This is SALA – a new boutique gym located in a refurbished factory in the heart of Ponsonby, Auckland.  The journey to opening SALA began when yoga instructor Sarah Lindsay, who has moved from London to make New Zealand her home, couldn’t find a ‘home’ for her practise.

For Sarah, a lot of Auckland gyms seemed hyper-masculine and intense, with a work-harder-be-your-best-self-8-week-challenge sort of culture. That wasn’t for her. Sarah wanted to find a place that embodied her desire to be healthy and to take care of but more importantly to enjoy her body, and her desire to surround herself with like minded people.

So she designed SALA as an antidote – a place where you can come and feel at home, and where no one expects you to be any better than you already are. I love that. There’s also no contracts locking people in, and with 12 different types of classes, there really is something for every body – whether that body wants to feel stronger, fitter, or more flexible, just dance, feel in flow, or be restored and grounded.

Of course, it was the design that caught my eye. Minimal, and modern, simple and serene, and with lots of little details that you can’t see in these sexy pictures, like natural hair and body care products waiting for you in the bathrooms, and thick rubber Lululemon mats so you don’t have to bring your own. And I just love a story of shaking up a category, especially when its done by a young woman who puts design as a priority.

Photography by Brijana Cato (a personal fave, check her Insta)

See the SALA classes here, or check SALA out on Instagram

Photography by Josh Griggs

Hello to you, Fabric. Located in the former aircraft repair facility of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (read – huge cavernous and industrial space), at Auckland’s Hobsonville Point. (If you’re visiting Auckland during the week, you can take a ferry from downtown Auckland right to here).

Walker Mitchell designed this space, with its soft muted tones that contrast the industrial bones, and clever use of frosted glass panels to divide the interior into sections, creating a more intimate feel in such a high-studded space. (I think we’re going to start seeing a lot more fluted glass in interior design going forward – mark my words.)

Predictably, I high key love the heavy blush linen drapes, and of course the iconic Danish furniture.

The brand identity also deserves special mention. Sophisticated, yet simple and soft it was designed by Jade Young Studio.

Photography by Simon Wilson 

New Zealand label Kowtow was born in 2007 from desire to create ethical clothing and a fashion-forward, global-thinking brand. 11 years on, and having deservedly built an international following, Kowtow has opened their very first store – a flagship space in their hometown of Wellington.

Designed by Auckland-based, internationally-in-demand Rufus Knight, who worked in collaboration with young Wellington practise Makers of Architecture to complete the space.

Japanese architecture and joinery inspired the aesthetic, most clearly referenced in those beautiful slatted timber panels that divide the space and provide shelving and display.

Sustainability and traceability is core to everything Kowtow do, so it makes sense that the brand’s founder and Creative Director Gosia Piatek would execute these same values in the design of the flagship… They’ve used New Zealand grown and milled sustainable timber throughout; the countertops are tiled with ceramic tiles handmade by New Zealand’s Gidon Bing; the floor rugs are made from recycled synthetics (including salvaged fishing nets); the modular sofa by New Zealand designer Simon James is upholstered with renewable and compostable fibres; the beautifully thick linen drapes are made using sustainable materials and production methods; and those massive paper lights (Hotaru Buoy pendants) – they’re produced by a Japanese family that’s been handing down the traditional craft of paper lanterns since 1891.

OK I have a job for you to do – scroll back up and and have another, closer look at all those photographs. Really see each image. The balance of soft and structural is so well done, don’t you think? Those concrete floors and big concrete pillars, against the delicacy of the folded paper lights and the individually handmade ceramic tiles. The structure and lightness of all those vertical timber slats, next to the thick linen drapes, hanging heavy in loose folds. Ugh. So good.

The space mirrors not only the Kowtow values but the aesthetic of their garments in many ways – strong silhouettes, soft minimalism, and complete attention to every. last. detail.

The Virtue – interiors/homeware store

Fine Art Photographic Prints from Brooke & Gina’s travels

Brooke & Gina’s travel photographs on beautiful silk scarves

The Virtue Bride – a dedicated space in The Virtue for wedding planning
– photography, gowns, lingerie, floristry and event styling, all in the one place

This gown rack was inspired by the 1950’s fretwork of the streets of Cienfuego (gowns – Ritual by Brooke Tyson)

Is this not the most delicious creative space you’ve seen in a very long time? I know.
Welcome to The Virtue, an Interiors & Bridal concept store, created by Brooke Lean and Gina Fabish.

Professional photographers for over 10 years, the two started shooting weddings together around 6 years ago, finding in each other a kindred spirit with a similar photographic sensibility and the same eye for glorious things. Collaborating has allowed them to push the envelope creatively and gain more momentum as a duo than they perhaps could have alone. And with six children between them, they’ve been able to support and cheerlead for each other personally, too. As they watched the NZ wedding industry at large grow, so too did their desire to evolve their own business – to create a platform that would encompass all their passions – weddings and photography, interiors and travel, and the sisterhood of other women in business.

The Virtue was born.

The Virtue is destination store and working photographic studio, where Brooke and Gina create and sell their photography (as stunning framed prints, and now also a line of silk scarves) and a range of unique globally-sourced interior and bridal pieces – both new and vintage.

The space is situated in a beautiful old building on New Plymouth’s main street, with views of the Huatoki river and the ocean beyond. The look is a marriage of old world charm and modern design. The bones – beautiful wooden floorboards, a dramatically-high stud with rustic exposed beams – have been lovingly restored, and they sit in contrast to elements like custom neon signs (my fave is the one that just says ‘Gloriousness‘) and a solid brass counter designed in collab with Anika Rowson of Rowson Kitchens.

As well as being a retail store, it’s a place for Brooke and Gina’s clients to come and be inspired and surrounded by all things beautiful – with a full bridal styling service including wedding gowns by Brooke Tyson, lingerie by Lonely, floristry, photography and bespoke scent and candle creation. Petal & Prickle, by well-known floral stylist Sofie Park, has recently opened in the same building, just across the landing from The Virtue.

The Virtue is an inspiring, category-redefining business. I hope I’ve done this space justice in describing it.

Visit The Virtue at 12 Devon Street West (up the stairs), New Plymouth, New Zealand.

The Virtue online store   /  Instagram