A slower way to cook, a better way to live.
For Cheryl, owning an AGA wasn’t about following a trend. It was about returning to something familiar.
Growing up in rural Hawke’s Bay, the kitchen was always the heart of the home. Warm, welcoming, and centred around a cast-iron cooker that quietly did its job day after day. Years later, while renovating her own home, those memories resurfaced.
“I always thought AGAs were only for huge farm kitchens,” Cheryl says. “Then I discovered the AGA City 60 and everything changed.”
The centrepiece that set a home’s entire design aesthetic
Cheryl didn’t just add an AGA to her kitchen; she designed her entire home around her AGA City 60.
The duck-egg blue finish resonated with Cheryl’s creative personality, and the cooker became the starting point for the rest of the home’s palette, influencing cabinetry, fabrics, blinds and even feature wallpaper. Today, it’s the first thing people notice when they walk through the door.
“It’s my showpiece. People come in and immediately comment on it.”
Discover the iconic AGA collection collection here →
Better food, every time: learning the AGA way of cooking
Moving from a conventional oven to an AGA did require a shift in mindset, but not a complicated one.
“The biggest thing I learned was not to rush,” Cheryl explains. “You plan ahead a little more, but once you do, everything just works.”
Attending an F.L.Bone cooking demonstration helped her understand how the ovens and hotplates work together, and tasting the results sealed the decision.
Roasts are Cheryl’s favourite thing to create in her AGA; they are evenly cooked, juicy, and forgiving.
“In a normal oven, if you overcook something, it’s ruined. With the AGA, even if it goes a bit longer, it’s still delicious.”
The cast-iron heat retains moisture, meaning food doesn’t dry out, and flavours develop gently. Baking, slow cooking, and everyday meals all benefit from that consistency.
EVERYDAY VERSATILITY IN A COMPACT SIZE
Living on her own, Cheryl loves how adaptable the AGA City 60 is.
The hotplate handles quick meals with ease: eggs, tomatoes, and fritters, while the ovens make it simple to cook multiple meals at once to enjoy pre-made meals throughout the week. Accessories like AGA cast-iron cookware and Bake-O-Glide sheets only add to that flexibility.
After hosting a recent birthday celebration, one of Cheryl’s guests couldn’t fathom how the lightest, fluffiest whitebait fritters were produced without the use of a pan and only using the hotplate.
“It’s simple. You turn a dial and get on with your day. No digital menus. No overthinking.”
MORE THAN JUST A COOKER
In winter, the AGA gently warms Cheryl’s home so well that she often doesn’t even need her wood burner.
“It’s amazing how much warmth it gives off for something that size. The house just feels cosy.”
For Cheryl, her AGA is a forever piece. “If I move, the oven comes with me. I’d never leave it behind.”
It’s not just about performance, it’s about how the cooker makes her home feel: calmer, warmer, and uniquely hers.
“People think AGAs are hard to use,” Cheryl laughs. “They’re actually incredibly simple. Once you understand how they work, they’re easier than most modern ovens.”
EXPERIENCE AGA FOR YOURSELF
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live with an AGA, Cheryl’s advice is simple: see one in action.
Visit the F.L. Bone showroom or book a cooking demonstration to experience the warmth, simplicity and flavour that make AGA unlike any other cooker.