The Thinking Behind Homes with Soul.
A different way of creating a home you love.
The Thinking Behind Homes with Soul.
A different way of creating a home you’ll love.
The Thinking Behind Homes with Soul.
A different way of creating a home you’ll love.
Why clarity comes first
For me, good design starts with listening, looking carefully and understanding the bigger picture before deciding what needs to change.
I believe a home should reflect the people who live in it, not a prescribed style or a set of design rules.
I’m passionate about working with my clients to create homes that feel considered, cohesive and personal.
Let me introduce myself.
I'm Nicci Tong, founder of Homes with Soul, a Home Improvement Consultant & Interior Designer based in Wellington, New Zealand.
I still remember the day my dad asked me, “When are you going to stop living like you're camping?”
He was right! I needed to stop existing in my home and do something about it.
I started by getting clear about what I loved, what was already working and what didn't need to change. Rather than starting from scratch, I began to see how thoughtful decisions could bring everything together.
That experience shaped the clarity-first approach I now bring to my work through Homes with Soul.
I look at the whole picture.
A home isn't a collection of individual rooms, furniture and decorative objects. Everything has a relationship to what surrounds it.
I consider how the layout works, how colours and materials relate to one another, how furniture and treasured belongings fit into the space.
s this bigger-picture thinking that helps me bring the different elements together into a cohesive whole.
I’ll never impose my own style on your home.
I'll help you get clear about what you want from your home.
I'll ask questions to uncover what matters most to you. Your tastes, your special pieces, your budget and the way you live all have a place in the decisions we make.
I'll challenge assumptions when I think they're holding you back, and explain my recommendations so you understand the thinking behind them.
But I'll never pressure you into changing something that already works.
"Through Nicci’s wisdom I have been able to better utilise the things I already love and stop wasting money on things that don’t work!”
Jo Fitzgerald, Lower Hutt
"Nicci helped shape my ideas into a cohesive design that is both beautiful & practical.”
Karin Schofield, Karori
The Experience Behind Homes with Soul
My approach combines creative thinking with practical knowledge of housing and home improvement.
Before founding Homes with Soul, I spent more than 15 years working in government, including experience in New Zealand's building and housing sector. Since moving into interior design, I've helped homeowners make thoughtful improvements, managed residential renovation projects and facilitated interior design workshops.
My qualifications and experience include:
Diploma in Design & Decorating — Open Polytechnic (2017)
Residential renovation project management
Interior design workshops for homeowners since 2021
Winner, Transform Your Space Interior Design Competition — Wellington Home & Garden Show (2023).
This combination of experience helps me consider both the creative possibilities and the practical realities of improving a home.
What inspires me
I've always been drawn to homes with character and pieces that have stood the test of time.
I love beautifully made furniture, natural materials and objects with history. Not because they're old, but because they have a quality and permanence you can feel.
I'm interested in how homes evolve, how treasured pieces can find new life and how thoughtful choices can create spaces that feel personal rather than prescribed.
For me, it's never just about how a home looks. It's about how the home reflects the people who live there and how good it feels to spend time in.
Let's create a home that feels like you.
Every home is different, and there is no single formula for getting it right.
If you'd like to understand how I work and explore the support available, I'd love you to take a look.