Loumina - the spanish word for light, is the latest jewellery venture between Louise Pilkington (owner of Servilles Ponsonby) and her brother Philip. Loumina jewellery is inspired by the journey of inner strength and the magnitude of positive energy a small crystal can give the wearer in times of need - the original concept for the collection came from the feeling Louise had when wearing her grandmother's sapphire ring. We particularly liked this eagle claw ring which can be found in their men's collection. Louise explains that 'a beautiful piece of jewellery symbolises the different stages that have happened in [one's] life, evoking emotions and faith.'

Sam Lennon is a young New Zealand furniture designer with a background in architecture. Having initially worked for acclaimed architecture practice Fearon Hay, he left to establish his own furniture design company The Lennon Project. He sites internal fit-outs and custom made cabinetry within his skill set. We ask him to give us an insight into the favourite things about his city - Auckland.

Favourite Architectural Moment.

When I've been fortunate enough to get out on the harbour the trip back to the city looking beyond the tank farm and ports of auckland towards the city...A city full of potential!

Favourite Design Moment.

Webb's auctions on Manukau Rd. I often pop in and have a look... so many cool objects and art going under the hammer... If only I had the deniros! Dreams are free right? 18 Manukau Road, Newmarket, Auckland.

Favourite Breakfast Spot.

Alleluya a grungy little cafe, just off K rd at the very end of the St Kevin's Arcade. It has large old steel framed windows overlooking Myers park and a mix-match of old furniture and a great eggs benny. 183 Karangahape Road, Auckland City.

Favourite Lunch Spot.

It's a battle between the Fridge in Kingsland.. awesome chicken wraps and amazing pies... or Five Loaves on Jervois Rd. - The Fridge, 507 New North Road, Kingsland, Auckland.
- Five Loaves, 206 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland.

Favourite Bar/Nightspot.

Tabac on Mills Lane...cool little spot to have a few casuals. I love the exposed brick walls and timber rafters...6 Mills Lane, Auckland City.

Best People Watching.

Depends if you're looking to be disturbed or have a laugh...you could achieve both by walking down K rd.  Also, it's not in Auckland but it's worth mentioning Hot Water Beach in the Coromandel.  Leave your spade at home and go check out the droves of tourists battling it out for a hot spot in the sand...some truly funny swimming apparel and a weird mix of humans!

Best Thing About My City.

Great bunch of generally chilled out people and it's an hour drive to the east or west coast.

I'd recommend people to stay at.

If you're not short of a dollar and looking to splash out I would recommend Mollies in Herne Bay...a flash but homely villa conversion. If it's good enough for Mick Jagger it's good enough for you..
 
On a sunny day I'd head to.

Piha! Depending on the surf I'll go when it's raining.

Must see attraction.

Piha..Bethels or any other west coast beach...

I recommend you meet.

My cat Mollie aka the Molecule...she may not speak English but she's a good listener.

Inspired by Richard Neutra's Kauffman house, the Emerson Dollhouse by Brinca Dada is the perfect gift for the design conscious child. The home has six rooms including a living room, kitchen, library/ office, master bedroom, bathroom and children's bedroom. With its large, open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling windows, the Emerson House enjoys year-round sunlight. The modern house features many extras including mitered-glass corners, two fireplaces, sliding glass doors, solar panels, and recessed LED lights. And because a beautiful house deserves beautiful furniture you can also order furniture to match. The living room set creates the perfect atmosphere for entertaining guests, reading a good book or relaxing with family. The set features eleven pieces including TV console, lamps, HD television, sofa, chairs, coffee table, console, side table and rug. Thank heavens for little luxuries! And finally, not just any doll would feel at home in the Emerson House. The Modern Family is sleek, minimalist, and striking; the dolls' beauty is only matched by their equisite functionality. Not only are they posable and fully articulated, the dolls' biceps and calves flex realistically. The Modern Family turns playtime into an art.

For more information go here.

Just when you were beginning to think that Apple's iPad is the answer to absolutely everything - artist David Kassan  confirms it. Watch as he finger paints a live model - the painting took only three hours - the result is incredible.

