Amy Coombes consolidated her innate aptitude for interior design with a qualification through SIT2LRN, helping her to establish a flourishing, fulfilling career, producing accolades, beautifully designed spaces and happy clients.
When Amy began the New Zealand Certificate in Interior Décor (Level 4) in 2013 through SIT’s distance learning faculty, SIT2LRN, she was working for real estate company, Property Brokers. Initially in the Head Office of the rentals division, she then undertook her Real Estate Salesperson license in 2014.
“What was attractive about the SIT distance learning option was the flexibility of the course to undertake it whilst working full-time. The Zero Fees Scheme was also a large incentive to choose SIT says Amy; she recalls “it felt like Christmas opening up my first lot of art supplies in 2013”.
However, due to her other commitments, Amy couldn’t complete the qualification at the time. “I thought I could do it, but life just got in the way,” she said, explaining the real estate career came first, then having a family; there was plenty going on, so “I parked my studies.” The benefit in choosing a programme through remote learning was the flexibility to return to her studies when Amy was ready, which she did in January 2022. “I picked it up and put it down, then came back to it. It was really valuable to [be able] make it fit your life. Going to a full-time course was not viable for me.”
Amy remembers having a strong interest in interiors and furnishings from her childhood, acknowledging “I’ve always been opinionated about interior design.” The course helped to affirm Amy’s design ability, giving her a better understanding of “why I see things the way I see them”.
“I notice things that other people might not notice; even if things are out by a few millimetres, I see it... The programme has been a tool to emulate that purposefully, rather than it being random,” Amy explained. She enjoys adding the details to make things look perfect and harmonious, but also creating spaces “to be very inviting and comfortable as well”.
“Structural contrast is one of my favourite things that I’m drawn to,” Amy adds; she likes things “that are interesting and a little bit quirky. I’m not a white-on-white kind of person.”
Studying provided Amy a great opportunity to add the theory, “to back up my innate eye for design and give me confidence in my design ideas”. Learning some of the history of design eras and styles, as well as the fundamental design principles, product knowledge and versatility was valuable too.
The programme also played to Amy’s strengths. “It was hands-on, and it suited me,” providing experience in understanding a project brief, “ensuring you read the task clearly to meet each element of what is being tested – being thorough and clear in your application of the task.”
Whilst Amy successfully achieved her qualification, one challenge she faced was the lack of people contact in remote learning; she missed connection and personal relationships. “I didn’t physically meet anyone and there was minimal engagement with tutors. These things are quite important to my psyche. I am that person who chats to strangers at a store because I like to engage with people,” she explains.
Based in Palmerston North, Amy is Co-Owner of Landmark Homes Manawatu and Whanganui franchise, working in partnership with her builder husband, Ryan. “My role is interior designer, client liaison and office manager – I wear many hats!”
With informed design opinions, Amy’s priority is to create spaces which perfectly represent the client and suit their requirements. “I want the client to experience that joy and be at ease in their surroundings because it resonates with them.”
“The qualification has given me the confidence in our client interactions, to be more of a driver in the design of their homes, rather than a bystander in their decision-making.”
Having considered delving further into SIT’s Level 5 Diploma qualifications, Amy says realistically “I am not sure I have the time right now…. especially with a young family”,
and her current plan is to continue building her interior design experience. And Amy is well on her way to confident designing, having recently won the TIDA bathroom of the year 2024 award for group home builders, and the runner-up award as well. “It feels pretty cool; it’s nice to have the accolades and recognition. It validates what you’re doing.”