Blog with Nicola Manning, Interior Design, Auckland2023-09-28T13:14:31+12:00

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Inspiration, tips and beautiful design

What do House Paint and Make Up have in common?

What do House Paint and Make Up have in common? Even those of you who have no first hand knowledge of applying make up will understand the objective – to enhance natural beauty and to [...]

Key Aspects for Creating a Luxurious Master Walk-in Wardrobe

When it comes to designing a luxurious master bedroom, walk-in wardrobes are an essential element adding both functionality and style. These spacious wardrobes have evolved into sanctuaries where homeowners can organise their clothing, [...]

Milan Design Week and Salone 2023

Unveiling the Trends from Milan Design Week and Salone 2023 Milan Design Week and Salone del Mobile are renowned worldwide as the epicenter of innovation, creativity, and cutting-edge design. Every year, these events bring [...]

Creating a Luxurious Powder Room

Do The Rules Apply When Designing a Powder Room? When it comes to designing a powder room, there are some general rules that can help you create a functional and stylish space. However, as [...]

Furnishing Outdoor Living Spaces

Five Key Considerations for Creating and Styling your Outdoor Spaces Most of us love spending time in our outdoor spaces and enjoying the relaxed and restorative vibe that they bring. A well designed outdoor [...]

Winner Outstanding Renovation Kitchen Award

NEW YORK NEW YORK Though many would associate retirement with spending less time at the office, for this barrister it meant converting his Auckland CBD chambers into a New York-inspired loft [...]

Bright and BEAUTIFUL – NZ kitchens & bathrooms quarterly

The homeowner’s brief for this project was to improve the functionality and flow fo the 1920s home’s kitchen, while adding strong visual interest to the space. The kitchen flows directly into the family room [...]

7 Ways to Add Value to Your Property

7 Ways to Add Value to Your Property   For many people, their property investments are their largest financial asset. How can you maximise the value of that asset through great interior design? [...]

Tips for Fabulous Front Doors

Tips for Fabulous Front Doors For some reason I have been obsessing about great front doors lately and pinning lots of pictures on Pinterest! I know, interior designers focus on strange things! First impressions [...]

Where Do You Start?

Where Do You Start? When I am working with my clients on renovation projects or building a new house, I am often asked where do we start? On my Blog this week we will [...]

Opposites Attract

The bathrooms in this Auckland home are a contrast of dark and light.  The rooms dictated their looks says interior designer Nicola Manning of NM Design - the master ensuite was already a light [...]

Top Tips for Designing Your Laundry

Top Tips for Designing Your Laundry As any family knows, the Laundry is a very busy area of the house and one that you want to make as efficient as possible, to limit the [...]

Pink – Do you dare?

Colour Trend - Pink 15 September 2017        by Nicola Manning Pink, love it or hate it, we are seeing quite a bit of it at the moment in interiors.  At the [...]

The Latest Trends in Accessories for 2017 – from New York

The Latest Interior Design Trends 2017 Blog Series Part Five - Accessories 30 June 2017        by Nicola Manning The 29th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) has just been held in New York City [...]

The Latest Colour Trends 2017 – from New York

The Latest Interior Design Trends 2017 Blog Series Part Three - Colour 15 June 2017        by Nicola Manning The 29th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) has just [...]

The Latest Lighting Trends 2017 – from New York

The Latest Interior Design Trends 2017 Blog Series Part Two - Lighting 6 June 2017    by Nicola Manning The 29th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) has just been held in [...]

The Latest Furniture Trends 2017 – from New York

The Latest Interior Design Trends 2017 Blog Series Part One - Furniture 5 June 2017   by Nicola Manning The 29th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) has just been held in New York City [...]

Battle of the Dining Room Part 2

Battle of the Dining Room Part 2 You may remember a Blog I wrote a couple of months ago about “The Battle of the Dining Room” where I was discussing the robust debate between the [...]

What is Luxury?

What is Luxury? Last weekend I had the wonderful privilege of staying at Huka Lodge, in Taupo. Whilst surrounded by the luxury and tranquillity of Huka Lodge, I started thinking about “what is luxury?” [...]

Before and After – Cupboard to Small Bathroom

Before and After - Cupboard to Small Bathroom My clients wanted to create a Guest Toilet/Powder Room at the end of their hallway. Mark and Wendy love colour and pattern and have a wonderful [...]

Ceilings – The Often Forgotten Tool

Ceilings - The Often Forgotten Tool Generally, I am a strong advocate of light and fresh white (or a version of white) ceilings. Stud heights of the standard 2.4m, as a rule of thumb, [...]

