Picture:
Inventive route and images by Thomas Cannings.
How did you come to be on the planet of inside design?
Karla Devine (KD): With a previous profession within the vogue business, I pivoted to inside design while residing in London, the place my ardour for design actually blossomed with every part I had at my fingertips. I’d at all times had a pure inclination for spatial planning — drawing flooring plans and rearranging rooms — since childhood. Artwork, design and structure have been my focus all through my training, so transitioning into interiors felt like a pure evolution. I moved from London to Wellington 5 years in the past and have been operating Home Occasion ever since.
The place do you draw your inspiration from?
KD: Having spent a few years travelling and dealing overseas, I’ve gathered a wealth of inspiration from numerous cultures and design traditions. European design, with its daring method, meticulous consideration to element and fearless use of color, frequently shapes my work, driving me to create areas which might be expressive, joyful and distinctly private. I love the best way many European interiors are approached with a way of joyful abandon — areas designed for residing and delight, not simply aesthetics. I’d like to see extra of that risk-taking spirit embraced right here in New Zealand. Nearer to house, I’m impressed by designers who curate expressive interiors that transcend time, place or fashion, but really feel completely at house in actual residing areas. Studios resembling Flack, Arent & Pyke, and WOWOWA exemplify this method, creating environments which might be each playful and subtle.

Adrian Vercoe
What function does color play in your initiatives?
KD: Color is totally central to my design philosophy. It’s probably the most highly effective and accessible software in my inventive arsenal, able to reworking any house, no matter price range. I gravitate in the direction of daring, vibrant palettes, embracing a maximalist method that celebrates individuality and pleasure. Interiors ought to be memorable and uplifting — areas that evoke emotion and really invite folks to stay in them. Color is at all times my start line and stays a guiding pressure all through the whole design course of, shaping the temper and character of every undertaking.
How did you arrive on the idea on your collab?
KD: A couple of years in the past, I found the Mattonelle Margherita glazed porcelain tile assortment by French artist Nathalie Du Pasquier for Mutina. I like geometric patterns however it was the mixture of color and nostalgia that jogged my memory of sun-soaked days in Croatia and Italy. Incorporating these tiles into my very own lavatory introduced a slice of the Mediterranean to my Wellington house — a vibrant reminder of hotter occasions and the emotional energy of color. This collaboration attracts its inspiration from the colourful colors of summer season, curated from a temper board full of evocative European scenes, chosen for his or her soul and character. My palette captures the vitality and heat of the Mediterranean — reflecting the vigorous hues of multicoloured façades, bustling markets with recent fruit stalls and leisurely seafood lunches sat oceanside.
How did you go about selecting these particular colors?
KD: I stay by the ocean now and the primary color I selected for my own residence was Resene Raindance – a placing blue that units the tone for my residing and bed room areas, usually anchored by the deeper Resene Aviator. Blue is a perennial favorite of mine; it makes me most glad when paired superbly with energetic oranges and reds, like Resene Fireball and Resene Carpe Diem, evoking the Mediterranean spirit. To stability these daring hues, I launched Resene Bone, a impartial shade that grounds the palette, very like a stone wall or sandy seaside, creating concord and depth.

Karla Devine was an Rising Design Skilled finalist within the 2025 Inside Awards, watch her finalist presentation right here.











