OUR STORY

Olivia (Macfarlane) Pierce founded Undercurrent in 2020, on the premise that life is a sensory experience, and every touchpoint impacts the way we live. This is the philosophy that guides the studio’s design sensibility.

Liv is a South Island-native, raised on a farm, a lady of the land. Having graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Architectural Studies from Victoria University of Wellington, Liv moved to Europe where she attended an intensive workshop at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. During her time living in London, Liv worked on a vast portfolio of projects for clients including the Clinton Foundation and Wallpaper* Magazine.

Upon returning to New Zealand in 2015, Liv worked with award-winning Auckland-based studio Material Creative for four years, until she finally took the plunge to move south, even further under, and establish Undercurrent in Wanaka, Central Otago.

FOLLOW OUR STORY

 
Renders for a cabinet makers showroom—here we explore contrasting material and colour palettes
A concept for a workplace—housed within a beautiful heritage building.
Counter layout options— showing subtleties between various material combinations
Exterior colourway options: 1. tones of green, plaster rendered wall finish and handmade tiles 2. fresh white paint finish with dark window joinery and added traditional architectural mouldings
The Central by Naumi Hotels, was selected as a Best of Region winner alongside four Australian-based projects at the 2022 Shaw Contract Design Awards. “We had an overwhelming response this year with almost 600 total entries submitted from 44
Undercurrent was born 3 years ago this month. It was a leap of faith to start a commercially-focused interior design firm, but I have been blown away by the support from everyone around me. Reflecting on the projects we’ve worked on, I feel in
Layla Kaisi Collection Studio Client: @laylakaisicollection Project: Studio Area: 63m² Photography: @flashstudiosnz Design: @undercurrent.studio Joinery and resin: @thearcdept #interiordesign #designwanaka #designauckland #designnz #colour
Layla Kaisi Collection Studio Client: @laylakaisicollection Project: Studio Area: 63m² Photography: @flashstudiosnz Design: @undercurrent.studio Joinery and resin: @thearcdept #interiordesign #designwanaka #designauckland #designnz #colour
Layla Kaisi Collection Studio Client: @laylakaisicollection Project: Studio Area: 63m² Photography: @flashstudiosnz Design: @undercurrent.studio Joinery and resin: @thearcdept #interiordesign #designwanaka #designauckland #designnz #colour
Layla Kaisi Collection Studio Client: @laylakaisicollection Project: Studio Area: 63m² Photography: @flashstudiosnz Design: @undercurrent.studio Joinery and resin: @thearcdept #interiordesign #designwanaka #designauckland #designnz #colour
Layla Kaisi Collection Studio Client: @laylakaisicollection Project: Studio Area: 63m² Photography: @flashstudiosnz Design: @undercurrent.studio Joinery and resin: @thearcdept #interiordesign #designwanaka #designauckland #designnz #colour
Layla Kaisi Collection Studio Client: @laylakaisicollection Project: Studio Area: 63m² Photography: @flashstudiosnz Design: @undercurrent.studio Joinery and resin: @thearcdept #interiordesign #designwanaka #designauckland #designnz #colour
Client testimonial: “Undercurrent brought our concept to life in a visual and kinaesthetic sense… an emotional reality to our 13 year dream.” — Redefined
Layla Kaisi are private jewellery design consultants that take clients through the process from conception to completed design. The brand is ethereal creating a heightened awareness of your most precious memories.
Client testimonial: “Undercurrent understood our vision, our brand direction and the local vernacular we were hoping to infuse into the new space. Managing to convert what was a tired and very dated interior into a real living, breathing and pe
Excited to be judging a very strong field of finalists next week for the 36th Dulux Colour Awards. Check out the colourful, creative and innovative projects at dulux.co.nz
We are on the hunt for an intermediate interior designer. The successful applicant should be design focused with strong verbal and written communication skills. Proficiency in the Adobe Suite and ArchiCad is preferred. Studio is based in Wanaka.
Bathroom concept design for a local hotel.