Shopping news: browse the stores and the web for homeware

Compiled by Tracey Strange

Bello bellissimo

If you’re in the market for treasures, take a look at the beautiful mouth-blown and handmade Bollen range of glasses. Founded 20 years ago in Amsterdam, Bollen is a small family company which uses centuries-old methods to create the type of exquisite glassware you might see in paintings by Dutch old masters such as Vermeer or Rembrandt. You’ll find Bollen in New Zealand at Wellington’s Bello Traders (04) 385 0058.

Heartfelt

Leanne and Brian Culy aren’t new to NZ Life & Leisure. Their cute-and-quirky Haumoana beach house was featured in Issue 23 and our sister publication NZ House & Garden recently covered their Napier homestead, Balquhidder House. It’s testament to the artistic talents of the couple who together own Home Base Collections, a design company producing an ever-changing range of fabrics, greeting cards, art and homewares. It’s well worth checking them out at www.homebasecollections.co.nz

Sunny outlook

It started with a simple question: “Why are beach umbrellas so ugly?” It has evolved into a popular environmentally responsible fashion/lifestyle brand that’s currently achieving sales growth of 50 percent year on year. Cheery sunshades, classic multi-striped beach chairs, colourful towels, bamboo bowls and lacquered salad servers, pretty melamine platters and stylish outdoor cushions are all part of the SunnyLIFE brand founded by Australians Joel Bartfield and Paul Cherry six seasons ago. Each collection encapsulates the mood of a perfect summer’s day – long, hot and happy. Check out the range at www.sunnylife.com.au and for New Zealand stockists contact Cocoa on (09) 379 7100. 

Kiwi without the kitsch

It’s not very often you can say that doing the dishes brings a smile to your face. But if anything is going to keep you happy at the kitchen sink, it’s a tea towel screen-printed with an iconic Crown Lynn swan or a railway teacup. The towels, $20 each, are part of an interesting range of jewellery and homewares offered by Christchurch’s Pug Design Store (03) 381 1255. Check them out at www.pugdesignstore.co.nz