Homestyle Magazine December / January 2025

Design Unplugged: Making spaces to take a break
The anticipation of summer holidays is in the air, and with that at the forefront of our minds, we've curated our December/January issue with a focus on spaces to take a break. The concept of 'Design Unplugged' - coined as our catchphrase this issue - first came up when I interviewed directors Stacey Lee and Anthony Mathile about their home in Joshua Tree. Stacey, a Mount Maunganui local, has made America her home, and while based in Los Angeles, both she and Anthony craved an escape from their busy schedules in the film industry, so they designed and built one! Complete with a listening room (their remedy for tuning out the noise) and hot tub for desert star-gazing, the space they've created is the sort of getaway I can really get behind. Check it out for yourself on page 90.
While on assignment for us in California, photographer Hazel Redmond also caught up with another expat duo, Gabrielle Mirkin and Luke Harwood - the entrepreneurial minds behind Activist Manuka. While still strongly connected to Aotearoa, they've made Topanga Canyon their home, and it was interesting to find out about how they've made a life for themselves that speaks to the idea of home being a place to nourish body and soul - read my interview with Gabrielle on page 36 to find out how they make that a priority for their family.
I'll tell you what, though, while inspired by the California dream these New Zealanders have adopted, I could just as easily get swept up in the sales pitch of a move to Hawke's Bay! We visit two new homes there, that both embrace living in the landscape in their own unique way. You can find Judy Johnson's barn-like retreat on page 48, and a multi-generational family sanctuary on page 78.
Whether your wanderlust leads you to desert, coastal, or forest hideaways, I hope you find time to unplug during the upcoming break. Personally, I find equal joy in retreating to a quiet corner at home with a good book or basking in the sunshine outdoors. Here's to discovering your laid-back style for effortless summer living.

Featuring:
- Desert, coastal and forest hideaways
- Best of the best architecture expressed
- Laid-back style for easy sumer living

Edited, designed and published in Aotearoa