Kōrero: Home décor and furnishings

An inglenook – a recess around a fireplace often flanked by built-in seats – was a particular feature of larger bungalows. This is a curtained inglenook in a farm house designed in 1932–33 by James Chapman-Taylor for Nancy and Geoffrey Gilbert of Wairarapa. Chapman-Taylor’s idiosyncratic architectural approach had elements of bungalow style, but also drew on the arts and crafts movement and English cottage traditions. His houses contained adzed timber beams and lintels, plastered and whitewashed walls and handcrafted fittings. Some of these details can be seen in the photograph, which shows the Gilberts (foreground) relaxing with friends by the fire.