Another architecturally inspired shoe - but this time it takes its structure from the spine of the human body. Dsquared has designed this series of skeletal stilettos for their fall/winter 2010 collection. The shoes are mostly plain with some lacing up the side and others wrapping over the foot. They will be on sale in August.

At last Jessica McCormack's jewellery is available in New Zealand. The London based New Zealander has designed for celebrities such as Alexa Chung, Madonna, Rihanna and French Vogue Editor-in-Chief Carine Roitfeld. Her work has appeared in Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Vanity Fair to name a few - and now, her pieces are available locally from Simon James Design at The Department Store. She says, 'for me, making jewellery is about creating miniature sculptures. Each piece if the end result of my desire to turn what I perceive to be beautiful into a tiny piece of art. I would like people to re-evaluate their perception of fine jewellery and precious stones, breaking down barriers on how diamonds are considered, with emphasis on luxury being about personal experience, appreciation and knowledge.'

Purchase this £17million 122ft yacht and you'll get the ultimate gift with purchase - a luxury supercar that can be stored on board in its own garage at the stern of the ship. Boasting four large double bedrooms, a reception area, salon, 52 inch LED TVS in every room and an art deco interior - it's not a bad way to entertain guests whilst traveling up to top speeds of 43 knots - or if you're inclined to upgrade to the optional Rolls Royce KaMeWa boosters - you can achieve speeds of up to 55 knots. The super car - ever ready for a Bond-like get away is powered by a 880hp twin V12 engine and can reach a top speed of 512 kilometers per hour. Kurt Strand, the founder of Swedish company Strand Craft, who heads up the team behind this boat says he's had interest from all over the world but particularly from the Middle East. 'It was designed for luxury and for people who want the best. It has a very futuristic design and nothing like this has ever been made before. It even has bulletproof windows.'

Strand Craft is only producing six of these boats - and with prospective buyers already lined up, it seems the market for fast boats and ever faster cars is a good market to be in.

Inspired by the architecture of Santiago Calatrava’s buildings, Spanish designer Daniel Garcia has created a stunning new supercoupe for Audi. The designer takes cues from the styling of the Audi R8 luxury sports saloon and integrates the clean sloping lines of Calatrava's signature architecture to produce this work of art. The bodywork features an ‘electronic painting’ mode that changes the vehicle color on the fly. Aside from the sleek looks and the ever-prevalent new Audi grille, the wheels are absolutely stunning. We can’t tell whether they are LED-accented, but their contrast to the rest of the car (regardless of what color it may be at the time) is just awesome.

Marc Newson has teamed up with our favourite iconic Italian boat brand Riva to create his new Aquariva Speedboat - a high-tech take on nautical design. The Aquariva—first created in 2001—receives an innovative yet simplified makeover, with phenolic composite (an extremely durable wood-like laminate) covering the deck area instead of traditional mahogany and anodized aluminum used in place of stainless steel for an overall sleeker aesthetic.

Newson has infused identifiable Riva attributes while keeping within his own signature style. A streamlined instrument panel, a wrap-around laminated glass windshield, separated driver and passenger seats, handles and hooks that disappear when not in use, a re-imagined stern and state-of-the-art transmission all bring the boat to new standards without compromising its history as an opulent pleasure vessel. A limited edition of 22, Newson's Aquariva will debut in September 2010 and will be available worldwide through NYC's Gagosian Gallery.

This BMW M3 GT2 is the 17th BMW Art Car, designed by Jeff Koons and unveiled in the Centre Pompidou yesterday (The same venue where Roy Lichtenstein first presented and signed his Art Car back in 1977).

Since 1975, artists from throughout the world have turned BMW automobiles into art signifying a particular period through the Art Car programme. Many of the cars by the likes of Warhol, Lichtenstein, Stella, Rauschenberg, Hockney and Holzer have been exhibited in renowned museums throughout the world including the Louvre, the Guggenheim Museums, and the Shanghai Art Museum. 

The Koons car number, “79”, pays tribute to the 1979 Andy Warhol car. As part of his creative process, the artist collected images of race cars, related graphics, vibrant colours, speed and explosions. The resulting artwork of bright colours conceived by Koons is evocative of power, motion and bursting energy. With its silver interior as well as the powerful exterior design, the Art Car will impart a dynamic appearance even when it’s standing still.