Southern Institute of Technology graduate and Interior Designer, Amy Coombes, has been awarded the top prize in the 2024 TIDA New Zealand Group Home Builder Bathroom of the Year and the runner-up award in the same category.
The TIDA (Trends International Design Awards) awards showcase the latest trends in home design from New Zealand's top architects and designers. Announced in NZ on August 8th, the awards also run in Australia and other parts of the world. Mrs Coombes entered two bathrooms in the awards. “They’re the best examples of my work,” she said.
The New Zealand Group Home Builder Bathroom of the Year recognises her design work on a stunning master en-suite bathroom, in new-build, large family home. The spacious bathroom, which belies its inner-city location has “a strong industrial-inspired colour and material palette”. The beautifully detailed space features a bespoke wall-hung double vanity; strong lines in the design are softened by the patina and textural variation within the tiles, and thoughtful, comprehensive lighting enhances the look. The TIDA judges noted that Mrs Coombes had “successfully created a dark and moody oasis that would offer a warm and welcoming environment at the end of a busy day”. “They said the space was ‘edgy and immersive’,” she added.
The awards have boosted Mrs Coombes’ confidence in her design work. “It feels pretty cool; it’s nice to have the accolades and recognition (...) It validates what you’re doing.”
Mrs Coombes started a New Zealand Certificate in Interior Décor (Level 4) with SIT’s distance learning faculty SIT2LRN in 2013, but due to other commitments she wasn’t able to complete it. “I thought I could do it but life just got in the way,” she said, explaining there was a real estate career which came first, then having a family; there was plenty going on, so, “I parked my studies”, and returned to them in January 2022, achieving her qualification in late 2023.
Acknowledging SIT’s programme reinforced her natural aptitude for design, Mrs Coombes recalls she held a strong interest in interiors and furnishings, even in her childhood. “I’ve always been opinionated about interior design, but didn’t have the qualification and theory to back up what I thought.” The course helped her to understand “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.” She enjoys adding the details to make things look perfect and harmonious, but also creates spaces “to be very inviting and comfortable as well”.
“The best thing about achieving the qualification has been having that confidence in my own abilities by learning the theory behind the practice.” It also played to her strengths; “It was hands-on and it suited me”. Having the flexibility to return to her studies in her own time was ideal for Mrs Coombes. “I picked it up and put it down, then came back to it. It was really valuable to [be able to] make it fit your life. Going to a full-time course was not viable for me.”
Mrs Coombes works in partnership with her builder husband, Ryan; they own Landmark Homes Manawatu, based in Palmerston North. She is the company’s Interior Designer and Client Liaison, which is the perfect role for her design skill-set.
Having informed design assists them in meeting client requirements. The priority is to create spaces which “perfectly represent them” and suit their needs, she says. “I want the client to experience that joy and be at ease in their surroundings because it resonates with them.”
Mrs Coombes’ design talent can be seen in the Landmark Display Home in Feilding. She designed both the interior and exterior, “including the garden plantings”, admitting this was new territory for her.
“It was my first foray into garden landscaping design, and the hard graft of undertaking the shifting of soil and plantings too! I am receiving great feedback about the level of detail, colours and finishing shown in this home – it has broad appeal.”
SIT2LRN’s Programme Operations Manager for Creative Media, Steve Woller, described Mrs Coombes as “an A+ student all the way... while she was studying with us, Amy’s projects showed excellent attention to detail; her designs are modern and inviting.” Since Mrs Coombes graduation, SIT had increased their design programmes. “We now offer a level 5 certificate as well - Interior Design (residential) - which is a deeper look into the construction of residential spaces, and is available through SIT2LRN distance learning, so it can be studied remotely, as Amy did, from anywhere,” Mr Woller said.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/property/new-homes/new-house/manawatu-whanganui/manawatu/feilding/listing/4840658390