Favourite Space | Yolande Kjestrup

August 5, 2016

When the name Yolande Kjestrup was mentioned by a couple of different people recently, Dael and I decided to track her down. We styled the home of artist, Rae West, for a photo shoot (see page 50 of the August issue of Your Home & Garden), and her amazing Mexican-inspired outdoor room was designed by Yolande. We then visited the home of new clients and when we commented on their lovely backyard, they too had used Yo.

Rae West's outdoor room - photo by Sarah Horn for Your Home & Garden

In our job, we often work on exterior colour schemes as well as outdoor rooms, decks etc, so we'd been looking for a garden designer that we could work side by side with. We really love Yo's work and are excited about working with her on future projects - for our clients, and also for our new office and showroom.

Yo Designs is the name of her business, and under that banner comes The Green Room (garden consultation & design), and The Dressmaker's Wardrobe (vintage inspired fashion). "I never grew out of playing with dolls," says Yo. "I have three life size dolls I love to dress". She's talking about her three grown-up daughters who live in Auckland and Wellington - Hannah, 29, Romany, 24, and Brynne, 21.

The Green Room (website to come) is a garden design service based on sustainable principles. It's very important to Yo that she creates environmentally friendly gardens, and that she is able to educate people. "It's all about soil and water quality, and reducing plastic waste," she says. Yo can visit you for a consultation and provide you with her ideas along with the names of the plants she recommends, or you can take it further for a complete garden design. Her designs are like a work of art and all carefully hand-drawn.

I asked Yo a few questions so we could get to know her better...

What do you love most about your space - your work room?

Having the room to have several projects on the go at once. It's my multi-purpose creative space. I can set up a garden plan on the drawing board and think about it while constructing a garment at the table. What with the light, view of the garden from the window, music playing, I can stay there for hours.

What is your favourite time of day?

Early morning. I'm an early riser. I'm at my most productive first thing. I like to start work when it's still dark, check out what I've drawn the night before, see if I still like it, watch the morning come, walk the dog.

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm reading "Beautiful Me" by a local author Natasha Jennings.

What inspires you?

I believe you can't create in a vacuum. I like to get out and about to find inspiration. You can find it in the most surprising and everyday'ish' places.

Sweet or savoury?

Free range and ethically sourced.

Favourite drink?

That first early morning coffee!

Favourite item you own?

My photograph of the three girls. It was taken one Christmas by their father, Phil Tasker-Poland, who is a photographer and videographer. I love the joy and the movement.

Top of your wish list?

To turn the garden shed into a 'green' studio to showcase my designs.

Yo is weaving her magic on some living creations for our Bibby + Brady showroom, so you'll be able to pop in and see them soon. If you don't live locally I will be sure to post photos, and keep an eye out for her new website also.

Thank you to Florence Charvin for her fantastic photography skills.

I'll leave you with some more words from Yo...

"Green is not something you can buy. Green is a way of life. Treasure everything. Think permaculturally. Live sustainably in all ways. Make it, grow it, build it. Do all you can with what you have".

The Block Garage + Laundry | Girls vs Boys

August 2, 2016

The Block houses are nearly complete. The last week was spent on the garage and laundry, as well as fixing and finishing any last details throughout the house. It was another action packed week with loved ones visiting; a mysterious leak at Emma and Courtney's house; challenges that involved helping the community; and another altercation between Big Dyls and Peter Wolfkamp over the use of power tools after 6pm. All that on top of very little sleep and budget troubles, it's exhausting just watching! E+C took out their second win in a row, so their money worries are looking a little brighter.

Emma and Courtney: 1st place - 16.5 points (8 from Fiona and 8.5 from Paul)

High scores for spaces that are more about function than style, but the girls made some great choices. Their carpet is a practical grey that should hide many sins, and the teak cabinetry around the laundry warms the space and adds a bit more interest. A peg board tool wall and a pull-out work bench are handy and clever additions.

The laundry is practical and tidy with plenty of bench space and storage, and I like the subtle tiles which add a bit of texture. As much as we may not want to, we have to spend a fair bit of time in the laundry, especially if you have kids, so you want the space to be nice as well as functional.

Dyls and Dylz: 2nd place - 15 points (8 from Fiona and 7 from Paul)

With polished concrete floors and ply lined walls, the boys' garage is minimal but pretty cool. I like that mix of materials, and again it will be really practical and easy to keep clean.

Their clever addition is a set of pull-down stairs up to an attic space, which provides valuable additional storage.

The laundry set up is simple but practical. The black light switches are a nice touch.

Sam and Emmett: 3rd place - 14.5 points (7 from Fiona and 7.5 from Paul)

I really like Sam and Emmet's spaces, and I think it must've only been their finishes that let them down. They have a couple of extra rooms, which is great for re-sale but just more work for the boys to complete. They also used ply on some of their walls and I like the way they've finished it with the simple skirts and trims.

The Bosch tool wall won in a previous challenge is a massive plus for the future owners, and the bulk head with built-in speakers in very cool too. The boys had a "-1" to play but decided, after hearing the initial comments about their space, that they would hold on to it. This turned out to be a wise decision as it wouldn't have helped them win.

Sam and Emmett are the only ones with a seperate laundry, and it's a great space with fully tiled walls and large bench space for folding washing or laying out woollens to dry. The black and white links back to their kitchen.

Niki and Tiff: last place - 12.5 points (6 from Fiona and 6.5 from Paul)

It's not often we see Niki and Tiff at the bottom of the points ladder unless part of a strategic move. Their laundry space was their typical style with some beautiful tile choices. I love these along with the painted brick and panelled sliding door.

