Olivia Harper and Toni Brandso's favourite things

Design team Olivia Harper and Toni Brandso from Material Creative. Photo / Babiche Martens

Olivia Harper and Toni Brandso are interior architects who formed Material Creative Ltd together in 2008. "We design, we style, we illustrate, we create," is how they describe their job, which has seen the pair work on spaces like the Marbecks stores around the country. The friends met at Victoria University in Wellington where they studied together for four years.

They reconnected after both moving to Auckland, where Olivia began work on The Piha Cafe - before heading overseas and handing it over to Toni, who soon followed, and handed it to Harley Dalton Architects. "We both managed to travel the world and returned to pick up where we had left off and complete the project. Neither of us realised at the time that it would turn into such a high profile and prolific cafe that would lead us to launch our own company," says Harper. The pair say they love to use materials that exude character, whether they're found and raw or chic and highly finished. "Our overall designs are intended to be timeless, relevant, innovative and sustainable. We look for every opportunity to be diverse, adventurous and playful."

10 FAVOURITE THINGS

1. Marbecks Palmerston North

The new Marbecks store is our favourite project to date. It was a welcome new challenge for us and we had a lot of fun designing it. Because Palmy is surrounded by a beautifully compelling landscape, the store has a rustic barn-like atmosphere and appearance. We looked for every opportunity to use recycled materials to help create a diverse and playful atmosphere, with lots of character. It's a great place to drink coffee, listen to hot music and read.

2. Muuto E27 pendant light

Toni: On a recent Sydney/Melbourne inspiration trip we stumbled on a little interior shop in Surry Hills. They had the most amazing simple light that I have seen often in international magazines but never in New Zealand. I had to get it, in yellow of course. It looks so good as my bedside light.

3. Comme Restaurant

A lot of people told us we would love Melbourne, but we didn't realise how much. One of our goals was to try to discover some inspiring restaurants. Some friends took us to Comme on an "architectural detour" - it is a bar and restaurant with a jaw-dropping interior designed by HP&G. Every inch of that building, from the toilets to the ballroom to the wine cooler, was so intricately detailed and beautiful, we were incredibly inspired. And the food was delicious as well.

4. Snowboarding

We both love snowboarding. With a few seasons under our belts overseas (we especially love the French Alps) it's the mix of tricks, fresh air, speed, friends, fresh powder, beer and the great outdoors that lures us back every winter. In fact, winter is torture without it. We just love to ride!

5. Shepard Fairey Haiti signed print

Olivia: I have loved Shepard Fairey's artwork for some time now, and quickly became a regular on his Obey website where I should have - but never got around to - purchasing my favourite print of his. My brother met up with him earlier this year, and acquired a signed artist's print of that amazing piece, Haiti, which he got framed for me. When he gave it to me I cried. That pretty much sums up how much I love him... both of them.

6. Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, Oregon

The awesome Doug Fir is one of the most memorable places we've been. With a reputation for being an enviable and covetable music venue/bar/restaurant (and notorious for cliche band behaviour and antics), bands from all around the world travel here to play in what can only be described as a "Northwest log cabin meets 50s modernist dream". On a trip to the States last year we stayed at the Jupiter Hotel attached to it, with seven of our friends. Needless to say, we had a lot of fun - buffalo burgers included.

7. Cafe People, Ponsonby

Our local daily coffee spot. We pick up a takeaway every morning at the cafe and are greeted without fail by high fives and massive smiles. Its cliche, but it's the people that make People. The food is second to none, and we keep going back because they know us by name, know our coffee order by Keep Cup colour and invite us to their birthdays. What more could you want from your local?

8. Grown organic skincare

On our Australian inspiration trip we ended up spending the best part of three days with the Muijs brothers, who have developed Grown, an organic - or "orGLAMic" range of skincare that comes in the most beautifully detailed packaging you have ever seen. Not only are the boxes recycled and gold-foiled, these boys would have to be some of the greatest, most inspiring people we have ever met. We are fans - and you should be too.

9. Grandfathers' handmade furniture

Our grandfathers were a cabinetmaker and a carpenter, and we have benefited from their amazing skills by inheriting beautiful pieces of wooden furniture they made in the 50s. We love the mix of perfect craftsmanship and sentimental value.

10. Powdercoating

We are totally addicted to refurbishing furniture, and powdercoating. The beauty of powdercoating is that it instantly restores tired steel work, and the colour selection is endless. We found this industrial drawer unit from a small second hand shop in Dunedin for $1 when we were designing the Marbecks store down there, and got it powdercoated yellow with some chairs we were restoring. It's one of our favourite pieces in the office.