Kinfolk magazine focuses on simple ways to spend time together. Each issue has interviews, personal stories, recipes and practical tips related to food and entertaining. Volume seven of Kinfolk is dedicated to ice cream and a celebration of spring. Although here in the southern hemisphere the days are getting cooler, the blue skies are seemingly endless, which should be enough of an excuse to pop down to Herne Bay beach with an ice cream in hand and Kinfolk under your arm.

Houses featured in Apartamento have a comfortable, lived-in feel. Shelves are cluttered, kids toys are on the floor, beds left unmade and dishes are in the sink. As they say in their manifesto, “A real living space is made from living, not decorating. A bored materialist can’t understand that a house has to become a home. It happens, not through perfection but by participation.” Issue number 10 is the fifth anniversary of this popular Spanish (but published in English) magazine. This issue showcases the homes of Juergen Teller, Devonte Hynes, Esther Mahlangu, Yorgos Lanthimos, Witold Rybczynski, Ai Weiwei, and Jim Walrod.

We have copies of Apartamento and Kinfolk available instore and online.

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I have compiled a list of dream pieces I wish to pack in my suitcase for my pending move to Berlin. My life is currently stowed away in boxes and plan to take with me only life’s essentials.

Here is what I wish to pack:

ESTABLISHED & SONS FONT CLOCK
The German’s are known for being efficient and on time, so this Established & Sons iconic calendar clock will sit perfectly on my desk as a reminder never to be late!

KINGS & QUEENIES PILLOWCASES
A fresh set of pillowcases and linen is my idea of heaven. I’m sure my husband won’t mind me sharing that he likes to surround himself with plenty of pillows when going to bed at night. Admittedly I find it a little invasive, however, very useful when sitting up in bed with a book.

FORM BOWLS BY TOM DIXON
Number one on my wish-list at the moment are these beautiful fine brass dishes. I can imagine one on my bedside table, to hold my selection of rings. An obsession of mine lately is mixing metals, placing copper with gold and silver with bronze — something Tom Dixon does well.

SHERIE MUIJS NIGHTSHIRT
Of course, both my white and stripe cotton nightshirts are traveling with me. I can honestly say that I have worn either one of these shirts every night (and day) this summer. The fine cotton has a beautiful handle and improves with every wear.

A YEAR’S WORTH
A Year’s Worth of rural New Zealand cooking seems only fitting as I venture off for 12 months abroad. My friend has this recipe book and can testify first hand that her meals from this book have been absolutely delicious. I will miss our dinner parties immensely, so taking this with me will be my welcome reminder of home.

CURIO NOIR CANDLE
I am currently burning my way through my third Curio Noir glass candle, Gardenia being my favourite. Lighting a candle while working has become somewhat of a habit.

Sherie x

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Elie Saab creates gowns for the modern goddess. His couture collections are known for their intricate beading, and are a popular choice for the Hollywood set. For the Spring/Summer 2013 couture collection, ‘An Ode to Delicateness’, the designer presented pretty pastel fitted dresses with swishing skirts in silk and tulle. Sheer Embroidery and lacework featured on full-length sleeves and across the body – at times creating a cheeky allusion to the woman underneath. Modern shapes were produced by experimenting with skirt and sleeve length, providing ample inspiration for brides looking for something a little different. See the full collection here.

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London-based studio Minimalux has a reputation for creating objects to admire; objects with modern, ultra simple forms. One of their latest designs, the Pocket Mirror, reflects this ethos excellently.

A rim of precision-machined solid brass encases a 50mm disc of mirror glass, making it the perfect fit for your palm and your pocket.

The brass is not plated or lacquered, allowing it to age gracefully with time and use, and become uniquely personal to you.

Minimalux commissioned musician Tom Crompton to write a song played on a brass instrument of his choice to complement their new range of brass objects. The French horn melody is available for free download with every purchase. You can listen to the song here.

Next time you’re visiting us, take a look at the Minimalux Pocket Mirror, you might like what you see.

Available to purchase here.

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New Norm Kettle Thermo Jug from Menu
An idyllic day for me includes a long afternoon sitting in my bay window looking over Muriwai Beach with Mark and our friends eating cookies and scones. I am however a bit lazy when it comes to making new brews of hot tea and coffee so this thermo jug is perfect as it’ll keep any liquid hot for 6 hours! Plus the Japanese inspired design will be perfect alongside our collections of Japanese pottery.
$169 (Find it here).

