THE HOME

Villa, Herne Bay, Auckland. Kady and Tom Buchanan, family of four.

THE BRIEF

Bring a sense of the client’s personal style and love of colour and create a sophisticated family home.

WHAT WE DID

My client and her family recently returned to New Zealand after living abroad for many years, immersing themselves in various cultures during their travels. They were eager to infuse an international flair into their New Zealand home, blending their collected treasures with new styles we introduced.

To make their home unique and perfectly tailored to the space, we opted for custom-made furniture. In the open living area, we introduced bar stools that complemented the existing lighting and created a tranquil reading nook to capture the abundant natural light. For the seating area, our goal was to achieve a sophisticated and colorful yet family-friendly space. We accomplished this by crafting some exceptional pieces, including swivel chairs adorned with a striking animal print that the client had admired for years, along with a long curved couch. The addition of a stunning bronze coffee table added a touch of glamour.

The outdoor area seamlessly connected to this space, and we achieved a cohesive indoor-outdoor look with the incredible Jardin furniture, using colours from the inside.

In the TV room, we aimed to create a true “wow” factor. We designed a massive custom bouclé couch accompanied by a large, eye-catching pill-shaped ottoman upholstered in a standout fabric. To infuse warmth and individuality into the space, we incorporated a large shelving unit in a striking blush pink color, which perfectly showcased the client’s collectibles.

In the master bedroom, we installed wall-to-wall wallpaper, creating a luxurious and relaxing ambiance. The wallpaper was chosen to make their green cabinet stand out, and we complemented it with a cane bedhead and bedside tables to establish a serene and joyful space.

In a walkthrough laundry area, we introduced more wallpaper, featuring an eye-catching pink palm tree print that injected a sense of joy into the space and coordinated with the colours throughout the home.

Designing this eclectic home was a delight, as we seamlessly blended the family’s cherished old pieces and collected art with our custom creations to craft a home that truly reflects our client’s life.

“I found Erina through a friend of a friend and the moment we chatted on the phone I knew Erina was my gal. I was after a designer who understood that I wanted to incorporate items my family and I have collected over the years of traveling and living abroad to make a unique and sophisticated home that reflects who we are.

Erina and I immediately bonded over our love of color, patterns and wallpaper and she understood the vibe I was looking for. Initially I thought some of Erina’s suggestions on shapes of furniture were a bit too modern for my taste, but after going around the showrooms and seeing them in person, I understood her vision and appreciated that she pushed me out of my comfort zone. The whole process was a wonderful collaboration between us; decorating ideas I had came to life with Erina’s creative vision. Also, being new to NZ, Erina was a wealth of information about fabric and furniture suppliers and her relationships across town are fantastic.

Finally, the communication process was clear and simple through the project and everything was completed in a timely manner. My house is now complete and looking gorgeous and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Erina’s help.”

THE HOME Villa, Herne Bay, Auckland. Kady and Tom Buchanan, family of four. THE BRIEF Bring a sense of the client’s personal style and love of colour and create a sophisticated family home. WHAT WE DID My client and her family recently returned to New Zealand after living abroad for many years, immersing themselves in [Read more …]