Interior Design Studio
Interior design excellence, guided with clarity.
Sonya Cotter is an award-winning luxury residential interior design studio founded by Sonya Cotter, based in Auckland and working across New Zealand and selected international locations. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, the studio is recognised for creating refined residential interiors defined by proportion, materiality and enduring quality.
Every project is personally led by Sonya Cotter, ensuring clarity of vision, creative continuity and consistent decision-making from concept through to completion. Behind every project is an experienced studio team responsible for technical documentation, procurement, supplier coordination and project delivery. Together, the practice combines personal design leadership with the capability to deliver complex residential projects with clarity, precision and confidence.
The studio’s work reflects a forward-looking design approach, blending creative vision with technical precision. Flow, balance, and proportion underpin each interior, while material expression, custom design elements, and thoughtful layering are resolved with exceptional attention to detail, introducing depth, warmth, and a sense of resolution.
Every successful project depends on collaboration. We work in close partnership with architects, builders, consultants and specialist craftspeople, providing clear design leadership while coordinating decisions across the wider project team. This collaborative approach maintains design integrity, streamlines communication and ensures each project progresses with clarity, precision and confidence.
Many of our clients lead busy professional lives or live internationally, choosing a design practice that provides confident leadership throughout the entire process. Our structured approach allows clients to step back knowing every stage—from design development through procurement, coordination, installation and final styling—is carefully managed on their behalf. The result is an experience that feels calm, organised and enjoyable and a home that is resolved with clarity and care.
Interiors Attuned to You
Every home tells a story. At Sonya Cotter Design, we begin by listening. We uncover how you want to live, what inspires you, and what feels effortless. From these insights, we shape interiors that are refined, deeply personal, and beautifully resolved.
Translating Needs into Design
From these conversations, we craft interiors that are not only beautiful but deeply attuned to you.
Proportion, flow, and materiality guide every decision. Bespoke joinery, curated artworks, and tactile surfaces add depth and meaning, creating homes that feel unmistakably yours.
Understanding You
No two clients are the same. Some seek calm, others energy. Some want their home to welcome generations of family, while others long for a retreat of quiet ease.
We take time to understand the rhythms of your life. How you move through spaces, how light shifts across your day, and what details bring you joy.
Our Expertise
Interior Design
New Builds – collaborating with clients and architects to create beautiful, resolved interiors.
Renovations – reimagining existing homes to improve flow, function, & architectural clarity.
Material & Finish Selection – flooring, tiles, paint, stone, and surface curation.
Custom Kitchens & Bathrooms - spatial layouts and detailed design with resolved precision.
Bespoke Joinery & Wardrobes – tailored cabinetry and integrated storage solutions.
Interior Decoration
Furniture, Lighting & Rugs – selections that balance scale, proportion, and aesthetic.
Window Treatments – designed for both interior harmony and environmental performance.
Upholstery & Soft Furnishings – bespoke cushions, fabrics, and textiles.
Art & Object Curation – sourcing and placement of artworks, objects, and decorative pieces.
Full Service Completion
End-to-end coordination of procurement, logistics, delivery, and installation.
Styling and final placement to ensure the home is fully resolved and ready for occupation.
A seamless handover experience, allowing clients to arrive to a complete and considered home.