Kawaka Street

Samantha Elliot is an interior architect and trained yoga teacher based in Auckland.

Elliot, who grew up on a high country station in South Canterbury, holds a Bachelor of Design (Interiors) from Otago Polytechnic and enjoys working alongside clients to create spaces that, put simply, look good and work well.

Elliot is inspired by modernists such as Case Study architects Richard Neutra and Pierre Koenig. Closer to home, she admires the Brian Brake house, a Titirangi masterpiece designed by architect Ron Sang. While she also takes her design cues from Scandinavian styling – plywood is a favourite - she balances this pared-back aesthetic with elements of comfort and lots of greenery.

A creative thinker with a considered approach, she enjoys the process of working with clients to guide them through innovative ideas to achieve a personalised result that suits their lifestyle.

When she’s not immersed in a world of design, Elliot is practicing yoga. Yoga has a been a passion of Sam’s since she was introduced to it at her boarding school in Dunedin at the age of 16. 

She carried on with her practice through her 20s whilst pursuing her career in Interior Architecture.  A point came in her life when she realised she needed a better work/life balance and to cut back on the corporate desk life. She then went on to study Ashram Yogas 200hr yoga teacher training and has also since qualified in her Level 1 Reiki Training.

She loves the idea of giving people guidance in the world where we could do with more quiet and self love.

Interiors and yoga are now two loves combined into one. “The practice of yoga has evolved my creativity, and influenced my designs with a more sustainable, ethical and holistic approach.”