Where Design Finesse Meets Functionality
Having begun her career at the prestigious Inchbald School of Design in London, Wendy Bradford has become one of New Zealand’s most established interior designers. With clients throughout New Zealand, Wendy’s work has featured in Trends Magazine, The Dominion Post, and TVNZ's New Zealand Living.
Born and educated in Sri Lanka, Wendy combines a culturally rich background with global experience in interior design, drawing on her diverse experiences to shape her design ethic and broaden her imaginative scope.
Wendy’s design philosophy is to approach each project with an open mind in order to create something that is new and uniquely composed for the client. Each home or space embodies a perfect fit for its occupants, creating a sense of harmony and flow.
“I believe in timeless, serene, elegant interiors. Understated opulence. Harmonious and functional design.”
Fundamental to the success of good interior design is the attention given to the project in its entirety. Taking the design process through in a cohesive, well-planned way, paying total attention to all the aspects – from spatial planning to the final details such as colours, furnishings, and lighting.
Good interior design is about people and how they choose to live. It involves interpreting architectural plans or working independently to create a living space that reflects and enhances the lifestyle of its occupants. Whether working alongside architects or taking the lead from concept to completion, Wendy brings a holistic approach, crafting timeless and unique environments that balance function with aesthetic pleasure.
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My Services
I specialize in crafting bespoke interiors tailored to you, offering spatial planning, furniture layouts, and renovation management. Whether collaborating with architects or independently, I ensure your living space aligns perfectly with your lifestyle, supported by a trusted team for seamless project completion.
Spatial & Project Planning
Smart interior design adds value to your asset, convenience to your home and enjoyment to your lifestyle.
Furnishings & Furniture
I work closely with my clients to create bespoke solutions that meet your needs, reflect your personality, and align with your budget. I collaborate with top New Zealand furniture manufacturers and importers of cutting-edge European designs, offering a curated selection of furniture tailored to your taste. From dining tables to custom-upholstered sofas, every piece is crafted with precision and care. I also partner with skilled craftsmen to restore and rejuvenate cherished furniture, ensuring it meets both functional and aesthetic standards.
Colour Schemes
Colours and Textures are a very exciting area of interior design. They are what transform your living space into an environment uniquely your own. An area that reflects your style and way of living - something very special. Whether it is a paint finish or wallpaper, I am able to advise and select for you, your very own interior space.
Kitchen & Bathrooms
Whether it is a new kitchen or bathroom - working with a set of architect’s plans on a new project or advising you on refurbishment – The kitchen is the hub of the home where the family tends to congregate. Bathrooms likewise need to be functional and meet the needs of the entire family. I can help with the layout and selection of your appliances, tap ware, surfaces for your kitchen bench or bathroom vanities, floor and wall tiles. The end result will be not only aesthetically pleasing but functional.
Lighting
Good lighting plays an integral part in a successful interior. Great care needs to be taken in the selection and placement of lighting in a design scheme. I work closely with lighting specialists and my clients to achieve this result. I am able to source a comprehensive selection of quality lighting – both fixed and accessories to meet all budget requirements.
Flooring
With the choices of floor finishes available today it is sometimes difficult to make a decision on which finish to select. I am able to guide you in selecting the appropriate product for the specific area to be covered. Whether it is tiles, wooden flooring or carpet, I am able to help you decide from a wide selection of ideas and choices.
R.R – Wellington
"I had recently lost my Husband to cancer and was advised not to make any major decisions (like selling our house) within the first two years, so elected to refresh my house instead. From the moment we met, Wendy was warm, engaging and absolutely understood what I wanted to achieve. I needed someone to help me make decisions about colour, furniture and all things interior. I wanted someone who understood my end goal, to spruce up the place, make it mine, yet retain memories of my 30 year relationship. Wendy engaged contractors who were warm and reliable, arranged for me to visit furniture manufacturers and joined
me at interior design stores. I did not want to move too quickly, I wanted to be considered in changes we were about to make, Wendy was calm, patient and totally understood my head space and the speed in which I wanted to operate. Everything is complete now, from new carpets, interior paint, furniture and accessories, some new and some dusted off. I feel like I am in a new apartment, yet I am not, it’s refreshing yet still anchored to some wonderful memories of experiences shared with my late husband. Wendy totally got my headspace, quickly aligned with my objectives and helped me to create a space which is warm, relevant and modern."
