About Us
AdMore Designs — Shaping Spaces to Feel Naturally Balanced
AdMore Designs Limited was established in 2006 by Director Phil Checketts, bringing together decades of experience, award‑winning training, and a deep passion for thoughtful, balanced architectural design.
Phil began his architectural journey in 1987 at Southland Polytechnic, where his talent for drawing and design quickly became evident. He was awarded Top Student in both 1987 and 1988 and completed his NZC in Architectural Draughting. That same year, he joined a respected Invercargill practice with three registered architects, spending 13 years learning from leaders in the field. During this time, Phil gained extensive experience in aesthetics, spatial design, proportion, form and function, documentation, materials, tendering, builder coordination, and site observation.
In 2000, Phil moved into a multifaceted company with an architectural division, eventually managing the department and supervising a team of three to five staff. He played a key role in elevating documentation quality, strengthening design standards, and leading client consultations to ensure every project reflected the client’s needs and aspirations. Phil became a Professional Member of ADNZ in 2004 and continues to uphold their professional ethics.
By 2006, Phil founded AdMore Designs in Gore, expanding to Invercargill four years later. He became a Licensed Building Practitioner (Design II) as soon as the scheme was introduced. Today, AdMore Designs operates from Invercargill, Gore, and Stoke–Nelson, servicing Southland, South Otago, Central Otago, Marlborough, and Nelson/Tasman, with projects completed as far as Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, and Niue.
We are committed to staying current with evolving design trends, product innovations, and building industry developments. Our team actively incorporates sustainable technologies such as passive solar design, advanced insulation systems, solar hot water, ventilation improvements, and healthier materials to create better environments for our clients.
Our Nelson Office
Opened in January 2026, our Nelson office is led by Trent McGregor, who joined AdMore Designs in 2020. Trent brings five years of experience from a major building company, where he designed and detailed residential and commercial projects, along with earlier experience in the roofing industry. He holds a Diploma in Architectural Technology from Otago Polytechnic.
Trent’s strong trade‑based background gives him exceptional detailing skills and a deep understanding of how buildings fit together. His near‑photographic memory and precision ensure our working drawings are accurate, thorough, and of the highest quality.
Our Team
Our Invercargill office is supported by an experienced Office Administrator with a background in banking and customer service. She manages accounts, general office duties, and the digitisation of our extensive project archive.
Our newest Architectural Designer, Mark Davis, works from our Gore office. Mark completed his Diploma in Architectural Design at SIT, graduating as Top Student. Since joining AdMore Designs in May 2025, he has quickly demonstrated strong capability in producing high‑quality documentation and continues to grow under our professional development programme. His work reflects our ethos of adding more quality to every project.
Our Commitment
At AdMore Designs, we believe great architecture is thoughtful, balanced, and grounded in purpose. We listen carefully, communicate clearly, and design with intention — ensuring every project feels naturally balanced and uniquely yours.
Design Partners
At AdMore Designs, we believe great architecture begins with genuine partnership. We take the time to understand who you are, how you live, and how you interact with your surroundings. This insight allows us to design spaces that feel naturally balanced and uniquely yours.
Through creativity, technical knowledge, and clear communication, we work alongside you to identify the design elements that matter most. Together, we explore how these can be woven into a solution tailored to your lifestyle, your site, and your aspirations.
We carefully consider the potential of your site — its orientation, character, landscape, and context — along with your personal tastes and functional needs. Throughout the process, we present multiple ideas for discussion, refinement, and exploration. Our design technology allows you to visualise your home from the earliest concept, making adjustments simple and intuitive. You can even walk through your virtual home on your tablet or mobile phone, sharing it with friends and family long before construction begins. It’s a feature clients love.
AdMore Designs is committed to delivering high‑quality service across every project. Our team is experienced in design and documentation and offers a comprehensive range of architectural services, including planning and design, construction documentation, project administration, onsite inspections, and fire reports for both residential and commercial projects — new builds and alterations alike.
We have proudly contributed to projects across a wide range of industries, including education, residential, commercial, industrial, and hospitality (motels, hotels, restaurants, and cafés).
Consultants
We have a number of structural engineers we are able to consult with & have worked with quantity surveyors, land surveyors, geotechnical engineers, electrical and mechanical engineers, project managers & resource management advisors.
Contact us if you are planning to build or considering alterations to an existing building. We will be happy to help in any way we can!
We believe our clients are the centre of the design process and in doing the job right first time”