7 tips for creating a cohesive design

You might not always notice cohesive design, but you can feel it. It’s what gives a home that calm, connected quality where every space flows naturally into the next. For Landmark Homes’ North Shore and Rodney’s in-house designer Shannon Pepper, creating that sense of ease isn’t about matching everything; it’s about making thoughtful choices early, and letting each one support the next.

“You’re not just designing one room at a time,” she says. “You’re thinking about how each space connects to the next. What you see, how it feels, how it all fits together.”

A prime example of Shannon’s design approach is on display in Landmark’s Matakana Showhome, a 300m² pavilion-style home designed to feel timeless, flexible and calm. 

Recently named winner of the New Zealand Group Home Builder Bathroom Suite in the 2025 TIDA awards, the space was praised by judges as a “sophisticated sanctuary, defined by understated luxury and thoughtful detailing”.

So how do you create a home where every room and space feels connected, while still giving each its own character? Shannon shares the principles she relies on to bring that sense of flow.

1. Start with the fixed elements

One of Shannon’s key approaches is to begin with the decisions that are hardest to change. Flooring, tiles, and cabinetry colours are usually decided early, so they set the foundation for the wider palette. Getting these core elements in place helps everything else fall into line and makes the rest of the process feel more straightforward.

Once those choices are made, it becomes easier to coordinate other finishes across the home. “You’ve got far more flexibility with things like paint, fabric, and furnishings,” she says. “So it makes sense to start with the items that are harder to adjust.”

2. Let one feature lead

Once the key build decisions are made, Shannon often identifies one feature to lead the visual direction. This might be a subtle tile pattern, a timber finish, or a vanity colour – something that captures the feel of the space and helps guide everything else.

In the Matakana Showroom ensuite, it was the dark stone-look tile that set the tone. “That was the hero element,” says Shannon. “Once we locked that in, it guided every other decision in the room.”

3. Keep a thread running through the home

One of the simplest ways to create cohesion is to repeat an element across different spaces. It could be a colour, a pattern, a cabinet profile, or even a texture. Shannon says having something in common from room to room helps the home feel more connected, even when the style or function of each space varies.

“It doesn’t have to match exactly,” she says. “But it should relate. You’re looking for something that quietly ties the spaces together.”

4. Use samples and swatches as a working palette

For Shannon, good design is hands-on. She keeps a full set of samples for every project, such as flooring, tiles, laminates, paint colours, and fabrics, laid out where she can see them together. This creates a working palette that evolves as the design progresses.

“It means you’re not making decisions in isolation,” she says. “When everything is side by side, you can see straight away if a new choice feels right with the rest of the home.”

5. Customise when it counts

Small, bespoke touches can make a big difference. It might be a benchtop in a custom colour, unique light fittings, or a finish that picks up on textures used elsewhere in the home. These aren’t necessarily big-ticket upgrades, but they can have a big impact on the overall feel.

6. Design for longevity

Trends can be tempting, but Shannon encourages clients to think about how their home will look and feel in the years to come. Choosing finishes with lasting appeal, rather than short-lived fashions, helps a space stay relevant for longer.

“For the Matakana build, the client preferred to keep things timeless with chrome tapware instead of coloured finishes like black or brass,” says Shannon. “Nobody can really say they dislike chrome. It’s a good example of a choice that always feels classic.”

7. Know when to stop

Shannon believes that simplicity is what often makes a design feel confident. Instead of filling a room with competing features, she recommends focusing on a few details and making sure they are done well. The result is a space that feels effortless, but still thoughtful and refined.

“Sometimes less is best,” she says. “When you try too hard in a space, it doesn’t always come together as nicely as when you just go back to the basics.”

Start your design journey

Ready to create a home that feels calm, connected and uniquely yours? Our Landmark Homes team can guide you through every step, from big design decisions to the finer details that bring it all together. Get in touch with your local Landmark New Home Consultant to start planning your dream build.