About me

I am Nelléne, a designer, storyteller, and founder of Nelléne - Interior and Surface Design Studio.

I create interiors and hand painted watercolour patterns that feel personal and thoughtfully made.

I specialise in bespoke interior design and original artwork for wallpaper and fabric. My work blends artistry with intention and is crafted for clients and design professionals who value originality, emotion, and meaningful storytelling. Through private commissions or licensed collections, I offer a personalised approach that makes each space unforgettable.

With a degree in Interior Architecture and eighteen years of experience across residential and commercial projects, I have shaped spaces on three continents. Each one reflects the people who live, work, and dream within them.

In 2025, I became an Immersion Certified designer and expanded my practice to include custom pattern design for wallpaper, textiles, and home goods. This allows me to design not only the spaces themselves but also the surfaces that define them.

Outside the studio, I am a wife and mamma to a lively pigeon pair. Our days are filled with art, beach walks, forest adventures in Aotearoa, and ocean kayaking with friends. Creativity is the rhythm of our home and we love diving into projects that spark joy and connection.

I design with one guiding belief. Your space should reflect your values, your vision, and the way you want to live.

What was the spark that led me from Interior design to Surface pattern design?

The shift happened during an ordinary moment in our showroom. I was surrounded by fabric and wallpaper samples, building a sample board for a client presentation.

As I turned the pages, I realised I was not just choosing patterns. I was studying them. I paid attention to every brushstroke, layout, and colour choice. For years, I had quietly felt that I was not meant to select patterns. I was meant to create them.

At the start of 2025, I finally acted on that feeling. I enrolled in the Immersion 2025 Course after putting it off for five years. This time, I committed fully, and it became the most rewarding investment I have made in myself.

Halfway through the course, the feeling became clear. I opened my design studio here in Auckland.

This is the work I am meant to do.