Bazaar Boutique | Before + Afters

December 17, 2024

Bazaar Boutique is a luxury fashion store based in our local neighbourhood, the seaside village of Ahuriri, Napier. It’s always been a treat to pop in and see what beautiful clothes and accessories are in-store, and we’ve had a special interest in the business since it was started by two young women in 2012, the same year that we started Bibby + Brady.

Custom joinery by Bibby + Brady in design store Bazaar Boutique — Photo: Florence Charvin

In 2023 the business was bought by Vicki Meech who was excited to merge her business experience with her love for beautiful clothing. Naturally Vicki wanted to put her mark on the store and give it a makeover. Working with local company, Your Solutions, who are specialists in commercial fit outs, the plan was to renovate as quickly as possible so as not to have the doors closed for too long.

We worked closely with Vicki on the design and new look. We chose a beautiful warm white paint from Aalto Paint for the walls and a slightly deeper shade for the floor, which was then sealed. This provided a beautiful neutral base to layer all of the gorgeous clothes and accessories on to, allowing them to shine. The new paint colour infused with subtle tones of raw umber and yellow oxide pigments, brings a soft welcoming glow to the space.

One of the most noticeable changes in the space is the relocation of the counter and the dressing rooms. Previously the check-out area was a large table to the side of the entrance with the dressing rooms on the far side. The table was a good size for display on top, but the space beneath was underutilised and lacked storage.

Now the counter is positioned in prime position straight ahead of the entrance. The scalloped front and sides adds subtle texture and hides the open shelving on the far side which is perfect for storing the printer, bags and much more.

Renovation of Bazaar Boutique in Napier by interior designers Bibby + Brady — Photo: Florence Charvin

When you stepped out of the dressing rooms previously you were visible to anyone in the shop. Removing the old dressing room walls and building a new one facing the back wall provides a lot more privacy.

The curved wall adds a softness, which is important in a small space where you want customers to be able to move around freely. The curves were repeated in the arched doorways and the mirrors on the opposite wall.

You can now open the curtains and use the mirrors inside and outside of the dressing room to see your outfit. Even if you step out you’re still tucked away from most of the store if you prefer your privacy. We used stunning linen fabric from James Dunlop for the curtains and luxurious wool carpet underfoot from Bremworth.

Another custom joinery piece sits in the middle of the store. It provides a place to display some of the accessories with more valuable storage below, and is also a lovely point of interest for customers when they first arrive.

Lastly, new shelving was added to display jeans, handbags and shoes - staple pieces in every girl’s wardrobe.

Working with Vicki and helping bring her vision to life was a joy. If you’re in Napier make sure you pop into Bazaar Boutique, there are exciting new things arriving all the time. Vicki, Krissy and their team will would love to help you find your perfect outfit. You can see all of the photos of the newly renovated store in our portfolio.

Favourite Finds

November 9, 2019

Many years ago when I was a full-time interior blogger I had a series of posts called Favourite Finds. When you’re constantly searching and sourcing beautiful products it’s hard to not want to buy one of everything for yourself! So I started a private Pinterest “wish list” board where I save all the beautiful things I’m coveting, not just furniture and homeware, but favourite fashion pieces, makeup, jewellery, books, appliances even. Anytime I want to treat myself I go straight to this board. We’ve decided to bring back this blog series so we can share with you a few of the favourite things we’ve found.

V I C ’ S P I C K S : : the first piece I want to share with you is a gorgeous ottoman we had custom made using one of my favourite fabrics. I love furniture pieces that are multi-purpose and this ottoman is a perfect example. Place it in front of your sofa so you can put your feet up, and it also works beautifully as a coffee table. Add a tray and/or a large coffee table book and layer with some favourite decor pieces. Alternatively pop it at the end of your bed to ‘anchor’ the bed. Handy for putting your shoes on and off, and to throw your clothes at the end of the day.

