Kiwi interior designers are making their way onto the world stage, and you can vote for them

This is what high-end interior design in New Zealand looks like in 2022.

These three projects all made the final of the Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID) International Design Awards in London – for house or apartment interiors under £1 million (£1.95 million). New Zealand dollars), although we know that at least one was only just under that figure.

Continuing our story of the six New Zealand kitchens that reached the final of the same competition, these projects in Queenstown, Auckland and Christchurch show that Kiwi designers can be counted among the best in the world.

Auckland-based designer Mal Corboy is a finalist for the fifth time – he won an SBID award in 2014. His project, Queenstown Central, is the total interior overhaul of a refurbished holiday home in the city. The project had started as a simple kitchen.

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“They asked me to look at the kitchen and we realized it would be a much bigger job. So they said, ‘Let’s do it right.’ They wanted to be able to entertain a lot of friends and family. I knew that the bones were there and we could move the walls. They were the ideal clients. They just said, “Go ahead and do it.”

The living areas have been completely opened up so that the family can communicate more easily and the whole interior has been modernised. Likewise, the exterior of the former Mediterranean-style house has been completely altered – the designer worked with architect Richard Chambers of JCY in Queenstown.

Corboy not only designed the bespoke kitchen, but also the large dining table which comfortably seats 10 and 12 if required. “We lowered the kitchen ceiling to make it a more intimate space. There are bar stools so people can sit anywhere in the space and still connect.

Most of the seating, including the sofa, lounge chairs and dining chairs, are by David Shaw, while most of the photographs are by one of the owners.

“The atmosphere of a five-star hotel”

Space Studio in Auckland also made the final for a sub-£1million home interior, with a project in Herne Bay.

Senior partner David Sweatman says the client had recently purchased a 1990s cedar shingle and brick home that needed new interiors and minor alterations. “He approached us after experiencing stays at some hotels that we completed and admiring our work.”

Space Studio was engaged as the primary design consultant from concept to completion, including the selection of all furniture, artwork, linens and objects.

“The brief was succinct,” says Sweatman. “The client liked dark oak, brass and marble, and wanted an artists’ family home with the feel of a five-star hotel. This was a strong direction for us, and we balanced the requested opulence with low-gloss natural materials and a restrained palette to keep the spaces relaxed.

“The priority of this project was to keep in mind that the interior of the house should not age the exterior.”

Sweatman says the existing house was dimly lit and segmented. “To transform it into a bright and spacious contemporary house posed a great challenge.

“The living spaces needed to be open. This allowed light from the almost fully glazed north face to filter through the spaces and offer glimpses of incredible views beyond. Two structural columns have been removed and replaced with a large steel beam to span the length of the kitchen. »

Viewpoints have been framed throughout the house, and solid boundaries softened and defined with shifts in materiality. “It created a connection that ran the length of the house with a focal point at each end.

“Although we used oaks and marbles extensively, we made sure to include lighter, contrasting elements nearby. The subtle details sympathize with the natural quality of the materials. Where old and new meet, we keep the details contemporary – this ensured that the scope of the new cabinets was well defined.

“The overall effect is a cohesive sequence of bright spaces, peppered with bold statements throughout.”

Christchurch-based Trenzseater entered the final for the fifth consecutive year – the company has also been a finalist in the London-based Design et al awards for the past six years.

Designer Ben Lewis explains that the current project is an upmarket central apartment complex in Christchurch. “We had a great client who allowed our design flair and vision to be executed exactly as we envisioned.

“The client was looking for a unique, intriguing and multi-layered design. We used lots of beautiful velvets in the design, exquisite wallpapers from our own collection as well as the use of large scale prints and custom designed mirrors.

There’s a strong graphic component to the interior, with strong color accents in jewel tones and black.

You can vote for your favorite interior here.