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Jane and Arch MacDonnell started their boutique graphic design studio, Inhouse, in 1995 from the front room of their house. Based here in Tāmaki Makaurau, their work focuses on the arts sector, particularly long-form publishing and projects that reflect and contribute to the culture of Aotearoa. They love making things that last and have a sense of place. 

A new publication designed by Inhouse is The Chair: A story of design and making in Aotearoa, made in accompaniment to the exhibition held at Objectspace Tāmaki Makaurau earlier in the year and now currently being shown at Objectspace Ōtautahi in the Sir Miles Warren Gallery. 

We visited their studio (a beautifully converted house) in Birkenhead, which sits amongst the treetops in a plot of established native bush. Jane and Arch shared some of their favourite items from Everyday Needs, things we still have in the shop and some archival pieces from previous years that are still very much well loved.

1. Cast Iron Bottle Opener

We seem to collect bottle openers. But once we had this one, the collecting stopped. It’s perfect — beautifully weighted and works a treat.

2. Walnut Spitz 

This is the pepper grinder above all others. Incredibly handsome and effective, it’s a lovely sculpture for your bench.

3. Self Watering Plant Pot

These pots are little gems. It’s good to know you can go on holiday and rest assured that your plants have water reserves.

4. Leather Fly Swat

Not only is this fly swat beautiful, it really works. The leather’s thwack is immensely satisfying.

5. The Chair: A story of design and making in Aotearoa

The Chair is on our list because it’s such a compelling read. It’s a rich archive of design and making of a single object in Aotearoa. So many voices and stories, beautiful photography and comprehensive research. We found ourselves constantly lost in the content.

Christian Dimick is an artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau, primarily working in the fields of painting, drawing, and sound to traverse ideas such as memory, intimacy, and sentimentality. Through their work in the studio, Christian forms a visual biography that exhausts the mediums of paint and canvas through reiterative processes of mark-making.

This year we worked with Christian to create our playful seasonal gift wrapping for 2023. Drawing is an integral part of Christian’s process and a part of their practice that isn’t often exhibited.

We visited Christian in their studio and chatted about five useful Everyday Needs items, things that compliment creativity.

1. Leather Notebook // Olive

For me it is always important to have something to draw or write on nearby. Having something with a solid cover is also crucial so it can survive a few months being thrashed around.

2. Mini Steel Toolbox // Silver

A sturdy little box, perfect for carrying around pastels and charcoal if you were doing some field work.

3. Hand Painted Cup

These cups are incredibly beautiful, not only as vessels but the painterly explorations on them pull on my heart strings. Got to get my hands on one of these for myself!

4. Unisex Everyday Tee // White

A little snug fitting white shirt is definitely one of my favourite things to wear, no need to think, just pop it on and it normally works with the rest of the outfit.

5. Dariwallah Stripe Bag // Medium

Super stylish tote bags. The colour range here is so gorgeous! I always carry a bag around with me and I have a feeling I'll be carrying around one of these all summer.

Kirsten Dryburgh is a self-taught Auckland-based potter passionate about experimentation, invention, and design. She finds inspiration through exploring the social and historical narratives around everyday objects. She uses both wheel throwing and hand-building to create functional domestic ware. With a background in floristry, illustration, and fine arts sculpture, Kirsten aims to enhance and elevate everyday domestic rituals by transforming texture, colour and form.

We chat to her about her love of utilitarian and simple objects that stand out for their beautiful design and craftsmanship. Things that would enhance the rhythms of everyday life.

1. Table Brush

This compact little brush and shovel really appeal. I love the natural materials and craftsmanship, but also it's such a space saver. In our kitchen we’re really pressed for space. This would fit perfectly into the smallest of spaces. (I’m also intrigued as it’s made in Sweden and I come from Swedish heritage.)

2. Walnut Scissors

When I first left school I trained as a florist for 4 years. These are very reminiscent of the scissors that we used to use. I still dabble a bit in the studio when I’m creating displays with my vases. The wood in the handles would definitely add comfort - and they just look so good!

3. Railroad Lantern // Olive

Barbecue’s, outdoor dinners, camping… this little number is just romantic.

4. Swiss Army Knife // Walnut

Can’t beat a good army knife. The blade, the screwdriver - bottle opener. All things I would put to good use in the studio, or the home for that matter.

5. Pocket Measuring Tape // Khaki

When I was a kid I’d visit my grandparents on their farm. The best places were the working spaces, my grandma’s sewing room with its containers of buttons and glory box of saved fabrics and my grandfather’s tool shed with the smell of grease and wood. This item for me has the nostalgia and the magic of those spaces.