A wine fridge and a smaller fridge in the garage will come in handy, I'm sure, but I knew the jet black carpet in the garage was a mistake as soon as I saw them choose it. It looks smart for about 10 seconds and then "everything" will show up on it. I made the mistake of putting really dark carpet down once and never again - it was a nightmare. I know this is just a garage and not a living space, but because of that it's likely to get twice as dirty.

As usual the girls' styling and attention to detail is fantastic. I love the black sink and tap with the crisp white bench and dark blue tiles, along with the styling touches. Unfortunately, one of the reasons for their low scores were some untidy finishes, so there will be a lot for all of the teams to finish up this week in time for their open homes.

It's hard to believe the houses are nearly finished, it still amazes me at the rate these homes are turned around in. This week is outdoor week, and judging by the state of the mud around, it'll be an interesting one. I don't envy them! Catch up on all the news on TV3.

The Block Stairway + Entranceway | Girls vs boys

July 25, 2016

When I first heard that The Block teams had their entranceways to complete, I thought it would be a fairly easy week. But once I realised that it also entailed their stairways and additional landings and hallways I knew it was a much bigger than I first anticipated. It turned out to be the hardest week so far and not one of the teams were able to complete their spaces in time.

Dyls and Dyls won the "Block Stars" challenge with their acrobatic routine which gave them the ability to completely knock out another team from judging. It was no surprise that they chose front runners Niki and Tiff, which was a good call as the girls once again got the highest score. Emma and Courtney won a game changer challenge during the week which gave them the "-1 point" and they used that against the Double D's. So finally Emma and Courtney won a room reveal - even without playing the -1 the would've just pipped D+D.

Emma and Courtney: 1st place - 10 points (5 from Fiona and 5 from Paul)

The scores were all on the low side because there was so much left unfinished, but 10 points was enough to won this week. The repetition of black accents was nice in the girls' entrance. I like the clean lines of the console and the large round mirror which is a nice contrast to all the straight lines. Even better would've been a runner and a little bit more styling on the console, but that can all be added.

I like the mix of materials used on the stairs - wood, glass and chrome. Judge, Paul Izzard, really seemed to enjoy this week's judging with all of the architectural elements, and I agree that the slight overhang on the stair treads was a nice detail here.

A previous challenge win meant E+C got to commission a piece by artist, Greer Clayton. The piece she created for the girls is beautiful, and it goes to show what an impact a large scale artwork makes. The size is perfect for the space, and I like that the girls' console and styling are both simple as it allows the art to shine.

Dyls and Dylz: 2nd place - 8.5 points (4.5 from Fiona and 5 from Paul and a -1 from E+C)

Big Dyls designed and created his dream floating staircase for their home, and it was quite spectacular. Unfortunately a slight error in measuring put each tread out by 3mm, and meant they couldn't complete the stairs in time for the reveal. An extra step will have to be added in the coming weeks. I love the really large front door, and the plugs under the stairs mean a console table with a lamp could be added, which would look great.

The panelled doors look really nice down the hallway. The lights up the stairwell were a little too simple. In a stairwell where there is no furniture, you can afford to be more adventurous with your lighting choice. As Fiona said, treat it like a piece of art or sculpture.

The wall opposite the door is crying out for a lovely big piece of art. It would be a great focal point as you enter, but this can be added at a later date.

Sam and Emmett: 3rd place - 7.5 points (3.5 from Fiona and 4 from Paul)

Sam and Emmett had a rough week with flooding and failing to pass initial pre-line inspections, and their house was perhaps the most unfinished. I'm not a "red" fan so don't love their front door, but I know it's good luck in some cultures so I'm sure some prospective buyers will like it.

The window revealing a glimpse of the wine cellar as you descend the stairs is a clever feature and will also appeal to many.

The boys need to take a lesson in scale from Emma and Courtney. The artwork at the bottom of the stairs is far too small.

I photoshopped it to show you the size I think looks better. When it comes to art, if in doubt, always go bigger...

Also, the hall table is sweet, but the mirror is too small, and the styling a bit small and insignificant. Once again, these are all details that can be rectified, if not by S+E then by the new owners.

Niki and Tiff: taken out of judging by D+D through a challenge - 11 points (5.5 from Fiona and 5.5 from Paul)

My favourite of all the spaces, and the reason why is that Tiff gets all of those little details right. She knows how to work with scale and texture. The artwork is cool, I love the moody colours.

The white staircase with space between the steps creates a light, airy feel. It also allows the art and accessories on display to take centre stage.

The girls were the only team to use a hall runner, which I think is always a good idea for adding softness, texture, and sometimes colour and pattern. The large landing created a space that was almost another room in itself. The large window and the sky lights are brilliant - natural light is always a winner. I love the bench seat, but as the judges said, the cushions on the floor aren't that practical. A small chair, or even a pouf would've been a better choice, or nothing at all.

The round artwork is divine. A lot of people have been asking on our Facebook page where the girls get all their artwork, and I think Tiff sources it from a photostock library and then has it framed. Clever girl, and the round frame is fab - it's different, which I know Tiff always strives for, and it softens and contrasts the straight lines. Dael & I use circles as much as possible in our designs. A room will always be filled with straight lines and angles, so the introduction of circles and curves will be welcomed.

What will this week bring? Tune in for the action and drama, and for more pics and information, pop over to the TV3 website.