Flyover Table from Jamie McLellan for Resident
We have wanted this coffee table for years now. It’s the first thing I fell in love with when I started working for Simon James almost three years ago and my love for it hasn’t faded…nor has the incredible acid yellow. Available from Simon James $1996

‘Ink’ series from MM Collection
Beautiful bedding is not the kind of thing we have let ourselves indulge in thus far so the beautiful new collection from MM Collection would be a real treat. I love the crispness of the inky black against the white.
Prices start from $199. Available from  Simon James Concept Stores.

Stone Candleholder from ECLECTIC by Tom Dixon
I’m infatuated with the entire Eclectic by Tom Dixon and will no doubt have it all in our registry when it arrives in-store soon but I am particularly taken by these Stone Candle Holders. Alongside the brass and steel finishes I’ve been loving with Minimalux and Dixon’s other pieces in the collection I think this marble finish is incredible. I’m searching for more concrete and stone objects at the moment. Available from Simon James here from $115.

Cut-Down Diamond Drop Earrings from Jessica McCormackThis is less for our registry and more an ‘I wish’ for the wedding day. These new earrings Jessica McCormack has designed would oh-so-conveniantly match my engagement ring she designed and made for us. (POA) www.jessicamccormack.com

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The perfect ensemble to capture that just got out of bed and put on my husbands shirt look… pared back luxury from Sherie Muijs. The perfect gift, this limited edition Nightshirt comes in navy stripe or white cotton.  Available exclusively from Simon James Concept Stores, and online here.

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Guests invited to the wedding of Jessica Hildebrand to Rhodri Ferrier at Aynhoe Park, Banbury earlier this year were treated to this incredible 6-tiered  cake. With rainbow-pop colours and blobs of butter-cream icing on the outside, and 4 tiers of  chocolate and 2 tiers of lemon within, this cake was a delicious treat both inside and out.

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Have you ever wondered why red roses are symbolic of passion and love? Did you know that lime blossom and coriander are seen as an aphrodisiac? And that ivy equals fidelity?

The language of flowers is a floral dictionary of meanings and emotions. Although this fantastic and comprehensive dictionary can be traced back to Shakespearean times, it was especially useful in the Victorian Era as a way of communicating secret feelings and thoughts, enabling users to send coded messages in a time where strict social boundaries prevailed.

All this was recently brought to my attention after reading the novel The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Although the storyline and characters perhaps lacked a little depth, the book comes with its own dictionary in the last page, which is just a very interesting collection of symbols and meanings in reference to this symbolic floral language.

Flowers play a major role in any wedding, and although everyone has their favorites, here are some suggestions if you are superstitious at heart:

Ambrosia ~ love is reciprocated

Arborvitae ~ everlasting friendship

Arbutus ~ you are the only one I love

Bird of Paradise ~ liberty, magnificence, good perspective

Stay away from the yellow/purple/striped Carnations

Coriander ~ lust

Gardenia ~ joy/good luck

Honey suckle ~ devoted affection, bonds of love

Ivy ~ for fidelity, but also means endurance and dependence

Red tulip ~ undying love

Peach Blossom ~ long-life, generosity, and bridal hope

Purple Tulips  ~ forever love
Words by Josephine Scandrett

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Drawing from the shape of the ring, Talita’s inspiration for flavours came from a feminine Yves Saint Laurent collection – bright pink with tastes of rosewater and sour cherry. Feminine, playful and artful – it’s a divine reworking of a special piece of jewellery into a very special dessert!

” I tried to think about the kind of flavors that can be associated with diamond rings, and couldn’t really come up with anything that wasn’t so farfetched. So I did a little research and found out that these bow rings were inspired by the 1983 collection by French fashion house YSL. The dresses featured huge pink bows which combined playful femininity and classic symbolism. So from this, a flavor profile slowly started to come together.” – Talita Setyady

” I knew I wanted to use rosewater to symbolize the classic and romantic nuances of the ring’s design. I paired it with a compote of French sour cherries “Griottines” – a very traditional french ingredient, which will emphasize the origins of the ring’s muse YSL. For the base, I used girly pink ladyfinger biscuits from “Massion Fossier” called Biscuits Roses de Reims which I ground up into a fine powder.  For the decoration, I went with a simple rose petal and a sugar diamond to give it a bit of regal quality.” – Talita Setyady

To see Talita’s previous dessert, a delicate and delicious take on a Curio Noir candle, click here.

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There is no surprise New York model-turned-stylist and Danielle Steel’s daughter Vanessa Traina looked incredible at her wedding to photographer Max Snow. Dressed in Givenchy with pared back make-up and hair she looked stunning in these images captured by Purple’s Oliver Zahm.

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