Newly Reupholstered Chairs

My client showed me two chairs several weeks ago - they been handed down through the family to her and she wanted to keep them, however they needed serious repair and updating. There was sagging seats, no foam, old worn fabric, beaten timber - in general, they had been much loved over the years and were looking worse for wear. So last week, I happily delivered these newly refurbished chairs back to her house - she was delighted.

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

Updating a Fireplace

Here's a nice detail from a job that I am managing at the moment.
When I first met with my client, she wasn't too keen on this fireplace in her living room and I agreed with her. It didn't produce much heat and the surround was rather large, almost overwhelming for the space that it was in. In essence, we wanted to make it less of a focal point. So we got the top half chopped off, put in a new gas fire insert for better heat output and painted it white. It looks much better, don't you think?

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

Details from a Renovation

Here are some quick shots from a renovation I worked on last year - the client is at the stage where she is slowly going through the spaces and 'dressing' each room to finish off the renovation, which includes new furniture to replace existing, placement of furniture, art on walls and so on. This always takes time. The main renovation that happened last year included the new glossy back and white kitchen that you see above.

New oak timber dining table with the black and cane chairs. Looks great with the new oak floors.

I always like a stripy chair - this new one is in the family room next to fresh orange curtains.

I like this back to the wall bath which gives the impression of a freestanding bath, yet it takes up less room.

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

Colour and Pattern

It's always lovely to see a job completed and here are some details from a family home that was done today.
We had a great mix of colour and pattern coming together with the fabrics on the furniture, drapes, light shades and cushions in this family room beside the new kitchen. We also finished off the mainly white kitchen with these cool IMO Baker stools in black. Looking smart!

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

New Work - Soft Furnishings

Carrying on from the kitchen transformation posted earlier this week, here are some the soft furnishings that we source for the adjoining living space.

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

Work in Progress

I went onsite today and it was great to see this kitchen I designed earlier this year almost completed. The T & G and panelled cabinetry is looking great in the this soft grey green and it works beautifully with the warm recycled timber bench tops.
Photograph by Charlotte Minty.

Timber Kitchen

Here is a recently completed family kitchen that I enjoyed working on earlier this year. At our initial meeting, my client stated that she was not after a white kitchen with minimal lines for her villa home - she said this was not her or character of the house. She later explained what she was after was 'Rock'n'Roll Nana' - a great description, right? She is an artist who wanted a kitchen that looked great, wasn't too precious for her creative family and to have her collection of teacups and objects on display.
This is the result - a dark stained timber kitchen with touches of white and vintage style cabinet handles. In contrast we used unstained timber for the two display shelves to highlight the collections. The bench top is stainless steel around the working area and the island is completed with a white high pressure laminate. It was great to visit the kitchen today and see the 'life' that it possesses.

Vintage style pull handles

Industrial bar stools for the island

Square white gloss tiles for the splash back

Contrast between the dark stained and unstained timber.

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

New Work - Residential Furnishings

Here I am finally getting around to taking some photos of recent work! This residence has been an on-going collaboration with Minty Architecture and Design, ie. my architect sister. We have worked with these clients over several years through different design and building stages - it has been great seeing how this home has progressed. Earlier this year, I worked with the clients on their furnishings for the dining and living areas - here are the results.

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

Kitchen Under Stairs

Here's a kitchen that I designed and had installed earlier this year.
Part of this kitchen is located under the stairs and the previous layout had the fridge and storage here - it was awkward and not well utilised. To solve this, we took the existing stair wall (around the corner) to full height and placed the fridge here, then located the cupboards above right along the back wall. This created more bench top space as well as making it feel  more spacious and streamlined.
A granite bench top was chosen (one half of the client is a geologist so very appropriate) - this one is called Kashmir White and it has dappled garnets throughout. It works beautifully with the white cabinetry.

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

Completed Work - New Kitchen

If there is one thing that I been doing a bad job of this year, that would be not taking photos of my work after it has been completed. It is so easy to finish a job and move on to the next one without reflecting on the whole process and enjoying the results. Also, interiors can be difficult to photograph! Excuses aside, I have been calling up a few clients and I'll be slowly going around and recording some of the work done this year.
This hardwearing family kitchen is located in a traditional house in Wellington - the client wanted clean lines, lots of storage and to use traditional materials like timber and stone to give texture.

Upstand detail on kitchen island



Vertical subway tiles

New Emeco bar stools with red leather seats at the breakfast bar 

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.