Earlier this year we filmed a creative campaign at the beautiful shoot location The Olive Grove Home, shot by leading photographer Duncan Innes and styled by the Orewa sofa owner - the stylish entrepreneur and interiors addict Sophie Riddle.
We sat down with Sophie to pick her brain on her inspirations and what pieces she's lusting after next to fill her "SLOW" style home..
Tell us a little about yourself… what keeps you busy?
We (Sophie and Dan) have lived in NZ for 15 & 23 years, respectively after moving from England and both travelling the globe from Mongolia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South East Asia and Australia. We met online way before Tinder and it was socially acceptable. Dan was living in Napier and me in Auckland we had a long distance relationship for 9months before moving into together. That was 13yrs ago. We now have 2 girls Poppy and Holly together and have become serial house renovators/builders having done so 4 times......so far.
We have lived in Rural Auckland at @theolivegrovehome for the last 8yrs. 2 years ago we subdivided and built our current home. We have a large section of land which keeps our weekends busy with maintaining the paddocks, fencing, Olive Groves and weeding and managing the Bush areas.
I have always loved instagram and its visual diary element, I originally started my account years ago to document our lives and renovations but in recent years my love of all things interior design and styling has organically grown into a Styling and Shoot Location business. We now host, manage and style the home as a shoot location for production companies, creatives and businesses for Social Media content, website imagery and content, personal branding and TVCs.
I've have the opportunity to work with some amazing creatives and businesses over the last year and a half, and love that I am able to provide them with a space for them to create and put together their vision.
How do you find inspiration?
I draw my inspiration from so many different places, magazines, books, pinterest, instagram, air bnbs we stay in, other peoples homes, different cultures and countries. I follow so many inspiring interior accounts, stylists and designers. All very different in aesthetic and approach but all with a very similar theme - Organic, natural, tactile.
How do you unwind and relax?
I train with a personal trainer 3 times a week. This hugely helps with not only physical health but mental wellbeing as well. Coffee and catch ups with friends. I also enjoy spending time on our land with our animals. I'm very much a home body and would choose a quiet day at home over a bottomless brunch any day. We are still finishing off our landscaping following our house build so we can be seen most weekends planting, tidying, planning, which we both enjoy doing.
What do you do for fun?
Other than the obvious of spending time with the family and our two children we really enjoy visiting open homes at the weekend we are always open to the idea of moving or finding another project along with keeping an eye on the market.
How would you describe your interiors style?
I have a definite affinity and lean towards the 'SLOW' movement (Sustainable, Local, Organic and Whole) I adore sourcing natural material pieces, tactile wools, cottons, linens, woods.
What's next on your wish list from Republic Home?
How would you describe your personal style?
I do love all things fashion and design however my own personal style always takes a backseat to my interior style. After the kids and the house there little time to manage much of my own style. That said I tend to keep my style simple and easy. Mindful and Sustainable. I try to invest in quality over quantity. I'm definitely more of a comfort over fashion kinda gal. Especially seeing as most days I'm ankle deep in mud managing the animals or the land in some way.
What’s something you are looking forward to?
Holidays, either local or abroad. I absolutely adore travel. I like to have some kind of holiday to look forward. Long term I also look forward to finding a new project, either a house renovation or another new build (but don't tell Dan that yet!)
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Don't let perfect get in the way of good
Quick 5 - Favourite content creators/insta accounts you follow:
