01 September
WHAT’S ON THE BENCH?
At the moment, the bench is holding a bit of everything:
A set of hand-drawn measurements for a job that’s just getting started. A clamp half-tightened. Drill bits scattered near the edge. A few tools mid-task, waiting to be picked up again. And a coffee that’s gone cold, but still sitting there.
It’s a snapshot of the kind of week we’re having - full days, projects in motion, and a steady rhythm of hands-on work. We’re right in the thick of it: kitchens coming together, furniture builds underway, and new plans starting to take shape. Things are busy, but focused.
In between it all, I keep coming back to the details - those small choices that define true craftsmanship. How a kitchen layout can flow naturally with the way people live, or how the shape of a drawer handle changes the way it feels in your hand. These details might go unnoticed at first, but over time, they’re what make a home feel effortless and right.
As I move between projects, I’m reminded that craftsmanship is found in the little things - the smooth glide of a drawer, the precision of a joint that fits perfectly. It’s more than just skill; it’s about creating pieces that feel alive and telling their own story
Right now, there’s plenty of maple timber waiting for attention. It’s a beautiful wood - dense, clean, and warm in a way that’s hard to put into words but easy to appreciate. We’re using it for shaker-style doors and drawer fronts in an upcoming sustainable kitchen build, designed to withstand daily life with ease. This project is for clients who value quality over quantity.
We’re also finishing a few projects that are heading out soon, which always brings a mix of satisfaction and a little sadness. Each piece is its own story, made with care and purpose, and it’s always a privilege to see them go into homes where they’ll be part of people’s daily lives.
If you’ve been thinking about a kitchen or furniture project, now’s a great time to get in touch. We’re taking bookings into the coming months, and I’d love to hear about what you’re imagining. Whether it’s something big or small, a custom piece that fits just right, or a rethink of your kitchen’s layout - let’s start the conversation.
Thanks for reading, and for being part of this journey with us.
The Nomadic Design Team
hello@nomadicdesign.co.nz
+64278006690
01 August
KITCHEN STORIES: THE HEART OF THE HOME
KITCHENS MADE FOR WINTER
There’s something about winter that pulls everyone into the kitchen. The kettle is just boiled, the bench is full of warm mugs, and the house smells like whatever’s in the oven. For me, the kitchen is where the day’s stories happen - it’s messy, it’s honest, and it’s full of small moments that matter.
At Nomadic Design we try to design kitchens that don’t just run well - they feel like home. That doesn’t mean extravagant finishes or a full renovation every season. Often it’s the little things, done well, that make the biggest difference.
Below are a few practical ideas I love for making a kitchen truly cosy this winter plus a small story from my own kitchen to prove the point.
DESIGN TIPS FOR A WARMER, WELCOMING KITCHEN
1. Start with warm materials
Timber does the heavy lifting here. Even small touches - an open shelf, a wooden chopping board, or a bench detail - bring a warmth that paint or tile can’t quite match.
2. Layer your lighting
One bright overhead light will never make a kitchen feel snuggly. Try warm-toned pendants above a prep bench, under-cabinet strips for gentle task light, and a small table lamp on a windowsill for that “stay awhile” glow.
3. Texture matters
Woven baskets, linen tea towels, a woolly throw over a stool - texture makes a space feel lived-in and welcoming. It’s the difference between a staged kitchen and one you want to spend time in.
4. Make space for rituals
The cosiest kitchens are full of little rituals: porridge on slow mornings, a jar of spoons for stirring, a favourite mug waiting on the bench. These tell the story of the home and invite people to stay longer.
5. Practical warmth
If you’re planning changes, think about where people naturally gather. A slightly deeper bench for leaning, an in-cabinet drawer for winter linens, or a handmade wooden cutlery insert can make small but meaningful improvements.
A quick story from my kitchen (real life, messy, slightly floury)
Last Saturday I was in the workshop with Momo, finishing up a cabinet - sawdust in the air, that quiet rhythm you get when things are nearly done. Just as we were packing up, Moss ran in from the kitchen - flour on his hands, eyes lit up with excitement. He’d already pulled out the jar and was ready to go.
