KEY POINTS:
Design has played an intricate part in Hannah Skinner's life, from her childhood when her parents had an art gallery, to her current job at Indice. Skinner acts as company director and showroom manager for the Ponsonby-based design showroom.
The showroom, which opened in 1996, imports and showcases
contemporary Italian, German and French furniture, lighting, accessories as well as kitchen and storage systems. The showroom has a close relationship with Italian design manufacturer Driade, stocking pieces manufactured by the company including designs from Philippe Starck, Ron Arad, Antonia Astori and more.
Skinner is lucky enough to travel to Europe for furniture fairs each year, where she is exposed to the world's best design. She describes her own design aesthetic as eclectic, combining modern Italian design with more vintage inspired pieces - a taste reflected in her list of 10 favourite things.
1 Black and White photography
My parents had an art gallery in the early 80s, called Space on Elliot Street in Central Auckland. Their first exhibitions were Peter Peryer and then Anne Noble. My father was also president of Photo Forum. As a family we have quite a collection of photographs.
2 Crown Lynn, Titan and other pieces of pottery
There is a translucency to the glaze of a Crown Lynn piece and a softness that makes it lovely to handle. I'm drawn to the shapes and colours of the ceramics that I've collected. I also have my eye on a few pieces of my mothers... She has obviously passed her partiality - in my case partiality/weakness/inability to say no to the next purchase - for these lovely things on to me.
3 Books
I could spend hours in bookshops. Clothes shopping is more of a chore for me. I find poring over books much more relaxing. One of my favourites is a book of images of empty libraries. Beautiful spaces and loads of books!
4 John Reynolds
The way artist John Reynolds plays with words really appeals. He uses other people's words and everyday sayings in a witty - and so often relevant - way. Like "cursing and alcohol" - who hasn't been doing one and feeling like the other by the end of a particularly hard day?
5 Antique globe
This is actually my dad's, it's kind of on a long-term loan - thanks Dad! It dates to the Imperial time. So it's a geography and history lesson in one. I am fortunate in my work that I get to travel to Europe each year - I like to add on a bit of holiday time for me. What's the point of travelling that far and not seeking out something new each time? I'm often looking in my atlas too.
6 My Desk
The desk, "Monopodo" by Israeli designer David Palterer, is the first piece of furniture I ever bought from
Driade. I remember sitting down at it writing out the cheque and handing it over. There is a wonderful mix of contemporary and classic design elements in this piece. Modern furniture doesn't just mean minimal.
7 Lago chair
The body of work that Philippe Starck has produced with design companies over the years is vast, to say the least. Driade was the first company to manufacture his designs on a large scale. They have a lasting relationship. Together they push boundaries of form and material. I find this chair technically interesting. It is made of polyurethane and aluminium.
8 China teacups
Tea tastes better from a china cup. Some of these pieces were given to me by my grandmother and my great aunt. I think of them when I use those cups. Others I have collected on my travels - a thrift shop in Napa, an antique store in Lewis. I like the vintage feel and history each cup has.
9 Marimekko
Marimekko fabrics are beautiful. The fabrics are named and dated on the selvedge. I can't bring myself to have that piece hidden, so have incorporated it in to things that I've had made. Rubelli, Manuel Canvas and Fortuny fabrics are also firm favourites. I have lot of cushions made from the small pieces of fabric I could afford!
10 Bohemian glass
I remember going to a glassworks as a kid. It was amazing to watch the glassblowers at work. Borek Sipek is a master of this craft. The pieces he has made for Driade are on such an amazing scale. Beautiful and grotesque at the same time, but always functional.
