Clifftops Residence
Award-winning Clifftops Residence is defined by a disciplined and highly considered approach to interior design, where restraint, proportion, and control shape every decision. Led by Sonya Cotter, the interiors were composed to balance openness with intimacy, allowing space, material, and form to work in quiet alignment. Subtly informed by its basalt clifftop setting in Takapuna, the home presents a refined and grounded interior environment, designed for long-term liveability rather than visual impact alone.
Interior of the Year, HOME Magazine
Best Design Awards, Interior Design Category
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The scale of the home is immediately apparent on arrival, yet the interiors quickly soften as spaces curve and unfold into more intimate settings. Movement through the home is fluid and intuitive, with minimal separation between rooms allowing one space to transition naturally into the next. Curved forms slow the pace and introduce a nurturing quality, creating a considered rhythm between openness and retreat.
Curved forms guide movement and soften the scale of the interior.
Curved forms guide movement and soften the scale of the interior.
Materiality plays a central role in shaping the atmosphere of the home. A palette drawn from the surrounding landscape includes basalt-inspired charcoals, inky blues, leathered natural stone, and rich walnut flooring. These elements introduce depth and warmth while remaining deliberately restrained, allowing texture, weight, and proportion to define the interiors rather than ornamentation.
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“Sonya brought clarity and confidence to every decision, seamlessly coordinating teams to deliver a home that feels effortless to live in.”
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Led by Sonya Cotter, the interiors were developed with a focus on clarity, continuity, and long-term liveability. Custom-designed furniture, integrated bookcases in timber and aged brass, and carefully layered lighting introduce intimacy within the architectural scale. Art is allowed to move freely through the home, with the interiors designed to stand confidently on their own, supporting both daily life and future evolution.