We followed him in, dusted off the bench, and spent the next half hour making scones - no recipe, just rhythm and laughter. The oven warmed the house, Moss stole one straight from the tray, and for a little while, the workshop, the kitchen, and the whole house felt like one cosy, connected space.
That’s the point: the best kitchens hold moments like that. They’re simple, a bit imperfect, and full of warmth.
If a cosier kitchen has been on your mind - maybe just a small tweak, a layout that works better, or a full rethink for the colder months - I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming about.
Just a friendly chat, some practical ideas, and maybe a few stories swapped along the way. I’ve found the best spaces often begin with simple conversations.
If that sounds like something you'd enjoy, send us an email here or click the link below to book a quick, no-pressure call:
👉 Book a 15-minute chat — no pressure
Until then, stay warm, keep the kettle close, and may your kitchen be full of good smells and good company.
The Nomadic Design Team
www.nomadicdesign.co.nz
+64 278006690
01 JULY
THE STORY OF NOMADIC DESIGN
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Nomadic Design began in the most humble of spaces - a small shed in the backyard of our home in suburban Auckland. With just a handful of basic tools and a big vision, we poured ourselves into our first major project: a $70,000 custom kitchen.
We still laugh when we think about what we managed to pull off in those early days. There was no fancy machinery - we had a gazebo for projects that needed more space and acted as a protection from the rain, a drop saw, a rail saw, hand tools, determination and a strong desire to build something meaningful. It’s a little wild looking back at what came out of that simple setup but that’s where Nomadic Design truly began.
In 2017, Momo (Moritz) moved from Germany to New Zealand. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cabinet Making and Custom Woodworking, years of hands-on experience, and a love for well-crafted design, he was ready to bring something special to this new part of the world. Not long after, we started growing our family and our business side by side - a balancing act many small business owners know well.
By 2020, we’d taken a leap and moved to the far North, chasing a long-held dream: to live and work on the same piece of land. In 2021, that dream became real when we found our home and space for a proper workshop.
Today, our workshop sits just steps from our front door, surrounded by trees, fresh air, and the joyful chaos of our two kids, Moss (5) and Nellie (2). What started as a modest backyard shed has grown into a fully equipped space with high-end machinery.
A LIFE BUILT TOGETHER
Family is central to how we live and work. It’s not just about having the workshop at home, it’s about making spaces that suit everyday life. We build things that are meant to be lived in, with all the mess, noise, and routines that come with family life. Spaces that last, and feel right.
Nomadic Design is just the two of us. Momo handles all the cabinetmaking and technical work, and is involved in every stage, from the first design conversations through to the final install. I take care of the creative side: design, photography, marketing, and keeping everything organised behind the scenes.
Balancing work with raising our two young kids means our days are full and busy, but there’s a clear structure that helps us stay focused and get the job done. It’s this balance of family and work that shapes how we approach every project -with patience, flexibility, and genuine care for the homes we help create.
We’re truly thankful for the support we’ve received along the way. It means a lot to us to be able to do this work as a family, and we’re excited to keep growing and creating together.
01 JUNE
SHAPING THE HEAT: THE FINNISH SAUNA BUILD
Hello from the Nomadic workshop!
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, we find ourselves leaning into the season - layering up, lighting fires, and slowing down in step with winter’s quieter pace. There’s something deeply grounding about this time of year. It invites reflection, re-connection, and the kind of thoughtful making that we hold dear here at Nomadic Design.
Sauna Season is Here
This month, we’ve been immersed in a particularly exciting project: designing and building a traditional Finnish sauna. Built from 2x2 tongue and groove macrocarpa, it features a solid glass front, a frameless 8mm tempered glass door, and is brought to life by a Roaring Meg fireplace — the kind that turns cold evenings into sacred rituals. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as the project progresses and we can’t wait to share the finished result.
