Bazaar Boutique | Before + Afters

December 17, 2024

Bazaar Boutique is a luxury fashion store based in our local neighbourhood, the seaside village of Ahuriri, Napier. It’s always been a treat to pop in and see what beautiful clothes and accessories are in-store, and we’ve had a special interest in the business since it was started by two young women in 2012, the same year that we started Bibby + Brady.

Custom joinery by Bibby + Brady in design store Bazaar Boutique — Photo: Florence Charvin

In 2023 the business was bought by Vicki Meech who was excited to merge her business experience with her love for beautiful clothing. Naturally Vicki wanted to put her mark on the store and give it a makeover. Working with local company, Your Solutions, who are specialists in commercial fit outs, the plan was to renovate as quickly as possible so as not to have the doors closed for too long.

We worked closely with Vicki on the design and new look. We chose a beautiful warm white paint from Aalto Paint for the walls and a slightly deeper shade for the floor, which was then sealed. This provided a beautiful neutral base to layer all of the gorgeous clothes and accessories on to, allowing them to shine. The new paint colour infused with subtle tones of raw umber and yellow oxide pigments, brings a soft welcoming glow to the space.

One of the most noticeable changes in the space is the relocation of the counter and the dressing rooms. Previously the check-out area was a large table to the side of the entrance with the dressing rooms on the far side. The table was a good size for display on top, but the space beneath was underutilised and lacked storage.

Now the counter is positioned in prime position straight ahead of the entrance. The scalloped front and sides adds subtle texture and hides the open shelving on the far side which is perfect for storing the printer, bags and much more.

Renovation of Bazaar Boutique in Napier by interior designers Bibby + Brady — Photo: Florence Charvin

When you stepped out of the dressing rooms previously you were visible to anyone in the shop. Removing the old dressing room walls and building a new one facing the back wall provides a lot more privacy.

The curved wall adds a softness, which is important in a small space where you want customers to be able to move around freely. The curves were repeated in the arched doorways and the mirrors on the opposite wall.

You can now open the curtains and use the mirrors inside and outside of the dressing room to see your outfit. Even if you step out you’re still tucked away from most of the store if you prefer your privacy. We used stunning linen fabric from James Dunlop for the curtains and luxurious wool carpet underfoot from Bremworth.

Another custom joinery piece sits in the middle of the store. It provides a place to display some of the accessories with more valuable storage below, and is also a lovely point of interest for customers when they first arrive.

Lastly, new shelving was added to display jeans, handbags and shoes - staple pieces in every girl’s wardrobe.

Working with Vicki and helping bring her vision to life was a joy. If you’re in Napier make sure you pop into Bazaar Boutique, there are exciting new things arriving all the time. Vicki, Krissy and their team will would love to help you find your perfect outfit. You can see all of the photos of the newly renovated store in our portfolio.

Priestley Renovation | Before + Afters

August 22, 2024

One of our favourite things to do is to work with returning clients. It means we’ve already developed a relationship, learnt how they live and what they like, and that a trust has formed between us. We had designed a dining room, living room and sunroom for this family five years ago, so it was wonderful to be called back when they were ready to renovate their kitchen and a small living space off the kitchen.

The clients’ brief included a more functional kitchen space where they could have more than two people in there at a time, and an allocated area with power for their coffee machine. They also said the current desk off the kitchen wasn’t working with the curved top, and the living space was used all the time but they knew it could be better.

The space plan we designed shows the removal of a door into the dining room to allow for an extra large pantry. To the side of this we left an area for the coffee machine, and the existing window was to be replaced with a longer picture window creating a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing look. Although our clients were initially unsure about removing the dining room door, they now fully appreciate having much more storage space, and it’s only an extra few steps to use the neighbouring door.

Our 3D visual made it easy for our clients to imagine their new kitchen

The kitchen before with a smaller window and bench top and exposed rangehood

A progress photo shows the new window installed

The clients liked the colour of their old walls but we decided to use that as inspiration for the lower cabinetry and keep the walls and upper cabinets white for a lighter, more spacious feel. We replaced the exposed rangehood with a powerpack concealed behind a cupboard with additional storage cupboards either side. By painting them white and keeping them handle-less they almost disappear making the newly enlarged view the hero. We worked alongside our joiners, Classic Kitchens, who created and installed the kitchen and living room bookshelf to their usual high standard.

Previously the coffee machine took up precious workspace on the bench

The removal of the dining room door made it possible to fit large pantry storage next to the fridge and still leave a space for the coffee machine. Tucking it around the corner leaves plenty of room on the main bench for food prep and dishes, and it’s a lovely space for our clients to make their coffee while taking in the amazing view outside.

