“We work well together, so you’re going to
get a harmonious flow in and out,” Jenny
says.
Christo says it is good to have both a male
and a female perspective on designs.
“Some things are definitely very different
between male and female views.”
Collaborate works on residential renovations
and new builds as well as commercial work,
Jenny and Christo say. Some clients use them
for both inside and outside work, while others
choose Collaborate for just interior design or
just landscape design.
They like to become involved as early as
possible with projects, helping clients decide
on textiles and fabrics for their furniture and
soft finishings, as well as fitting out their
kitchens, bathrooms, and other parts of the
house.
“It’s more than just decorating a house,”
Jenny says. “It’s looking at designing
something unique.”
One of the things the couple want to do is
to offer clients more than just the ordinary.
It’s very much aimed at a design ethos - with
budgets in mind, she says.
“Everything has a reason for being - it’s very
much a harmonious flow.”
As well as landscaping, Christo can also
turn his hand to designing floor plans and is
practical as well, building some features such
as the shutters in their own bathroom.
He can also build scale models of proposed
buildings - helping clients understand what
the house will look like in a tangible way, as
sometimes it is hard to visualise what the
spaces will be like from looking at plans.
Providing both indoor and outdoor services
benefits clients, whether they are working on
their own home or preparing their house for
sale, Collaborate can help clients focus on the
best bits of their property.
“You spend so much money on your home,
having an interior designer and landscaper
can make such a difference,” Jenny says.
“It stops mistakes and adds so much value to
a home.”
Having plans for both inside and outside the
house is really useful, Christo says, even if
the plan is implemented in stages as different
parts can be paid for.
The couple like to work on family homes -
with children of their own, they understand
the needs of families.
“First and foremost, it has got to be a home,
it’s got to be practical,” Jenny says.
“You don’t want to have wasted space,”
Christo says.
Collaborate worked on the re-fit of the Karaka
Cuisine site in the Riverlands Industrial Estate,
where Jenny provided interior design advice
as well as some customised artwork - another
offering from the creative pair.
Jenny and Christo Saggers’ home is the best
possible recommendation for their services.
The gorgeous home makes the best use of its
amazing hillside site, with seamless indoor-
outdoor flow from the living space onto a
deck with in-built swimming pool.
“You have to be realistic about what one can
afford,” Christo says. Your eye is continually drawn to the incredible
view of Marlborough spread out across the
valley floor, while the greens outside are
reflected in the greens of lush indoor plants.
The interior is a wonderful mix of tactile
concrete and wood furnishings, along with
natural fabrics.
“That’s where thinking outside the square
and coming up with ideas that are different
but not going to cost a lot comes into place.” This house shows just how much of a
harmonious flow the couple from Collaborate
can provide.
The couple are very aware that projects need
to fit within budgets.