Glamorous nesting in Auckland apartment

PROJECT:               Hyatt Apartment

DESIGNER:             Donna Higginson, Sarsfield Brooke

CARPET:                St Germain hardtwist cut pile from The Bremworth Collection

When it came to carpet selection, comfort and quality were the driving factors in the choice of St Germain - a sumptuous heavyweight cut pile from Cavalier Bremworth's designer Bremworth Collection range.

'Soft, subtle and comforting' was the brief Donna Higginson gave to herself to when transforming this petite Auckland apartment for her and partner Peter Lancaster.

With a house under construction at Matheson Bay north of Auckland, the pair recognised that their Hyatt Residences apartment would mostly be used as a night-time nest during the week, and wanted to rid the apartment of any hotel-type feel,  giving it 'a bit of evening glam'.

Fortunately, as owners of furniture importer Sarsfield Brooke, the pair could take their pick from 10 Italian designers, along with Spanish and Ecuadorian, when they chose the furniture, mirrors and other stunning objects for their apartment.

Stylish and space-saving storage was top of the list of improvements with the kitchen remodelled to give a lighter, more sophisticated feel.  Colours for the walls, textiles and floor are all within a neutral palette but with a beautiful mix of textures and tones creating an elegant and restful feel.

"There's no denying a luscious carpet under your feet - nothing quite like it and guests all comment on 'how lovely and spongey' it feels, says Donna.    "Certainly with wanting to be barefoot, it was something we didn't want to compromise about."

That focus on quality is what has allowed Sarsfield Brooke to develop a great reputation among New Zealand designers and retailers over the past 10 years and build an incredibly loyal customer base.   Offering an eclectic and unique mix of furniture and mirrors that can suit almost every type of residential home and budget, they also have ranges that extend into the hotel and restaurant market.

Each year Donna and Peter travel to the Salone di mobile in Milan and visit their manufacturing suppliers every second year to stay informed with their product range and be assured that everything is made on the premises, and not offshore.   And also do a spot of shopping for their newly built home at Matheson Bay.

Their furniture frequently makes its way onto the pages of Cavalier Bremworth's product catalogues - the stunning white console table on the cover of the latest issue was generously loaned for the photo.