Q&A With Kasia Stanicich: Designing Her Dream Home

Set on a quiet street in Christchurch, New Zealand, local makeup artist and content creator Kasia Stanicich brings her keen eye for design and detail to a deeply personal family project.

Together with her partner and parents, Kasia balanced simplicity, functionality, and aesthetics as the guiding pillars to create a home that feels calm yet full of character.

We spoke with Kasia about the inspiration, materials, and products that shaped each space, as she shares the story behind the project. 

From rich walnut cabinetry and creamy marble to the considered pairing of brushed brass and brushed gunmetal fixtures, discover how this elegant material palette brings the home to life.

What was your initial inspiration?

I’ve wanted to build a home since I was a kid. I grew up with my wonderful Dad building other people's dream homes, so this project is curated by pockets of inspiration for years.

Did the location influence the design?

Christchurch has always been home to me. I grew up near the river in a suburb that’s now just a residential ‘red zone’ [as a result of the earthquakes], and this is as close to it as we could practically get. 

We’ve been heavily influenced by the new builds around us, wanting to retain an element of uniqueness while also fitting in. I was so torn on building modern, organic, or heritage character, so the location made the decision for me.

What interior influences shaped the home?

The direction we wanted to follow was shaped by the following keywords: natural and organic, understated elegance, soft minimalism.

How did you select the material palette?

Over years of drawing inspiration online, in-person, and from materials and textiles, I’ve realised that while I don’t find myself drawn to colour, I really prioritise textures and movement. You see it reflected in our furnishings, the different paint textures on the walls, the cladding, and interior effects, and our choices of hardware and joinery.

Why ABI?

I’d always followed the ABI social channels for inspiration and direction, but had not used the product before. Our plumber, Josh from Wildy Plumbing, spoke with us early on and strongly recommended it for its functionality and quality.

The choice was then obvious; I liked the form, he recommended the function, and that’s the hardest balance to get right when building.

Watch Kasia take us through the home to showcase the complete range of ABI products she used, here.

What drew you to these finishes?

We decided to make brushed brass a feature of our wet areas — ensuite, bathroom, and laundry — and to tie those spaces together by using it for our door hardware. 

The decision to pair it with brushed gunmetal in our kitchen was made to ensure it didn’t overpower the walnut cabinetry, while still adding depth to a space that is otherwise light and bright. I love how the gunmetal complements everything around it and ties in with our larger appliances.

What are your favourite ABI products?

The Davis Door Handles — I love the depth of them, so my rings don’t scratch our doors, and our incredible Vari Sink, I couldn’t speak more highly of this. The large size means we can lay pots and pans down to wash them, reducing the chance of damage to our benchtop, plus the insert allows us to wash and dry our dishes without the need for a drying rack on the bench.

What is your favourite area of the home?

Our kitchen. I knew it would be; the clichés exist for a reason.

What makes this home unique?

I feel every build is unique, especially when you take the design and build pathway. It’s a lot more decision-heavy, but those decisions are what make it feel uniquely yours. 

Technically speaking, this build was designed with us in mind. We have things that aren’t usually the ‘done’ thing, like my home studio, an internal living space, and our master bedroom off the dining room, but they’re functional decisions that make every part of our daily life easy, and our home uniquely ours.

What's one thing you learned during the process that you wish you had known beforehand?

Many decisions have to be made before they feel ‘right’, so I found so much comfort in having samples of all of our materials (aluminium joinery, ABI hardware, flooring selections, paint colours, window furnishings) permanently with me at all times, so I could use that to guide me on even the smallest of decisions.

How did you find the journey of building your first home?

You’ll find the process so much easier if you 100% trust the people you’re working with.

Through every step of the process, I gave our suppliers and contractors guidance but asked them to lead me based on their experience and knowledge. I know how confident I am in my own profession, so allowing that same confidence to guide decisions around tile selections, carpet choices, and tapware made the process feel much more natural. Plus, you get the joy of watching people be passionate about their work, and I just loved it.

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