Design Days
Classes, Tours and Retreats
This great range of classes, tours and retreats has been designed by Gloria to be fun and informative, giving you valuable knowledge and practical skills to help you design and furnish your own home. Class sizes are limited.
All available as a weekly series, a Nelson weekend workshop, or a Farewell Spit Retreat
Introduction to Interior Design and Decoration
Designed to give you the confidence to design a room of your own, the course includes colour, pattern and texture, flooring, furniture styles and arrangement, wall treatments, fabrics, kitchens, window dressings, lighting and accessories.
Course fee $195 includes materials.
Make your own Ottoman or Padded Headboard
Create your own ottoman or headboard from beginning to end! We'll guide you through the process so you'll take home an item to be proud of, and at a fraction of the cost.
Course fee $195 plus materials
Make your own Roman Blind
Create your own roman blind from beginning to end! We'll guide you through the process so you'll take home a blind ready to install, and at a fraction of the usual cost.
Course fee $195 plus materials, plus sewing machine hire if required
Make your own Cushions and Throws
Create your own scatter cushions and throws from beginning to end! We'll guide you through the process so you'll take home an item to be proud of, and at a fraction of the cost.
Course fee $195 plus materials, plus sewing machine hire if required
Purchasing privileges and class size restrictions apply. Enrolments close 30 days prior to commencement of course.
Tours/ Retreats/ Weekend Workshops
Design Tour to Christchurch
Hosted by interior designer Gloria Lines, this 2 day tour will take you to the Christchurch wholesale furniture showroom and factory of Kovacs Furniture, and David Shaw furniture, including exclusive imported mirrors, lighting and cabinets. At James Dunlop showroom and the Design Resource, experts from fabric house importers will present furnishings seminars exclusively to our group.
Tour fee $295. Travel and accommodation extra
Real Homes Tour
Material Effects organises this annual charity event for The Fifeshire Foundation. Link. Often there is a perception that the homes designers have had a hand in are beautiful, expensive and uncomfortable. The Real Homes Tour is about beautiful homes designed within budget for ordinary people to enjoy in comfort for the long term. This great autumn day out includes a gourmet picnic lunch and a self drive tour of 5-7 homes in the Nelson area.
Tickets $35.00
Combine this with a midweek tailor made Nelson workshop or Farewell Spit Retreat for a great Nelson/Golden Bay experience.
Colour Design Weekend
Available as a Nelson weekend workshop, or a Farewell Spit Retreat
Hosted by interior designer Gloria Lines with guest presenter Debbie Abercrombie
"Colour is a wonderful tool that can change the way we feel about our environment or the way we perceive space and shape. Colour will stimulate or calm, and enhance where we live, work and play."
Discover the magic and manipulation of colour through theory, practical knowledge and exercises to develop your own passion for colour and design.
Workshop fee $425 includes materials.
Travel and accommodation arranged on request.
Purchasing privileges and class size restrictions apply. Enrolments close 30 days prior to commencement of course.
Tailor made workshops and retreats
Available as a Nelson weekend workshop, or a Farewell Spit Retreat
Classes for special interest groups
Ideal for conference partners or as part of a group trip to Nelson, any of the above classes can be modified to suit. Purchasing privileges will apply. Class minimum and maximum sizes apply.
Travel and accommodation arranged on request.
Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Curtain retail training course
A comprehensive motivational course for those entering the curtain retail sector or as a refresher, subjects covered include fabrics, terminology, curtains and sheers, curtain care, measuring, costing, top treatments, holdbacks, tracks and rods, soft blinds, hard blinds, installation, window dressing design, sales and service, communications and customer care.
Classes can be designed to suit. Our place or yours
Travel and accommodation arranged on request.
Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Purchasing privileges and class size restrictions apply. Enrolments close 30 days prior to commencement of course.
Farewell Spit Retreat
Farewell Spit at the Northern tip of the South Island is the ideal retreat. Enhance any class, tour, workshop or training course experience in this magnificent location. We can organize your horse trekking adventure, your Farewell Spit Eco Tour or any number of other activities around your Design Days learning experience. Our chef is available to conjure up delightful gourmet fare to complete your Farewell Spit indulgence.
Travel, catering and accommodation arranged on request.
Farewell Spit retreat is available for rent for holidays apart from the Design Days program
Contact us to discuss your requirements.