NZ House & Garden and Kitchen Tour

Happy Friday! Fridays for us, are home days. No preschool, no teaching. The kids spend the day playing and blobbing out. I kick the day off with a bootcamp and spend the rest of it cleaning the house and drinking tea whilst I hang out with the kids before the days get busy again over the weekend with sport and catching up with friends. 




Its that time of the month again when another copy of NZ House & Garden is about to hit the shelves. Ive been super lucky to get a sneak peek inside of the July issue and what an issue it is. You can imagine my delight when I came across the home of Claudia and Nick of Father Rabbit who are such an inpiration to me and have been for some 6 years or so, now.

Claudia and Nicks home appears in the special feature, More or Less where NZ House & Garden features 3 minimalist homes and 3 maximalist homes. For minimalist Claudia, everything in her home has to have a purpose or things must be absolutley loved.  

NZ House & Garden's intention this issue was to show the contrast between homeowners who collect and display their treasures and those who prefer the clean, uncluttered look in their homes.



Another little surprise in this issue was the bonus mini recipe book that I found inside of the magazine. A beautiful collection of Italian recipes inspired by winter and the warmth and generosity of the Italians and their hospitality skills. Hearty soul-soothing food that doubles as both comfort food yet still impressing your weekend guests. Be sure to pick yourself up a copy on Monday. So much goodness to ponder over with a good cuppa tea.




Since spotting this home in the Australian Interior Design Awards a few weeks ago, I have been in awe. The whole home is fabulous, but the kitchen is really quite something else. Oh and those chairs! The perfect pop of colour in an otherwise neutral room. This project was completed by SJB and photographed by Anson Smart.

Happy Weekend.

Amy x

Local

If you have followed Milo and Mitzy for some time now you will know that I am a big fan of cafes and restaurants, the culture that comes with these places and most importantly the design and food. So I am excited to launch my series - Milo and Mitzy Visits.







I have had my eye on this new Palmerston North joint, Local, since it opened in March this year. I was lucky enough to visit upon closing recently to photograph their incredible space.  Their aesthetic is amazing. Every little detail has been thought through down to a tee. The colour choice is bang on point, those indoor tiles are really quite something else and that amazing front signage, you cannot miss it, thats for sure.  With the help of design company Material CreativeCafe Local owners, Father and Daughter duo Bex and Tim, really have hit the nail on the head.

And now let me get to the good bit. The coffee, honeslty I can say was to die for, creamy and full of flavour, just how I like it. And while I only had a savoury muffin, I am pretty fussy with my savoury muffins as my mother in law makes the best in the country, but seriously, these were spot on, heated with a good side of butter! Whats not to love? Local, A must visit when in the mighty Manawatu.

Amy x

Phototgraphy by Amy Tennent for Milo and Mitzy

If you have a space that you would like Milo and Mitzy to visit, be it a design store, fashion store or an eatery of some sort, do drop me an email. This post was created in collaboration with Cafe Local. All opinions are my own.

Lujo, Koyoto Indoor Beanbag Collection


I am all about comfort in my home. One of my absolute favourite things to do is to kick back with a new magazine and a cup of tea; a very rare treat in my household. So when I mention comfort in my home, of course it has to be stylish, too. Thank goodness that New Zealand’s boutique relaxation-inspired furniture manufacturer Lujo have incorporated my two must haves into their latest Kyoto Collection of Indoor Beanbags.


This luxurious range features a deluxe XL beanbag chair, an ottoman and a footstool all made from easy care commercial grade Textilia® fabrics. The Koyoto range is modern with a classic spin, meaning that the pieces wont date and will fit within a wide range of interior and decor styles. The attention to detail and craftsmanship is immaculate and the colour range is second to none, a sophisticated colour palette suited to a variety of styles.

Lujo believe that each of their pieces of furniture must impress visually, must maximise relaxation and must stand the test of time (their five-year warranty speaks volumes!). This latest range of Kyoto bean bags certainly does that and they offer free shipping!


A piece of furniture for my home that is extremely comfortable and enduring, as well as being aesthetically pleasing, making a real statement in any room. That sounds right up my alley. The tough choice now is which to pick.

Amy x

This was a sponsored post in collaboration with Lujo. All opinions are my own. I only work with brands that fit with Milo and Mitzy.

GABBE X By the horns X Staple + Cloth

Happy hump day. Change of career for me today. I go from being a primary school teacher one minute, to spending my day at home blogging, photographing and answering emails. Suits me well as I am get bored very easily. A bit of art love, fashion and some gorgeous interior inspiration on todays post. Enjoy.





 

Again, kicking off todays post with another flippen incredible kitchen and living area by design company GABBE. I can't get enough of this companies work. I mean seriously, those tiles, the wooden accents and those black window frames. What is not to love? Oh and did you see that there is a kilim in their kitchen... I die!



        

You know how much I love a good farm print? Amanda King, creator of new company By the horns nails it. I am loving what I see so far and I am excited that Amanda is in the process of adding to her range and building her profile. I was lucky enough to have Amanda share a bit of an insight on what goes into creating By the horns.

