of Christmas series! The first one is from MintSix, who I recently featured on the blog here, regarding their store opening and new product ranges. One of these new ranges is HKLiving, and MintSix are the first in New Zealand to stock the cool Dutch homewares brand, which is very exciting! To celebrate this, they are giving one lucky reader a gorgeous HKLiving Marble Board, valued at $95. Too pretty to store away in the kitchen, it's perfect for serving cheese and nibbles, or as a cutting board for everyday use.

The next giveaway is the L'Igloo de Nuit, from the beautiful Auckland store Tessuti, who I wrote about here. Handmade by French designers Tsé & Tsé Associées, the Night Igloos are made from paper thin porcelain and feature a unique translucent design that allows for candle light to glow softly underneath. Accompanied by a saucer, and valued at $98, the winner can choose from three textural finishes including smooth, striped or riddled.

Perfect for lazy summer days, this gorgeous Hammock Swing Seat valued at $69.95 could be yours! On offer thanks to The Wooden Horse, one of my favourite local online stores for sourcing Scandinavian brands, the seat is ready to hang indoors or out. So comfortable and sturdy you won’t want to get up once you have sunk into its cocoon!

Of course a nice cool mixer or cocktail would be the perfect accompaniment! This vintage-inspired Wallflower Pitcher by famous textile designer Orla Kiely is made from durable melamine, making it both party and picnic proof. Thanks to our friends at Perch Home, I have one (valued at $59) to give away. Make sure you check out their site for the full range of Orla Kiely products, as well as many more exclusive Scandinavian and European homeware and lifestyle brands.

To be in the draw for one or more of these products, email me at enter@thedesignchaser.com with the corresponding name in the subject line as follows:

1MINTSIX
2TESSUTI
3THE WOODEN HORSE
4PERCH HOME

Don't forget include your full name. Entries close on Wednesday, 11th of December and the four winners will be selected via random.org, and contacted via email, so that we can arrange shipping. All winners will be announced on the blog at the end of the series.

Please note that this competition is open to New Zealand residents only, and that we will do our best to ensure the prizes arrive safely, prior to Christmas.

Good luck! Make sure you check back tomorrow to see what Day Seven brings.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend. Thanks to those of you who are continuing to check in on the blog. You're certainly onto a good thing, as I have two more lovely giveaways for you today! Back in August I introduced you to Pencil and Hammer, an online art store here in Auckland specialising in typographic art and quirky illustrative prints. The collection is constantly growing, and these new black and white prints are among my current favourites.

To be in to win an A3 print of you choice, email me at enter@thedesignchaser.com with PENCIL AND HAMMER in the subject line, and let me know your full name. Please note that the print is unframed, and the offer excludes personalised ones. In addition to the giveaway, Pencil and Hammer are offering 10% off all prints, to worldwide readers from now through to the 31st of December 2013, along with free shipping New Zealand-wide. To redeem, enter dcchristmas at checkout. Shop the full collection here, and make sure you sign up to their newsletter to stay in the loop!

These next artworks from George Art are just delightful. Part of a project called Prints George, they have been lovingly created by Auckland mother of two and freelance graphic designer Georgia Williams. Featuring geometric alphabet letters in cute colour combos, layered with sweet little illustrations, I think they would be the perfect addition to any nursery. They would also make a very special Christmas or new baby present!

Signed and dated, the 8" x 10" (unframed) prints are available to purchase on Felt and Etsy. If you'd like to enter the draw to win on of these gorgeous prints in the letter of your choice, simply email me as above with GEORGE ART in the subject line.

Entries close on Wednesday, 11th of December and the winners will be selected via random.org, and contacted via email, so that we can arrange your choice of prints and shipping. All winners will be announced on the blog at the end of the series.

Please note that this competition is open to New Zealand residents only, and that we will do our best to ensure the prizes arrive prior to Christmas.

What I love about this series, besides all the amazing giveaways and offers, is that I get to introduce you to some gorgeous local finds. If you're in Auckland in the lead up to Christmas, or at any time in the future, you must put Indie Home Collective on your to-do list! Founded by Lifestyle and interior stylist Claudia Kozub, who I recently interviewed here, and partner Neel Giri, the store offers a beautifully curated collection of pieces for the home, including unique items sourced locally and from around the world.

Located at 51 Nuffield St, Newmarket, the expansive store reflects Claudia's exquisite style which she describes as modern and industrial with an organic eclectic twist. You'll find international homeware brands such as Pony Rider and Fog Linen as well as exclusive lines, The Sent Of Home who produce the most divine smelling candles and Ay Illuminate, a range of beautiful lighting from the Netherlands.

