DESKTOP
MOBILE
Episode Overview
In this episode of the Trends Property Insight Series, we sit down with Jennie Dunlop, a spatial designer, to discuss the fundamentals that make a home feel effortless on a day-to-day basis.
Rather than jumping to cushions and colours, we look at the moves that really matter: how flow, light and storage shape behaviour, why small courtyards and powder rooms are ripe for impact, and when a glass and steel partition gives separation without losing connection. Jennie shares practical ways to find space you didn’t know you had, question the wish-list, and reuse heirlooms so rooms feel personal instead of staged.
We also cover why it’s important to “plan-plan-plan”, the art of decision-making as a couple, and how to work with trades so choices stay on brief and on budget. From timelines and contingencies to the order of selections, you’ll hear where projects go wrong and how to steer them back with simple structure.
Whether you’re renovating a villa, fitting out an apartment, or puzzling over a tricky nook, this conversation will help you see in 3D, spot opportunities in every cavity, and create spaces that are more beautiful, practical and uniquely yours too.
Dunlop Design wins 2023 TIDA New Zealand Apartment of the Year
One of six large apartments in the development, this penthouse occupies the entire top level and has a resort-style feel developed through the use of natural materials such as stone, timber, steel, alabaster and marble.
The expansive living space runs the full width of the northern face of the complex, with floor-to-ceiling glass on three sides making the most of panoramic views of Rangitoto and the Waitemata Harbour.
Positioning the kitchen and scullery to the rear created three distinct zones, with the dining area in the centre of the open plan space, plus a seating arrangement around a large gas fire that’s ideal for relaxed entertaining.
The large space to the rear of the living room is designed as a separate media room, with contemporary aluminium framed glazed walls providing uninterrupted transparency from every angle out to the view beyond.
The sense of luxury continues in the master suite, with its views from the bedroom, a bathroom fully clad in marble-veined porcelain tiles, and a curvaceous freestanding bath.
The TIDA judges noted how the interior design of this penthouse ticked all the boxes for functionality required in a high-end home, while creating a sophisticated ambience to complement the spectacular setting.
Enjoyed this episode?
There’s plenty more where that came from. The Trends Property Insight Series is a video podcast that dives into the real stories, expert advice, and smart solutions behind New Zealand’s renovation, building, and home buying journeys. Hosted by Andrew Johnson, each episode features industry leaders, design professionals, and product innovators sharing practical insights to help you make confident decisions for your home.
To explore the full series of interviews, design stories, and renovation tips, head over to our Podcast Page and watch or listen to every episode on demand.
You can also listen to the Trends Property Insight Series ‘on the go’ wherever you find the world’s best podcasts.
You can also listen to the Trends Property Insight Series ‘on the go’ wherever you find the world’s best podcasts.
Episode Overview
In this episode of the Trends Property Insight Series, we sit down with Jennie Dunlop, a spatial designer, to discuss the fundamentals that make a home feel effortless on a day-to-day basis.
Rather than jumping to cushions and colours, we look at the moves that really matter: how flow, light and storage shape behaviour, why small courtyards and powder rooms are ripe for impact, and when a glass and steel partition gives separation without losing connection. Jennie shares practical ways to find space you didn’t know you had, question the wish-list, and reuse heirlooms so rooms feel personal instead of staged.
We also cover why it’s important to “plan-plan-plan”, the art of decision-making as a couple, and how to work with trades so choices stay on brief and on budget. From timelines and contingencies to the order of selections, you’ll hear where projects go wrong and how to steer them back with simple structure.
Whether you’re renovating a villa, fitting out an apartment, or puzzling over a tricky nook, this conversation will help you see in 3D, spot opportunities in every cavity, and create spaces that are more beautiful, practical and uniquely yours too.
Dunlop Design wins 2023 TIDA New Zealand Apartment of the Year
One of six large apartments in the development, this penthouse occupies the entire top level and has a resort-style feel developed through the use of natural materials such as stone, timber, steel, alabaster and marble.
The expansive living space runs the full width of the northern face of the complex, with floor-to-ceiling glass on three sides making the most of panoramic views of Rangitoto and the Waitemata Harbour.
Positioning the kitchen and scullery to the rear created three distinct zones, with the dining area in the centre of the open plan space, plus a seating arrangement around a large gas fire that’s ideal for relaxed entertaining.
The large space to the rear of the living room is designed as a separate media room, with contemporary aluminium framed glazed walls providing uninterrupted transparency from every angle out to the view beyond.
The sense of luxury continues in the master suite, with its views from the bedroom, a bathroom fully clad in marble-veined porcelain tiles, and a curvaceous freestanding bath.
The TIDA judges noted how the interior design of this penthouse ticked all the boxes for functionality required in a high-end home, while creating a sophisticated ambience to complement the spectacular setting.
Enjoyed this episode?
There’s plenty more where that came from. The Trends Property Insight Series is a video podcast that dives into the real stories, expert advice, and smart solutions behind New Zealand’s renovation, building, and home buying journeys. Hosted by Andrew Johnson, each episode features industry leaders, design professionals, and product innovators sharing practical insights to help you make confident decisions for your home.
To explore the full series of interviews, design stories, and renovation tips, head over to our Podcast Page and watch or listen to every episode on demand.
You can also listen to the Trends Property Insight Series ‘on the go’ wherever you find the world’s best podcasts.
You can also listen to the Trends Property Insight Series ‘on the go’ wherever you find the world’s best podcasts.
[clean_tags]