Interior of a modern coffee shop with black walls, wooden tables, and stools. A woman with glasses and a striped shirt sits at a table. A man is seated near a large arched window, drinking coffee.

interior design that removes risk & short term thinking from residential & commercial spaces.

Two women sitting at a wooden table in a cozy café with exposed brick walls, one reading a book and the other looking at her phone. There are a laptop, books, a cup, and condiments on the table. A yellow ladder with flowers is in the background, and hanging basket-style lamps provide warm lighting.

Thoughtful residential & commercial interiors shaped by real-world use, longevity & restraint.

Contrast, used deliberately.

Every project begins with strong foundations:

Clear planning, durable materials, and decisions that hold up over time.

From there, space is allowed for moments that disrupt the expected.

Led by hands on experience in hospitality ownership and fit outs, with a practical understanding of how spaces are used, maintained & lived in.
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Based in Ōtepoti, working across Central Otago

I work with

Clients who value substance over surface- who are drawn to interiors with character, integrity & longevity.

They are decisive, curious & ready to invest in work that is quietly distinctive & fully resolved.

Residential clients

Homeowners seeking enduring interiors for renovations, new builds, or reworking existing homes — where materials, proportion & longevity matter more than quick fixes.

Commercial projects

Hospitality, accommodation & workplace interiors built for long term performance.

I approach commercial work with the understanding that interior design is part of the investment strategy.

Interior design is the layer that determines how a building is experienced — and how it performs over time.

When it’s considered & distinctive, it strengthens your brand & contributes to lasting commercial value.

Through disciplined material selection & thoughtful procurement, I create environments that withstand heavy use, stay relevant & justify the investment.

Procurement

My specialty is sourcing and procurement.

This is where a project comes alive.

My focus is on quality, longevity & strong provenance.

This will often include custom pieces & unique vintage items- objects that hold their own and give a space depth.

My selections focus on vintage lighting, art & distinctive furniture- most of which can’t be bought new.

I work best when there’s time for considered decisions, openness to contrast & patina, with a shared commitment to work that will last.

Interior of a coffee shop with hanging light fixtures, a barista working behind the counter, and shelves with cups and supplies.
Interior of a modern restaurant or cafe with hanging pendant lights, a staircase on the left, tables, and chairs near the entrance, with a large window and an illuminated exit sign.
A cozy restaurant interior with pendant lighting, a wooden table, a black tufted leather booth, a vase with pink flowers, and a blurred person sitting by large windows.

Riah McLean Design - Ōtepoti

Photography - Isabella Harrex