b'over the rainbowher own Di Henshallsbelow: Di understands the power of opting for different sheenand holiday homes, downtown penthouses, farmhouses, hotels, A league of levels when carrying the same Resene colour across differentcommercial offices, retail, restaurants, retirement facilities and surfaces, as demonstrated in this Sunshine Coast home. Wallsresorts through to tiny single bedroom flats. Among her most in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to Resene Alabaster,memorable projects are ones she completed across the Tasman, cabinetry and kickboards in Resene Eighth Lemon Grass, extensive experience,architraves and skirting boards in Resene Lustacryl semi-glossin Queenstown. We have done two projects there so far, and complementary skill setstinted to Resene Alabaster and cornice and ceiling in Reseneboth of them won House of the Year awards. We are also currently SpaceCote Flat tinted to Resene Alabaster. Build by GRJ working on the interior specifications for another house in New and problem-solvingBuilding. Image by Jennifer Oliphant, www.jenniferoliphant.com. Zealand that I expect will be a favourite, says Di.savvy set her apart. IloveworkinginMelbourneaswell.Wedidacomplete Resene Resene makeoverofaninner-cityapartmentacoupleofyearsago Alabaster Eighth Lemon Grassthat was a standout. The client cried when she walked into the T o those outside the industry, interior design may seem likecompleted project. She couldnt believe how happy it made her.its simply the icing on the cake and that everything that isWhile the ability to provoke that kind of wow factor alone truly needed is already there. But Di Henshall knows thatwould be enough to set her apart, Di has a unique advantage each of her clients is always missing something, and that her job istoserveherclientsaboveandbeyondmostotherinterior really about giving them what they dont have. They either dontdesigners: she also has a builders licence. These dovetailing have enough time, confidence or intuition to turn their own homeskills have allowed her to take an even larger role in her projects, into a space that truly reflects their personalities and lifestyle. Iwith the perk of being able to create custom furniture and give them that, and in some cases, much more. millwork in-house.The more you get to know about Di, the more you understandBeing a qualified builder is a brilliant adjunct to my design howmuchherupbringinghasplayedapartinthewayshequalifications and experience, says Di. Its like having a foot in approaches problem solving during what has already been a longboth camps: practicality and creativity. I am also qualified and and successful career. She was about five years old when sheexperiencedinfurnituredesignandcabinetrydesign,which realised design was her true calling. Although both her parentsopens up a universe of possibility when designing for our clients. are scientists, Dis mum illustrated two zoology textbooks andSo, were a sort of one-stop-shop for design and decorationher father spent many years singing in the opera chorus section.designing buildings from the ground up, right down to teaspoons.And this dichotomy of rationalism and artistic talent is somethingDi says that some of her clients have been designing, renovating Di evidently shares. orredecoratingforyearsbeforetheylandonherdoorstep. DioriginallyattendedartcollegeinLiverpoolwheresheInvariably, they have either run out of time, confidence, passion studied interior design, building office practice, the history ofor ideas and at that point they feel like they are sort of resorting interior design and mixed media. She then worked for a majorto asking for my input. But its when the process of working kitchenmanufacturerintheUKastheirexportdesigner,with me and my team gets underway that they begin to realise designing showrooms and exhibition stands around the globe asthat there is a huge difference between what we do as a design well as cabinetry for private residences in the Middle East, Farpractice and the other experiences that they have had in the past.East and northern Africa. After arriving in Australia, she workedThe interesting and fairly unique aspect of what we do is the for a group of architects in Melbourne before starting her ownbreadth of service we offer and the experience and qualifications practice in 1988. wehave.Ionlyemploygraduatesfromrecognised,full-time At that time, Di had two tiny kids and her husband worked away, so taking control of her working life seemed like the most reasonable solution for keeping the family all together in one place.right: A deep blue green brings character to this Sunshine Today, her Noosaville studio has been in business for 33 years andCoast residences kitchen designed by Di Henshall. Walls and has completed more than 2,550 projects across locations thatceiling in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to ReseneReseneAlabaster and cabinet doors, panels, kickboards and openTimekeeperstretch from Northern Queensland to Victoria to New Zealand.shelves in Resene Timekeeper. Build by GRJ Building.From new builds to major renovations, shes worked on residentialImage by Jennifer Oliphant.24 blackwhitemag.com blackwhitemag.com 25'