Jeweller Jasmin Sparrow’s stylish Ponsonby abode is a testament to her good taste and sentimentality. The small three-bedroom house she shares with her partner Oli, their children Archie and Lola, and dog Blue is full of eclectic pieces and creative touches; a place she describes as a sanctuary for the family.
“This is my office space. The desk is vintage, purchased by my partner Oli from a friend who was moving overseas. The portrait on the desk I bought at an exhibition in Morocco, and the hanging shells I found in Rarotonga.”
“The butterfly is from a little flea market in Barcelona. The brass vessel is a Sri Lankan cooking utensil, and the ceramics are from Bali.”
“I sometimes wish I was a little more consistent in my aesthetic, but we’ve just surrounded ourselves with things we love,” she explains. “Lots of objects collected on our travels, and pieces passed down. It’s rare we’ll buy anything brand new, unless it’s collected while travelling. A lot of our large pieces have been passed down or bought secondhand.”
Currently working from home (with plans to expand to a showroom space), Jasmin can divide her attention between her jewellery practice and her children. “It’s been a great option being able to work from home while the kids have been young. I’m lucky because jewellery is small and doesn’t take up a huge amount of space. I work all over the house!
“When my team work with me from home, we set up at the dining table [which used to belong to Oli’s mother]. Dispatch happens at my desk (and often takes over the house). I often reply to emails on my couch.” Jasmin loves living in Auckland’s Ponsonby for its centrality, amenities and sense of togetherness.
“The Wassily Chairs are from Babelogue – my favorite shop in Auckland – with cushions I bought in Morocco.”
“The paintings are by our friend Rob Tucker; he’s an amazing artist.“
“It’s really easy and close to everything, Archie’s school and Lola’s daycare are both a five-minute walk from our house. It’s really nice not having to use the car a lot. We have lots of friends nearby – it’s a lovely community. And I love having little beaches within walking distance: the beach is my happy place.”
On what is in her wardrobe:
“I shop at Scotties, and online resale websites Vestiaire and The RealReal; I look for Lemaire, Jil Sander, Totême, The Row and old Céline.
“I love wearing comfortable heels that are not too high, with jeans or good pants and a T-shirt; I’d say that’s my uniform. I prefer neutral tones. I have a lot of vintage. And I love accessories and jewellery, obviously – I have lots of pieces I never take off.”
Interview: Emma Gleason
Photography: Carolyn Haslett
This article originally appeared in Fashion Quarterly Issue 1, 2020.
