As city life becomes busier and more stressful, we seek respite in homes that offer a calming retreat from the outside world.
Certainly, that’s what Larissa Hamilton experienced as a commercial lawyer negotiating large technology agreements for global banks overseas.
After 20 years working in the corporate arena, Larissa felt the irresistible sway of her creative side and decided to return home with her family, after many years living in Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong.
In 2015, Larissa and her husband Andrew Hamilton established their design brand, Corcovado, and began developing their own range of furniture, handmade from natural materials and ethically sourced. A boutique store in Christchurch and an online store quickly followed.
Larissa designs products for people like herself, who want to walk through the door of their home and soak up a calming ambience. Corcovado references the natural beauty and muted tones of the New Zealand landscape, and celebrates the unique characteristics and energy of handmade products.
“The key thing is that it is natural,” she says. “There is a growing movement away from machine made, high polluting products that are mass-produced. I honestly believe that the energy you create in your home impacts your wellbeing, and that of your family. We are sensory beings. We long to be surrounded by nature, and products that are created from natural materials.”
Larissa works with small artisanal communities, both overseas and in New Zealand. All Corcovado sofas are made here in New Zealand, and most of the upholstery and rugs are in New Zealand wool.
“Supporting local industry is so important and we are honoured to offer many New Zealand made products. For those items that can’t be made or produced here, like woven rattan pendants or hand-carved teak cabinets, we work with artisan groups globally, where we know the source of the materials is a sustainable one, and where fair trade practices are upheld. We know all the families we work with, both here and overseas, and fully appreciate the impact our orders have on these communities. It is very fulfilling to create something with a talented artisan, and for that piece to be appreciated and purchased here in NZ. We share a lot of photos with our makers of where their items find a home, and it’s a thrill for them to see their work admired and enjoyed as well.”
In August 2019, Larissa and Andrew opened their first Auckland store, in the heart of Grey Lynn. With a growing online presence Larissa wanted to offer Auckland customers the same tactile experience and customer service that they offer in Christchurch.
Larissa says, “Like me, our Auckland customers want to see, touch and feel our products. We appreciate that handmade, natural products are more expensive than anything mass produced, so often it’s not until our items are experienced in person do our customers truly understand the quality of our range. We wanted to give our Auckland customers the opportunity to immerse themselves in a real setting, be able to try pieces on appro before committing and to discuss special custom pieces, whether for a commercial or hospitality offering or a residential space. All of this is so much easier now that we have an Auckland presence.”
Larissa and Andrew found the perfect space in Grey Lynn’s Westmoreland Street West to showcase their range. Corcovado is located within the newly renovated ‘Scrap Yard’, and is part of a small, creative community with wellness, furniture design and coffee at its core.
Creating Corcovado and working in such a creative space was an incredible dream for Larissa: “It proves we are all capable of evolving and changing. It really is never too late to try something else.”