Pattern and colour are two things that make me happy, so this fabric by Catherine Martin for Mokum is my pick. But we can have these ottomans made up in a wide range of fabrics that will look stunning with the matt black powder coated metal legs. Measuring 1300mm wide x 650mm deep x 360mm high, the cost is $1890, which we think is a great price for such a special, custom piece of furniture. Get in touch if you’d like to buy this baby, or talk to us about getting one custom made in another fabric.

I’m wearing my second favourite find in the pic above. The Mazzy ankle boot from La Tribe has been on regular rotation in my wardrobe the last few months. In our job we can go from a client meeting, to moving furniture, to an on-site visit at a construction site, all in a matter of hours. We like to look good, but also need to be comfortable and practical, and these boots tick all the boxes. Bonus - they look great with jeans as well as skirts and dresses, I love the caramel suede and the cute Western cowgirl vibe.

You know you’re getting old when you get excited by a piece of cleaning equipment - sheesh! But my last pick, the Karcher Window Vac, has been a game changer for us. Cleaning windows is one of those jobs that no one likes, but boy does it make a difference to have sparkling clean glass to look out. The Karcher Window Vac is so awesome because it vacuums up the excess window as you clean, which I love. No more old towels along the bottom of the sills to catch the dirty drips. It almost makes cleaning windows fun - almost.

But what we’ve found this product really handy for is to clean our tiles at the end of every shower. When you spend a small fortune on gorgeous Italian tiles for your new ensuite, you really want to look after them. It only takes a couple of minutes to suck up all the water left on the tiles after a shower leaving them looking sparkling new. Come on now, you know you want one too ;)

Now moving onto Dael’s favourite finds…

D A E L ’ S P I C K S : : In my downtime I love to read (among other things), and “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” is a recent fave. I love this charming, quirky and enduring book. Eleanor has the ability to make you feel protective of her plus enjoy her company, even with her totally inappropriate social skills. Recommended by Reece Witherspoon as part of her book club, if it’s good enough for Reese… :)

As Vic said above, we need to look good in our job, but there are days when we might be climbing on ladders to hang art, or moving sofas around a room, and on those days a dress just isn’t going to cut it. These trackie pants are super comfy while still looking smart. The only problem is - I have to be stern and force myself to stop wearing them everyday!

I’ve recently finished renovating our kitchen and dining area and my last item is now top of my wish list. In fact, these chairs have been on the top of my wish list for far too long. I can't wait to have these stunning and comfortable chairs around my dining room table. If you share my love of green velvet these chairs can be yours too for $695 each. Drop us a line and we’ll make that happen.

As a part time member of our team, our friend Sally has contributed her three favourite finds as well. Let’s check out her choices…

S A L L Y ’ S P I C K S : : At no. 1 is The Beauty Chef Glow Inner Beauty Powder. It supports gut health and skin rejuvenation. An award winning delicious powder that contains more than 20 organic bio-fermented and probiotic superfoods to enhance your skin luminosity, clarity, hydration and texture. Mix it into filtered water, pop it in your smoothie, or sprinkle over your breakfast. Who doesn’t want luminous skin and inner health?

Next up, I love these Elho plant pots. Made from recycled plastic, they’re manufactured using 100% wind energy - how cool is that?! They come in a range of sizes and are great to pop a store-bought plant straight into. A great way to bring life and texture into your home.

Last but certainly not least, I’m definitely coveting this super pretty Society of Wanderers Euro Pillowslip Set in the Winifred Floral print. I love this beautiful print on 100% French flax linen, it’s perfect for adding a bit of colour to a plain linen bed setup. Now, with three daughters I just have to decide which bed they’ll go on, or maybe I’ll keep them for myself.

Well there you go folks, a bit of a medley, I hope we’ve inspired you with our favourite finds. If you have any questions about any of them, leave us a comment below or get in touch with us through our website, and look out for more of our faves coming to you soon.

Favourite Space | Sarah Zonneveld

March 21, 2018

Do you remember Carrie's walk-in-wardrobe in "Sex and the City"? It is still my dream wardrobe and what I'm hoping mine will look like one day soon (if we ever get our master bedroom extension off the ground). Our next 'favourite space' candidate took it one step further, she has a 'ward-room'! That's what happens when you are a serious vintage clothes shopper and your husband is a builder who is happy to convert a small bedroom into an entire walk-in wardrobe.

