NZ House & Garden | Interior of the Year

I had the pleasure of attending the NZ House & Garden Interior of the Year Awards on Wednesday evening. Held at the beautiful Auckland venue James, and hosted by Carol Hirschfeld, the inaugural event payed tribute to some of the best rooms in New Zealand. Judged by NZ House & Garden editor Sally Duggan, and art director Richard Brunton, as well as designer Rebecca Snelling of Douglas and Bec, and renowned interior designer Penny Vernon, the large volume of entries were of an impressively high standard. Sent in from both professional designers and talented homeowners, the rooms wowed the judges, with Sally admitting that despite looking at beautiful homes all day and every day, she was completely blown away by the calibre and creativity of the rooms. 

I've picked out a few of the winning rooms to share with you, starting with this beautiful kitchen belonging to homeowners Tim and Jo Cameron. Original limestone walls, combined with stainless steel and marble help achieve a lovely mix of old and new, while three service areas provide a functional space for the whole family.  

Beautiful, as well as practical, the colour, lighting and texture of this winning bathroom impressed the judges. Designed by Natalie Du Bois, the sculptural free-standing bath, and gorgeous round double counter-top basins immediately caught my eye, as did the stunning marble vanity tops. 

Winner of the creative space category, this would have to be one of the sweetest nurseries I've ever seen. With the help of her husband and family, Tania Clarke transformed the tiny room into a calm and restful space, perfect for their little baby. I love the soft colour palette and cosy textures. 

In the same category, designer Melissa Greenough was awarded highly commended for her striking living room. Wanting to create a fun space for an Auckland client who loves colour, Melissa certainly hit the mark with her vibrant choice of upholstery fabric and soft furnishings. Sophisticated yet playful, this room is a knockout.

The living room winner had me captivated with its sheer elegance, so it was wonderful to see it take out the 2013 supreme award. Designed by Hilary Skinner, the judges described it as "an extraordinary room. Calm, relaxing and super, super stylish". Parquet flooring, and a brave mix of beautiful antiques and amazing contemporary furniture have created an incredibly serene, yet relaxed space of international quality. 

The poured concrete fireplace, adorned with an antique guilt mirror is magnificent. 

A pair of stylisth Philippe Starck Pratfall chairs in mahogany look beautiful with the French oak timber flooring. 

For full details of each of the winning rooms see the November issue of NZ House & Garden, on sale 21st of October.