There's also new and vintage furniture as well as customised pieces designed by Claudia herself, all styled against a clean, white palette and natural materials. Oh, and in case that wasn't enough, located inside the store is The Indie Flower Shop, an area dedicated to providing fresh flowers to customers, as well as catering to weddings and events. There really is just so much on offer, it's impossible to leave empty-handed!

I'm loving all the Christmas inspired pieces right now...

Constantly evolving, with new stock arriving all the time, make sure you stay up to date by following Indie on Facebook, Instagram (@indiehomecollective) and Pinterest. They are also currently working on a website, with future plans for an online store, so keep an eye out for that.

As part of the 12 Days of Christmas series, I'm thrilled to present this gorgeous giveaway!

The prize package includes the following:

1 x scent of Home Candle, exclusive to Indie Home Collective, with the scent Coconut & Kaffir Lime
1 x black and white Turkish Towel
1 x white Rattan Box

To be in to win these stunning products, simply email me at enter@thedesignchaser.com with INDIE HOME COLLECTIVE in the subject line. Please also let me know your full name. Entries close on Friday, 13th of December and the winner will be selected via random.org, and contacted via email, to arrange shipping. All winners will be announced on the blog at the end of the series.

Please note that this competition is open to New Zealand residents only, and that we will do our best to ensure the prizes arrive prior to Christmas.

Good luck!!

Photo credit: Eva Kozub

I recently had the pleasure of crossing paths with renowned New Zealand knitwear designer Kylee Davis. When she mentioned she was working on an interiors line, I knew it would be something to watch out for. The new collection has now been released and features a range of striking homewares including sumptuous blankets, stunning cushions and cool knitted hanging pendant lights. Kylee's unique aesthetic translates beautifully to interiors, and this range will definitely appeal to those who appreciate quality, New Zealand-made design.

During Kylee's illustrious career as a fashion designer, stylist and manufacturer, she has achieved an impressive amount of commercial success, including winning the prestigious Benson & Hedges Supreme Award and Air NZ Export Development Award. Her first knitwear label Insidious Fix was stocked throughout Australasia and select boutiques in Denmark, the US and the UK, gathering a cult-like following. Her second label Stitch Ministry went on to win further commercial success, and in 2011 Kylee launched her self-titled knitwear label with Browns Fashions, one of the world’s premium retailers and a fashion landmark in the English capital, becoming the world’s first stockist of the exclusive New Zealand made label.

As with the Kylee Davis Knitwear fashion line, the homewares are all made locally in New Zealand using the finest-quality natural yarns, including cotton, linen, angora/lambswool and merino. "For each product we work closely with textile technicians to develop a knit that is unique and exclusive to the Kylee Davis brand."

The cushions come in a range of patterns, including aztec, jacquards and owls. The blankets, available in shades of red, navy and beige are available in super king, as well as a throw size which is perfect for single beds or couches. The knitted lights come in a variety of fun and playful colours such as pink, orange, green and blue. Prices range from $550 for the king size blankets, down to just $49 for the pendants, so there is something to suit all budgets.

I'm also happy to report that the Kylee Davis Knitware pop-up store has recently opened up, just in time for Christmas! Located at 9 Mt Eden Rd in Auckland, it stocks the new interiors line, which will also be available online soon. Keep up to date by following Kylee Davis Knitware on Facebook.

We're on the countdown now, but there's no slowing down! Day nine's giveaway is brought to you by our friends at Good Regards. The little sister of well known store The Good Room, this recent addition to the family became a necessity due to demand! Initially the one store was dedicated to providing both homewares and skateboards, but the decision to give them each their own 'rooms' has worked out well, with each store having their own space to flourish!

Good Regards came across my radar earlier this year, and since then it's been a handy online go-to for homewares and inspiration. The retail store is based in Mt Maunganui and is open seven days, so if you are in the area, make sure you stop by. You'll find the address, opening hours and directions here. Offering a fun and eclectic range of products, there are plenty of Christmas gift ideas.

Good Regards stock an amazing selection of Wall Stickers. I recently placed some in my son's room, and they look fantastic! Easy to use, and also great for renters, I highly recommend them as a way of brightening up your home. Perfect for kids spaces, there are lots of designs and colours to choose from.

Now for the best part! Good Regards are kindly giving away three packs of Wall Stickers, and each of the three winners get to choose from the full range.

