Welcome to our September Designer Spotlight series! This month, we are excited to introduce Delwyn McClennan, an award-winning Senior Designer at Kitchen Studio Waikato. Join us as we explore Delwyn's design philosophy, thoughts on current trends, and invaluable tips for creating design schemes that bring people together.
How has your education in both Interior and Kitchen Design influenced your approach?
After graduating with a Diploma in Interior Design in 2014 and since graduating with a Diploma in Kitchen Design, I pull on both my education and experience to create well-considered designs for clients to enjoy a sense of well-being in their home.
How would you describe your design style?
My design style is very informal and relaxed. I enjoy using natural materials and colours to create spaces that not only look good, but also create a relaxed, casual feel - spaces where family and friends are happy to be together and linger longer.
What are you enjoying about current styles and trends?
I am not really driven by trends, although what I am really loving at the moment is the approach to slow living – incorporating family heirlooms, products and materials made by local Artisans into spaces and schemes that bring depth and meaning – add colour and interesting materials to these items, and you have a heavenly space.
What are your top tips when creating a design scheme?
My top tips are:
To find an item in your home you love. It could be a piece of art, an ornament, an item of furniture, wallpaper, tiles or a rug, then build a collage of materials and colours from the item.
Include paint, fabric samples, tiles, kitchen cabinetry and hardware samples, and once you are happy with the overall look, don't sway from it!
There are a lot of products and materials on the market that can be distracting. Follow your gut instinct. If you don't think something works, it probably doesn't!
Another thing is not to take yourself too seriously. The process should be fun!
Tell us about your achievements at the Kitchen Studio Design Awards
My kitchen design recently won both Creative Excellence and People's Choice at the recent 2023 Kitchen Studio Design Awards. It was great to be recognised not only by the Judges but by my industry peers also. I am in good company.
Can you tell us more about the 2023 People's Choice kitchen design project?
The client has a large family and cooks for at least ten each night. The renovated kitchen space now provides creative storage solutions with multiple preparation spaces along with informal seating where family and friends can sit to chat at the beginning or end of the day.
I contribute the success of this kitchen project to thoughtful and effective spatial planning, and a great working relationships with the client, Kitchen Studio Waikato and trades.
What hard flooring options would you love to work with at the moment?
The waterproof surface of some of the laminate flooring options makes them ideal as a one-run flooring solution to create a cohesive, uncomplicated look in the home.
Ranges like the Perspective Nature, Impressive, and the new Pergo Gotland Timber flooring that can be used in bathrooms when certain criteria around shower installations are met.
The Leather flooring options are pretty exciting. I'm waiting for the right project to come along to suggest that!
The team at Floorboards would like to thank Delwyn for sharing her invaluable insights and expertise with us. To stay updated on her latest design work, connect with Delwyn on Instagram or visit Kitchen Studio Waikato:
Delwyn McClennan
Instagram: @delwynmcclennandesign
Instagram: @kitchenstudiowaikato
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The Designer Spotlight series is proudly presented by Floorboards, your trusted specialists in hard surface flooring. The team at Floorboards is dedicated to assisting and educating designers in finding the best hard flooring options to meet their clients needs. Contact us for more information and guidance.
Hamilton & Waikato
Phone 07 959 1861
Tauranga & Bay of Plenty
Phone 021 977 548