Remuera Auckland kitchen renovation with Dekton Opera benchtop and grey cabinetry steel and reeded glass

Nicola Manning Design

Luxury Interiors | Exceptional Service | Timeless Design

“Your home should be a true reflection of your lifestyle and personality – a sanctuary where comfort meets elegance and every detail feels considered. Whether you’re building, renovating or reimagining your space, we bring together inspired design, exceptional care and enduring quality to create interiors you will love for years to come.” Nicola Manning

Portfolio Hightlights

Every home tells a story. A story of the people who live there, their lifestyle and their aspirations. At NM Design our portfolio reflects more than two decades of creating bespoke, luxury interiors across Auckland and beyond.

From contemporary new builds to heritage renovations and coastal retreats, each project is thoughtfully designed to balance beauty with functionality. Our work is defined by timeless elegance, meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to delivering homes that feel as exceptional to live in as they look.

Newmarket Apartment Renovation Auckland – Urban Living Redefined2025-11-13T16:46:12+12:00
Dining Room with Bocci Pendant and 12 seater dining table – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design

Newmarket Apartment Renovation Auckland – Urban Living Redefined

Oratia House Renovation – Luxury Family Interior Design2025-09-29T10:54:14+12:00
Oratia house renovation bathroom – luxury West Auckland interiors - free standing bath

Oratia House Renovation – Luxury Family Interior Design

Auckland City Penthouse Apartment – City Living Refined2025-09-29T11:07:45+12:00
Copper highlights in porcelain stone and Tom Dixon pendant lights with dark cabinetry

Auckland City Penthouse Apartment – City Living Refined

FAQ’s

We specialise in high-end residential projects across Auckland and New Zealand including new builds, full renovations, villa and heritage homes, apartments, kitchens, bathrooms and bespoke interiors.

Most of our projects are Auckland based but we regularly work with clients across New Zealand and internationally, including remotely.

While our specialty is full home and multi room projects, we also design highly detailed kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and single room transformations where a bespoke approach is required.

Kitchen and home bar with dark cabinetry and stone benchtops

Join our Design Community

What Sets Us Apart

Choosing the right interior designer is about more than style – it’s about trust, expertise and the confidence that your vision will be brought to life with care and precision.

What sets us apart at Nicola Manning Design, is our ability to combine timeless creativity with a proven, detail-driven process.

For over 23 years we’ve been creating bespoke, luxury interiors across Auckland and beyond – delivering homes that are not only beautiful, but designed to be lived in and loved for years to come.

  • Award-Winning Experience
    With 23+ years of expertise and international recognition, we bring authority and timeless vision to every project.

  • A Complete, Turnkey Service
    From concept and drawings to procurement and final styling, we manage every detail so you can enjoy the journey stress-free.

  • Tailored to You
    Every design is bespoke – reflecting your lifestyle, aspirations, and individuality rather than a “signature look.”

  • Trusted Partnerships
    We partner with New Zealand’s finest builders, craftsmen and suppliers to deliver uncompromising quality.

  • Our “No Surprises” Promise
    A clear design programme, transparent budgeting and defined timelines mean confidence and peace of mind at every step.

Ready to begin your own design journey?
Whether you’re building, renovating or refreshing your interiors, Nicola Manning Design will guide you every step of the way.

What our clients are saying…

Central City Apartment Renovation

“It was a pleasure working with Nicola Manning on turning our office floor into an apartment! She understood our brief and got it spot on. We are very happy with the quality and final looks from the amazing kitchen to the bathrooms and the clever storage ideas. Nicola is very knowledgeable, professional and personable making her very easy to work with and I would highly recommend her and Katherine! I would use Nicola Manning Design again on our next project..”

– Paula

Central Otago Residential New Build

“Nicola has been fantastic to work with. I engaged her at the beginning of my dream home build project to do all the interior design including furniture selection and placement, all colours, kitchen and bathroom design, appliances etc. I could not be happier with the home. I was out of the country for much of the project and Nicola managed a lot of the interior, working closely with the builder and architect. We had effective meetings whenever I was available to allow me to make final selections. I highly recommend her services.”

– Sylvia

Remuera Heritage Home Renovation

“Working with Nicola Manning was a delight. She listened carefully to our aspirations for the house and came up with some clever, doable designs that fit with the era of the house. She also provided links to high-quality suppliers and tradespeople and this took the risk and guess work out of the project. We are so pleased with the result and she did it all for a very reasonable price. The home is now super welcoming and coordinated right through.”

