The Living Blueprint™
About
Pre-consent Interior Design Consultations
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We began our journey to build a new home, and although we’d completed several renovations before, the sheer number of decisions quickly became overwhelming. We decided to bring Elmarié on board to help guide us through the process and ensure our ideas came together in a cohesive way. Elmarié has a fantastic eye for design and instantly understood the style we were aiming for. With young children in the house, practical considerations were also really important, and she incorporated these seamlessly into her suggestions. After our initial briefing, she promptly returned with a range of layout options and finishes that suited our vision. At the follow-up meeting, we worked through the pros and cons of each, and by the end we felt confident in our layout and clear on the finishes we wanted. Elmarié’s knowledge and expertise are impressive, and we’d be more than happy to work with her again in the future.
Designing your dream home – without the “I wish we’d thought of that” moments
Your dream home plans are finally complete. You’ve spent months with your architect perfecting every elevation, every line. You can already imagine walking through the space — the light pouring through the kitchen windows, the seamless indoor-outdoor flow, the calm of your master suite.
But once the council consent is granted and the builders are on site, something starts to feel off. The sofa doesn’t quite fit. The kitchen feels cramped when you open the fridge door. The hallway is darker than you expected.
These are the kinds of moments that The Living Blueprint™ was created to prevent. Before your plans ever reach the council, this pre-consent Interior Design consultation — offered exclusively by STUDIO42 - takes a thoughtful look at how your future home will truly live.
It’s where the architectural vision meets the lived experience — aligning form, flow, and feeling to create a home that not only looks exquisite but feels effortlessly right. Because great architecture deserves equally thoughtful interiors!
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Image by mindandi on Freepik
The Benefits of a pre-consent Interior Design consultation
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A pre-consent Interior Design consultation helps you spot costly layout mistakes before they’re locked into your building consent.
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Interior design planning ensures your new build layout design supports real-life functionality — not just aesthetics.
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Engaging The Living Blueprint™ early can save thousands in redesigns and variations down the track.
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Thoughtful design enhance natural light, flow, and comfort — elements that make a home feel “just right.”
Why pre-consent Interior Design consultations matter
1. The hidden cost of “we’ll fix it later”
According to the New Zealand Building Industry Federation, homeowners spend an average of $15,000–$25,000 correcting design or layout issues that could have been caught before consent. In Australia, that number can climb even higher due to variation costs and builder mark-ups.
Once plans are lodged with the council, changes become expensive, time-consuming, and frustrating. You’ll be paying not only your architect and builder for revisions, but potentially re-submitting for consent — delaying your build and pushing up costs.
Image by Freepik
2. Where most plans fall short
Even expertly draughted architectural plans can overlook how people actually live in their homes.
That kitchen island might look perfect on paper — until you realise it blocks the fridge door or creates a tight squeeze when more than one person’s cooking. A hallway that meets minimum width requirements might still feel narrow once furniture and artwork are in place.
At STUDIO42, I see these issues every week in both New Zealand and Australian plans:
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Kitchens with poor working triangles (the layout between sink, hob, and fridge).
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Bathrooms with no natural light or awkward access.
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Bedrooms that can’t comfortably fit a queen bed with side tables.
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Living spaces that don’t align with outdoor entertaining areas.
The Living Blueprint™ process uncovers these blind spots early. By mapping the movement, furniture, and lighting through every space, it ensures your home design flows naturally and functions beautifully.
Image by Freepik
4. Real-life example: A New Zealand family that avoided a $20,000 mistake
One couple planning a newbuild came to STUDIO42 just before lodging their plans. Their architect had designed a stunning open-plan kitchen and living area — but during The Living Blueprint™ consultation, we discovered that the kitchen layout did not allow for keeping an eye on the kids.
A few subtle layout adjustments solved the issue — but if they’d built first, that fix would have meant removing concrete floors to install plumbing in the correct positions and re-pouring concrete floors. Estimated cost? Over $20,000. Instead, the couple moved into a home that not only looks beautiful but lives beautifully too.
Image by Freepik
3. The magic of flow, proportion, and light
What makes a home feel “effortless”? It’s not just style — it’s flow. The way you move through spaces without thinking, the way morning light filters through your kitchen, or how proportions feel calm and balanced.
That’s where The Living Blueprint™ truly shines. It’s a collaborative consultation that complements your architect’s work, not competes with it. Think of it as adding a second pair of trained eyes focused on how you’ll live, not just how it looks.
From adjusting window placements to maximise light, to refining the orientation of a kitchen for better workflow, these small design interventions often make the biggest difference.
Image by Clay Banks
Why design and consent should work hand-in-hand
Your blueprint for soulful living
In both New Zealand and Australia, the consent process focuses on compliance — ensuring the design meets building codes, safety, and zoning regulations. It doesn’t consider how your furniture fits, how you’ll move through the kitchen, or whether your en-suite feels spacious and serene.
That’s the missing piece The Living Blueprint™ fills. It bridges the gap between architectural precision and interior flow, ensuring your plans pass council approval and deliver daily comfort.
By combining Interior Design insight with practical foresight, this service helps create homes that are compliant, cohesive, and deeply personal. A place where architectural intent becomes soulful living!
Designing a home is one of the most significant investments you’ll ever make. It deserves more than a “that’ll do” approach.
A pre-consent Interior Design consultation through The Living Blueprint™ is your chance to pause, refine, and make sure every square meter serves your lifestyle beautifully.
Whether you’re renovating a coastal home in Byron Bay or building a new retreat in Queenstown, taking this extra step ensures your design vision translates into reality — without compromise or costly surprises. Because great architecture deserves equally thoughtful interiors.
Ready to perfect your plans before they reach council?
Let’s make sure your new build or renovation lives as beautifully as it looks.
Call STUDIO42 or email today to discuss The Living Blueprint™
your pre-consent design consultation for homes across
New Zealand and Australia.