We chat to Stephanie from sweet online store Little Additions about her gorgeous range of homewares, new trends in linen and running a family business. You can pop over to the Little Additions store and receive a 20% discount storewide – especially for Roomie readers. Hurrah. www.littleadditions.co.nz use code: ROOMIE20 (available till 12-03-17)
Also for the instagrammers out there (Hi!)… pop over to our feed for a chance to win a stunning Mini Spot Duvet Set or a Stitch Bedspread! yay!
Tell us a little about the journey for your business so far:
Little Additions was launched in November 2014. We began with a range of handcrafted soy candles, created by us and inspired by fragrances that evoke beautiful memories – summer holidays, dinner parties, Sunday mornings etc. This went really well, people loved the fragrances and the fact they fragranced the room without even having to light them. A year later I had my second child and decided to take a break from Little Additions, knowing the demands a baby puts on you! Whilst doing this I was inspired to relaunch with a range of quality homewares. We relaunched in November 2016 with a full range of bedroom, lounge and bathroom items.
Little Additions is all about creating little additions for your home that help you create that sense of belonging. Little details here and there are what make your home yours. Everything we design, build and source is focused on quality. Many items are handcrafted and made in small batches. We have collections that are made by the very best in their field; master weavers, master craftsmen, internationally renowned artists and designers from around the globe.
Where do you find your inspiration for the style and product for Little Additions?:
We keep a really close eye on what’s coming out of the European world trade fairs during the year. This January we saw the continuation of the ethnic theme. That tribal, boho luxe look remaining strong with natural fibres and handcrafted components. We love this look so are glad to see it’s here to stay! Instagram and Pinterest are also great way of being inspired by amazing people and products everyday.
What drives your passion for Little Additions?:
I love finding or developing new homewares products both from NZ and overseas. It’s so exciting to see how people react, and extra rewarding if they love something we’ve created!
Another thing I love about Little Additions is the flexibility and making it fit in with our young family (we have a 1 year old and a 4 year old). Prior to Little Additions I was lucky enough to work on some of New Zealand’s most loved brands, but after my first child I realised life in the corporate world was going to be a little more difficult. I decided there had to be another way. I’ve always LOVED homewares and creating brands and after a lot of hard work Little Additions was born. It’s true what people say, when you’re really passionate about something it doesn’t feel like work, it’s more of a lifestyle.
We love the new range of linen, what makes the range you are selling special?
A lot of the bedspreads in our collection are handcrafted. The Block bedspreads are made using hand carved wood which is then hand printed onto the fabric. The Stitch and Gelato bedspreads are hand stitched with needle and thread. They are made by the very best in their field and certified fair trade.
We only use natural linen and cotton cloth and many of our duvets and bedspreads are stonewashed to give extra softness. Our products are genuinely stonewashed (with ceramic stones), without harsh chemicals, unlike some products which can be enzyme washed.
We also strive to provide ethically sourced product for our bedlinen collections. Our stonewashed linen for example is SGS certified which is a world leading certification and demonstrates that the labour, products, processes and environmental practices are the best in their field.
In 2017 bedlinen is all about trims – design is in the detail! Trimmings, piped edging, pom poms and frills are being added to the border of duvets, bedspreads, sheets and towels. So you’ll see some of our products coming through with these details such as Como, Pom, Stitch and Block.
What is on your splurge list right now for the home?
The list never ends! After one project, there is always another. A new bathroom is on the top of this list, although this will take a while. I’m also keeping an eye out for a coffee table, we’ve been without for a while as the kids were so little they’d just hurt themselves, but they are getting big enough now – it will have to be very durable though!
Your favourite room in your house is:
Our open plan kitchen and lounge. Two years ago we renovated and knocked down the wall between the two rooms and replaced all the lighting. It’s now so nice to be able to be in the kitchen and still be involved with what’s going on in the lounge. It’s a great entertaining space with a large island bench that we can all sit around.
Home is:
Home is somewhere you feel a strong sense of belonging. Home is so much more than just a building you come home to each day. Finding those things for your home that make it yours creates that sense of belonging, it makes us who we are. What we put into our homes creates a feeling that is absorbed by you, and everyone who enters your home. Home for me is relaxed, cosy and inviting and an ever evolving canvas!
