Michelle Halford and her husband have built a home that exudes a sense of understated luxury. Each space feels thoughtfully considered all the whilst innovative; Michelle’s eye for new design and clever materials is evident throughout. Inspired by Danish design and Scandinavian living, Michelle balances principles of functionality, warmth, contemporary detailing and timelessness.

Michelle’s pared-back approach to styling with elegant pieces of furniture create a relaxed feel in this home. Sticking to a neutral palette of soft greys, near whites and taupes, Michelle is a firm believer in using texture to ‘colour’ a home. In Michelle’s living room, she showcases the Nebraska floor rug in ‘Natural White’. The use of un-dyed wool in the Nebraska range sits beautifully amongst the use of other natural materials throughout Michelle’s home; natural stone kitchen work surfaces and warm wood flooring tie in this Auckland home with its Scandinavian interior roots. Michelle champions the ethos that your home is your sanctuary and we couldn’t agree more.

The natural colours in the Nebraska range are delicate and suit a wide range of spaces. As the pile height of the Nebraska rug isn’t too high, vacuuming and caring for it is made easy – perfect for rooms that are to be lived in and enjoyed by the whole family. In this open plan part of Michelle’s home, this large rug helps define the area as well as complement the rug in the dining area adjacent.

Flooring can also offer depth and richness to a neutral space. In Michelle’s home, Flooring Xtra installed Quick-Step Impressive laminate in ‘Classic Oak Brown’. The Quick-Step Impressive range is extra solid and features hard-wearing planks that look and feel exceptionally natural. The authentic wood grains are perfectly reflected into the floor’s joints and the colour selection is wide and varied, ensuring there is a match for every interior scheme.

Opting for a darker colour way from the Impressive range meant that Michelle could create just the right amount of contrast she was after in the space. It works perfectly with the black joinery and the warm grey undertone of Dulux’s Kauri Cliffs Double. Quality laminate flooring means you can really enjoy the beauty of a real timber look floor without the maintenance. This floor features an ultra-protective 'Scratch Guard' layer that acts as a barrier between pet claws, dragged furniture and other common potentially damaging activities that are household realities.

You can follow Michelle on Instagram @thedesignchaser and visit her blog here.