Sarah Zonneveld has lived in her Napier bungalow for 6 1/2 years with her husband, Norm, and two sons, Joel and Ethan. Surrounded by males (although she loves them all dearly), Sarah loves having something girly of her own; somewhere to retreat, and she confesses to sometimes getting stuck in there playing dress-ups and choosing her next outfit.

Not just her wardrobe, but most of her home is filled with beautiful vintage pieces that Sarah has lovingly searched for and collected. In fact even the extension at the back of their house is made, by Norm, from all recycled materials. Sarah had been looking for a beaded curtain for quite some time to hang on the entrance to her ward-room and found the perfect one on Trade Me recently.

She has such an extensive collection of clothes, jewellery and accessories, Sarah quite often has friends popping in to borrow something for an upcoming wedding or a school ball. She loves vintage fashion, but also pieces from different cultures. A 'creative gypsy' is what she calls herself, having taken on a lot of creative ventures, and a lot of travelling. She and Norm backpacked around Asia with the boys when they were younger, she also backpacked through Africa, and loved visiting India with her sister.

Norm built all the shelves and racks in the ward-room, and as Sarah's collection grows, he finds somewhere else to add a shelf, or a creative way to display items.

We asked Sarah a few questions, so she can tell you more about herself and her beautiful space...

What do you love most about this space - your ward-room?

It’s completely mine. It’s my girl zone in a house full of testosterone. I love being surrounded by my unique treasures and I can literally spend hours getting lost in my clothes and accessories. And I love that it’s my space to play dress-up every morning.

Can you tell us a bit about how long it took to create and how it has evolved?

I have the best hubby, he created this space for me because he knew I needed it, being the mad vintage collector that I am. I think he was scared I may take over his shed if he didn’t give me somewhere for my vast collection. I’ve been collecting vintage and op shopped treasures for well over 25 years.

My ward-room is constantly growing and being added to. I love to display things and I’m always asking Norm to hang something. We joke that there’s still plenty of wall space to put yet another shelf or hat rack, when in reality I’m fast running out of room!

What’s your favourite time of the day?

I don’t have a specific time that’s a favourite, but any time I’m op-shopping or working on a creative project is a good time of day.

Who or what inspires you?

I’m greatly inspired by other cultures and eras. I adore India, Egypt, Asia, anywhere exotic and unique. I’m drawn to the styles of other eras too, and will take pieces from the 70s and mix it with something that wouldn’t be out of place with Cleopatra or Queen Nefertiti.

What are your reading/listening to?

Reading – I always have my nose in a book but I’m currently devouring the latest issue of NZ Fashion Quarterly.

Music – Being a collector of everything, I also collect music and have an extensive playlist that’s constantly being added to. I love both old school and current music. My sons have introduced me to some incredible fresh talent that I would never have found on my own.

Sweet or savoury?

Savoury. Home grown or organic is how I like it.

Favourite drink?

My smoothie that I make every morning, I love to kick start my day with a good dose of greens.

Favourite thing you own?

A velvet ivy wreath that was worn by my Mum when she married my Dad. It was made by my grandmother who was a seamstress/dressmaker. I’m a sentimental soul so it’s an extra special treasure to me.

Top of your wish list for your ward-robe or home?

I’m on the hunt for a large rug for my lounge. No doubt I will come across the perfect one in an op shop!

As is usual with us when visiting these favourite spaces, we found one of our own. It's this gorgeous daybed nook at the bottom of Sarah's garden. Norm and Joel built it for Sarah 3 years ago as a birthday present. "We added the solar lights and the ivy is slowly growing up and over it," said Sarah. "I sometimes pull the screen down and fall asleep during the day, and the boys pull out the brazier and hang out there with friends. I love it, it brings me so much joy".

Thank you so much Sarah for inviting us into your home and world, you are truly a beautiful soul. Yours is the epitome of a house that's been turned into a home, and it's a true reflection of the people who live there - our favourite kind of house.