Timeless Elegance
for inner city Wellington apartment
Inner-city Sanctuary
A refined inner-city sanctuary, balancing elegance, comfort, and considered design.
Located in the heart of Wellington, this apartment—defined by soaring ceilings and a mezzanine level—offered remarkable potential alongside a series of complex design challenges.
The brief was to create a warm and inviting retreat—an elegant home to return to after the intensity of a demanding career and the pace of city living. The project included a full interior redesign, renovation of the bathroom and en-suite, and the creation of a luxurious master suite.
Achieving balance within the double-height volume, alongside the practical challenges of apartment living and access, required a highly considered approach. Existing architectural elements—including exposed pipes, beams, and boxed-in services—created unconventional voids and spatial interruptions. Rather than concealing these, we embraced them, transforming constraints into defining design features.
A refined palette of layered neutrals was complemented by subtle blue tones, bringing depth and calm to the interior. Throughout the apartment, all furniture, cabinetry, and bathroom vanities were custom designed and made in New Zealand, ensuring a cohesive and highly resolved result.
In the mezzanine master suite, a bespoke headboard in richly textured blue wallpaper anchors the space, while integrated lighting highlights the architectural forms. The en-suite was designed to feel both spacious and refined through the use of large-format tiles, custom joinery, and carefully considered lighting.
The secondary bedrooms presented their own challenge, with off-centre frosted windows and limited natural light. These were concealed to allow for a more resolved and cohesive design. A rich indigo palette was introduced—an intentionally bold choice that adds depth and character—while layered LED lighting provides both clarity and ambiance, ensuring the rooms feel intimate yet unexpectedly spacious.
Across the apartment, the existing open-plan kitchen, dining, and living areas, along with the bedrooms, were unified through a cohesive design approach—enhancing flow and creating a balanced, considered interior.
A large-scale painting and sculptural work by Jane Mason were introduced to activate the more unusual spaces and respond to the height of the apartment, adding depth, character, and a refined sense of balance.
The result is a timeless and quietly distinctive home—elegant, cohesive, and beautifully resolved.
This project was nominated for an international interior design award with Design et al in the UK.
REVIEW
We recently purchased an apartment in central Wellington that stood out from the crowd of many we had seen. It had “good bones” in that the layout was interesting and spacious and had the potential to be made into something special. Sandy realized that potential. With flair, passion, and sheer hard work she transformed the place into a home away from home that never fails to provoke a “wow” reaction in those who come through the door. Thank you, Sandy, for your undoubted talent, your attention to detail, your assiduity, your wonderful creation, and, not least, your friendship. Fortunate indeed will be the future clientele who secure your services.”
~ Jackie and Phil
