• Southern Institute of Technology graduate Amy Coombes wins top honours at 2024 TIDA awards.
  • Her award-winning bathroom design combines industrial elements with warmth and inviting details.
  • Coombes’ journey highlights the value of flexible study options and a passion for design.

Amy Coombes, a Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) graduate and talented Interior Designer, has achieved significant recognition in the 2024 Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) New Zealand Group Home Builder Bathroom of the Year. Mrs Coombes not only claimed the top prize but also secured the runner-up position in the same category. These awards, announced on August 8th, showcase the latest home design trends from leading architects and designers across New Zealand, Australia, and beyond.

Mrs Coombes submitted two bathrooms for consideration, both exemplifying her exceptional work. “They’re the best examples of my work,” she stated. Her winning design, a master en-suite in a newly-built, large family home, features a bold industrial-inspired colour and material palette. The spacious bathroom, with its bespoke wall-hung double vanity and carefully chosen lighting, was praised by the TIDA judges for its “dark and moody oasis” feel, offering a welcoming environment at the end of a busy day. “They said the space was ‘edgy and immersive’,” Mrs Coombes added.

The awards have been a significant confidence boost for Mrs Coombes. “It feels pretty cool; it’s nice to have the accolades and recognition (…) It validates what you’re doing,” she said. Her journey into interior design began with a New Zealand Certificate in Interior Décor (Level 4) at SIT’s distance learning faculty, SIT2LRN, in 2013. However, life commitments, including a real estate career and starting a family, meant she had to pause her studies. She resumed her course in January 2022 and completed her qualification in late 2023.

Mrs Coombes credits SIT’s programme with reinforcing her natural design talent, which she has nurtured since childhood. “I’ve always been opinionated about interior design, but didn’t have the qualification and theory to back up what I thought.” The course provided her with the theory behind her practical skills, helping her understand why she sees things the way she does. “The best thing about achieving the qualification has been having that confidence in my own abilities by learning the theory behind the practice.”

Working alongside her husband, Ryan, Mrs Coombes is the Interior Designer and Client Liaison for their company, Landmark Homes Manawatu, based in Palmerston North. Her design expertise ensures that each project perfectly represents the client’s vision and needs. Her work is also on display at the Landmark Display Home in Feilding, where she ventured into garden landscaping for the first time, receiving positive feedback for her attention to detail and harmonious design.

SIT2LRN’s Programme Operations Manager for Creative Media, Steve Woller, described Mrs Coombes as “an A+ student all the way,” noting the excellent attention to detail in her projects. Since her graduation, SIT has expanded its design offerings, including a Level 5 Certificate in Interior Design (Residential), available via distance learning, allowing students to study remotely as Mrs Coombes did.

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