Maya Handley is the baker/owner of Florets Bakery in Grey Lynn Auckland. Florets focus is on baking highly nutritious bread, and creating beautiful sandwiches and sweets with seasonal produce. They use whole-grain flour and slow sourdough fermentation to create nutrient dense loaves with great flavour and keeping quality. Maya sources seasonal and sustainably grown ingredients including flour grown biodynamically by Milmore Downs in Canterbury. Florets love preparing delicious food and coffee to nourish the community, 

Maya lives in Titirangi, in an old brick house built in 1946, together with her husband, they have been slowly renovating it and working with the help of her Mum to weed and restore the native bush surrounding the home. After having lived in NY and LA for 13 years, living now surrounded by all these trees is very uplifting.

1. Birch Broom

We have this at our front door and it's such a nice small and lightweight broom to quickly sweep up leaves from our entrance.

2. Tall Rattan Basket

We have a few of these at home and I find them super useful for collecting and carrying washing. I like the refined tight weave and how light they are.

3. Sori Yanagi Kettle

I love coffee in the morning and tea all afternoon long. I use this kettle multiple times each day after work to make my herbal tisanes. It's so functional and beautiful to look at kept out on the stovetop.

4. Copper Tea Canister

We find this very useful to store and scoop freshly ground coffee for the weekend. The finish is beautiful and reflects light nicey.

5. Autumn Leaves Incense

I like lighting incense to start my mornings on the weekend, I love the warm musky feeling of this Autumn scent.

Founder of our new favourite knife brand Nůž, Madison Baker has knife-making in her DNA – back in 1983, her father started knife brand Svord. When designing the Nůž knives, Madison wanted to ensure the materials used were either recycled or from sustainable sources. All emissions generated in the production process are offset, resulting in a product that doesn't cost the earth.

Every Nůž knife is made to last – and, more importantly, to keep its edge. With a background in mechanical engineering, Madison brings experience in manufacturing and business management. We chat to her about her favourite Everyday Needs items.

1. Aran Sweater // Charcoal

With the cold winter months upon us, I love layering up with a thick wool sweater. A good quality sweater like this will keep you warm for years to come.

2. Buono Drip Kettle // 1L

One of the best moments of the morning is sitting down with a fresh cup of coffee. Perfecting the art of making the best cup is meditative.

3. Arnold Circus Stool // Sage

A versatile, minimalistic stool - perfect for extra seating when you need it.

4. Stainless Steel Thermos // 1L

Road trips wouldn't be the same without a thermos of hot coffee or tea. Stanley never fails to keep my drinks hot.

5. Hip Roof Steel Toolbox // Silver

Keeps the essential tools together to repair, build or design anywhere.

Matt Arbuckle splits his time living and working as a practicing artist between Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, New Zealand and Narrm, Melbourne, Australia. His practice is a process-driven exploration of place, representing landscapes that are conceptualised through their very making. Through an experimental practice that favours process over outcome, he uses elements of traditional Japanese shibori dying techniques to create abstract compositions by wrapping, twisting, folding and draping fabric over found surfaces and structures.

1. Bird Silo // Camp Green

There are a lot of hungry tūī around our house and it's nice to be able to give them some extra sustenance. The feeder also adds some interesting angles amongst the foliage,

2. Toast Tongs

An uncomplicated tool that helps me avoid disasters daily.

3. H&S Tall Stacking Glasses // Pair

The simplicity of a glass that stacks neatly and easily in the cupboard is so satisfying

4. Picnic Blanket // Fig Yellow

I have never heard yellow described as fig, but it's got me thinking. The colour yellow was used by ancient cultures to replicate and harness the divine power of the sun. The sun is one of the oldest and most central symbols to any picnic. Yellow figs tend to taste sweet.

5. Claude Megson: Counter Constructions

There aren't many books out there that celebrate NZ architect Claude Megson. Giles Reads Counter Construction is a thorough insight into Megson's experimental and complex designs. One of the buildings featured in the book is The Rees Townhouses. Friends and I had an exhibition called Full House (2020) in one of these Megan townhouses. The multi leveled labyrinth of sorts was perfect for displaying paintings and objects.

Sarah is the General Manager at Kelmarna Gardens in Ponsonby, central Auckland and has held leadership roles in the urban farming and community gardening realm for eight+ years. In her role at Kelmarna Gardens, she's working to champion and demonstrate a regenerative local food system that supports climate change mitigation, urban resilience and community wellbeing.

