New York Loft style Kaiwharawhara Warehouse Conversion  

By Simone van der Plas Interior Design

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A warehouse that previously started off life as a functional factory building for the Union Atlantic Oil company (that was built in the early 20th century withstanding multiple earthquakes) and retained its delightful character it then became a shop for a flower wholesaler. It subsequently blossomed into becoming a design studio with the dual purpose of either being a workplace only or a live/workspace combined once I got my hands on it!!

We started off by making it warmer through insulating and lining the ceilings with Plywood. The previously pink, teal, cream and white painted brick walls were sandblasted therefore creating a Mars landscape inside (what a job that was to clean up!!), the bricks bring back the texture and warmth of yesteryear. As the floor was very unloved we poured a concrete aggregate topping slab complete with the odd shell and hunk of wood mixed throughout to give it character.

I designed office/bedroom spaces and extended the mezzanine to increase the floor area. Given the volume of the space (10m stud height), it achieved a New York loft feel. Pop art-themed graphics were used on the glass walls (white roman blinds provided privacy when these offices were used as bedrooms) and I layered visual texture by using graphics on the glass that overlapped the wallpapered walls. A simple warm grey-toned palette of colours combined with white allowed the natural texture of bricks/ply and concrete to create the ambience.

Two kitchens were within the space along with 3 bathrooms and adjoining doors between the two tenancies allowing the space to be used in its entirety or individually. Simple but stylish bathrooms were fitted. A lounge underneath one of the mezzanines was lit with over scaled hanging light bulbs with a wall formed by using clear twin-wall plastic sheeting sandwiched within steel framing and doors that were re-purposed butcher's curtains that allowed light to flow into the area. The open plan areas were heated using industrial low profile radiant heaters so we were never cold. Flooded with natural light, the space was a joy to experience both as a home and workspace. 

Simone van der Plas Interior Design
Wellington
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New York Loft style Kaiwharawhara Warehouse Conversion  

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Locally owned, Encompass Ideas Interior Design and Architecture was formed in 1998 by Simone and David van der Plas. Principal Designer, Simone has a background in design having previously trained and worked in the Display/Exhibition field she then moved into Interior design and small architectural projects in both the Commercial and Residential sectors. This experience (gained over 20 years) ensures that all designs from conceptualisation through to installation is not only unique to the customer but is innovative and meets functional needs. Simone is an award winning designer having won prestigious NZ awards and international awards in particular for her kitchen designs and is a Professional member of the NZ Designer’s Institute and National Kitchen and Bathroom Assoc.

Encompass Ideas Interior Design & Architecture is dedicated to bringing all of your ideas to life with not only stylish but practical, affordable design, ensuring that you, the client, has full involvement in all aspects of the project from the outset to completion.

Simone and her small Wellington-based team of interior designers and architects will communicate closely with you every step of the process to ensure that your requirements are met and you are completely satisfied. Being Wellington based does not hold us back from taking on projects located elsewhere – with today’s online technology enabling us to communicate clearly and effectively with our out of town clients.

As a matter of course Encompass Ideas provides 3D Perspective renderings and floorplans so that you can envisage the size and scale of your commercial or residential interior designs. .

Utilising Simone’s innovative and out-of-the-box approach (in one case she engaged a UK based graphic designer to create a custom designed wallpaper) , Encompass Ideas is dedicated to bringing all of your ideas to life with stylish, unique and affordable design. Our personalised service will ensure that you, our client, has full involvement in all aspects of the project from the outset to completion.