R.M – Wellington
"I employed Wendy Bradford two years ago to oversee the interior design of my newly renovated Bach in the Marlbourough Sounds. The house was old and small however we renovated every room and opened the lounge out to the deck and we are very pleased with the result. I like to be involved with the design and Wendy was very happy with that — with Wendy it’s not a matter of her saying what goes! — it’s a consultative process, which to my mind is important.
Wendy advised on colours throughout the house , curtains throughout, new furniture where needed, introduced a kitchen designer to the mix, bathrooms, wooden floors, rugs etc. For a reasonable price we ended up with a Bach that has a very cool/casual/lodge feel to it — everyone loves it."
M.G - Auckland
"We engaged Wendy Bradford to help us with the interior design finishes of a home we were rebuilding after seeing her work while house hunting. Wendy has exquisite taste and design sense and she is wonderful to work with. She has an innate sensibility that extends her clients’ vision. We highly recommend her."
A.S – Wellington
"Over our long association together Wendy has helped me transform my home into one that I am immensely proud of. It has a sophisticated, but at home look to it and anyone who visits always comments on what a beautiful home we have. I wouldn’t have achieved any of this with out Wendy, she has an amazing eye for detail and her ability to pull colours and different styles together is an art. Thank you Wendy, I am so happy with the result."
C.S - Wellington
"Wendy Bradford has worked for me on and off for the last fifteen years. When we moved to Wellington, we bought and renovated our house and Wendy was responsible for all the redecorating. She quickly assessed our needs and was able to keep us involved in choices of colours and fabrics that suited our lifestyle.
Wendy used her initiative and imagination to give us the best possible result. She is committed to high standards of quality and expects the outcome of her work to last many years. She is well organized and uses the resources available to her to the best of her ability. Wendy always conducts herself in a professional manner, she is punctual, reliable, trustworthy and took all the stress out of renovating. She was able to keep the choices we made within our budget, we really enjoyed working with her.
We are still enjoying our home, whenever I need any further advice she is willing to impart her knowledge. I would have no hesitation in recommending Wendy to enhance any home."
J.M – Wellington
"Wendy led the refit of a major part of our house while we lived in it – new paint, carpet and hard floors throughout, new kitchen, a bathroom, and drapes and furnishings in several rooms. She has excellent taste, a great knowledge of available products and is practical and budget-conscious. Despite the project’s size and inevitable disruption to our daily lives, we actually had fun while it lasted: Wendy’s positive personality and unflappable nature meant we cruised through what could have been a far more testing experience. Wendy also has excellent relationships with a number of contractors with whom she works regularly, and their teamwork and skill ensured that all the reno-redecoration work proceeded as smoothly as possible. We are extremely happy with the results and wholeheartedly recommend Wendy to others."
Some people may think that using an interior design is an expensive price tag attached to someone who will charge a high price to provide a service that they feel perfectly qualified to perform themselves.
What they may not realise is that there is more to decorating a room than placing furniture in the appropriate places and matching it up with curtains and a few pictures.
Interior Design is 1/3 Common Sense, 1/3 Science and 1/3 Art. Neglect common sense and a room will not be comfortable, overlook science and a room will not be practical, ignore art and a room will lack warmth, beauty and charm.
An Interior Designer is fully trained in ALL elements of design. A competent designer must be in control of all these elements because they are so inter-related that to ignore one element could spoil the whole balance of a scheme.
Simply explained, the basic elements of design are split into two categories:-
Category one covers:
*Optical effects – Background
*Function – Ergonomics, Circulation
*Comfort – Lighting, Heating, Ventilation
Category two covers:
*Art – Scale, Proportion, Unity
*Human Form – Lighting, Colour, Texture, Balance
*Harmony of Arrangement
The function of a competent designer therefore, is to take all these elements into consideration. A designer should not dominate a client by trying to portray the room being designed to suit their own taste, rather to study the client’s personality and project this in the room. Think about who is going to occupy and inhabit the space they are designing. Good design needs to be adaptable and flexible.
WENDY BRADFORD