The door to the left was removed leaving the door to the right as the remaining access to the dining room and hallway

We removed the existing flooring of tiles and carpet and ran wood flooring throughout the kitchen and living room. By having the same flooring in both spaces it creates a much better flow and sense of spaciousness.

The existing kitchen had a small desk running between it and the living room, but the curved desktop meant it wasn’t terribly practical. We had the option of using the space for an additional storage cabinet, but the clients decided that they would like to keep it as a desk if it was more usable.

The desk before, and then removed awaiting an upgrade

The living room is a lovely space with an existing deep built-in window seat. Despite having two other living areas, the family spend a lot of time in this room. We knew we could make it more inviting and functional with the right furniture and layout.

The old furniture felt a bit disconnected, we immediately wanted to pull everything closer together

We recovered the window seat in a smart olive green indoor/outdoor fabric, as it gets a lot of sun, and placed a comfy two seater sofa opposite to create a cosy social setting. A custom wool rug was made to fit the space and ground the furniture so it didn’t feel like it was just floating in the room.

We included lots of curves in the furniture to help with the welcoming, cosy feel. The wooden coffee table and side table both have a gorgeous chunkiness to them. Although it might sound counterintuitive, overscale furniture, art or fixtures can actually make a space feel larger rather than smaller, and they evoke an air of warmth and comfort.

In the living room before everything was pushed to the edges of the room leaving a large empty space in the centre.

On the back wall there was a recessed nook which our clients had filled with a freestanding bookshelf. We designed a built-in bookshelf to replace this. Built-in cabinetry will always look more polished and purposeful and will elevate your room. We kept the cabinetry consistent with the adjoining kitchen for a sense of cohesion.

The freestanding bookshelf fit the space quite well but looked a wee bit messy

Having cupboards at the bottom allows practical storage for items our clients don’t necessarily want on display, with the top shelves perfect for displaying some favourite pieces.

The finished result is a space that is highly functional for the family of four (plus the four legged family members). But it’s not all about practicality, you also want your home to look great and be inviting. As we like to say… A well-designed home sets the stage for a life well-lived. It promotes well-being and allows you to relax, recharge, and re-energise.

JULL BATHROOM | BEFORE + AFTERS

May 31, 2024

At Bibby + Brady our aim is to create homes that are a joy to be in. Not only because they look beautiful, but because the functionality of the design changes they way our clients live, making everything easier and more enjoyable. The most rewarding part of the process for us is to see our designs come to life and witness the transformation of the space and life for it's owners.

This is a bathroom we recently renovated as part of a larger home renovation. The room is used by the children of the house and guests.

The layout of the room actually worked well and by leaving the plumbing in the same place we saved time and money for our clients. We wanted a fresh look but one that was still relevant to the character of the villa, so we removed the wall tiles and clad the entire room in Hardie™ Groove lining. We retained a dado rail but took it much higher to line up with the top of the tiles in the shower.

We chose a soft blue paint colour and wrapped it over the walls, ceiling, the door and all the frames to create a soothing, calm space. It also helps to blur the lines in a small room where there are a lot of elements.

The vanity is a similar shade to the walls and by having a wall hung option with air underneath, it creates a more spacious feeling in the small room. A custom mirror runs up to the dado line, and the curved bottom edges of the mirror along with the wall lights add a nice softness to juxtapose the straight lines. Touches of pink and watermelon red are a beautiful contrast to the blue.

The bath tucks neatly into the left hand corner of the room and features a lovely curved right edge, which, again, adds a softness to the small room.

We removed the old shower box and created a new modern shower with simple custom made glass walls on two sides. Inside we chose tiles with an artisanal handmade effect with subtle undulation. A large recessed niches provide a spot for shampoo and soap, with a smaller one below handy for shaving legs.

Because we kept the room very tonal and calm, we could afford to have a bit of fun with the floor tiles. The terrazzo-look tiles combine all of the colours in the rooms - blue/green, pink, black and white.

Colour always plays a big part in our designs, even if it's a neutral palette. By saturating the room in this soft blue we've created a calm, welcoming space, and have been selective with the small bursts of visual stimulation.

Despite what's going on in the world right now, home should always be a place for respite, to relax and recharge. We would love to help you create this in your home. Our goal will always be to effortlessly blend functionality with aesthetics, and make a house feel like a home. If you’re interested in working with us you can fill out this form to tell us more about your project.

See more of this beautiful family home here.