3 Wishes | The Scout

If you haven't discovered the amazing website, The Scout, then I'm more than happy to introduce you - you can thank me later :) Founded and run by best mates, Jacqui and Tara, The Scout brings you fabulous home inspiration, products and trends. After spending long hours trawling the internet looking for their 'must have' items, only to be disappointed that they couldn't get them in New Zealand, Jacqui and Tara only feature products that can be bought in New Zealand, or can be shipped here by global retailers - that is brilliant!

I decided they would be the perfect candidates for my next '3 wishes' post. For those who are not familiar with them, I get two 'friends' of mine to submit a product that is top of their wish list, and I choose the third. But because The Scout girls are forever hunting for incredible products, I knew they'd have way more than one thing on their list, so they have chosen all three. They did not disappoint, check out the amazing products they've chosen...

We’ve both been lucky enough to have had a sneak preview of super talented Tauranga artist, Mandy Williams’ beautiful new series of original artwork ‘Feathers & Spikes’. These striking pieces immediately draw me in with their seductive and elegantly woven mix of identity, culture and nature. My blank walls are screaming out for Mandy’s inspiring new artwork but my problem is deciding on which ones - I want them ALL! - Jacqui

'The Wood's - decorative hand blown glass sculpture. A collaboration between Norwegian design studios StokkeAustad and Andreas Engesyik. I’ve been wooed by this cute little cluster of trees and its whimsical design. The colour combo represents the seasons and they look like they’ve been removed straight from the pages of a children’s picture book. A quirky, fun and ‘just because’ piece! (Still scouting out how to get these to NZ) - Tara

On both of our wish lists is a leather Butterfly Chair (originally haling from Argentina), teamed with a gorgeously soft New Zealand sheepskin. We’re both in awe of the whole scandi aesthetic and this minimilistic, simplistic look fits perfectly with the Butterfly chair’s timeless style... and the fact that once you sit down it’s very hard to get up again! Stuck in the lap of luxury, YES please!

Thank you so much Jacqui and Tara for your wish list - I love them all!

Philip House NYC

Good fortune led me to find the beautiful Philip House on my cyber travels recently. It's one of those rare finds that makes your day a little brighter - the gorgeous interior design by Victoria Hagan is just exquisite. A soft and pretty colour palette features creamy whites, lattes, rich browns, and powdery blue. The aesthetic is a fabulous blend of classical and modern, with an air of sophistication.

Philip House is a classic pre-war condominium residence on the Upper East Side, New York City. The Cheshire Group assembled an amazing team for the development of Philip House to suit the lifestyle of today's Upper East Side, while still maintaining it's authenticity. In one of Manhattan's most desirable residential neighbourhoods, who wouldn't want to live here!

Victoria has chosen a palette of beautiful materials such as honed stone, natural wood, and fine marble. The furniture, craftmanship, and all the finer details are what make this residence so captivating to me. What do you think?

Izzy and Jean Co.

A couple of months ago I blogged about the home of Amber Lewis, an LA interior designer with an uncannily similar design aesthetic to me. I was inundated with emails and messages from people asking me where they could get a rug like the one in Amber's dining room.

Well, I'm happy to tell you that the fabulous Izzy and Jean Co. are now stocking a selection of these incredible Kilim rugs. Originating from Anatolia, Turkey, these vintage rugs are hand woven on a wooden loom as part of a dowry, and would've taken 7-8 months to weave. The 'eye' (zig zag) pattern has a special place in Turkish nomadic culture. It signifies banishing evil and danger, and represents luck, abundance and health. Now that alone seems like a really good reason to buy one of these beauties (as if I need a reason!).

If, like me, you love colour and pattern then have a look at these delicious Fouta Towels. I have a couple of these and they are so handy...  take them to the beach where they double as a towel and a picnic blanket, or even a sarong. Anything that looks good and is practical is a winner in my book. Hand loomed by Tunisian women, these towels are bigger, but less voluminous than a regular bath towel. They're softer, more absorbent, dry faster, and more resistant to colour fading. They'd make a great gift too, with Christmas approaching.

Another of the Izzy and Jean products that I really love are these Avarcas Pons, an everyday, all occasion sandal made with a leather upper and a lightweight rubber sole. Avarcas are the traditional footwear from the island of Menorca, Spain, and Avarcas Pons is a family owned business in Menorca that has been handcrafting the footwear since 1945. Their shoes carry the 'Product of Menorca' stamp that ensures the highest quality standard and the authenticity of the traditional avarca.

I've got my eye on a gold pair...

Or how about a pair of Moroccan Kilim Boots?! They're handmade in Marrakech from leather and vintage kilim rugs. Each pair is unique, and the leather gets softer with age and wear.

As well as plenty of amazing things for your home and wardrobe, we can't forget the men in our lives! Izzy and Jean stock a great selection of products for the blokes, including these cool Harris Tweed Toilet Bags. In fact you can find something for everyone in this awesome online shop, so pop over and see the full range for yourself.