1. Kawakawa Healing Balm

Kawakawa is such a special plant. I'm grateful for the gifts it gives us, such as this nourishing balm.

2. Woven Face Cloth // Walnut

I love a good face cloth, and this one ticks all the boxes. Great texture, beautiful colours and sustainably sourced materials.

3. Chocolate Bar // 73% Dark Chocolate

These are some of the best chocolates I've ever had. I especially appreciate their dark varieties, so good!

4. Recycled Sari Twine

A fabulous solution for gift wrapping, and one that you can reuse over and over again. The bright colours are lovely, a great way to use old sari materials.

5. No.08 Tradition Knife // Red

Great pocket knives, which can serve many purposes. I like to use these for harvesting veg from the garden. Handy that they fold up too!

Our friend Scott Brough is a ceramic artist working from Heretaunga, Hastings. His work is inspired by the tactile qualities of Japanese and Korean ceramics. He makes his own clay mixes from bought and local clays, with fine pumice, sand or stone to open the clay’s texture. Scott has recently returned from a month long residency at Driving Creek Railway and is currently working towards a joint exhibition with Yasmin Dubrau, which will be a collection of paintings and ceramics.

We are happy to share Scott's unique edit of five Everyday Needs pieces that he loves.

1. Summer Taper Candles // Joined Wick

Hōhepa has been a big part of my life since I have been in Hawke's Bay. As well as just being beautiful candles, they are also made by some of the loveliest people you can meet.

2. Stainless Steel Grid Iron

We love cooking outside over a nice fire and this would be perfect for cooking flatbreads and plenty of other things.

3. Handmade Ceramic Teapot // Dreamcake

Big fan of Ford's Factory: love the free, inventive style and use of colour. Two big ticks for art and function!

4. Woven Chef's Apron // Wild Yam

Would totally rock this in the kitchen, and the fabric looks like it would wear beautifully over time.

5. Kamenoko Tawashi Cleaning Brush

The best cleaning brushes... they last for so long and you don't need to use so much washing liquid. Once they are worn out we demote them to using in the studio or in the garden.

Nikau Hindin (Ngai Tūpoto, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi) is a barkcloth maker who works with aute (paper mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera) and natural earth pigments. Nikau has spent most of the past decade dedicated to remembering and reinvigorating the practice of aute in Aotearoa. Her practice is devoted to the life cycle of the paper mulberry plant, from its growing and harvesting, to processing the inner bark and creating a fine white cloth. Working intimately with plants, she aligns her practices with the maramataka, Māori Lunar Calendar. Using earth pigments to inscribe her aute pieces with design systems that come from rectilinear whatu raranga and tukutuku patterns.

Nikau's pieces are born from Māori conceptions of time and space. Star maps record the rising and setting of stars like Matariki, Puanga, and Rehua on the horizon and come from the navigational system of the star compass. She uses her maps as mnemonics to record the movement of stars in relation to the stellar lunar calendar and tracks their seasonal changes.

Nikau is also teaching this knowledge to a new generation of makers and has great hopes and aspirations for the practice of aute in te ao Māori.

1. Vrou Waffle Throw // Cypress

I am not going to lie, I collect blankets. So This would either find its way onto a bed or couch, but mainly I love to take my blankets to the marae with me so I stay cosy.

2. Arnold Circus Stool // Navy

The perfect stool/ bedside table/ plinth for art objects.

3. Ash Spitz and Walnut Spitz

These are so gorgeous. Never underestimate the satisfaction of a good salt and pepper grinder. I use these at least three times a day.

4. Japanese Suri Pestle and Mortar

It would be hard not to use this for my art practice to grind earth pigments, but I would keep this in the kitchen for grinding herbs and making guacamole.

5. Rush Table Mat // Small

These are so beautiful. I love anything hand woven and sturdy.

Artists Ophelia and Ryder have carved out a beautiful, inspiring and creative life. Making engaging and interesting works across multiple mediums. Ophelia was Everyday Needs' very first employee 10 years ago when we first opened up shop on Ponsonby Road.

"We work together taking photographs and art directing. Ryder makes sculptures and writes. Ophelia takes photos and draws. We live in Northland by the ocean with our son who is one. We love being at home in the garden, cooking, pushing our baby in his swing in the willow tree and going to the beach to swim."

We are happy to share Ophelia and Ryder's edit of five Everyday Needs pieces that they use and love daily in their home along with their little one.

