Your Home and Garden December 2016

Welcome to Your Home and Garden: the festive edition! Looking at this issue, it’s obvious our team are excited about the big day (and the holiday afterwards), and we know you are, too. We asked on Facebook if you had any family Christmas traditions to share – the response was overwhelming, so we turned some of your feedback into a feature on page 76. It’s one of my favourite stories in the issue – you got me all emotional! The traditions you hold dear are wonderful – they’re inspired by your family histories, cultures, religions, communities, life events, losses and loved ones. They create emotion, connection, and highlight the importance of remembrance, living in the moment and looking forward to the future. Exactly the things that Christmas should be all about!…

Homestolove.co.nz Get outdoors Gardening to-do lists and outdoor inspiration. DIY projects Low-cost ways to get your home ready for sale. Instagram We love seeing images from our #yourhomeandgarden community. Especially rooms you’ve styled, shops you’ve spotted, painting you’ve completed, or a snap of you with the latest issue of YH&G. @yourhomeandgarden Facebook The posts you loved most this month on facebook.com/YourHomeGarden were:…

Bargain of the month We love candles at Your Home and Garden and believe Christmas is not complete without one or two, or maybe even a few. This marble and brass five-cup tealight holder would make a cute gift, and would look great on the Christmas dining table or mantelpiece. Best of all, it’s only $9. From Kmart. Marvellous metallics Kikki.K has your Christmas sorted with its annual influx of gorgeous decorations and decor, along with gift wrap, tags, cards and tape. Metallics are strong in this year’s collection, as are monochromes and, of course, red and white. If you’re looking for gift ideas, there are cookie cutters, candles, diaries and ornaments too. kikki-k.com Set in stone Cute and on-trend, these concrete Santas would make the perfect addition to your festive display. Try these little…

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Christmas Day shouldn’t just be about the traditional turkey and all the trimmings. Sometimes, when you can’t face another bowl of Aunt Peggy’s trifle, it’s nice to plan for a late-afternoon light meal. A grazing table will take centre stage in our less traditional Christmas this year and we’re hoping our family and friends who spend this special day with us will find the simple yet sophisticated styling a refreshing change. And as we’re never sure what the weather will do on the day, we’ve planned it so it can be set up indoors or out. The hero of our setting is the striking Markantonia floral arrangement that hangs over the dining table like a giant Kiwi mistletoe. You can make your own arrangement or wreath with dried or fresh flowers and even…

Soft greens and clean lines will bring a sense of calm to the busy Christmas period RELAXED DINING Minimalists and meditative types will love this calm dining room setting, which features sleek details and styling. We’ve created a tonal colour scheme using several soft greens, adding occasional darker pops to bring out the green of the tree. In keeping with the minimal look, the table setting is simple, with just a touch of greenery. DIY DECOR We used Resene testpots in ‘Laurel’, ‘Tasman’, ‘Half Forest Green’, ‘Celtic’ and ‘Spanish Green’ to turn inexpensive polystyrene balls into simple, eye-catching decorations. To fasten the balls to the tree, make nylon loops and push them into the balls with coloured push pins. TIP: When painting baubles, stick a long skewer into them so they are easy to hold. All you…