Beautiful & Functional Interior Design
Email info@lisaredshawdesign.co.nzOpen plan living is great BUT where does all the stuff go?
The clients brief was to make a redundant corner of the living space multi functional, it needed to house a TV, a sound system, storage for board games, a laptop area for kids homework and a charging station for devices.
Rather than using individual pieces of furniture I have carefully designed custom cabinetry which wraps the corner of the room, not only ticking all of the functional requests but providing an elegant solution as well.
One of the biggest problems I come across is over decorating, there is a dangerous tendency to keep adding MORE. In fact adding more does the opposite, it confuses your mind and doesn’t give your eyes a place to land and rest. Simplicity is critical when designing a bedroom, this space is your sanctuary away from the noise of the house.
A paired back well considered space instinctively feels comfortable, here are the key elements that make it happen …
Dark walls recede creating depth, custom made headboard, cushions and quilt enabled specific fabric combinations. Custom bedside cabinets and lighting enable functional proportions, double track curtains control light and privacy.
Layering details of proportion, colour and texture are what makes a space instinctively feel right.
Less is always more.
A little bit of Moooi goodness has been added to a plain home inhabited by a super stylish family.
Generic white walled open plan living with polished concrete floors, and a ditsy traditional fire surround needed an injection of drama to match the family’s personality.
Now they happily live amongst 10 mysterious animals digitally printed on a soft touch textile, the stunning Menagerie of Extinct Animals wallpaper has introduced drama to the dining kitchen wall, a complimentary deep black green on the fire surround and scullery splash back hook the living spaces together.
Perched high in the hills above Tauranga the interior for this recently completed home was simply a back drop to the majestic view.
Raked ceilings draw you towards the horizon, crisp Dulux Okarito, Dusty Oak timber flooring, and San Selmo reclaimed Limewash brick … a soft restful colour palette that sooths the soul and encourages you to stop a while.
A simple client wish list for this kitchen renovation … maximize storage whilst maintaining the current footprint.
The original kitchen had white cabinets and white stone tops, the vast open plan space and spectacular views gobbled up the white on white and did little to enhance the concrete floors. Flipping the pallet to Black on Black gave the space substance and suited the industrial vibe of the home.
Dysfunctional pantry doors that opened into workspaces were replaced with pocket sliding hardware allowing pantry and crockery doors to remain open without inhibiting workflow while the family cooked.
Hardwearing finishes ensured durability and finger print free maintenance.
Hardworking cabinet makers at The Kitchen Business ensured the finer details were executed precisely.
Sheer curtains have come a long way since the days of doily nets …. remember the frilly scalloped hems and double layer café curtains? Fast forward to today’s interpretation of old and we happily discover a myriad of gorgeous fabrics to transform our spaces with a valuable layer of texture and femininity.
With our homes designed to capture expansive views and maximum sunshine translucent fabrics are the perfect solution. Softening windows without obstructing views, filtering light, providing privacy, and protecting our furniture from UV rays – like sunscreen for our interiors.
Something for every scheme … Raw organic linen, dry open weaves, metallic threads, wool blends, the only difficulty will be deciding which to choose!
Image features Beech by James Dunlop
The Curator’s Cabinet is the latest offering from Mind The Gap, a wallpaper collection of exotic delights rich in detail and colour. Of course it’s impossible to select a favorite, but these are amongst mine …
Samurai and Geisha Wallpaper depicting traditional Japanese characters in a midnight forest, with heavily patterned kimonos flowing, wild animals and swaying trees the scene is alive
Gardens of Jaipur wallpaper has you lost in a sprawling garden filled with intricately detailed wildlife and buildings
The Former Emperor pays homage to Japanese woodblock prints of the 1800’s crests of the waves glimmer with metallic highlights as the wooden boats battle the elements.
Described as A journey in search of beauty, from the walls of Persia to the Palaces of India and the upper echelons of Japanese society, this collection is a visual expedition around the world.
ātaahua – beautiful
Inspiring images from the new Designers Guild Madhya collection. Madhya features digitally printed cotton velvets in graphic tartans, checks and a graceful botanic.
DG signature vibrant shades are often challenging to lovers of ‘white on white’ schemes, the additional muted chocolate and berry tones in this collection are well suited to our homes here in Aotearoa.
Love those chairs!
Cabinetry handles have the ability to transform kitchens from modern to traditional, Archant’s latest release from Furnipart include the FP Manor range. The two finishes, Antique Brass and Matt Black, allows them work across a number of styles.
Manor T, Manor Back, Manor Knob and Manor.
Add to this a dash of Crofton Dark Oxide woven mesh panel Archant Wovenpanel for additional texture … beautiful
No surprises that a recent bathroom design brief for teenage sisters came with a hefty check list! Maximum storage, natural lighting, good size bath and a spacious shower were hot on the list, Mum’s final instruction was for a clean minimal aesthetic in keeping with the rest of the new build project.
In order to maximize space the bath was placed within the shower wet area, making the back to wall free standing bath a practical solution. A full height glass screen cleanly separated the room into two areas. Recessed mirror cabinet provided additional storage for smaller items and the wall hung vanity added to the illusion of space. Matt white wall tiles in three different sizes and orientation added texture.
Beautifully constructed by Harwood Homes