PLUMBLINE
Interior Design
Client: Plumbline NZ
Interior Design: Nickolas Gurtler
Build: Duobuilt
Photography: Timothy Kaye
Media: The Local Project
Tasked with designing Plumbline’s first Australian showroom, we approached the project as an architectural introduction to the brand—one that would translate its New Zealand heritage, material values and product philosophy into a spatial experience. Located on Church Street in Richmond, the showroom forms part of a well-established design precinct, positioning Plumbline within Melbourne’s broader design culture from the outset.
Rather than undertaking a wholesale redevelopment, the design adopts an additive approach—building a new interior within the shell of a former restaurant. Original elements of the building are retained and revealed, allowing age, texture and imperfection to sit alongside precise new insertions. This measured strategy grounds the showroom in its context while reflecting the brand’s belief in longevity, honesty and materials that evolve over time.
Inside, the project rethinks the conventions of bathware retail by drawing from the display typologies of luxury fashion. Custom joinery in walnut and stone replaces traditional bathroom settings, allowing products to be encountered as individual objects rather than components of a prescribed scheme.
Basins are treated with the presence of sculptural pieces, while tapware is approached as a refined accessory—shifting the focus from instruction to exploration.
This fashion-led logic was intentionally adopted to create a sense of familiarity and ease, particularly for clients who do not shop for bathware regularly. By privileging curation, spacing and repetition, the showroom encourages experimentation and confident decision-making, simplifying the process of comparison and specification.
Material choices throughout the space are informed by the raw beauty of New Zealand’s landscapes, with the brand’s identity woven subtly through every design decision. Walnut, bronze, ocean-blue travertine and limewashed surfaces form a tactile palette that is designed to patina over time, set in deliberate contrast to the precision of Plumbline’s products. The floor plan unfolds in a fluid sequence, guiding visitors intuitively through the showroom.
Externally, the building is fully refinished and wrapped in a soft pale blue, establishing a clear and recognisable street presence. Large windows offer glimpses into the interior and the products within, allowing the showroom to engage directly with Church Street while announcing Plumbline’s arrival through a confident yet restrained gesture.