About Homes With Soul
Guiding you toward a home that feels like you.
Hi, I’m Nicci Tong — Wellington interior designer and founder of Homes With Soul.
Over the past decade, I’ve worked with hundreds of homeowners who share a similar feeling:
They know their home could feel better…
but they’re not sure how to move forward.
They have ideas. Inspiration. Pieces they love.
But bringing it all together into something that feels calm, cohesive, and right feels unachievable.
I know how it feels because I’ve lived it
In fact, I still remember my dad asking me:
“Nicci, when are you going to stop living like you're camping?”
At the time, my home was a filled with pieces I’d collected over the years — things I liked individually, but that didn’t work well together.
I had ideas and inspiration.
But I didn’t have clarity.
So I hesitated.
I second-guessed my decisions.
I avoided making significant changes.
And everything remained unfinished - for years!
What changed everything
When I began to really understand my own style — something shifted.
Gradually, my home started to feel different.
Calmer. More cohesive. More me.
And with that, life felt easier - and I felt calmer and happier.
I realised that creating a home you love doesn’t start with more ideas, or more stuff.
It starts with clarity and direction.
That experience has shaped the way I work today.
Why clarity matters
Most homeowners already have more than enough inspiration.
What’s missing is a clear way forward.
Without that, it’s easy to:
collect pieces that don’t work well together
feel uncertain about room layout and flow
second-guess colour and material choices
invest in changes that don’t address the underlying issue.
My role is to help you step back, see your home more clearly, and understand what changes will give you the sense of home you’re looking for.
The most meaningful homes aren’t designed all at once.
They evolve — through well considered decisions, made over time.
To help you:
recognise what’s already working
define a clear and cohesive direction
focus on the changes that will have the greatest impact.
This often means doing less, but doing it well.
Not replacing everything - but refining, layering and shaping your home into one that feels inte, personal and complete.
My Approach
My Experience and Background
Since 2012, I’ve worked across interior design, residential renovation, and the wider housing sector — giving me a well-rounded understanding of how homes function and evolve.
My experience includes:
Winner — Transform Your Space Interior Design Competition, Wellington Home & Garden Show (2023)
Diploma in Design & Decorating, Open Polytechnic (2017)
Residential Renovation Project Manager (since 2018)
Facilitator of interior design seminars and workshops (since 2021)
10+ years working within the building and housing sector in central government
This breadth of experience allows me to guide you with both creative insight and practical understanding — so the decisions you make feel grounded and well considered.
A home that reflects who you are
When your home reflects who you are instead of who you used to be — something shifts.
It feels easier to be there.
To relax into it.
To live your life within it.
If you’re ready to move forward
If your home feels unresolved, and you’re unsure about what to do next, this is where things can begin to change.
Find out more about the Home Clarity Plan and what to expect, or book a discovery call - where we can have a relaxed, no-pressure conversation to talk about your home, your challenges, and what might help you move forward.