10 Favourite Things: Natural selection

Director of Savar, a natural NZ skin care line, Vicky Woolford. Photo / Babiche Martens

Treasured pieces fill Savar founder Vicky Woolford's home

Vicky Woolford refined her eye for style and beauty in her previous life as an artist and painter, before founding the boutique natural skincare company Savar in 2011.

She launched the luxury brand after raising four children and becoming increasingly aware of environmental effects on skin. The range features products for men and women which are 99 per cent natural and enriched with soothing botanical extracts - with a company focus on sustainability and integrity.

Packaging is made from recyclable materials and inks manufactured from renewable, biodegradable vegetable oils, and 10 per cent of profits are donated to charity.

Her focus is global and online, with sales in Britain, US, Australia and Asia.

Here Woolford tells us about some of her favourite things in her Mt Eden home, from artwork to treasured family possessions.

• Savar is available at savaronline.com and leading retailers and beauty therapists.

10 FAVOURITE THINGS

1. Visions of Waiheke

One of my favourite artworks in our house is a piece I painted two years ago to capture the many wonderful memories of our family holidays at Waiheke.

Having this piece at the front door livens up the entrance to the whole house.

2. Vibemme coffee machine

As a family we are real foodies and love going to cafes, and bought our Vibemme coffee machine to continue the experience at home.

Our teenage daughters are forever baking and producing cupcakes, which means we often have a constant stream of visitors.

3. Atrium light

We bought this Moooi pendant light fitting from ECC when we built our house. I love contemporary style. Hung in our atrium, it casts the most wonderful shadows on the textured concrete walls at night.

4. Family photo collection

This recent addition to our dining room wall was a joint effort by our family to display fun times throughout the years. The choice of photos was up to our teenagers and it was so much fun seeing it come together.

5. Outdoor pots

I love these pots by Maytime, which we display by the pool. They have such an elegant shape and form, and fit so well with the contemporary style of our house.

6. Savar Luxury Travellers' set

I never leave home without my Savar Luxury Travel kit ($89).

I love that our products are so multi-tasking, 99 per cent natural and made in New Zealand.

Our body wash makes a great natural shampoo, and our hand repair doubles as a rich cuticle cream as well as working wonders on dry and cracked heels.

7. Terrarium

I saw one of these in a design magazine and I couldn't wait to make one myself. It took a while to find all the bits and pieces I needed but I'm really thrilled with the outcome. There's nothing like the satisfaction of making something yourself.

8. Mies van der Rohe by Claire Zimmerman

I adore this book. This amazing architect was born in 1886, yet his style could come straight out of a luxury magazine today.

9. Abstract Barrel

I created this piece when I was working as an artist and before I set up Savar. It is really special to me. It became the inspiration for a series of 12 large canvases I was commissioned to do for the Wither Hills Winery in Blenheim.

10. Bust

We bought this bust from Cavit & Co. years ago and it has moved with us each time we have changed house. It has become a treasured possession of our family, and our children often used to dress it when they were little.

- VIVA