Page 19 - homestyle New Zealand (February - March 2020)

IN BRIEF
The Essence
— Discovering
the World of
Scent, Perfume The Essence (Gestalten, $120)
& Fragrance
What do Hollywood, the internet and
the climate crisis smell like? How does
our olfactory system even work, what’s
involved in the creation of perfume
and where does the civet cat come in?
So many crucial questions are answered
in this meticulously researched read.
Making sense of the mysterious power
of fragrance, it examines science,
history and culture to shed light
on aromas’ visceral allure. Like the
captivating whiff of an indelible
moment past, it’s so absorbing, Dove Grey Vintage Linen
it’ll stop you in your tracks.

Inspired by Nature by Hans Blomquist
(Ryland Peters & Small, $50)
Swedish art director and interior stylist
Hans began his career at Ikea but today
is in hot demand globally for his wild
and wonderfully rustic aesthetic that’s
the antithesis of ‘catalogue’. The garden
of his childhood home backed onto a Magic Spell
forest and instilled in him the deep love
of nature that’s become a signature
of his work. Here, he instructs how to
infuse our houses with charm using
items as accessible as dried grass.

The Home Upgrade (Gestalten, $65)
It takes imagination to renovate and
can often be easier to start anew, but
the rewards of reviving lovely bones are Parquet Simon Sunlight
immense. The intriguing projects in this
book take us around the world to former
thises and thats converted into current
masterpieces. They’ll open your mind
to the architectural potential that lies
within almost everything.