20/10/2026
Kāpuapua | In the Clouds
There’s something about designing high above a city that invites you to be a little bolder.
I’d previously worked with Bryce and Delwyn on their first Auckland apartment, transforming a fairly ordinary white box into a home full of personality. A few years later, when they were ready for something bigger, they invited me back to reimagine their rather dated 1980s neoclassical penthouse on the 29th floor.
With extraordinary views across Auckland’s harbour and cityscape, I wanted the interiors to capture the energy, geometry and changing colours of the city beyond.
The design brings together Art Deco glamour, modernist simplicity and contemporary luxury, with subtle references to the apartment’s 1980s architectural heritage.
We opened up the living spaces to welcome natural light, introducing rich walnut, basalt flooring, dramatic marble, metallic wallcoverings and deep blue velvet. The kitchen combines the warmth of natural timber with stainless steel and beautifully expressive stone, while custom geometric lighting takes inspiration from a neighbouring building.
I’ve always enjoyed bringing different design periods and styles together rather than allowing a home to be defined by just one. It’s the contrast between materials, eras, colours and textures that creates personality and makes an interior feel collected rather than overly designed.
Despite the richness of the finishes and layers of pattern, the apartment remains wonderfully calm and comfortable. For me, that’s always the balance worth pursuing, interiors that are visually exciting but, above all, a pleasure to live in.
Kāpuapua | Bryce & Delwyn’s Auckland Penthouse
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