Endorsements
EMERGING DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
HOME INTERIOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Judges’ Citation: Intense use of texture combined with strong architectural elements create a successful blend of moody and rustic richness. This mature project shows a young designer — with a variety of interests — worth keeping in your radar.
Elena Parry of Fremont Studio had an interesting trajectory before she arrived at interior design. Academically, she has completed degrees in Marketing, Clothing and Textile Sciences, and Design; a post-grad Diploma in Advertising; and another in interior design. She has studied at the University of Otago and the University of Texas. When HOME reached out to the entrepreneurial designer — who also balances life as the mother of two boys under 5 years — she was on the other side of the globe exploring Italy.
For this year’s HOME Interior of the Year Emerging Designer category, Parry entered Queenstown Hill, a small holiday-home renovation that showed her progression as a designer and gave the judges a glimpse into her predilections and influences.
Conceived as a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of Auckland city life, the home required a substantial facelift, presenting a fantastic opportunity for the young designer to think creatively and expand on the knowledge she had gained from smaller projects.
According to Parry, her goal was to design a residence characterised by texture, contrast, and a sophisticated use of warm, ambient lighting. The word ‘bunker’ was high on the brief, as a way to both visually insulate the residents from nearby properties and create a feeling of safety and comfort in a region that can be known for its cold weather.
Reclaimed wooden panelling and aged brass detailing ensure the space fits somewhere between alpine hut and slightly more up-market resort offering.
As a standout feature and social focal point, the home has a bar and living room replete with leather, stone, plush textiles, parquet flooring, and allusions to rural living.
- HOME MAGAZINE OCT 2024
“After 21 years at my old residence I knew that shifting into a smaller more modern apartment would be a challenging and stressful one. To help me get through this I engaged Fremont Studio and worked with Elena on floor layout and furniture procurement, as well as colour schemes and re-upholstery. After discussion and being presented with various choices everything just fell into place. Elena took care of all issues and is consultative, reliable and very pleasant to deal with. I am very happy in my new apartment thanks to her input and help. ”
— Adrienne, Parnell Apartment
“Elena provided the perfect balance of creativity, fresh ideas, industry knowledge, pragmatism and project management. This was my first interior project, and I am so glad a friend recommended Elena. The process was smooth, enjoyable, and I’m absolutely thrilled with the results.”
— Andrea, Parnell Townhouse