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In this series we will be giving you a glimpse into the places our designers & team call home. Take a tour and gain a personal insight into some of the treasured interiors of our team. We hope it fills you with inspiration!

This week’s blog features the holiday home of our Linen & Homewares Manager, Jill Coleman. Located in the remote Pelorus Sound, its idyllic setting is complemented by a modern and timeless aesthetic. Jill fills us in on this amazing new build and how she has achieved practical style.

Jill Interior Design Project 1

How would you describe the interior design style?

I knew when we started looking at designs we wanted a home that was completely modern and timeless within the exterior and the interior. We knew that we would only have one major build for our holiday home and we had to get it right.

An industrial look was my initial intention for the interiors, yet as things progressed we started to find ourselves using warmer materials of white oak which instantly softened the whole look.

In order to feel timeless, I chose fittings and fixtures that steered away from anything too bold and would still look modern in 10 years’ time. There is such an amazing choice out there and you could go wild (especially with tiles) yet I wanted to choose simple tones that would easily mix in with a variety of colours and textures from my cushions, throws and bedlinen.

Jill Interior Design Project 3

Jill Interior Design Project 10

Give us a little bit of background on the build?

We purchased the original 1960’s bach in 2012 and completed the first stage of the rebuild in 2014. This extension build was two guest bedrooms, a bathroom, a huge garage/rumpus room with a 3.6 stud and decking outside the bedrooms to make the most of the views. This also included a small kitchenette.

We then decided to renovate the existing bach in 2016. Our plan was to build on the existing foundations, but we soon realised that this was near impossible when our builder laughed at the idea. This was the beginning of a new 140msq 3 bedroom home!

Jill Interior Design Project 8

Jill Interior Design Project 7

Tell us about those views (and amazing outdoor areas)?

It is all about the views. This is a second home for us and we do plan to spend more time here in the years to come, so a beautiful contemporary home built around our bush surroundings is what we can look forward to.

We planned our outside spaces very carefully to maximise the sun. Our outdoor areas act as another living area, somewhere that we spend a lot of time all year round. The fire place was a great investment as it allows this to be a great winter escape just as much as summer time. We also love that we just have a minute walk down to a private beach.

Jill Interior Design Project 6

Jill Interior Design Project 5

Jill Interior Design Project 4

Were there any challenges?

The main challenge was the remote location. Being right in the Pelorus Sound, we have road access yet are on an elevated site with a very steep drive. We also had to juggle delays in starting as well as carrying out excavation in the rainy season.

How have you balanced practicality with style?

I always reminded myself that this is a holiday home and can be casual, without the extra fuss, especially with all the visitors (including the many four legged fluffy friends).

We have used Quick-Step flooring throughout the home for practicality and easy cleaning. I just love it, not only does it look great but it is also waterproof and super hard wearing. It was important for me to invest in quality so all of the furniture was carefully chosen for its ability to stand the test of time and its lovely contemporary feel.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and planning a very large island bench was always going to be a key feature for our busy family meals while enjoying the amazing views. The plan for the kitchen continued with the simple theming, white throughout with the addition of a Butler’s Pantry. Storage was a huge item on the wish list, I like to be organised and know where everything is, especially when we are stocking up from not having a store just around the corner.

How have you used lighting as a feature?

Lighting was another very important factor and one which I had very specific ideas of what I wanted. David Trubridge lights are a favourite of mine and we made his lighting a feature over our dining room table, yet still continuing with the soft look.

The light throws off beautiful shapes on the walls in the evening. All our lights are independently switched so we can play around to define the mood of each space.

Jill Interior Design Project 11

Tell us about your beautiful bedroom spaces?

Our bedrooms are all lovely tranquil spaces. One of our guest bedrooms is a very popular room, as it has full windows of the ocean being nestled among the beech trees and tuis.

Working with beautiful linens all day, I knew I wanted these bedrooms to be cosy, comfortable and mixed with colour. The duvet covers are all linen which do not require too much attention and can just be laundered, shaken and put back on the beds.

All our beds have beautiful warm goose down inners and pillows to sink into and relax, as well as a goose down blanket layer for versatility between summer and winter. And of course these beds are not complete without throws and cushions!

Jill Interior Design Project 12

Jill Interior Design Project 13

Do you have a favourite space in your holiday home and why?

I have two and cannot choose between the two! The first is the master bedroom. I love waking up every morning to the stunning views across the Pelorus Sound – it is magical and amazes me every time.

The second is our reading room which is a very calm and quiet room to pick up a book or magazine. This has a floor to ceiling window cantilevered out over bush, with another angle of gorgeous views of the sounds with all day sun. It is lovely to sit and watch the boats go by.

We love our holiday home, it is a place to escape to, bring the family together and just unwind.

Jill Interior Design Project 9

Jill Interior Design Project 2

McKenzie & Willis
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