First and foremost, I am a mother, farmer's wife, school teacher, children's photographer and now the creator of 'By the horns,' fine art prints. I grew up in Australia, met my husband in Croatia while on our OE, and now both living on the family farm in a small town called Windwhislte. I studied Education and have been teaching for 11 years, but during this time discovered my passion for photography. Anybody who knows me will tell you my love for animals, and I find myself lucky to be living on a farm and looking at these beautiful creatures every day! If only I could keep them all as pets. I plan on building on my portfolio in coming months, and years.  
By The Horns started all because I decided I wanted a large print for myself of a Highland Cow in my living room. After taking the picture, getting it printed on museum quality paper and then of course framed,   I started to get interest from other people and decided to get out there and take more photos of all rural animals for prints! 
 Great photographs move me, so I am happy to be an avid photographer hoping to produce my own moving images.  Photography forces you to look at the world much harder than normal. It makes you find intriguing, unusual, and stunning beauty in unexpected places, and forces you into new spaces looking for more! I really do enjoy what I do, whether that is taking photos of children or animals!
I get a lot of inspiration from Instagram. I love to see how people are using artwork to accentuate their living spaces.  Some of my favourites I am currently following are @thewhiteroominteriors_nyc, @themodestfarmhouse, @well_isnt_that_lovely, @norsuinteriors, @_myhousemystyle_, @the_stables_   just to name a few!!!
Thank you so much Amanda for that insight into life behind By The Horns. If you are looking for a special piece to add to your walls, this is your place. Happy Shopping.



As a long time fan of New Zealand designed and made, Staple + Cloth, I am noticing that the brand just keeps going from strength to strength and is only getting better with age. Classic and modern, understated and elegant, the Spring Collection of Day Vs Night has my name all over it.

Amy x

Home Tour X Hem Pocket Chair X Standard Issue





Friday! Hallelujah! We have a ball on this weekend which will be lots of fun and the usual weekend sport. I wanted to end the week on the blog on a high. I have been saving up this beauty of a home to show you for a while now. I'm obsessed. Created by design company GABBE, this home has everything that I love; beautiful tile and brick wall, vintage furniture, linen curtains, antique styled tap fittings and the most incredible windows. GABBE have created such an incredible space.



I have long lusted over these Hem Pocket Chairs by Ding3000, from The Ivy House. If I could deck my whole dining room table out in that natural colour I would be one super happy lady.



I am loving the gorgeous knits this season from Standard Issue. You cant beat an amazing knit paired with jeans. A winter staple. And the detailing that Standard Issue use on each garment is phenomenal.

Amy x

Home tour X Annise Designs

Small businesses are killing it at the moment. Its all thanks to hard work and the power of social media. If you can acheive getting your business seen as cool and the latest must have on social media, you are on your way to nailing it. Part of this is by using influencers in your line of work to get your products out into the pucblic eye. I believe that this type of advertising is the way forward. There is a cost, these influencers are running a business, also. However a cost I feel is crucial. I will talk further into this at some stage, but for now enjoy a beautiful hometour and a gorgeous small local business, Annise Designs.









Here is an example of a home mixing old and new so perfectly.  The white walls, wooden floors and brass fittings combined with pops of muted colour really work. This incredible home by Templeton Architecture is an entry in the 2017 Australian Interior Design Awards.




Annise Designs is a firm favourite of mine and it is fair to say, they are nailing it in the candle industry at present.

The candles are all hand poured and are made from soy wax which is derived from soy beans. Soy wax burns cleaner than paraffin wax and is eco-friendly, sustainable and is non-toxic, an absolute winner in my books.

I cannot tell you enough, how lovely my home smells when I light a candle from Annise Designs. Always a comment made by visitors. Such a lovely gift for friends and family and the customer service is outstanding. Can you tell that I am loving this brand?

Photography and Styling by Amy Tennent, Milo and Mitzy

Amy x

Fremont Hide x Strangers Collective x Robson Rak

Happy Sunday to you all. I thought, what better way to finish off the week than to introduce you to some rad brands and some outstanding design?






Fremont Hide. These caps sure are a staple in anyones wardrobe. Male or Female. AND super comfy. A must have. Like seriously, these guys, Elena and Rick, are all over it. I was lucky enough to have virtual chat with one half of the creative duo, Elena. I love a good story and this one is a goody.

Our story started when we were travelling around Mexico and the states, we found some really cool markets which had beautiful leather goods. It inspired us to start our own business and support the NZ leather market as NZ is well renowned worldwide for producing some of the best leather. We decided to use deer leather, as the industry is in decline, yet, it is some of the best leather in the world. We were inspired to hand make our products in New Zealand to support the local economy. 

We love that each of our caps are unique, due to the individual characteristics of each animal hide and the limited runs we make.

We hand make around 10 - 20 hats of each colour and hand pick each hide used for the hats and we name each hat after a special place we have visited. 

The hats are super comfortable and are adjustable to anyones head. They are great for travelling because of the flexible peak and design, meaning you can throw it in your bag, and not worry about it getting crushed.

Honestly, I highly recommend adding one of these amazing Fremonte Hide caps to your wardrobe. A necessity, for sure!




Strangers Collective - a beautiful, curated collection of unique and well designed pieces for your home. Strangers Collective was born when two design mad Mums, Leigh and Lysh, joined forces. From cute little ceramic bowls, to handwoven beautiful throws, amazing hand drawn prints and even plant based hand soaps and creams, so much goodness in one space. Three of my personal favourite above. Watch this space. I believe Strangers Collective are ones to watch.








And lastly, lets finish off with some clever work from the ever talented Robson Rak Architects. Robson Rak Architects gave this incredible family home a complete re-design using a mix of bricks, polished concrete and dark oak textures and ensuring to open the living areas to utilise the outdoor space.

Photography by Lisa Cohen and Mark Roper

Amy x

Annabell Kutucu

I have always adored Annabell Kutucu hence the reason I am head over heels for this newly transformed apartment in Vienna...