Eclectic living room in the Richmond project by Rarebirds Interiors, featuring black and linen upholstered chairs, abstract drapery, a bespoke Rarebirds pendant, and curated ceramics. Styling highlights a bold, layered aesthetic in Auckland.

Full Interior Design, Custom Fabrication and Furnishing, Art and O’bjet Curation, Project Co-Ordination and Management

Richmond Project Role:

Project Richmond—home to the Rarebirds Interiors studio—is a character kitchen renovation in Grey Lynn, Auckland. Set within a 100-year-old cottage, this project layers traditional charm with refined contemporary detailing. A soft palette of whites, pinks, and greys is elevated through Moroccan tiles, oyster marble benchtops, and scalloped pine paneling. Integrated seating, concealed laundry, Gaggenau appliances, and warm brass accents balance function and elegance. The layout responds to a long, narrow floor plan with clever zoning, while a striped wallpaper and wainscotted ceiling bring playful texture into the Rarebirds HQ.

Featured:

Photography:

  • The desired design outcome: create an unconventional studio space presented through an elevated residential design language that, functionally, would be welcoming, inspiring, and educational—grounded in purpose, yet displaying emotional depth and connection.

    Rarebirds Interiors is interested in design that endures—through careful design consideration, layers of colour, artistic detail, and the integrity of craftsmanship. This is the story we wished to weave through the spaces of our studio.

    A complete interior and exterior renovation of our own project enabled us to express the inseparable interplay of form and function that is essential to the Rarebirds design process. Our requirements were simple: to be a place to create, meet, present, entertain, and—above all—where our clients and suppliers would come and immediately feel relaxed and engaged with the beauty of design.

    Detailing is one of the heroes in the design outcome, with attention given to every surface in every room. New wainscot panelling in various layouts and wallpaper, both bold and subtle, illustrates that every project should boast a distinct design narrative. A quirky mix of handcrafted lighting expands a sense of individualism to each separate room.

    Reverse-scalloped, whitewashed NZ Genia pine panels adorn the kitchen island and extractor cabinetry, complementing a solid laminated oak cantilevered table and tall grooved painted cabinetry that showcases stunning Gaggenau and Bosch appliances.

    Delicate musky pink Zellige tiles are a perfect accompaniment to the organic patterning of laminated Oyster marble from CDK Stone atop the island and sink benches. Large-format Black Dahlia porcelain tiles extend the organic intensity into the bathroom space, where a reeded glass shower screen mirrors the shaping of the Genia panelling.

    Rarebirds’ championing of local materials and craftsmanship—woven with well-considered design intent into all our projects—is evident throughout the spaces of our own studio, breathing fresh life and style into a hundred-year-old beauty.

Kelsie Barley and Aaron McClean

Integrated Gaggenau refrigeration and anthracite Gaggenau ovens sit within fluted white cabinetry at the Rarebirds Richmond studio kitchen. A CDK marble benchtop and oak flooring complete this compact, high-functioning galley-style space.
Detail of the Rarebirds Richmond studio kitchen featuring Elitis wallpaper, a CDK marble island benchtop, oak breakfast bar, and sculptural wall light. A woven pendant and sheer Roman blind soften the textural, layered interior design.
Soft blush zellige tiles and backlit shelving create a romantic focal point in this compact kitchen nook at the Rarebirds Interiors Richmond studio, featuring CDK marble benchtops, brass tapware, and fluted white cabinetry.
Close-up of the Rarebirds Interiors dining room in Grey Lynn, Auckland, featuring custom wainscoting, feathered pendant lights, and a sculptural amber art piece by The Art Precinct on a bespoke marble-look table.
Wide view of the Rarebirds Interiors HQ dining space with soft Aalto Paints Iota walls, textured linen drapery, custom joinery table, oak and sheepskin chairs, and pendant lighting above a sculptural art vase by The Art Precinct.
Detail of the Rarebirds Richmond studio kitchen showcasing scalloped timber cabinetry, fluted oak breakfast bar, and natural CDK marble benchtop, set against warm Vienna Woods timber flooring and a black David Shaw barstool.
Richmond studio kitchen by Rarebirds Interiors featuring a CDK marble benchtop, pink zellige tile splashback, Icona Fantini brushed brass tapware from Plumbline, and anthracite Gaggenau ovens, with fluted timber island and Vienna Woods flooring.
Detail of the Richmond kitchen by Rarebirds Interiors, showcasing the fluted timber island with CDK marble benchtop, integrated Gaggenau induction cooktop, Elitis wallpaper, brass hardware, and Vienna Woods timber flooring in a soft natural finish.
Eclectic lounge at Rarebirds Interiors studio in Auckland, with bold artwork, patterned upholstery, terrazzo side tables, lush greenery, and classic wainscoting in Resene Alabaster.
A moody shower moment in the Richmond project by Rarebirds Interiors, featuring Imola Ceramica Black Dahlia tiles from Tonic Tiles, a fluted glass screen, honed travertine vanity top, and timber fluting in a compact Auckland bathroom.
Compact Auckland bathroom by Rarebirds Interiors featuring Imola Ceramica Black Dahlia tiles, a freestanding bath, fluted glass shower screen, travertine vanity, and sculptural Nightworks Studio pendant.
“As a residential building company (Norwest Build ltd), we have had the pleasure of working alongside Rarebirds Interiors on several custom home projects, and we can confidently say they are our first and only choice when recommending interior designers to clients.

From initial concepts to final styling, the Rarebirds team brings a unique blend of creativity, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of spatial flow and functionality. They have a remarkable ability to translate a client’s vision into refined, liveable spaces that feel both timeless and original.

Their collaborative approach makes them a dream to work with. They communicate clearly, respect timelines, budgets and always elevate the overall quality of a build with beauty, practicality and originality. Every time they’re involved, we know the end result will be something truly special.

If you’re looking for an interior design team that is wholly focused on the best outcome for their clients it is Kelly, Sean and the Rarebirds team.”
— Norwest Build

Words from an industry partner


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