Design Notes with Thandi Tipene

What makes a home feel calm, connected and effortlessly timeless? Interior designer Thandi Tipene, of Ko&Ko Design, believes it comes down to how we handle the fundamentals — light, tone, texture and restraint. In Waitī House, the interior choices were central to the project’s appeal, striking a rare balance between visual impact and everyday liveability. It’s a combination that clearly resonates with New Zealand homeowners and design enthusiasts, with the home being named Home Magazine's Interior of the Year Readers’ Choice Winner in 2024.

Drawing on her work, Thandi shares five simple design insights anyone can apply to bring warmth and balance into their own space — from working with natural light to choosing materials that feel authentic and enduring.

On Working with Light & Colour
The orientation and design of the home, along with its landscaping, play a large part in how light is distributed. Understanding where light hits and when can help inform tone and colour throughout your interior. If a space receives minimal light, lighter and warmer tones will help lift it. In contrast, when there are streams of natural light, you have the opportunity to draw in deeper, grounding hues.

On Honouring Connection to Place
Understanding the site’s history and context invariably deepens your connection to the surroundings. This can then inform parallels between new architecture and its environment. If your home is already built, gaining some background on its design can help you form small connections to your own stories—guiding what you keep and what you edit. It’s always fitting to shape your home in a way that reflects and connects with its environment rather than competes with it.

On Creating Warmth Through Restraint
Restraint helps to settle the spirit. It allows us to see more of our surroundings rather than just the objects within a home. Lighting plays a big role in shaping how an interior feels in the evening. Scale should also be considered alongside material—for example, in a voluminous space, timber tones can add warmth. Deciding where to introduce colour thoughtfully supports the restrained base materials and brings interest without adding clutter.

On Material & Finish Choices
When considering timber flooring, start by reflecting on the architectural style of your home. For a classic villa renovation, flooring with more natural knots and grain evokes history and nostalgia. Consider the amount of light and the overall interior palette when choosing tones. In a new build, a flatter, more contemporary flooring can be beautiful when paired with contrasting or complementary tones in the veneer, where more grain can be celebrated.

On Designing for Everyday Living
Understanding the flow and dynamics of the family I’m designing for helps establish the rituals that shape their daily lives. Selecting materials and finishes that serve their needs—and designing spaces around those moments—encourages comfort, creativity, and connection. In this way, a home becomes timeless and grounded in the rhythm of everyday living.

Thandi Tipene is a Spatial & Interior Designer and Director of Ko&Ko and Thandi Jazmine Design. At Ko&Ko she and Co-Director Bachelor Tipene work with clients end-to-end on projects, assisting with every aspect from location to concept design to fixtures & fittings. 

Waitī House Imagery: David Straight