Objects of Desire – Blackboards and Whiteboards

Objects of Desire - Blackboards and Whiteboards Not the subject you would expect for an Object of Desire blog! While black and white boards may not be a glamorous topic, they are brilliantly useful. [...]

Difference between Curtains and Drapes.

Difference between Curtains and Drapes. Many people use the terms curtains and drapers interchangeably. Even though they do have similarities and primarily they have the same purpose, they do have some distinct differences. Generally [...]

Paint Colour Trends for 2017

Paint Colour Trends for 2017 Both Dulux and Resene have recently released their colour palettes for 2017 (and beyond). It is always interesting to look at the colour directions, new paint colours and new [...]

Before and After Case Study – Dining Room

Before and After Case Study - Dining Room This is the Dining Room in a family home; the brief from my clients was to: Source a new dining table to replace the existing square [...]

Battle of the Dining Room

Battle of the Dining Room Do you ever have different ideas from your partner or other family members about decor in your home? I am currently having a battle with my very male dominated [...]

Before and After Case Study – Ensuite Bathroom

Before and After Case Study - Ensuite Bathroom This is the Master Bedroom Ensuite in a gorgeous 1930’s home. The brief from my clients was to: Provide more storage, as they had nowhere [...]

Yellow Making a Comeback with a Difference

Yellow Making a Comeback with a Difference In my Blog this week I thought I would discuss a colour that historically hasn’t been one of my favourites at all. Yellow is making a [...]

Before and After Case Study – Kitchen

Before and After Case Study - Kitchen This Kitchen was crying out for help, it was a 1980’s Provencal Blue and Yellow scheme. The brief from my client was to: Add colour and [...]

Shutters

Shutters Do you struggle sometimes with awkward shaped windows and can’t find the right solution for window treatments? Shutters provide a versatile and elegant solution to many window treatment problems. INTERIOR SHUTTERS Interior [...]

Before and After Case Study – Entrance/Hallway

Before and After Case Study - Entrance/Hallway This is the Entrance and Hallway in a Villa in Auckland. The brief from my client was to: Add colour and personality into this space. Improve [...]

50 Shades of Grey in Interior Design

50 Shades of Grey in Interior Design There are many shades of Grey, how do you use them in your interior to best effect? Interesting fact before I go further: have you noticed [...]

Milan Design Week 2016 Blog Series – Part Nine LIGHTING

Milan Design Week 2016 Blog Series - Part Nine LIGHTING We saw some stunning lighting in Milan during Design Week. The Tom Dixon light installations at the collaborative exhibition with Caesarstone were stunning, as you would [...]

Milan Design Week 2016 Blog Series – Part 8 WALLPAPER

Milan Design Week 2016 Blog Series - Part 8 WALLPAPER One of the strong themes coming through Salone del Mobile in Milan this year was a light industrial design style - concrete and brick walls combined [...]

Milan Design Week 2016 Blog Series – Part Five BATHROOMS

Milan Design Week 2016 Blog Series - Part Five BATHROOMS There were so many beautiful bathrooms on display at the International Bathroom Exhibition, which was part of the Salone del Mobile Milano in April. The key [...]

Milan Design Week 2016 Blog Series – Part Two COLOUR

Milan Design Week 2016 Blog Series - Part Two COLOUR The predominant colour story at Salone Del Mobile and Eurocucina this year was the depth of colour on display. There were lots of moody charcoals, blacks [...]

Trend Alert – Patterned Tiles

Trend Alert - Patterned Tiles As I am out and about sourcing tiles for client projects, I am seeing far more patterned tiles available. Plain coloured tiles or textured tiles obviously still have their [...]

To Follow or Not to Follow the Latest Trends

To Follow or Not to Follow the Latest Trends   After completing a series of six blogs on the Interior Design Trends for 2016 and beyond, I thought it a great time to explore [...]

Interior Design Trends 2016 Part VI – Fantastical Nature

Interior Design Trends 2016 - Part VI Fantastical Nature To continue on with our recent blog series, highlighting the significant trends expected for 2016 and beyond, I want to introduce you to another theme. Fantastical [...]

Interior Design Trends Part III – Belo Rio Key Components of this Trend

Belo Rio Key Components of this Trend This week’s Blog is a continuation in the series on the five key Interior Design Trend themes for 2016. The Belo Rio theme is predominantly based upon [...]

Five Key Interior Design Trend Themes for 2016 Part I

Five Key Interior Design Trend Themes for 2016 Last week I travelled to Melbourne for the Decor and Design Trade Show, which featured both exhibitor stands and seminars. It is always so inspiring to [...]

March 2015 Auckland Gift Fair

March 2015 Auckland Gift Fair I had fun spending a couple of hours at the Gift Fair in Auckland looking for accessories and furniture for clients and to look at general trends. [...]

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