Shelley Ferguson Studio wins the 2026 TIDA New Zealand Designer Suite of the Year

In a bustling new home designed by Ponting Fitzgerald Architects for a large family and frequent professional hosting and entertaining, this master suite was envisioned as a private retreat for the two homeowners.

The brief was to create a boutique, hotel-style experience while establishing a strong connection to the surrounding coastal landscape.

A central challenge lay in balancing the generous scale and refined aesthetic expected of the space with the practical demands of daily life.

To achieve privacy, the cohesive suite occupies its own dedicated wing, accessed through statement double doors that provide a distinct sense of arrival and separation from the rest of the home.

Inside, the walk-in wardrobe features bespoke cabinetry paired with leather-fronted joinery, custom floor-to-ceiling brass shelving, and tailored internal organization systems within every drawer.

In the ensuite, the alignment of the Invisible White marble required precise technical coordination.

The design team carefully mapped and installed the stone to ensure continuous vein alignment across multiple surfaces and sharp changes in direction around a central dividing wall.

Positioned to frame the coastal views, an origami-inspired Apaiser bath sits against the landscape, while a large skylight overhead brings natural light deep into the room, shifting the tones and movement within the marble throughout the day.

The TIDA judges were impressed with how this suite reflects the owners' design sensibilities while maintaining a calm, highly functional environment that elevates everyday routines.

Congratulations to Shelley Ferguson Studio, winner of the 2026 TIDA New Zealand Designer Suite of the Year.

Designed by: Shelley Ferguson Studio

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Lilly Smith and Michelle Weir