Anna Dick has a sharp eye for classy design. Cityscape picks her brain on how she got her mad skills, and what’s hot in home interiors.

I am a whole house interior designer. Kitchen and bathroom design, fixed joinery, and all the beautiful décor that goes on inside a home: flooring, lighting, colours, window furnishings, furniture, art, and accessories. I work across all kinds of projects from new builds to renovations to single space updates, and work closely with architects, architectural designers, property developers, builders, and all the trades to create amazing spaces for people.

My background is in accounting and corporate banking, and I decided to leave that field ten years ago. However, it took a few years to study and transition fully into interior design. It’s been a journey, sometimes hard, but I’m so incredibly grateful and satisfied with where it’s taken me. 

I have a numbers brain and there’s a lot of numbers in all aspects of design. I feel very lucky that I get to combine being creative with numbers. Like designing a kitchen or bathroom that works functionally for people’s movement and is also well balanced aesthetically. And I love helping people, and creating something that’s tangible; creating a cohesive theme that runs through a house.

My favourite spaces to design are kitchens, and then bathrooms. But really, it’s everything within the home. I love lighting as well.

I’d love to do the interior architecture for a boutique hotel. Somewhere beautiful and a bit off-track like the Bay of Islands, or Central Otago. Or even further abroad, like The Rocky Mountains or Morocco.

When choosing an interior designer, it’s important to work with someone you’re comfortable with. Some design projects last up to two years, so you end up forming a relationship. Find someone who you feel will help make your house look and feel ‘yours’.

The biggest hurdle I’m facing at the moment is time. The construction industry is booming, here and all over the world, however with that comes supply issues. We’re seeing longer lead times for products and price increases are happening weekly. It’s about talking people through this early in a project so there are no nasty surprises.

I’m seeing retro design in bathrooms with smaller squarer tiles and the use of retro colours like green, pinks, and peach. Décor has moved to more earthy tones which sings to our New Zealand love for mid-century design.

For retro inspiration, I love the early part of the 20^th Century, 1920s, 1930s and mid-century design from 1950 to the 1970s. Each decade used colours, shapes and textures slightly differently. It’s so much fun to bring elements of these into designs today.

In terms of colour, I’m loving the resurgence of earthy tones that feel Mediterranean and South American. But really I love working out what my clients are attracted to and then helping design a cohesive scheme around that.

Designing is a 24/7 lifestyle, I’m always thinking about design. If I’m not working then I’ll be reading, watching, or being in nature for inspiration. There is inspiration everywhere. I love watching the process unfold.

Our job is to listen to you and work with you to create spaces that reflect who you are and how you live. We’ll pull this thread out and weave it all throughout your home. It’s not just about products.

My interior design secret is taking the ‘noise’ away from people. There are so many things for people to think about when creating or changing aspects of their home, it can be quite overwhelming.

The best piece of advice I’ve received is to trust the process. It might be messy and hard and hurt at times, however when you realise the resilience, the rewards will follow.

I’m excited about summer in Christchurch for long warm evenings spending time either at home with friends, or wandering around the city. The green spaces we have are so lush and beautiful this time of year.

I think design trends for 2022 will involve bringing the outside in through colours, textures, and plant life. Kitchens and bathrooms will see more natural materials, colours, and textures; and hopefully some fun with colour! 

In 2022 I have some really great projects that will be completing throughout the year, some of which will be outside of Christchurch, so will take those opportunities to spend some time travelling our magnificent country.

Quick-fire questions

You’ve got friends coming from out of town. Where do you go and what would you do to show off the city in:

Two hours: Drive up the Port Hills over the city and end up in Sumner for a wine at the beach.

A half-day: Riccarton Market on a Saturday morning then a walk around the city to see how much has been renewed.

24 hours: Walk in the Port Hills, lunch at Riverside Market, shopping in the city, then dinner on the terrace.

Where do you go to:

Wine and dine with friends: Hali in The Crossing. Stunning food and wine, and the décor is sensational. Love it.

Morning coffee: My Bialetti one-cup stovetop espresso maker.

Blow off some steam: Run up Harry Ell track to Sugarloaf.

Shop up a storm: I love all our central city has to offer.

Get away from it all: Bit of a theme here, I have a spot in the Port Hills I go to look over the city and Pegasus Bay to feel incredibly grateful for our fabulous city.

annamargaret.co.nz