To enter, email me at enter@thedesignchaser.com with GOOD REGARDS in the subject line and let me know your full name. Entries close on Friday, 13th of December and the three winners will be selected via random.org, and contacted via email to arrange their selection and shipping. All winners will be announced on the blog at the end of the series.

Please note that this competition is open to NZ residents only, and that we will do our best to ensure the prizes arrive prior to Christmas.

I recently discovered a lovely little online store based in Auckland called Tuturu Home. Its product range which includes simple, quality homewares from Japan and New Zealand immediately resonated with me. I've mentioned before how much I love Japanese design, and the strong similarities I see between the traditional Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics. As well as having clean lines and simplicity of form, they both favour the use natural materials and show beautiful craftsmanship.

The owner of Tuturu Home, Yukiko Kyogoku, is Japanese and has been living in New Zealand for almost 15 years. Based in the Auckland suburb of Titirangi, she loves natural, organic products, arts and crafts, and collecting the iconic New Zealand Crown Lynn range of ceramics! She also loves Scandinavian design. She has run a website selling NZ products to Japan for over 10 years, and earlier this year Yukiko decided to start doing it the other way around! She loves both countries, and enjoys introducing products from one to the other.

Prior to September Yukiko had a temporary retail store, and is now on the lookout for a new space. Until then she's happy to continue selling her gorgeous products online, including two of her favourite brands Fog Linen and Noda Horo. She loves that Fog Linen has a Japanese style, but is also suited to the natural New Zealand lifestyle. Noda Horo have been manufacturing quality enamelware in Japan for over 70 years. "They make really cool retro style enamelware and are very popular among stylish people in Japan. Because they only make limited numbers and are not that keen on exporting (they are a very old fashioned company), they are not very well known overseas. The good thing is there are not many available in New Zealand!"

Yukiko says she will be introducing new products regularly, particularly those that have not made it to our shores yet. Keep an eye out by following the Tuturu Home Facebook page, and shop the current collection here.

For the 12 Days of Christmas series, you'll be pleased to know that Tuturu Home are giving away three prizes!

The first winner drawn will win a Petite Kitchen 2014 Recipe Calendar, a beautiful collectionof seasonal recipes, written and photographed by Eleanor Ozich of Petite Kitchen.

The second two will each win a gorgeous Fog Linen 2014 Calendar Tea Towel. The first of these names drawn, will receive the black on natural, and the second will receive the blue on white.

I'm sure you know the drill by now... to enter, email me at enter@thedesignchaser.com with TUTURU HOME in the subject line, and include your full name in the email. Entries close on Monday, 16th of December and the three winners will be selected via random.org, and contacted via email, to arrange shipping. All winners will be announced on the blog at the end of the series.

Please note that this competition is open to NZ residents only, and that we will do our best to ensure the prizes arrive prior to Christmas.

George & Willy are a New Zealand design company, formed by childhood friends George Wilkins and Will McCallum. Joining forces straight out of university last year, the talented Tauranga-based duo are already gaining recognition for their work, which follows the simple philosophy of producing honest, handmade goods that will last the distance. Not only have they taken the time to answer some questions for us, they've jumped on board the 12 Days of Christmas series with a very cool giveaway. Read on....

Can you tell us about your backgrounds and how you came to launch George & Willy?

We decided to launch George & Willy after finishing uni last year. We both grew up in Tauranga, but Will spent a few years in Argentina and we have both spent a lot of time at Mt Ruapehu - that's where we met when we were about 13. We've both always enjoyed making things.

You're never too old for a swing! Find a good swinging spot, hang it up and enjoy! The Everyday Swing will take you back to your childhood

What have you learnt along the way?

We have learnt so much this year. After studying three years of business, marketing and design it's been good to put it all into practice. The main thing we have learnt is that if you do it, it just sort of works out. People aren't going to be buying anything from you if it isn't for sale.

What have been some highlights - what are you most proud of?

Selling stuff through the website. Seeing someone on a Air NZ flight with one of our Duffel Bags was cool. We have a workshop with five of us, (us and three mates) all working, making our stuff, which we have found a market for. We've created this fun place for us to work and hang out.

George & Willy

Any favourite products so far?

It's good because we actually use our products to make the products. We have about six Project Desks which we make all our stuff on.

I love a good trestle table. Strong, solid and reliable, The Project Desk is a winner in any office

I've never seen a Wall Mounted Paper Roller like yours before. Tell us about this product - how did it come about?

