A home does not need to feel heavy to feel warm. As the weather cools, it is natural to want your home to feel more cocooning and comfortable. But warmth in an interior does not have to come from dark colours, heavy furniture or overly layered decoration. In a well-designed home, winter comfort is [...]
The foundation of a home that feels effortless to live in When people think about interior design, they often start with what they can see; colours, finishes, furniture, the look of the kitchen, the tiles in the bathroom. But the homes that truly feel good to live in are rarely defined by a [...]
When clients first contact us, they are often at the beginning of a renovation or new build. Excited, but also unsure where to start. Many assume the most important decisions happen once construction begins. In reality, the success of a project is often determined well before anyone steps on site. Early design decisions provide [...]
Why hire an interior designer? Because creating a beautiful and functional home involves far more than choosing paint colours or sourcing furniture. It’s about crafting a space that enhances the way you live, reflects your personality, and feels effortlessly cohesive. While many people enjoy tackling design projects themselves, there’s a reason interior design is [...]
Going graphic With its strong retro aesthetic, this striking black and white galley kitchen designed by Nicola Manning melds with the character of the rest of the 1940s home, creating a highly functional space. Nicola’s clients are a family of eight living in the same house, ranging from a new born to children in [...]
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 do count. Your front door is generally the main welcoming point of your home to visitors. Here are some tips [...]
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 discuss the design process and more specifically where is the starting point for putting together a design scheme. The first stage in the process [...]
Why Nearly Every Bedroom Should Have An Upholstered Headboard I love upholstered headboards. I would even go as far as to say that every bedroom should have one. A bed without a headboard is like wearing an outfit without any shoes. It just doesn't look finished. Timber headboards look great too [...]
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 and bright room and the downstairs powder room/laundry was quite dark, so she worked with that instead of against it. [...]
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 time spent on laundry duties. Questions to ask yourself when preparing to design or have your Laundry designed: Do you [...]
