Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 31 No 6 New Zealand | Page 90

A professional eye
Getting the most from your interior is all about tapping into the knowledge
and experience of design professionals, such as Yellowfox
Above: Yellowfox designed this
kitchen, dining and living area in a
traditional residence in Devonport.
The mainly black-and-white colour
scheme is punctuated by warm
touches, such as the copper interiors
on the modern pendants and the tan
leather on the banquette seating.
Much of the homeowner’s original
furniture was incorporated into the
design.

What works aesthetically and what doesn’t?
How to achieve more usable workspace – or a
feeling of cosiness? You could spend weeks on
addressing your interiors and still get it wrong.
A call to a professional designer is all it takes.
The owner of this traditional Devonport
villa asked interiors specialist Yellowfox to
create contemporary open-plan living, dining
and kitchen spaces that would complement the
good bones of the original home.
Yellowfox stripped the space back to the
floorboards, now stained black, and designed
the space afresh, says designer Ursula Vlasic.

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“There were a few challenges, such as limited
wall area for taller cabinetry, and a modest area
in which to achieve a decent-sized dining and
kitchen area while optimising the sea outlooks.
“We addressed the first issue by introducing
a floor-to-ceiling blade wall that screened off
part of the kitchen and made space for upper
cabinets. The choice of bench seating for the
dining area saved floor space for a roomy feel.”
To optimise clear sightlines to the water, all
appliances are set under the benchtops.
“Colour was also important in this design.
We painted the living area black to contrast the