A budget roadblock turned into a design career, a studio, and an award-winning project. Meet Sam MacArthur of Wild Bird Interior Design, who transformed a DIY necessity into a business built on clarity, calm, and clever coordination. We dig into how kitchens and bathrooms get designed for real life first, with function leading finishes, and why photorealistic, to-scale 3D renders eliminate hesitation before a single tile is ordered.We talk through the messy middle of renovations—plumbing, waterproofing, sequencing—and how strong relationships with joiners and trades keep problems from turning into “fires.” Sam shares the Martinborough home that earned national recognition, complete with a drenched green wine cellar, and explains how a decisive client and a great builder made the process sing. You’ll also hear how her marketing background informs brand touches like leaving a small bird ornament after consults, turning a visit into a warm, memorable experience.Cost anxiety is real, so we unpack Wild Bird’s flat-fee model, scope changes, and bank-friendly breakdowns that make funding simpler and expectations clearer. We cover boundaries, timelines, and why design is 10 percent mood boards and 90 percent operations. From Kāpiti to Wellington and beyond, Sam’s team handles the heavy lifting—site measures, product research, and project coordination—so busy homeowners can focus on how the space will feel: calm, functional, and ready for everyday life.If you’re staring at a tricky bathroom, dreaming of a smarter kitchen, or just tired of guesswork, this one will help you plan with confidence. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who’s renovating, and leave a review to tell us the one change that would make your home feel calmer.Send us a text Support the showBuy your first home in NZ Weekly Webinars You thought it's not possible or the dream is too far away? Come to my webinar and I will show you, you are much closer to your dream, than you think you are! Join Here - https://bit.ly/4m9SL72

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