Will was trying to find a paper roller but the only one he could find was designed for the floor and wasn't that suitable. We decided that there must be other people out there looking for a similar product, so designed one to suit. We use one in the workshop and it's pretty handy - we use it for our shopping list.

My favourite George & Willy product right now, the Wall Mounted Paper Roller is genius!

What are you currently working on? Any exciting products or projects in the pipeline?

Currently we are just busy getting everything ready for Christmas. We have just improved our Project Desk. It's now simpler, stronger and made from thicker plywood. Otherwise we are just trying to nail down the products we have at the moment, while doing a few custom jobs for people on the side.

Cool with an industrial edge, the Rutherford Clothing Rack is simple, strong and designed to last a lifetime

What inspires you - international design, the web etc?

We are just constantly looking and keeping our eyes and ears open for new ideas, and we throw a lot of ideas around between us. There are about 100 things we would like to make, it is just finding the time to make them.

We want George & Willy things to be the kind of stuff you find in your Grandparents’ shed; timeless stuff that you’re not gonna be chucking out in five years. So it’s made well. It’s not trendy, it’s just simple. It’s not overdone or quirky or anything. Just straight up.

The Wood Box is guaranteed to become a faithful friend. I could certainly do with a few of these around home!

What advice would you give to young designers wanting to start their own business?

Pretty much they just have to get out there and do it. Just start and it'll be all good.

Honest and straight up, much like their design ethos - thanks George & Willy for sharing your story. Check out the entire collection here, and follow them on Facebook, Tumblir and Instagram. Now for the fun part...

We have one George & Willy Wall Mounted Paper Roller valued at $220 to give away! Made from matte black steel, and designed to dispense and display recycled kraft paper, this easy to install product is super cool and practical. Put it in your office for to-do lists or the kitchen for shopping lists, recipes or menus. Great for gift wrapping, or kids arts and crafts... the possibilities are endless!

To enter, simply email me at enter@thedesignchaser.com with GEORGE & WILLY in the subject line. Please also let me know your full name. Entries close on Tuesday, 17th of December and the winner will be selected via random.org, and contacted via email, to arrange shipping. All winners will be announced on the blog at the end of the series.

Please note that this competition is open to New Zealand residents only.

Finishing off 12 Days of Christmas on a high note, I have two lovely giveaways for you today!

The first is from Jamie Kay who I first featured here. The Canterbury-based online store stocks a gorgeous range of homewares from around the world, as well as Jamie's own growing collection of designs. A Mum of two little boys, Jamie has a great eye for stylish kids pieces, and many of her products are designed to suit both kids rooms and adult spaces. I particularly love her range of cushions (I own several myself) so I was very happy when Jamie offered to give away one of her newest arrivals, a beautiful vintage style Round Velvet Cushion, valued at $99. The lucky winner will get to choose from a range of colours including black, ivory, grey, vintage yellow and turquoise.

Perfect for use as an extra throw cushion on a bed or sofa, I love the white one above which has been added to a mix of cushions in different patterns and shapes, some of which are also available from Jamie Kay, along with her Cross Blanket that I featured in this recent bedding post. Jamie Kay have also offered 10% off all round Round Velvet Cushions through to the 31st of December, so pop over here to buy yours. To be in to win one, email me at email me at enter@thedesignchaser.com with JAMIE KAY in the subject line, along with your full name.

The second giveaway is from Koko Classics, who I interviewed here. Specialists in industrial and vintage inspired furniture and homewares, they have two popular Auckland retail stores, one in Mt Eden and one is Ponsonby as well as an online store. With an incredible range of ever-expanding products, make sure you keep up to date by following them on Facebook and Instagram (@kokoclassics).

Koko Classics are very kindly giving away a beautiful framed, Peruvian Blue Morpho (morpho didius) butterfly, valued at $86.

To enter, email me at email me at enter@thedesignchaser.com with KOKO CLASSICS in the subject line, along with your full name.

Entries close on Tuesday 17th of December and the two winners will be selected via random.org, and contacted via email to arrange shipping. All winners will be announced on the blog at the end of the series.

Please note that this competition is open to New Zealand residents only, and that we will do our best to ensure the prizes arrive prior to Christmas.

Before I go, I just have to say congratulations to all our winners so far. I feel a bit like Santa handing out presents right now! Be sure to check back over this week's posts, so that you don't miss out on any giveaways that are still open, and take advantage of our special offers from Paper Plane, Pop Motif, Pencil and Hammer and LET LIV. Why not get that last minute Christmas shopping done online over the weekend!

