From Concept to Completion: Creating a House of the Year Finalist with Summit Construction
There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing a project come to life from the earliest conversations through to completion.
One of my recent interior design projects, completed alongside Summit Construction and a wonderful client team, has been recognised as a finalist in the Master Builders House of the Year 2026 competition for Canterbury.
For me, this project represents everything I love about interior design: collaboration, problem-solving, thoughtful material selection, and creating a home that feels both beautiful and effortless to live in.
More importantly, it highlights how valuable it can be to involve an interior designer early in the building process.
Photo credit Itch Photography, Christchurch | Summit Construction
A Collaborative Vision From Day One
From the initial planning stages, the goal was clear: create a cohesive home designed for both entertaining and everyday comfort.
Rather than approaching each room as a separate design decision, we looked at the home as a complete experience. Every finish, colour, material, and detail needed to contribute to a unified vision.
Working directly with both the client and Summit Construction from conception through to completion allowed us to make decisions with confidence and consistency throughout the entire build.
Photo credit Itch Photography, Christchurch | Summit Construction
Creating Cohesion Through Material Selection
One of the most important aspects of interior design is ensuring every material speaks the same language.
Throughout this project, I worked closely with the client and project team on a wide range of selections, including:
Bathroom & Ensuite tile selections
Kitchen & Laundry splashback materials
Carpet colour and flooring selections
Paint colours throughout the home
Mirrors and design hardware
Exterior cladding finishes
Each selection was made not only for its individual beauty but for how it would contribute to the overall feeling of the home.
The result is a palette that feels calm, sophisticated, and connected from room to room.
Solving Design Challenges Along the Way
Some of the most rewarding moments in any project come from solving complex design challenges.
One standout feature of this home was the bespoke curved staircase.
Rather than treating it as purely a functional element, we viewed it as an opportunity to create a sculptural focal point within the home.
This led to the incorporation of timber acoustic slat wall cladding, helping to define the stairwell while adding warmth, texture, and architectural interest.
These are the types of design moments where interior design becomes much more than selecting finishes—it becomes about shaping how a space feels and functions.
Bringing the Exterior and Interior Together
A well-designed home doesn't stop at the front door.
The exterior material palette was carefully considered to ensure it reflected the quality and character found inside.
One of the defining features of the home is the striking burnt timber cladding, paired with a lighter plaster finish.
The contrast creates visual interest while maintaining a refined and timeless aesthetic.
By considering the exterior and interior as one cohesive design story, the home feels connected from every angle.
What Does an Interior Designer Actually Help With?
One of the most common questions I receive is:
"What can an interior designer help with during a new build?"
The answer is often much more than people expect.
As an interior designer, I can assist with:
Colour Consultations
Creating a cohesive palette that flows throughout your home.
Flooring & Material Selections
Helping navigate the overwhelming number of options available and selecting materials that work together beautifully.
Spatial Planning
Ensuring layouts support the way you live, entertain, and move through your home.
Kitchen & Bathroom Design Support
Collaborating with suppliers and trades to achieve functional and considered outcomes.
Interior Finishes & Styling
From hardware and mirrors to feature walls and bespoke details, every element contributes to the final result.
Having these decisions guided from the beginning often saves time, reduces costly mistakes, and creates a more cohesive outcome overall.
A Home Designed for Living
While industry recognition is incredibly rewarding, the true success of any project comes down to how it supports the people living within it.
This home was designed to entertain, gather, relax, and evolve with its owners.
Every decision was made with that goal in mind.
Being named a finalist in the Master Builders House of the Year Awards is a wonderful acknowledgement of the collaboration between client, builder, suppliers, and design team—but the real achievement is creating a home that feels genuinely lived in and loved.
Thinking About Your Own Build?
Whether you're planning a renovation, a new build, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the endless number of design decisions, working with an interior designer can help bring clarity and confidence to the process.
From colour consultations and material selections to spatial planning and finish schedules, my goal is to help create homes that feel cohesive, considered, and uniquely yours.
And for this particular project?
There's only one thing left to do.
An art consultation.
Because every great home deserves artwork that completes the story.