Trends Property Insight Series

You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/podcastIn this episode of the TIDA Designer Series, host Paul Taylor sits down with Kate Gardham of Suede + Stone to explore her TIDA award-winning bathroom and the journey that led her from a career in fashion to becoming a recognised interior designer.Kate shares how her early creative instincts evolved through formal training and hands-on site experience, highlighting the importance of real-world problem-solving in shaping her design approach. She reflects on building her business, taking on increasingly complex projects, and why collaboration with clients, builders, and architects is central to achieving successful outcomes.At the heart of the conversation is her award-winning bathroom, set within a unique pavilion-style home surrounded by nature. Kate explains how the space was completely reimagined after an initial misstep, reinforcing the critical role of planning, layout, and timing in any renovation. The final design balances privacy and openness, creating a series of connected zones that enhance daily rituals while maintaining a strong connection to the landscape.The discussion also explores material selection and emerging design trends, including the use of natural finishes such as marble, timber, and Venetian plaster to create warmth, texture, and depth. Kate shares practical advice on budgeting, working with trades, and making smart decisions around layout and fittings to avoid costly mistakes.You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/podcast

You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/PodcastIn this episode of the TIDA Designer Series, host Paul Taylor sits down with Natalie du Bois of Du Bois Design to explore the thinking behind her TIDA award-winning bathroom suite and her journey from international design beginnings to building a successful New Zealand studio.Natalie shares how her passion for design began at a young age and evolved through formal training, early career experiences in London, and eventually establishing her own practice. She reflects on the realities of running a design business, the importance of understanding client personalities, and why great design is as much about people as it is about products.At the centre of the conversation is her award-winning bathroom — a highly detailed, layered space that combines bold mural tiles, natural textures, and carefully balanced materials to create a truly immersive environment. Natalie explains the design thinking behind the space, the technical challenges involved, and how each element was carefully considered to deliver both impact and harmony.The episode also explores broader bathroom design trends, including the shift toward bathrooms as restorative, sensory spaces, the growing importance of lighting and materials, and the increasing demand for bespoke craftsmanship. Natalie shares practical insights into working with clients, common renovation pitfalls, and how thoughtful design can transform even compact spaces into something exceptional.You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/Podcast

You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/PodcastIn this episode of the TIDA Designer Series, host Paul Taylor sits down with Celia Visser of Celia Visser Design to explore the thinking behind her TIDA award-winning kitchen and her remarkable journey through more than 30 years in kitchen and interior design.Celia shares how her career began through renovating homes of her own, how she built her practice from New Plymouth to Auckland, and why kitchen design continues to excite her through its combination of technical precision, creativity, and deeply personal client relationships. She reflects on what it means to design spaces that are not only beautiful, but tailored to the way people actually live.At the centre of the conversation is Celia’s own renovated 1870s colonial cottage and the award-winning kitchen she designed for it. She talks Paul through the challenges of living through a major renovation, the importance of connecting old and new architecture, and the clever detailing that allows the kitchen to shift between a highly functional workspace and a calm, furniture-like presence within the home.The episode also explores wider kitchen design trends, from concealed appliances and innovative induction technology to materials, colour, indoor-outdoor living, and the changing way New Zealanders use their kitchens. Along the way, Celia shares practical advice for clients starting a renovation, thoughts on balancing trends with longevity, and why New Zealand designers are increasingly leading the way on the international stage.You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/Podcast

You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/podcastIn this episode of the Trends Property Insight Series, we sit down with Sarah Wood, CEO of realestate.co.nz, to explore how technology is reshaping the property journey for everyday New Zealanders.Drawing on her background across marketing, digital commerce, and classified platforms, Sarah explains how realestate.co.nz has evolved into a technology-driven marketplace that helps connect buyers and sellers with the right information at the right time. From instant notifications and mobile-first search to saved properties, market insights, and price-change tracking, this episode explores the practical tools that reduce friction and make the search process more responsive and user-friendly.Sarah also shares how data is being used to improve confidence and transparency for both buyers and sellers — from suburb-level asking prices and sold values through to property tracking and future-facing tools like My Home. Along the way, she unpacks how the platform balances innovation with simplicity, why trust matters so much in property, and how great ideas often come from inside the team rather than from the top down.We also look ahead to the future of property search, including the role of AI, predictive tools, better personalisation, and the growing importance of making complex decisions easier in one of the most emotional and financially significant journeys people undertake.Whether you’re buying, selling, researching, or simply fascinated by how digital platforms influence the way we find and understand homes, this episode is an insightful look at the technology shaping the future of property in New Zealand.You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/podcast

You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/podcastIn this episode of the Trends Property Insight Series, we sit down with Davina Harper, colour specialist at Dulux New Zealand, to explore how colour shapes the feeling, personality, and liveability of a home.Drawing on her work across the Dulux colour range, colour forecasting, and design trend research, Davina explains how homeowners can move beyond swatches and overwhelm to make more confident colour decisions. From understanding undertones and the impact of New Zealand light, to creating flow through a whole home and finding the right moment for bold colour, this conversation turns colour into something practical, emotional, and achievable.We also explore how colour affects mood and behaviour, why white is often the hardest colour to choose, how sheen and undertones change perception, and how to use simple tools to test and visualise colours before committing. Davina shares where colour trends are heading, how to balance timelessness with personality, and why even small “colour moments” can make a home feel more considered and expressive.Whether you’re renovating to stay, refreshing a space on a budget, or preparing a property for sale, this episode is a practical guide to using colour in a way that feels intentional, cohesive, and right for the way you live.You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/podcast

You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/podcastIn this episode of the Trends Property Insight Series, we sit down with landscape designer Gavin Olson of Olsen Landscapes to explore how thoughtful landscaping can dramatically transform the way a property looks, feels, and functions.With more than 26 years of experience designing and building outdoor spaces across residential and commercial projects in New Zealand and overseas, Gavin shares practical insight into how gardens, pathways, planting, decks, and lighting can reshape a property’s first impression and extend the way people live in their homes.We discuss the common misconceptions homeowners have about landscaping, the simple improvements that can dramatically lift a property’s presentation before sale, and why planning outdoor spaces early — rather than as an afterthought — often delivers the best results.Gavin also explains how good landscape design balances structure and planting, how lighting, shade, and privacy shape outdoor living areas, and why even modest budgets can create meaningful improvements to a property’s value and lifestyle.Whether you're renovating, preparing a home for sale, or simply looking to create a more enjoyable outdoor space, this episode highlights how landscaping can turn unused areas into beautiful, functional extensions of the home.You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/podcast

You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/podcastIn this episode of the Trends Property Insight Series, we sit down with Kevan Hunt of Elite Insulation to uncover the hidden system inside every home that quietly affects comfort, health, and energy use — insulation.Drawing on more than a decade running one of Auckland’s leading insulation businesses, and experience across more than 25,000 homes, Kevan explains how insulation works, why it matters, and how homeowners can better understand what’s happening inside their walls, ceilings, and floors.We explore what buyers should look for at open homes, how insulation standards have evolved under the Healthy Homes legislation and building code updates, and why even relatively small upgrades can make an immediate difference to how a home feels to live in.Kevan also breaks down common misconceptions — including the myth that insulation is only important in winter — and explains how the right insulation helps regulate temperature year-round, keeping homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer.Whether you’re buying, renovating, renting, or preparing a property for sale, this episode offers practical insight into one of the most cost-effective ways to improve comfort, reduce moisture issues, and create a healthier living environment.You can watch this episode by visiting TrendsProperty.com/podcast