Today I want to share some recent styling work from Pella Hedeby for a new collection of illustrations by Lovisa Burfitt, a Swedish illustrator based in France. Created exclusively for Rum21, one of Sweden's leading online interior retailers, the six designs are very boho chic - think smoky eyes, red lips and big hats!

With titles such as Lipstick Feu Rouge and La Isla Bonita the illustrations exude femininity. I love they way Pella has styled the collection against monochromatic backdrops, industrial elements, design pieces and quirky objects.

Beautifully photographed by Kristofer Johnsson, you can see the full series here.

Just as the frenzied Christmas rush was setting in recently, I received an email from Jordana Macfarlaine, owner and creative director of Avalon Je T'adore, a new lifestyle brand inspired by the tropical lifestyle of Bali. Feeling a little strung out and in desperate need of a holiday (like most at this time of year) Jordana's story, products and dreamy imagery had me pining for an island escape.

Travelling between Indonesia and Sydney's northern beaches, Jordana develops a luscious range of products that are organic in nature, luxurious to use and enriching for the body. Currently stocked in Australia and Asia and with plans to expand further afield, the growing range also includes hand made ceramics, wine carafes and tumbler sets and leather pieces. Evoking a wonderful sense of summer and relaxation, I wanted to find out more....

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what led to the launch of Avalon Je T’adore?

From working in the fashion industry for 10 years I had a passion for design. I was fortunate enough to travel a lot as well. It was on a trip to Bali that I stumbled on the idea of launching Avalon Je T'adore. Being able to bring awareness to recycling was a great incentive to produce the products here.

What is special about the packaging?

The organic scrubs are bottled in recycled glass, hand blown bottles. So each one is individual. I recycled the glass from restaurants here in Bali, and we melt them down and create the Avalon Je T'adore bottle. It allows me to encourage recycling in Bali. My customers also get to keep them once they have finished with the beautiful scrubs, and re use as a vase or decorative item in their home.

What is your favourite Avalon Je T’adore beauty product and why?

My favourite Avalon Je T'adore product is the Sandalwood Scrub! I just love it. It is so soft and has my favourite scent. I use it all over my body and my face and I feel so fresh and revitalised. It's my morning ritual.

Are you planning on expanding the beauty range and if so, what can we expect?

I am planning on expanding the range. I am working on developing a natural range including facial cleanser, toner, moisturiser and some delicious body butters and more! I'm very excited and will be launching these products in early 2014!

How does your event service work?

In the past I have made bomboniere as wedding favours for the guests. These can be done using any of the Avalon Je T'adore products, and we work with the guests and a special price list. They can be made up in different boxes, with notes from the bride and groom. There are several options, as they can also be used for other events as part of gift bags, and we like to work with the clients for different projects.

You've recently expanded into lifestyle products. Tell us about the new range.

The brand was always born to be a lifestyle brand. All things for you and your home. So I have recently developed a range of ceramics and leather products. The ceramics are all hand made, and are individual pieces. The leather range consists of a clutch and wallet for every occasion. I plan to keep expanding the lifestyle range with more homewards and fashion pieces in the future.

You are currently stocked in Australia and Asia. Any plans to expand further afield?

Yes, I am working on expanding the range to Europe, specifically Sweden and Denmark. There are also plans for the range to go to the US and England in early 2014. So it's very exciting.

Beautiful! Thanks Jordana for answering these questions for us. To find out more, visit the Avalon Je T'adore website and follow on Facebook.

Girls Room Inspiration | Babies & Beyond

DIY Inspiration | MyDubio

Mybuckett | Online Store with a Difference

12 Days of Christmas | Kauniste Giveaway!

12 Days of Christmas | Superette Giveaway!

12 Days of Christmas | Pop Motif Exclusive Reader Offer

12 Days of Christmas | Paper Plane Giveaway + Exclusive Reader Offer!

Adore Magazine | Home Feature

12 Days of Christmas | LET LIV Exclusive Reader Offer

12 Days of Christmas | The Fairy Light Shop Giveaway!

12 Days of Christmas | Day Six Giveaways!

12 Days of Christmas | Art Print Giveaways!

12 Days of Christmas | Indie Home Collective Giveaway!

Kylee Davis Knitwear | Interiors Launch

12 Days of Christmas | Good Regards Giveaway!

12 Days of Christmas | Tuturu Home Giveaway!

12 Days of Christmas | George & Willy Giveaway!

12 Days of Christmas | Final Giveaways!

Lovisa Burfitt | Style Love

Interview | Jordana of Avalon Je T’adore