Piece House is putting the joy back into puzzles - celebrating NZ artists while encouraging connection. It's all about slowing down and enjoying the process, but there's also nothing quite like that 'last piece' feeling...
Words by Emma Stenbeck | Boni & Beck
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Never having done much 'puzzling' myself, I recently came to appreciate just how challenging (and rewarding) their 1000-piece puzzles can be. You'll first be drawn in by the incredible artwork created by some serious local talent! We're clever little Kiwis aren't we? It's not long before the pull to do just 'a little bit more' kicks in, slowly replacing that reflex to reach for your phone and doom scroll.
Sophie and Rewa make up the dynamic duo behind Piece House - their mission to cultivate mindfulness and connection is a winning combo. Pair that with their passion for supporting NZ artists and you've got something pretty special. Since launching, Piece House has gone from strength to strength. Recent highlights include breaking into the UK market and winning 'Best New Product' at the NZ Gift Fair 2025, and they're not stopping there.
With over 25 puzzle designs and counting, you're sure to find a fave (or collect them all). They even have curated playlists to match each puzzle! We wanted to hear even more about this ever-expanding venture...
PIECE HOUSE FOUNDERS - REWA & SOPHIE
Tell us about the humble beginnings of Piece House. Was this a project born out of lockdown or had it been in your creative mind for awhile?
We’d always wanted to do a business together, we just weren’t sure what. Sophie was regularly doing jigsaws and found that the artwork options available were lacklustre and uninspiring, which sparked the idea. We realised there was room for puzzles that felt more modern, artful and collectable, and from there PieceHouse was born.
How did you meet and decide to jump in together to bring Piece House to life?
We met while working together on a marketing team back in 2014. Our work styles really complement each other and we’re both ambitious and entrepreneurial by nature. We were always brainstorming ideas to bring to market, and this one stuck.
Have you always been keen puzzlers?
Sophie in particular has been a keen puzzler for years, starting out doing puzzles on holidays and then doing them more regularly about eight years ago. Rewa enjoys them too, but more as casual puzzling with a glass of wine where Sophie is now quite keen on the speed competitions after participating in a few recently.
You talk about the benefits of puzzling, both for your brain function and mental health - can you tell us more...
Puzzling is the perfect mix of mindfulness and focus. It encourages you to slow down, be present and disconnect from screens. Studies show it improves memory and problem-solving skills, but beyond that, it’s a simple way to reduce stress. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching small moments of progress come together to create something whole.
FINISHED YOUR PIECE HOUSE PUZZLE? FRAME IT!
What do you say to people who think puzzles aren't for them or have never 'puzzled' before?
Don’t knock it till you try it! People often say they’re too busy, but we all need time to switch off and do something that isn’t on a screen. Puzzling gives you that mental reset and once you start, it’s surprisingly addictive.
Where are some places you encourage people to incorporate puzzles?
Work break rooms are great because they help people properly switch off between tasks. We also love having a puzzle on the go at home so you can chip away at it whenever you feel like it and guests who visit can't help but put a few pieces in. It becomes a relaxing ritual rather than a big project.
The way you have supported and celebrated local artists with this venture is so exciting. NZ is bubbling over with talent - how do you choose which artists to work with next?
We’re constantly on the lookout for new talent, whether that’s scrolling through social media, spotting murals on the street or visiting art galleries and art shows. We look for artists who have a strong sense of detail, because the artwork needs to have enough intricacy and variation to make it an enjoyable puzzling experience.
Do you decide on a brief or vision for the puzzle artwork or is the artist given free rein?
It’s a bit of both. Usually, an artist’s style or body of work inspires a certain direction for the puzzle. From there, we collaborate on a loose concept, but the artist has creative freedom to interpret it in their own way. That’s where the magic happens, when the artwork feels true to them, and the result is something completely unique.
Who is your business/brand muse at the moment?
We absolutely love CJ Hendry who is an artist based in New York, she creates incredible art events that are next level, the amount of cool ideas she packs into one event is insane, she is so inspiring.
BRINGING THE MAGIC - NZ ARTISTS FOR PIECE HOUSE
What does a typical day look like for you as the creators of Piece House?
Sophie looks after the creative side of the business - working with artists and developing new designs to managing the website, marketing campaigns, social and events.
Rewa looks after the operations side of the business - from production, shipping and logistics to customer service, wholesale and custom puzzle client relationships.
We’re in constant contact bouncing between creative ideas and the practical steps to bring them to life.
What is your favourite thing about running your own business? And what do you find to be the most challenging?
Our favourite thing is the little wins, like seeing new designs come to life, reading customer reviews, and seeing that people genuinely love our product. It’s incredibly rewarding.
The challenges aren’t too frequent, but when they happen (like a delayed shipment or production hiccup), they definitely test your patience and problem-solving skills!
Piece House at The Gift Fair
What's one productivity tip/hack you use to get through your to-dos on the daily?
We’re both big list people, getting things out of your head and onto paper makes everything feel more achievable.
What's your take on AI in the creative world?
(I did ask if it could create and do a jigsaw puzzle and it reminded me that it has no hands, 'sadly' - looks like we are safe, for now).
Haha - nice try asking if it could do a puzzle! We love working with Kiwi artists because their work has authenticity and personality that AI just can’t replicate. AI-generated images often look quite similar and lack that human touch, some of our artists paint their works by hand before they’re scanned, and you can see that texture in every finished puzzle.
What's your favourite self-care ritual at the moment?
Magnesium spray - our new favourite discovery! It helps you unwind and sleep so deeply. It’s simple but makes such a difference.
What are you watching at the moment?
The Summer I Turned Pretty — an easy, feel-good watch and the perfect chick-flick moment after a long day.
Favourite Brunch/Coffee Spot?
Ozone Coffee - we love their food, coffee and atmosphere.
What can we expect next from Piece House?
After releasing five new designs before Christmas, including our very first Christmas-themed and new hexagon shaped puzzle, we have just launched another two new designs that are perfect for Mother’s Day.There’s always lots in the works, and we can’t wait to share what’s next.
Browse our collection of Piece House puzzles in stock here..
These articles are written by us at Boni & Beck. They are not sponsored or paid ads. Our aim is to bring back clean content that isn’t a disguised ad and isn't AI generated text. (If we have ads on our website now or in future you will be able to tell because they will look exactly like ads).
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