Helen Lennie was so keen to see the world, that on her 18th birthday she bought a one-way ticket out of New Zealand. After much globetrotting she settled in Sydney and was headhunted by Chanel to work in its Castlereagh St boutique in the city centre.
It was in the
boutique in 1998 that Helen met fellow expat David Lennie and, attracted by his dry sense of humour and offbeat love tokens such as a bunch of maize rather than flowers, fell in love. Within six weeks they were engaged, Helen waved goodbye to Chanel and rolled up her sleeves to work side-by-side with David at his company Signature Prints - the wallpaper and textiles business that owns the Florence Broadhurst library of designs. She was initially a business partner as sales and marketing director by day and barmaid by night to keep herself in shoes and frocks.
One of her main roles at Signature Prints is making sure clients - demanding excellence in their purchases of luscious fabrics, magnificent wallpapers and lifestyle accessories - get exactly what they want.
Helen's passion and David's dreams keep them both going, and their marriage has survived the hot-house creative atmosphere of Signature Prints and its daily production dramas. It even survived the fateful garage sale when Helen sold David's treasured antique Chinese jade sword to a pleasantly surprised bargain hunter for $20.
MY 10 FAVOURITE THINGS
1. Throws
My Florence Broadhurst throw in Japanese Bamboo lined with cashmere - the reason we don't get out of bed early on Sundays.
2. Fresh flowers
I love loads of fresh flowers. My favourites for dinner parties are sculptural arrangements - lots of succulents mixed with dark aubergine calla lilies, white catleya orchids and exotic nepenthes. For dinner parties we always co-ordinate with whatever Florence Broadhurst design and colour I have printed as the table runner. We love a good party.
3. Clothes
I love to have clothes made using luxury fabrics with my own customised Florence colours on them. When I do hit the shops it is straight to Akira Isogawa for clothes, Dinosaur Designs for accessories and absolutely anywhere for shoes.
4. Photo wall
I have just started a photo wall of special occasions. We have been to so many amazing weddings this year that I have dedicated a wall to these beautiful images. Our most recent was a wedding in Bogota in Colombia. You must capture these moments - to be part of a wedding party should not be taken lightly. We always feel so privileged to be part of such important celebrations.
5. Holidays
Two places are very special to David and me. One is Vatulele, Henry and Nina Crawford's luxury resort in Fiji. Everyone deserves to be treated to a trip like this once in a lifetime. But the place that holds first prize is a family retreat in Rotoma near Lake Rotorua. This spot was discovered by David's father, Magnus Lennie, 60 years ago, and is where we go when we need to unwind and regroup.
6.Thank you cards
I am obsessed with stationery from Paris company Les Papiers Jean Rouget. Their tiny thank you cards come in the most divine colour combinations. I can't resist buying them in bulk.
7. Playing cards
A good friend has us hooked on card games. We play in front of the fire at night with a glass of red wine, blast Johnny Cash through the sound system and laugh all night long.
8. Colour
All of them en masse and not necessarily ones that go together. I was working with autumnal ochres and reds the other day and threw in a bright almost fluoro green. When it comes to choosing my favourite prints by Florence Broadhurst.
9. Red wine
Our favourite this year is Bridgewater Mill Shiraz Viognier. Delicious.
10. Perfume
Gaultier 2 is in my handbag at all times.
Helen Lennie has an eye for detail.
Helen Lennie was so keen to see the world, that on her 18th birthday she bought a one-way ticket out of New Zealand. After much globetrotting she settled in Sydney and was headhunted by Chanel to work in its Castlereagh St boutique in the city centre.
It was in the
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