From Fashion to Foundations: Designing Wetland, North Perth

Natalie Dean
Jul 1
5 min read

Updated: Jul 4

By Natalie Dean, Accounts Administrator - Sanus Build

I led the selections and specifications for Wetland, North Perth—inside and out.

The goal was simple: make considered, buildable decisions that supported the architecture, performance, and budget.

I didn’t come into interiors or building design through a traditional path—but since entering the industry in 2021, I’ve learned where design really matters, and how to make it work in practice.

How It Started

In 2016, Jordan and I bought our block in North Perth. At the time, I was working full time in fashion sales, having previously designed for a local label and launched my own. I always knew I’d design our home—but I underestimated just how much depth, coordination, and foresight that would demand.

I threw myself in headfirst. I completed online courses, read obsessively, and followed everything I could on interiors, architecture, material systems, and spatial planning. This wasn’t a passing interest—it became a deliberate, long-term pursuit.

In 2021, I joined Sanus Build in an accounts role, with the freedom to explore more. Under Jordan’s mentorship, I began contributing to internal design work—often stepping into active construction projects. At the same time, I was developing the design for our own home, applying new knowledge as I gained it.

Working within live construction environments fundamentally changed how I approached design. I wasn’t just choosing finishes—I was witnessing how every decision affected structure, services, sequencing, and budget in real time. That experience gave me a practical foundation, deepened my respect for the build process, and refined my ability to make informed, achievable design decisions.

Many designs never progress beyond concept simply because they’re drawn without a real understanding of cost. Being embedded in construction taught me how to bridge that gap—how to design with clarity, confidence, and technical awareness.

In March 2023, we began construction on Wetland, North Perth. By September 2024, we had occupancy. And now, in 2025, I’m writing this from the home I co-created—designed in close collaboration with our architect and builder, and specified with care to reflect our values: performance, sustainability, and longevity.

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Designing a High-Performance

Home While Working Full Time:

Designing a home isn’t just about the visual outcome—it’s about making decisions that work together, practically and beautifully. One choice influences another: budget, structure, schedule, and ultimately, how the home lives day to day.

I approached this process the same way I approach my work in accounts: with structure, discipline, and precision. I didn’t rely on instinct or aesthetic alone—I built a strategy, developed knowledge, and respected the mechanics of the build.

These are the principles that guided me:

Start With a Real Budget (But Don’t Design in Isolation)

Once you understand your base construction cost, you can define what remains for interiors and exterior detail. But here’s the key: your design planning shouldn’t end with your contract inclusions.

Even if certain elements—like curtains, landscaping, or secondary cabinetry—are to be installed post-handover, they should still be included in your early planning. Why? Because designing with those “one day” inclusions in mind results in a more cohesive, intentional outcome.

In our case, one cabinetry package was included in the build contract, and another was not. But by selecting all joinery finishes and materials concurrently, I achieved consistency across spaces.

Design to your budget—but always design with the whole picture in view. That mindset enables you to stage delivery without compromising flow, materiality, or intent.

Write a Design Brief (And Be Honest)

Before you start selecting finishes, take time to articulate your vision. One of the most effective ways to do that is by grounding your brief in the seven foundational pillars of interior design: space, line, form, light, color, texture, and pattern.

These principles help translate your values into visual language—whether you lean toward minimalism or layered richness, light-filled openness or moody intimacy. They also prompt important questions: How much storage do you truly need? How should your home function—and how do you want it to feel?

Your design brief should communicate that vision clearly and honestly. For some, that may take a page; for others, it may stretch further. The point isn’t word count—it’s clarity.

Think of it as a roadmap: a reference for what matters, where you’re flexible, and how your values translate into form. Done well, it reduces confusion, aligns your team, and helps safeguard your design through each stage of delivery.

Be descriptive, not prescriptive. Allow space for input and refinement. And focus not just on what you want to install—but on how you want to live.

Know Your Priorities: Form, Function, or Both

Understanding your values from the outset helps streamline choices and reduce second-guessing. Are you willing to sacrifice ease for aesthetic impact? Or do you want something that’s intuitive and effortless to use every day?

For me, it was always about striking a balance. Being honest about these trade-offs upfront kept the project grounded and prevented decision fatigue.

Choose with Purpose

This isn’t about spending more—it’s about investing wisely. Select finishes that endure, materials that wear well, and systems that support the way you live.

For Wetland, North Perth, that meant:

Breathable, high-performance wrap systems

Fixtures and fittings that are durable, understated, and easy to maintain

Energy-efficient choices that supported sustainability and thermal comfort

Anticipate the Flow-On Effect

Every decision triggers another. A recessed curtain track requires a bulkhead. A pendant location determines switch placement. Tap selection influences basin height and the final cabinetry dimensions. If you don’t anticipate sequencing, you’re likely to compromise outcomes later. Anticipating these connections early avoids costly redesigns and on-site delays.

The Space to Explore

While much of the process was structured—driven by sequencing, budgets, and buildability—there was also space for exploration. I spent time experimenting with finish

es, textures, and natural materials, looking for ways to introduce softness and warmth without losing restraint. The home needed to feel calm, lived-in, and grounded in nature—true to its biophilic architectural base. That meant rethinking what luxury looked like, and finding ways to honour that aesthetic while staying within budget.

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Final Thoughts

Designing Wetland, North Perth wasn’t about indulgence—it was about creating a home that truly served our family. A home that reflected our values, supported how we live, and would endure over time. For me, it was both a personal investment and a professional turning point—one approached with intention, discipline, and deep respect for the process.

Design is easy to talk about and hard to deliver—especially when it has to meet real budgets, timelines, and technical constraints. People often ask if I’d do it again. The answer is yes—but only with the same level of clarity, collaboration, and commitment to getting it right.

Looking Ahead

While I don’t provide design services through Sanus Build, I can add value to your project through the PAC process—especially when it comes to selections, material choices, and aligning design decisions with buildability and budget.

It’s not about taking on a design role—it’s about contributing where it matters. And that always starts with a conversation.

Longer term, I intend to lead all interior and exterior specifications for Sanus Build’s own high-performance developments.

That vision is still taking shape, but it’s grounded in continued study, hands-on immersion, and a deep respect for what it takes to deliver well-resolved, buildable design. I look forward to sharing more as those projects come to life.

Thanks for reading.

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