“There’s nothing quite like stepping from the cold into the calm, cedar-scented heat of a sauna — the crackle of the fire, the hush of steam, and the world slowing down for a moment.”
From Hand to Digital: A New Era of Design
While our roots will always be in the handmade, we’re stepping into a new chapter with our design process. Our talented team has been hard at work learning digital tools to bring our planning and drawings into full 2D and 3D. This means more precision, better visualisation, and clearer communication with you as we dream up and deliver your bespoke spaces.
It’s a big shift from our hand-drawn beginnings, but one that allows us to keep our hands in the making, while our ideas move more freely than ever.
A Window to the Wild
In the workshop, we’ve made a small but mighty change: a new, expansive window has been fitted to flood the space with sunlight and frame a view of the native bush beyond. It’s a daily reminder of what inspires us - honest materials, natural light, and the living world outside.
It’s hard not to pause, even mid-sawdust storm, to soak in the beauty out there.
Slowing Down (and Warming Up)
There’s a rhythm to winter that we’re learning to love. The season asks for patience and presence and rewards it with rich cups of coffee, warm wood underfoot, and evenings that arrive early, inviting us to light the fire and rest a little deeper.
In that spirit, we’d love to offer something to help make your winter even more special:
Winter Warmer Offer:
This season, we’re slowing things down - just a little -and letting the details shine. Winter invites a different kind of making. A quieter rhythm. A sharper focus. It’s when we notice the way light falls across the floor, the sound of drawers closing softly, and the small rituals that make a house feel like home.
That’s why we’re introducing something new and a little special for this time of year.
The Winter Edit is a seasonal design feature, handpicked by our team and included in every custom project booked this winter.
Think a hidden drawer tucked seamlessly into a cabinet, a hand-shaped pull or detail in native timber, a secret compartment in a drawer - a moment of surprise and beauty, designed just for you.
It won’t show up on your quote. It won’t be listed in the plans. But it will be there - quietly waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.
How it works:
Book a new project with us between June 1 and July 31 2025
We'll collaborate with you to include a bespoke Winter Edit detail
Each one is unique, designed to suit the space, materials, and the way you live
Because in the depth of winter, it’s the little things that make all the difference.
Thank you, as always, for supporting handcrafted design. We’re so grateful to be doing this work — and to be doing it for people like you.
Warmly,
The Nomadic Design Team
01 MAY
A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON RURAL DESIGN
Hello from Nomadic Design,
Kia ora, and welcome to our May update!
We’re incredibly proud to share that one of our kitchens and vanities was recently featured in home magazine winning Rural Home of the Year.Set in the heart of the countryside, this space blends modern minimalism with raw beauty - a quiet, thoughtful space that reflects the landscape around it.We designed and built the kitchen, vanities, laundry and shelving for this home, using a restrained palette of natural materials: timber, light-toned stone, and hand-finished joinery. Each piece was made to last to settle into the space, not stand out from it.
Designed by Sam Atcheson of Dorrington Atcheson Architects, with interiors by Roum Studio, this home is a contemporary interpretation of mid-century architecture. Set on a spacious rural site near Whangārei, it features a striking terracotta-red brick exterior that contrasts beautifully with the lush green landscape.
The design incorporates elements reminiscent of the owners' family home from the 1960s, including a flat roof and cedar cladding. A standout feature is the staggered gull-wing roofline, which not only adds visual interest but also enhances the interior's sense of space and light. The exposed greenheart timber beams, sourced locally, further connect the structure to its natural surroundings.
Click on link to find out more https://homemagazine.nz/rural-craft/
In the workshop
Lately we’ve been working with:
Natural oak and soft wax finishes
Shelving that invites openness
Kitchens that make the most of small spaces
Handmade details that bring warmth to modern homes
Whether you're renovating or building from scratch, we’d love to hear what you’re working on. We offer custom design and cabinetry services for kitchens, bathrooms, and fitted cabinetry.