Newmarket Apartment Renovation

  • 2025 NKBA Excellence in Design Awards – Supreme Bathroom Design Award

  • 2025 NKBA Excellence in Design Awards – Outstanding Bathroom Renovation

  • 2025 NKBA Excellence in Design Awards – Auckland Kitchen Recognition Award

  • 2025 Trends International Design Awards – New Zealand Apartment of the Year

  • 2025 SBID Finalist – Interior Design Residential Apartment under 1 Million pounds

Luxury Industrial-Style Apartment, Auckland

This Newmarket Apartment Renovation Auckland transformed a tired industrial-style penthouse into a sophisticated, luxury home. Nicola Manning Design led the project from concept to completion, reworking the layout and interiors to create bespoke spaces that balance the raw beauty of concrete and steel with warmth, colour and timeless design.

Reworking the Layout

To meet the clients lifestyle we redesigned the layout, transforming the apartment from five bedrooms into three. This allowed for the creation of a generous master suite and the addition of a private lift lobby on the bedroom level. By cleverly converting the original family bathroom into lift access and relocating the bathroom to a neighbouring space, we ensured functionality without compromise.

Two former bedrooms with sensuites were combined to form the master retreat: a large bedroom complemented by a walk-in wardrobe and an expansive ensuite. Running the plumbing for this new bathroom required creative thinking – concealed within the ceiling of the living room below. Our solution was a striking suspended black steel ceiling which not only disguises the services but also defines and elevates the character of the living space.

Industrial Structure, Refined Aesthetic

Concrete and steel were embraced as part of the design identity rather than considered obstacles. In the kitchen exposed beams and services were painted black to highlight the architecture. A new reeded glass balustrade introduces texture and lightness, while timber flooring softens the strong industrial lines. A raised plinth was retained to allow for the kitchen island services and to provide an elevated perspective of the view from the sinks.

Waterfall-edged stone island benches ground the kitchen while the large void above the dining area became the perfect stage for a Bocci pendant with hand-blown glass spheres — a dramatic centrepiece visible from both levels of the apartment.

Layered Textures and Warmth

The entry lobby sets the tone with a textured wallpaper and custom oversized steel-framed mirror, offering visitors a welcoming first impression. Bathrooms are treated as moments of luxury: the powder room is a bold jewel-box with richly coloured wallpaper and a vivid pink vanity, while the main bathroom contrasts concrete-look tiles with warm timber elements, celebrating exposed steel beams as part of the design language.

Throughout the home, layers of materials balance industrial elements with warmth and comfort. Polished concrete floors are paired with soft white walls, reeded glass steel doors add privacy and elegance and deep timber cabinetry provides richness. In the media room, patterned fabrics introduce colour and personality creating a cosy retreat.

Overcoming Challenges with Creativity

The project demanded innovative solutions to structural challenges, from navigating tilt-slab walls to running new plumbing within restrictive construction. By reframing walls and lowering ceilings where needed, services were cleverly integrated without sacrificing style. These technical challenges became opportunities to reinforce the industrial character of the apartment while delivering a highly liveable, bespoke home.

The Result

The Newmarket Apartment renovation reflects Nicola Manning Design’s approach to bespoke residential interiors. Resolving complexity with creativity, balancing function with beauty and crafting spaces that are as practical as they are inspiring. The result is a sophisticated industrial-style apartment layered with warmth, colour and character – a home that perfectly suits our clients lifestyle while showcasing our award-winning design expertise.

Services: Renovation Residential, Full Interior Design

Builder: 360 Project Management and Construction

Photography: Mark Scowen

Kitchen and dining area with reeded glass steel doors – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Living room and outdoor area with table – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Exterior with swimming pool – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Media room with built-in shelving – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Ensuite with double stone vanity and mirror cabinets – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Sitting room with green sofas and patterned rug – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design

Our Clients’ Experience – Newmarket Apartment Renovation Auckland

At Nicola Manning Design, every project is a collaboration. Our clients’ feedback is the greatest measure of success — here’s what they had to say about working with us on the Newmarket Apartment Renovation in Auckland.

We recently worked with Nicola and Amy on a complete renovation of our industrial style two-storey apartment in central Auckland. The project was a big one with kitchen, three bathrooms, lobby, laundry, media room, office, living areas and an outdoor space – and from start to finish both Nicola and Amy were fantastic.

Right from the early stages, they listened. They took the time to understand how we live and what mattered most, and then translated that into a design that felt right for us. They struck the perfect balance between respecting our preferences and introducing their own ideas and insights, which elevated the overall design beyond what we could have imagined. Because we were living remotely during the project, having a well-structured process and clear communication at every stage was essential, and they delivered that well. We always knew where things stood and what decisions were coming up.

One of the biggest strengths they brought to the project was their project management. They handled ordering, kept the timelines on track, and managed an excellent working relationship with the construction team. This gave us peace of mind and let us have a more relaxed approach to the process rather than worry about the details.

Their attention to detail was impressive. From the accuracy of the drawings to the thoroughness of the specifications and final quality control, everything was thought through and executed with care.

The end result is an apartment that not only looks amazing but also works beautifully day-to-day. Every space feels considered and connected, and the flow of the apartment is just what we hoped for.

We can’t recommend Nicola and Amy highly enough. If you’re thinking about a design or renovation project, you’ll be in very good hands with them.

Project Image Gallery

From bold feature lighting to finely crafted joinery, each image tells part of the story of this Newmarket Apartment Renovation — a home designed for modern living with timeless style.

Exterior with artificial grass – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Kitchen and dining area with reeded glass balustrade above – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Lobby with Moooi wallpaper – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Bathroom with pedestal basin and wallpaper – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning
Bathroom with wallpaper – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning
Newmarket Apartment Office with Built-in Shelving, Auckland
Sitting area with Noguchi sofa coffee table and pendant light – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Kitchen pantry with Bocci Pendant – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Kitchen and dining area with raised timber flooring – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Kitchen and dining area with reeded glass balustrade above – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Kitchen with bar stool seating area – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Kitchen pantry with Blum pocket doors and timber veneer shelving – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Main bathroom room with free-standing bath – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Ensuite Bathroom with walk-in shower – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning
Ensuite with round bath – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Ensuite with walk-in shower and tiled seat – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Ensuite Bathroom with hanging timber shelf– Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning
Main bathroom room with walk-in shower and wood look tiles – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Main bedroom with custom upholstered headboard – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Main bedroom with view to the ensuite – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Main bedroom with Noguchi ottoman – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Exterior view with Riverside outdoor chairs – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
Industrial powder room with pink vanity and wallpaper – Newmarket Apartment, Auckland – Nicola Manning Design
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