Luxurious and inviting, luscious and opulent, the search for paradise is a search for what brings a person happiness and peace. To bring tranquillity and beauty into your own home requires finding what brings you joy, and looking to the natural environment in which you live. Look out the window. Do you see a native jungle, or the gleam of high-rise glass? The multi-talented Michael Mansvelt is a landscaper and home and interior designer, based in Aotearoa New Zealand, helping his clients create a paradise at home.

Michael shares his insights from his celebrated career spanning three and a half decades. A little bit of opulence does wonders for the soul, whether it is a soft-as-can-be blue velvet couch, a textured seagrass wallpaper, giant planters filled with opulent orchids, or lush foliage to turn your garden into a tropical oasis.