1. Wooden Whale Toy

Ryder - Once I found a bookmark of a blue whale just like this. I picked it up and I thought I wanted to be like that whale, steady and calm. Then I bought this little wood whale for my son and he likes it very much. I think the bookmark whale and the wood whale are brothers.

2. Vadoek Cotton Tea Towel // Pesto

Ophelia - I love these tea towels so much. They are thick and absorbent. I like to tuck them into my trousers when I am doing the dishes- like it's a half apron- just for an excuse to wear one.

3. Interior Portraits

Ryder - I love when art and life overlap inside a house. All of Leslie Williamson's books are so inspiring to me. Ray Kappe’s sunken lounge, those bold blues and that mossy green carpet! Also the Tor House. Robinson Jeffers gothic seaside castle! I see candles flickering as a storm rages outside.

4. Chocolate Bar // Mangawhai Sea Salt

Ophelia - We live a 5 minute drive from Bennetts chocolate shop where this chocolate is made. I love going there as a family and sitting in the courtyard and drinking hot chocolate. I love that in this bar they use salt that is harvested from the beach nearby. It is salty, creamy and delicious. It is my favourite treat. It is also the perfect size to send in a birthday card to a friend.

5. Kamenoko Tawashi Cleaning Brush

This is my go-to scrubber. Music and this coconut scrubber elevate the mundane experience of dishwashing to pure satisfaction. Clean dishes glittering in the rack! Tiles wet and clean! One time I heard someone say you should wash each dish like you're washing a baby Jesus!

Whakaawa Te Kani is the co-founder of Noa Blanket Co, along with her husband Josh. Born and raised in Tauranga Moana, they spent their upbringings immersed in Maori culture and developed a passion for Māori language, art and customs. We chat to Whakaawa about the project, her favourite Everyday Needs items, and how they acknowledge Matariki each year.

At Noa Blanket Co. we weave luxury New Zealand Wool blankets that share our unique stories. Intentionally drawing on Māori design, made here in Aotearoa and released in a limited series format, Noa blankets embellish the opportunity to create deeper meaning to the ceremony of gift giving. These treasured designs become a keepsake, an art form reflecting our national identity within our homes.

Each Matariki our whānau (family) climb to the summit of our maunga Mauao to observe Matariki rising with the sun. From the summit, we look up and think of our dearly departed as they take their final journey to become stars in the heavens. We look upon the land as the sun lights up the environment, we welcome the dawn of the new year and set our intentions and focus for the future.

1. Japanese Vanity Box

This beautifully crafted box is the perfect place to store taonga, your special pieces. I love the texture and colour of the wood, a wonderful way to bring a little bit of our natural environment into our home, a perfect addition to any vanity.

2. Woollen Slippers // Pompom Closed Back

As the season changes and cooler months set in, I love a good pair of woollen slippers, wool is such a beautiful and renewable fibre with an inherent sense of luxury.

3. Belgian Linen Stripe Rug

A rug can completely transform a space and the subtle colors in this rug are perfect for any situation. and I'm a sucker for natural fibers.

4. Sal's Suds

I have used Dr. Bronner's products for years, I love how you only need the tiniest amount to do a lot! Smells good too!

5. Cast Iron Skillet

We love kai in our whānau and can't go past cooking with cast iron! so multi-functional either over open flame or baking in the oven!

Yasmine Ganley is the Editor of ISLAND magazine and founder + curator of anyonegirl. Also a mother, photographer, film curator and stylist, she balances all these roles in one big beautiful mash from her home in Titirangi, New Zealand.

Always a source of inspiration, we are happy to share Yasmine's unique edit of five Everyday Needs pieces that she uses daily in and around her home.

1. The World of Apartamento book

I remember coming across Apartamento magazine, issue 03 in a corner store in New York, and have collected it ever since. They're a wonderful, timeless reference that I love to revisit. I don't yet own this book, but it is on my wish list.

2. Sans ph Shine + Corrector

This is my favourite Sans product, especially at this time of the year when my hair is dry from all the sun and saltwater from last summer. Highly recommended.

3. Wooden Toolbox // Medium

My partner bought me this keepsafe a few birthdays ago, and I keep my jewellery in it. I love the colour and the scent of the wood every time I open it. Beautiful and functional.

4. Stanley Stainless Steel Thermos

We love our thermos, and make any excuse to use it. Nothing better than a cuppa outside!

5. Walnut Spade

I used to think that any spade would do, until I tried this one.