Mark and Andrea's seaside-inspired getaway

A cream interior was not going to cut it for Mark and Andrea, whose newly purchased bach by the seaside left them yearning for more vibrant colour.

The couple turned to Lea Jurkovich of Designs by Lea, who didn’t have to look too far for colour inspiration – just beyond the bach, in fact.

Using paint by Resene, the colour scheme is awash with blues and greens. The home flows easily from bedroom to lounge to kitchen to the outdoors, where a glorious view of the ocean and native planting awaits.

It was a minimal budget project, but Lea admits that this wasn’t the toughest part of the job. The original joinery of the bach is a deep terracotta shade, and was a tricky colour to complement. Pops of red accents appear throughout the house, from lampshades to cushions, tie the joinery to the new colour scheme. It also happily reflects the bushy red plantings found outside some of the bedroom windows.

Mark and Andrea now have a place that they love, to escape from the city, with colours both energising and harmonioius at the same time – perfect for their ever-growing family of five children and three grandchildren. 

Here are a few thoughts from Lea about the project.

What part of the house are you most happy with?

I was particularly happy with the lounge. I created subtle layers of blue and green in the room, which flows into the other living spaces.

What is your advice for someone trying to achieve a similar look?

This is a small house, and the interior of every room can be seen as soon as you walk in. The colours need to sit well with each other and flow from room to room.

When creating a paint scheme for a space like this, concentrate on using varying shades of colours that flow onto each other – stand in the main part of the house and take note of the rooms that you can see, and envisage how the colours will flow.

Do you have a favourite colour, and if so why is it your favourite?

I love Resene Meltwater – it’s vibrant, warm and energising, and a fantastic colour to base your choice of interior furnishings.

Published: 06 Nov 2014

Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].

A nod to the adventures that await outdoors, salvaged wooden oars hang on this bedroom wall painted in Resene Shadow Green. 

The second bedroom is painted in aquamarine Resene Meltwater, mirroring the sea views found beyond the window. Resene Alabaster on the ceiling anchors the scheme, and is used throughout the house.

Vibrant blue bed linen ties in with the overall scheme inspired by the Coromandel seaside location, with the walls of the third bedroom in pastel blue Resene Onahau. Lea complemented the deep terracotta shade of the joinery with pops of red colour in many of the soft furnishings.

The Coromandel bach centres around the lounge, painted in Resene Reservoir, a pastel aqua green, and Resene Scandal, a clear transparent blue. 

The lounge flows into the kitchen, painted in Resene Onepoto.

Another view of the lounge, showing off the wonderful flow of the living space into one of the bedrooms. A surfboard hangs on the walls to remind visitors to take it easy, made by Lea and painted in Resene Serenity.

the look

If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.