Thompson | Before + Afters

August 19, 2025

Our clients came to us in February 2024 as they were about to undertake an extensive renovation of their home. They had bought the house for the location and the spectacular view with the goal to eventually renovate and create their ideal home. They lived in the house for several years and learnt what they loved and didn’t love, what worked and what didn’t.

After exploring several possible directions, they decided to stay within the original footprint of the home but, essentially, completely rebuild it. Architect Brent Scott of Citrus Design Studio had worked with our clients to develop the design, and they’d hired Redington Construction for the build, and Moth Light for all of the lighting. Already they were in great hands, but were still feeling overwhelmed with the myriad of decisions they had ahead of them, which is completely understandable. This is where we came in, and our brief included choosing materials for the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, window treatments, flooring, elevator, as well as all of the furniture and the spatial plan.

*Before - The original home had an elevator from the garage to the first floor which was retained but seriously updated.*

One of the first things we do is work with our clients to understand their vision, their style and how they live or want to live in the space. Luckily these home owners had done their homework and were able to provide us with a selection of images that gave us a really clear direction. They loved natural textures and a very soft, neutral palette, and had fallen in love with a Hinuera stone which was to be used in the entrance, leading you upstairs, cladding the fireplace, and down the hall to the back terrace. This gave us an excellent jumping off point for the colour palette.

*Progress - Hinuera stone is a major feature in the home and played an integral part in our choice of colour palette.*

We designed the balustrade (which was originally supposed to be glass) in fine white powder coated steel. We love the texture it brings and how it reflects the fins on the outside of the house, and how the clean, straight lines juxtapose the natural finish of the stone wall. We also love that our clients trusted our choice and allowed us to push them out of their comfort zone. It’s now one of their favourite features.

*Before - the long, narrow living room was separated from the rest of the house by multiple doors and walls.*

Citrus Studios designed the main living areas to be more open and interconnected. The wall between the stairs and living room was replaced with the balustrade, and the wall separating the living room from the open plan kitchen, dining and family room was opened up and in its place a double sided fireplace was installed. This creates more of a light, spacious feel while still cleverly providing separate zones.

One of our challenges was to choose the right furniture pieces for the living areas which, as you can see from our furniture plan below, come out at an angle from the back of the house. The living room at the top of the stairs is where the family retreat in the evenings to watch tv. The curved modular sofa was the perfect choice to soften the various angles around it and create a cosy, inclusive setting.

*Progress - the view from the dining area looking back towards the stairs and elevator, and bedrooms beyond.*

*Before - the open plan family room, dining and kitchen were originally separated from the main living room.*

Previously the deck off the family room was quite small and not terribly functional as an outdoor space. So the architect “borrowed” space from here to push the family room out making this more useable. He then created a space on the deck around the corner for some outdoor furniture.

We created another seating area in the new family room which is zoned by the large wool rug. The corner sofa faces out towards the stunning view, and it can also be moved around 180° to face the fire on those few really cold months, if our clients want. This is the perfect setting for daytime relaxing or with friends before dinner.

*Progress - the builder installed the longest recessed curtain track we’ve ever done!*

The window treatments in this area took some consideration. The clients didn’t want to block the view and didn’t really need privacy from this angle, but the room gets a lot of sun coming through the floor to ceiling glass. We wanted curtains to add a softness to the space so we chose an organic open weave sheer that could be pulled across to diffuse the harsh sun when needed. The builders were amazing installing the longest recessed curtain track we’ve ever used, and at night it looks beautiful with the soft strip lighting in front.

The dining table features curved ends which, again, bring a softness to the angled room. The use of green is repeated throughout in small doses amongst the soft neutral palette, reflecting the nature outside. These dining chairs look quite beautiful as the light diffuses through them.

*Before - the kitchen undertook a major transformation!*

Molloy Joinery created the kitchen we designed using ivory oak veneer that complimented the flooring, and a porcelain bench and splash back with a subtle organic pattern. The kitchen has a clean, simple finish, which our clients wanted in their open plan space, with a small butlers pantry at the end to house the coffee machine, small appliances and a second sink.

For a sense of cohesion we repeated the ivory oak veneer and porcelain bench in the laundry and bathrooms.

*Before - built-in custom joinery does wonders to update and tidy the new laundry.*

*Before - the landing and hallway have been tidied and simplified, these doors led to the old laundry, powder room and bathroom.*

We love creating a bit of drama in a tiny powder room! We gave our clients two designs - one featuring these stunning dark liquorice coloured glass tiles, and a second in a soft, neutral colour. We’re so pleased they chose the darker option. In a room where you only spend a minute or so at a time you can afford to be bold!

The family bathroom, above, and the primary bathroom, below, repeat the materials from the kitchen and laundry, with the addition of these large format tiles featuring a subtle linear texture. The gun metal fixtures add a touch of depth.

*Progress - the tiler did a fantastic job installing and mitring these tiles with their linear texture.*

The primary bedroom continues the neutral colour palette with layers of soft texture to create a quiet space to retreat to at the end of a busy day.

*Progress - a walk-in wardrobe is a luxury and a way to keep the bedroom calm and uncluttered.*

*Before - the outside has also had a major transformation!*

it’s important that the exterior of the house reflects the interior, so the colour of the window joinery, the walls and roof paint are all a soft, warm white.

Thank you to our incredibly awesome clients who trusted us with their beautiful home and allowed us to share it with you! To see even more images of the home you can visit our portfolio.

Source: https://bibbyandbrady.co.nz/residential#/t...

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.