NZ kitchen and bathroom awards

Boutique Christchurch designer wins a record seven NZ kitchen and bathroom awards

Boutique Christchurch company Indesign is flushed this week with a record seven awards at the annual New Zealand kitchen and bathroom annual awards.

Indesign on High Street is owned by John Gaynor and Davinia Sutton and is just three years old.

Sutton said today no previous award winner has won six awards at once or any design firm has won seven awards before since the National Kitchen and Bathroom Association annual event began 23 years ago.

``And seven in 2007 has a nice ring about it,’’ Sutton said.’

She will head to the international kitchen and bathroom show in Chicago in April next year – as a result of her top prize.

Sutton’s awards were the top NZ bathroom design of the year, the runner-up NZ design of the year, best renovated bathroom, South Island regional winner, best renovate kitchen and highly recommended (bathroom?). Gaynor won highly commended (kitchen?).

``John and I bounce ideas and thoughts between each other, on our projects all the time. We support each other in our projects. We specialise in attention to detail.

``We become involved in our projects deeply and need support from each other during the design process. We feel its not necessarily being the biggest,
just the best,’’ she said.

Indesign is a small design practice (Amanda Smith is the other designer), specialising in internal architecture. Their service is supported by qualifications in interior design, spatial design and architectural design, along with 12 years of collective experience designing kitchens, bathrooms, laundry’s, wardrobing, furniture, media rooms and storage solutions. On average they design up to 150 rooms a year.

Sutton says she remembers being interested in design from the age of four. Her mother was a graphic artist and Davinia used to do art at primary and high school and she took art classes in the school holidays.

``I can remember sitting by her side as a pre-schooler trying to do my own designs alongside her.’’

After getting their tertiary qualifications, they both worked for a high profile design firm in Christchurch for several years before setting up their Indesign partnership.

``Everything is custom made and produced here by professional tradespeople in the Canterbury region. We work closely with everyone involved in each project, as attention to detail is a key component of our work.

Their joiners, Lyall Park Joinery and Sydenham Joinery, played a key role in the award-winning achievements.

The commitment and attention to detail from Lyall Park in particular during the project was outstanding and beyond the usual expectations of any joinery firm.

Sutton says New Zealanders are realising that number 8 wire and DIY doesn't produce the best effect and result.
``There is a larger need within the market for design professionals specialising in kitchens and bathrooms but also home environments are requiring more attention to detail.

``I felt there was a great opportunity with our (the top NZ award-winning) design as it's a unique bathroom. The client had an appreciation for life’s little indulgences. They wanted this bathroom to be a real room, one with furniture, artwork, celebrating the spaces you live in, rather than just being a clinical cold space.

``The judges may have liked the elegance, intimacy and personal efficiency. It’s a mix of elements that makes this room a treat, unlike another room in the house.

``By mixing two earth-tone marbles and two richly stained woods for subtle shifts in hue and texture, this spacious bathroom achieves a sense of warmth. Refined rather than rustic, polished surfaces and streamline fixtures reflect the key architectural elements.’’

Rich walnut timber and marble provide a solid, masculine foundation for sensuously curving faucets and hand crafted wall sconces.

East meets west as a minimalist shower niche with dark high polished marble tiles mingle effortlessly with Victorian influenced fixture & cabinetry.

Such restraint leaves the room’s biggest wow factor – the roomy walk in shower space with floor to ceiling tiled in Nero marquina tiles. The space is softened by the gentle curves in the polished nickel fittings and provides an air of traditional refinement, she said.

``We listen to our clients’ needs and requirements and work a design to suit not only their brief but also the surrounding architecture. We guide our clients through out the design process providing a service from initial sketch plans to final install and sign off of the project. Our motto is `it must be right for our client’ and expect this standard to be passed on, to all other professionals working on the project.

``More and amore, we are working closely with architects and interior designers to ensure the best possible result for the entire project. We are finding that this is a success for our clients and beneficial for the architects.’’

The NKBA awards were established 23 years ago to foster New Zealand design talent and to recognise excellence, creativity and innovative thinking.

A total of 23 kitchen and bathroom design awards were announced in front of 300 people at the gala event in Dunedin Town Hall.

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