After enduring the floods of January this year, Refined Living, has been able to open the doors to its newly repaired and beautifully refurbished showrooms.
Verve had the privilege of speaking with owners Tracey and Matt Johnson about their renovation journey.
Can you share with us the most significant challenges you faced during the restoration process, and how you overcome them?
The cleanup and renovation process were long and drawn out due to the ongoing poor weather. It made waterproofing the back of the building and getting the interior bricks dry very challenging. There were also delays sourcing building materials.
Refined Living has always been a symbol of sophistication. How did you ensure that the newly renovated showrooms maintain the essence of the brand while incorporating fresh elements?
We’ve maintained the heritage elegance of the building by restoring the brick walls, adding waterproofing throughout, and all central pillars have been repaired as well. Also, we’ve removed the fireplace to give the showroom a feeling of space.
With the rainstorm’s impact still fresh in everyone’s minds, how did you implement measures to safeguard the showrooms against potential future natural disasters?
The building has undergone extensive waterproofing and large floodgates will be installed at the front of the building for any significant future weather events. Auckland City Council need to ensure that they are investing in better drainage for the entire Auckland region.
Can you give us a sneak peek into any new partnerships or unique pieces that will be showcased in the refreshed showrooms?
The store is full of new collections on display, and we’re about to visit Artwood in Sweden to source further new product lines. New styles are always being sourced to broaden the collections for the clientele.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for Refined Living in the post-renovation era, and how do you envision its continued growth and impact on the home and design community?
We’re looking forward to a more settled period; the flood, cleanup and renovations were stressful for all involved. We’re delighted to be back in our beautiful space with so many stunning collections on offer. Our intention is that customers can combine our products to create a variety of interior styles from our brands.
As the heart and soul of Refined Living, how do you hope visitors will feel when they step into the newly revived showrooms, and what impression would you like them to take away from the experience?
Customers can expect to be wowed, the space is so light and bright. Chandeliers and pendants sparkle, and the furniture, textiles and accessories collections are vast. Our team in store are friendly, knowledgeable, and their customer service is exceptional. We really hope clients feel happy and inspired when they visit.
