While awards and recognition have followed Simone Henbrey from one career to the next; for this humble designer and purveyor of homes, the true reward is the trust of her clients and the friendships that grow along the way.

Graduating in interior design, Simone Henbrey’s first, hand-drawn plans resulted in the 2003 Kitchen of the Year, sparking a lifelong passion for shaping spaces that are both refined and deeply personal. A passion that has translated to her current career – real estate, having discovered the same joy in helping others find and create homes that truly reflect who they are.

From her first award-winning kitchen design in Auckland to selling elegant homes across New Zealand, Simone’s life and passion has always revolved around helping others, creating beauty and belonging.

Over the past thirty years Simone has spent much of her life in other people’s homes as both a realtor and a designer, a privilege she describes as deeply humbling.
‘Our homes should be a place of private sanctuary, where we are truly free to be ourselves. They are the spaces that support us through challenge, nurture our families and where we anticipate returning to comfort and safety. We don’t just invest money into our homes, we invest emotion, we invest ourselves.’

Each home has its own story, says Simone. ‘In some homes, feet have gently hollowed the doorstep with the passing of time; rich with patina and scratches, perfectly imperfect. In others, heights of growing children etched on door frames and gnarled old trees carry the scars of huts and swings. Kitchens that have facilitated the cooking of countless dinners; the washing of endless dishes amidst laughter or chaos. The walls of these homes hold secrets and stories; we can almost hear the laughter and feel the emotions that still linger. These homes are passed on like treasured heirlooms, somehow reassuring and familiar.

‘Other homes celebrate what is brave and new, a collaboration of hope and ingenuity between the owner, architect and engineer; creative ventures that push boundaries. Encouraging innovation and improvement, introducing revolutionary materials, delivering elevated experiences and redefining luxury.  They are exciting and bold; proudly forging the future and challenging us to re-examine and reinvent ourselves.’

Regardless of the age or style of any home, each is as unique and individual as the people who occupy them. What then prompts us to relinquish them? The answer is as diverse and varied as the owners themselves.

Regardless of the age or style of any home, each is as unique and individual as the people who occupy them.

‘For some it may be unplanned, unexpected or unwelcome events that necessitate change. For others it can be a joyful event, a natural next life stage or facilitating a new career. Irrespective of the circumstances, all change brings discomfort, and requires courage, whether we are prepared or not.

‘It is a rare person who has enjoyed the simple familiar luxury of one home for their entire life. For most of us, a house will come to represent a single chapter of our life. Looking back over the events, memories and experiences that have shaped us, we will likely discover an inevitable association with where and how we lived and that our hearts and our homes are intrinsically linked.’

When Simone moved to Nelson in 2005, she poured her energy into restoring an 1865 cottage and later led the revival of the city’s beloved Melrose House, transforming it from a forgotten relic into a thriving café and community treasure. Bringing the Sotheby’s International Realty brand to Nelson was a natural next step, combining her passion for homes and love of connecting people.

After eight successful years, Simone launched her own boutique real estate agency in 2021, to focus on offering a more personal approach to buying and selling the region’s most distinctive homes. Each winter, when the Nelson market slows, Simone follows her heart to France, sourcing antiques that bring soul and craftsmanship to modern interiors.

With over thirty years in real estate and design, she continues to approach every project with elegance, warmth and a genuine love of helping others feel at home; helping them to create and shape the best chapters of their lives.