I love black and white.  In interiors, in clothing.  I like lots of black with a splash of white (to wear) and a lot of white with a splash of black (for interiors) and every other variation in between… I like using then combined as a neutral and then adding colour to them.  But sometimes they are just splendid on their own.

I love this monochrome rug from Maytime from last season, but I think both Freedom and Let Liv have a fabulous striped rug at the moment. Photograph from Homestyle, styled by myself and taken by Jacqi Meiring

I cant go past Kip & Co either at the moment – they are just so incredibly clever with their textiles.  I love this black and white duvet cover with the entirely unexpected orange/tan and black dot sheets. I think most of the black and white matchstick duvet is long since sold out, but the sheets and pillow cases are still available. I just like that they haven gone for a plain sheet, and that they go with my theme of Black and White as a neutral. Available from Let Liv

My all time favourite black and white stripe is actually a cream and white stripe called Tom Noir stocked at Madder and Rouge. We used it for the back of the green linen chair, and for the ottoman. It is a massive 180cm wide, is cotton, and is $155 per metre.  Available in store or online. Shot styled by me, shot by Jackie Meiring for Homestyle

NYNE made everyone sit up and take notice at NZFW last year with reds, whites, black and fabulous monochrome stripes. I distinctly remember the Four Eyes boys all pointing and nodding as this one came down the runway.  It is hard to say what piece was my favourite of that collection, but I think this one could possibly be it. Look out for it instore as winter lands…

Personally, I do love monochrome as an accent.  This is of course because I love too much colour to just do black and white for myself (though I will happily do it for clients).  All htree cushions are from Madder & Rouge with the front cushion made from Jean Paul Gaultier fabric which is exclusive to them. It retails for around $198

Maaike have the most amazing monochrome print on silk coming this winter – and I can’t wait! It is coming in a floor length silk Hypomania Dress in MANIC print, and I may possible need to own it.  Am debating which of my children I will sell to own this beautiful piece.

I love that often we can glean inspiration from just about anywhere for our own renovation projects. When someone has handled a commercial fitout so well that we feel like we could just about pack up our belongings and go live in it, we know they have done something right. Mildred & Co in Newton, Auckland is just such a place.  With a serene black and white interior tastefully handled by Milly Nolan, this beautiful wedding store is definitely a place to hang out in.  When not showcasing beautiful objects to add to your wedding list, the venue is used (as it was for Stylist Megan Morton’s classes) as an amazing space to hire out. I still want to go live there, especially because she has such a great selection of beautiful black and white objects on show as well… Michelle and I were there when they opened, and it was full of people.  We thought you prefer to see the space empty – so here are the shots by photographer Jeremy Toth. The architect is Jose Gutierrez who is based in High St, Auckland.  Go see for yourself, Mildred & Co 5 Gundry Street, Newton, Auckland or online here.