– Jean

You can also read our reviews on Houzz

Nicola Manning Design – NKBA Elite Designer recognition logo

Nicola is proud to be recognised as an Elite Designer with the National Kitchen & Bathroom Association (NKBA) – an honour awarded to designers who consistently demonstrate excellence in both creativity and technical expertise. For our clients, this recognition is more than a title; it’s reassurance that every kitchen and bathroom we design is guided by industry-leading knowledge, innovative thinking and a commitment to the highest standards of quality.

Recognised for Excellence

Our work has been celebrated with national and international awards that honour design excellence and attention to detail. From winning NZ House & Garden’s Interior of the Year, Bathroom to receiving NKBA Excellence in Design Awards, being named a finalist in the prestigious Best Design Awards, and representing New Zealand on the global stage as an SBID International Design Awards finalist in London – these accolades reflect the same commitment to quality and creativity we bring to every project. Nicola also serves on the Executive Board of the NKBA and judges leading design awards, ensuring clients benefit from insight and leadership at the highest level.

NKBA Excellence in Design Awards – Supreme Bathroom Design Award 2025
Nicola Manning Design finalist – SBID International Design Awards 2025
Nicola Manning Design finalist – SBID International Design Awards 2024
NKBA Excellence in Design Awards – Outstanding Kitchen Renovation Award 2020
Best Design Awards Finalist 2020 – Nicola Manning Design
NZ House & Garden Bathroom of the Year 2015 – Nicola Manning Design

Every extraordinary home begins with a simple conversation. Tell us about your project – we’d love to hear from you.

Follow Us On Instagram    @nicolamanningdesign

What an extraordinary building to experience in person. Today Amy and I had the privilege of joining the Designers Institute of New Zealand and NZIA for a tour of the new Fisher & Paykel Global Headquarters in Penrose, guided by Richard Naish of RTA Studio. The building is an incredible expression of what can happen when architecture, innovation and a strong connection to place are considered together. At its heart is an 11,500sqm, three-level mass-timber structure that wraps around a regenerated wetland oasis - conceived by RTA Studio as a “groundscraper”, keeping people connected not only to one another, but also to the landscape. There was so much to take in - the beautiful timber diagrid structure, sculptural staircases, perforated timber ceilings, tactile handcrafted surfaces, dramatic contrasts between natural timber and blackened finishes, and the way light moves through the building. I particularly loved how the landscape feels integral to the architecture rather than something added afterwards. Sustainability has clearly been embedded into the design from the beginning too. The mass-timber building is calculated to be upfront carbon positive, while the regenerated wetland forms part of the environmental infrastructure of the site as well as creating an extraordinary outlook for the people working within it. Fisher & Paykel was founded here in Auckland in 1934, so there is something very special about seeing such an ambitious new global home for this iconic New Zealand design brand taking shape here in Auckland. Thank you DINZ, NZIA, Fisher & Paykel and RTA Studio for such an inspiring afternoon. It was a real privilege to see the building ahead of its official opening next month.
A very special evening at the 2026 NKBA Excellence in Design Awards, and a real privilege to give the opening speech in my new role as President of NKBA. These awards are about far more than trophies. They make excellence visible, raise the bar for our industry and celebrate the collaboration between designers, clients, suppliers, manufacturers and skilled tradespeople that sits behind every successful project. Putting your work forward takes time, commitment and courage. Congratulations to every designer who entered, and of course to this year’s very deserving winners. It was wonderful to see the extraordinary standard of New Zealand kitchen and bathroom design celebrated so beautifully.
The final edit is one of the most important parts of an interior. It is the stage where decisions are refined, not added for the sake of adding. A piece may be removed because the room needs space to breathe. A fabric may be changed because the tone is not quite right. A rug may shift the balance of a room. An artwork, lamp or object may be the detail that gives the space its sense of personality. Good design is not always about more. Often, it is about knowing what to keep, what to soften and what to let go. That final edit is what helps a home feel calm, personal and complete.
A completed project photoshoot is never just a matter of arriving with a camera. There is a lot of quiet preparation behind the scenes. Accessories are edited, flowers are selected, artwork and objects are considered, furniture is checked, and each room is reviewed through the lens of how it will be seen and remembered. The goal is not to make a home feel staged. It is to capture the atmosphere and detail that already belong there. ❤️ Follow along for more behind-the-scenes moments from the studio.
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