Meet Caitlan Mitchell, Editor-in-Chief of Apparel Magazine and a bold renovator with a love for colourful maximalism. From breathing new life into her New Zealand home to thoughtfully blending functionality with playful design, Caitlan shares her journey of creating a space that sparks joy at every corner.
Whether it’s her passion for food-inspired decor, her go-to New Zealand beaches, or her love for versatile furniture like the Slideaway Sofa Bed, Caitlan offers a vibrant perspective on building a home that’s as unique and dynamic as she is.
What inspired you to take on the challenge of renovating your home?
Since I was a little girl, I was passionate about two things – fashion and art. In high school, I started woodworking and fell in love with it. On the weekends, I’d restore or upcycle wooden furniture I found on the side of the road or in second-hand shops.
As the Editor-in-Chief of Apparel Magazine, do you find your passion for design influencing your home’s aesthetic?
For every issue of Apparel Magazine, I write about trend forecasting and colour palettes that are seen at different fashion weeks across the globe. What is on the rise and where did that trend come from? In almost every case, it comes from interior design and architecture. Like yin and yang, fashion and interior design are twin flames, following each other in cycles.
When I buy clothes, I go for styles that make me feel good, and so I purchase furniture and decor that makes me feel good too. I want to wake up and smile at my house - a reflection of not just how we live, but who we are.
What’s one thing about you that most people wouldn’t guess from your professional life?
That I am a complete homebody! Don’t get me wrong, I am very extroverted and outgoing, but once I am home, I'm really happy to shut the door and be completely at ease and relaxed. Whether it's making pottery in my home studio, upcycling a piece of furniture or thrashing my husband on the latest video game – home is where I regroup and refresh.
What’s the vision you’re going for in your newly renovated space?
Colourful maximalism! I grew up in a home that was shades of white, so now I want to be surrounded by colour. I love to paint, and bright, colourful designs seem to call my name – luckily, my husband loves it too!
I love decor that makes me laugh, like the corn stool with a bite out of it. Or the Simon Lewis-Ward’s ceramic candy men or glass jet planes. Strangely, I have a lot of food-related art and decor.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking about renovating their home?
You can do it! My advice is to start with one room and finish it. Don't start a lot of projects across different rooms; you'll quickly get discouraged. Write down a list of things to do in one room and start small. Breaking down the work into small jobs and just chip away at it. Rome wasn’t built in a day! I waited two years to paint the wood trim in my house because I thought it was too big a job.
However, when I finally committed to doing it, the labour only took one hour (plus extra time in between waiting for the paint to dry). I am so embarrassed that I waited so long because it was so easy! It's a good idea to Google and YouTube a project before you start, as others often give hints about what they found challenging and tips. If something goes wrong, it’s not the end of the world; take a deep breath and attack it the next day.
What’s the one item in your home you absolutely can’t live without (besides the sofa bed, of course)?
It would probably be the Phantom Wedding comic print. Back in the day, my father was the New Zealand distributor of the Phantom comics. He was in New York for a meeting with the creators, and they gifted him the poster. My parents knew I've always loved it, and for their wedding present to us, they gifted us a Phantom print by Kiwi artist Lester Hall called "Ghost Surfing". It was, as my father called it, "a placeholder".
Dad said that I could have his one when he didn't want it on the wall anymore! Dad passed away in 2022 but in the weeks before his death, he laughed that now I'd finally have the two Phantoms on the wall. I have them both in our lounge above our Slideaway, and it's a lovely reminder of my father when I look at them.
What do you love most about living in New Zealand?
I used to live in New York and what I missed most was the abundance of trees and the smell of the ocean. So in choosing a house to buy, we wanted to be close to the ocean and have plenty of trees around us. I love that we can drive 40 minutes in any direction and be in a completely different part of Auckland. Black sand, white sand, volcanos, mountains, city, forest – we have it all.
What’s one hidden gem in New Zealand that everyone should visit?
Everyone should go to the beaches along the west coast of Auckland. In particular, Muriwai, the black sand is truly something else. Hot fish and chips and the sunset is an unmatched duo.
Conclusion
At Eva, we know that a home isn’t just where you sleep—it’s where you laugh, unwind, and occasionally lose the TV remote. With thoughtful, no-fuss design (hello, Slideaway Sofa Bed), we’re here to make creating a space you love as easy as kicking off your shoes.
Because at the end of the day, your home should work for you, not the other way around. So whether you’re adding a pop of colour or finding the perfect spot for that corn stool, we’ve got your back—and your living room.
