Director Caroline Bell-Booth, known for her theatre and commercial work, shares a few of her favourite things.
Local theatre-goers will be familiar with the name Caroline Bell-Booth, a director who has worked behind the scenes on such plays as The Lover and The Vagina Monologues. Most recently she worked on the new advertising campaign for Shortland Street's winter season, having directed the past two campaigns for the iconic series as well.
This time around she says the focus is on glamour, with "a sleazy back-alley 1940s speakeasy treatment", and actress Amanda Billing singing the soundtrack. But you're more likely to find Bell-Booth in her kitchen (or "happy place" as she describes it) than a speakeasy - she tells us more about her vintage-inspired favourite things.
10 FAVOURITE THINGS
1. My kitchen
My happy place. Other than featuring a double oven and a scullery, it is the heart of my home and where the people I love tend to gather. We finished renovating late last year and I'm still revelling in the glory of a house that has everything I ever wanted.
2. Pink KitchenAid mixer
She is my partner-in-crime in the pursuit of deliciousness. When I get busy, I long to be whizzing something sweet up in this beautiful machine. Other than being easy on the eye (and pink) it's the robust simplicity of this mixer that gets me every time. Like all the best things in my life it's simple, strong and utterly reliable ... and I have been known to give it little kisses when no one else is around.
3. Juliette Hogan "Maddy" dress
I've been coveting this dress since I saw it on the runway at NZ Fashion Week 2010. Finally, we are together. I am a dedicated disciple to the Hogan way of life. I find her designs simultaneously feminine and strong, which appeals to me greatly. I believe in supporting local designers, but love that Juliette knows what I like and will tailor pieces for me ... it makes shopping a joy.
4. New Zealand designed shoes
My most recent shoe purchase is a pair of Chaos & Harmony boots that I call the "Peter Pans", as other than being somewhat fantastical they have a "never-grow-up" feel to them. I find them quite mesmerising. My most eye-catching shoes are a pair of Kathryn Wilson's bought a few seasons ago. I call them the "Lady-Catchers" because without fail ladies flock to these shoes with oohs and aahs every time I wear them. Literally complete strangers. In fact, only yesterday a man leaned out of his car and yelled out "nice boots!" ... at least I think he said boots.
5. Crown Lynn collection
Teasets, dinner sets, McAlpine jugs, swans, vases: you name it, I love it. I am aware that I have an addiction, I'm just not ready to face it. My pusher of choice is my lovely friend Alison at Aunty Mavis. She hooks me up with the good stuff.
6. Tennessee Williams Notebooks
Found in the window of City Lights bookstore, San Francisco. Tragedy has never been so elegant.
7. Sapphire ring
This was the ring my partner's father gave his mother when Matt was born. Other than loving how delicate it is, it means the world to me and I wear it always.
8. Otto Larsen table
A prized possession. As a child I played beneath it, as an adult my friends and family meet around it. Mid-century furniture is where it's at for me. While my decorative style is quite flouncy (tea cups, flowers, birds, and so on) my taste in furniture is quite masculine. Again it's the simplicity matched with functionality that pleases me.
9. Flox Triptych
I bought these at the Aotea Markets many moons ago, when Flox was just starting out. A lucky find that has followed me from home to home and currently resides in pride of place above the mantlepiece.
10. Elvis and Priscilla Barbie wedding set
A gift my brother sent from Graceland. I am a notoriously difficult person to buy for, but my brother definitely got it right here. In my opinion, sometimes things circumnavigate the odometer of "wrong" and come right back round to land "oh-so-right". This travesty of good taste absolutely appeals to my sense of humour.
