“I love natural aesthetics and timeless elements, but functionality and form are key”
Journal
Renee Makea | James Dunlop Award winner
Each year, James Dunlop Textiles invites students studying the NZ Diploma in Interior Design (Residential) at the Ara Institute of Canterbury into our Christchurch showroom to experience the tactility of furnishing fabrics and wallpapers and extend their knowledge of textile specifications. Throughout their studies, students learn about the technical attributes and finishes of different materials and explore the ideal applications for these materials by sourcing and integrating them into schemes to meet specific briefs.
Students complete the course by presenting a project in Ara’s Visualise Exhibition, showcasing the skills and knowledge they have acquired during their studies. James Dunlop Textiles sponsor the exhibition and award a prize for the most outstanding project. We spoke to the 2021 winner Renee Makea about her Interior Design Diploma and winning entry.
The project brief required redesigning interior spaces in the homes of two fictional families. In a colour palette of neutral tones and bold, green Neolith stone, Renee’s concept for these areas was simple but incorporated texture and design in the placement of essential pieces like handbasins and storage spaces. “I love natural aesthetics and timeless elements, but functionality and form are key,” says Renee.
The Sutton family of five presented unique design challenges which needed to be accommodated. One of their parents is visually impaired and the other is restricted to a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis, therefore the bathroom had to be accessible and adhere to Lifemark Design Standards. To meet these requirements, Renee used decorative plaster on the bathroom walls and contrasting tones, to aid the visually impaired in distinguishing one functional space from another.
The client’s brief for Maria and Ian Forester’s kitchen specified a nod to Maria’s Italian heritage. Renee favours the natural aspects of materials and therefore utilised a stone benchtop, textured walls, and wooden cabinetry to create a timeless aesthetic with European touches.
During the first semester the design students focus their learning on textiles and window treatments. To complete her assignment in this section, Renee incorporated James Dunlop’s Casadeco Birdsong and Zepel Obi fabrics into the concept for her living room.
In January 2022 Renee will begin her interior design career with UNICO Design, a Christchurch studio specialising in kitchens and bathrooms.
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