NZ House & Garden Interior of the Year Winner – Stylemaker

 “NZ House & Garden Interior of the Year Winner – Stylemaker.” When I utter the words I still giggle in a silly, nervy, shy kind of way. It was a glamorous awards evening last Thursday, and some beautiful spaces were celebrated. The room was filled with clever design folk, the bubbles flowed, the judges spoke, and the rooms revealed.

Making clients happy is a treat in itself, but it was an honour to be crowned a winner by such a coveted magazine who have the authority on interiors. I’m also filled with gratitude for our client who generously opened the doors to her home.

Now that I’ve landed back on earth, I’m actually a tad excited to scratch a line through number 5 on my lofty To-Do List; ‘get featured in NZ House & Garden’. Dropping yesterday, the magazine has a lovely feature on Stylemaker, rendering a happy dance from me.

We figured the editor would scan several award submissions, so we wanted to make it an inspiring read. While we were quietly confident of our handiwork, we thought it only fair the story should reveal a little of our thinking behind the vision.

Here’s a Snapshot of our Entry:

Hello NZ House & Garden. We hear the search is on to find the country’s most beautiful single room. This is too irresistible to pass up. So please consider this dramatic turnaround recently completed by Nikki - Interior Designer/Founder/Blogger & Competition Seeker.

1. Vision 

Our busy working parents wanted a soothing space to dust off the day’s events and relax among a layered, rich colour palette. The vision could be themed ‘considered decisions’. Every choice made, from how to indulge the scale of the ceiling, to input on colour, textures, furniture and wall linings - every little inch has been cross-examined and tinkered with to create a stunning master bedroom.   

2. Key Features 

Oh we’ve packed the features in and every detail is a triumph. This patient family had waited three years to find their dream home, so the boudoir deserved to be perfect.

Our favourite feature is custom-made T&G panelling, carefully matched to the ceiling detail. Colour and bedlinen selection has been a devotion in itself, designed to work in harmony with the adjacent rooms. Feature lighting with oversized shade and beautiful brass detail adds a bold statement.

Using these hero pieces, we’ve complemented them with a range of textures, linen, brass, timber and pops of black. The sheer size and scale of the ceiling pitch has given the room a relaxed, sensual feeling.

3. The Process 

Unashamedly 1970s board n batten, the homeowners had found a renovation project with a capital R. The work took about nine months and the home was completely stripped of all original surfaces. There were some incredible discoveries along the way including the ceiling detail, highlighted with feature lighting.

Each room was carefully curated to keep the style consistent. There is a common theme of natural materials and finishes, with highlights of black. The result? Fostering much happiness from its inhabitants, the home is generous, relaxed and timeless.

Right, eyes forward, it’s back to number 6 on my frightening To-Do List… tell you more next time.