Neil McLachlan Interior Design

Neil made our choices incredibly easy when we asked him to jazz up our newly acquired apartment. Our dull home has been transformed into a sea of colour, texture and new life which we love. Neil has incredible vision, is very efficient, on task and fun to work with.

I have worked with Neil on many projects over the past 15 years. He created covers when I edited NZ's then-largest interiors magazine (NZ House & Garden) and he has designed and managed the total refurbishment of three houses for me. He has a beautifully creative eye, is very practical, understands a budget and a deadline and is such great fun to work with. He seems to have a unique cast of quality subcontractors working with the same degree of professionalism that he brings to his work. I have recommended him many times and received great feedback.

.We have enjoyed living in previous places Neil has been involved in with design and decoration so had no hesitation in asking him to help us transition from our much loved large villa of 21 years to a smaller apartment. Neil redecorated the apartment, transforming if from a space to a home of warmth and character through new wall and floor coverings. He has an incredible awareness of size and space which he used to help us utilise existing furniture and art to its maximum. Neil made the whole transformation process stress free and was always conscious of costs and budget. He brought in a team of contractors that were efficient and produced quality work and delivered within the timeframe we had given. He was able to source furniture, light fittings, fabrics and products that were within budget and in keeping with the overall look and feel. We are very pleased with the process and outcome. It is a pleasure working with Neil in all aspects and we have recommended him to several friends who have used him and are similarly very happy. We have no hesitation in recommending him to others.

We loved working with Neil on the major makeover of our somewhat tired and much loved family home. We thought we had a pretty clear idea of what we wanted going into the process but came out the other end with something quite different that we love so much more! Neil spent time getting to know us first and I’m sure gleaned much more information from chatting over a G&T than poring over fabric and paper samples and magazines. The end result was a fabulous presentation of ideas and colours that really grabbed our imagination — an indication that he listened and understood us and what we were trying to achieve. Almost a year later it still makes me smile every day.

Neil’s design is always original, uncompromisingly bold, but with a subtle sensitivity that brings a universal appeal to clients. We like to work with our interior designer to ensure that our preferred style is very much ingrained in the house that we would be living in. Neil is excellent in challenging us to venture beyond our realm of familiarity, advising and nudging us to create something new, yet beautifully relate to our own aesthetic tastes. With Neil, we always find a happy and exciting balance.

I have used the design service of Neil McLachlan to redecorate two of my homes over the last decade. The first was a formal Lounge and Family room. The second involved two lounges/kitchen/hallway/guest toilet and outdoor courtyard. He is the go to designer if you want professionalism; efficiency; experience; knowledge; combined with passion and a nothing is ever too much trouble attitude and an eye for detail. His knowledge of architecture and fine arts gives him both practical and creative solutions to every project. He sets realistic budgets; employs a fantastic group of tradesmen who I have been happy to trust and leave alone in my home. Any concerns I had during the renovations were always dealt with in a friendly professional manner. Ultimately, I felt that Neil always had my best interests at heart and I have been over the moon with the results. I feel that we worked together as a team and it wasn't just about the designer!!

Neil and I have worked on 2 houses and an office. He is fantastic to work with. He listens to what I want and delivers. He can also look at a space and see how it can be made to "work". He understands budgetary constraints and working to a deadline. He loves colour but can also work a neutral palette. He has a great team - friendly and helpful. I cannot recommend him enough. Kate