Te Atatū Peninsula bungalow undergoes a stunning makeover

The interior of this quaint bungalow in Te Atatū Peninsula stood untouched for years until artist Kate Hursthouse took the reins of its transformation. After three years of residing in the vibrant yet outdated abode, Kate seized the opportunity to infuse her artistic vision into every nook using Resene shades, turning it into a lively haven for her and her son.

Upon her arrival, Kate encountered a kaleidoscope of hues that adorned each room - a yellow bathroom, pink bedroom, blue toilet and mint green cabinetry in the kitchen.

With a mindful budget, she prioritised upgrading the kitchen and laundry, enlisting the help of Ultimate Building Supplies for their custom plywood kitchens. The addition of a dishwasher brought practicality to her life as a single mother, while 3Sixty Building Solutions skilfully knocked an opening in a load-bearing wall, creating a connection between the kitchen and the lounge. 

The entire home experienced a refreshing makeover with the magic touch of Resene paint. Resene Alabaster, a clean and crisp white, was chosen to brighten the interior, allowing the carefully curated pops of colour to stand out.


Pops of colour throughout Kate’s home make it an inviting and unique space. The lounge door is painted in Resene Heartbreaker, trim of the opening in Resene Cut Glassand the entry mural in a mix of Resene Shilo, Resene Allports, Resene Dreamer and Resene Blue Haze.

 
A striking mural adorns the hallway wall, painted in Resene Indian Ink and Resene Duck Egg Blue. Adjacent to this is a magnetic wall for childrens artwork and family photos, painted in Resene FX Magnetic Magic and Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to Resene Indian Ink.

As an artist, Kate is no stranger to using colour. She strategically used an array of Resene hues for skirting, doors and feature walls, experimenting with a variety of shades without overwhelming the space.

The inspiration for the colour scheme stemmed from an existing interior mural painted during a Covid lockdown. The soft pastel tones, drawn from the many Resene testpots used for the mural, were complemented by two deep, bold contrasts - Resene Billabong and Resene Indian Ink. Kate cleverly nodded to the previous colour palette in certain spaces, creating a harmonious blend of the old and the new.

 
The front door is painted in mix of pink and persimmon, Resene Cornflower, with walls in Resene Alabaster and a pop of lilac in Resene Heartbreaker.

 
The dark shade of Resene Billabong creates the perfect backdrop for colourful artwork. Walls are painted in Resene Alabaster with doors in Resene Perfume and Resene Heartbreaker.

 
A sunshine yellow, Resene Cream Can, adorns door and bathroom trims, complementing the smoky lilac of Resene Heartbreaker and Resene Alabaster on walls.

The journey wasn't without its challenges. Kate, a hands-on DIY enthusiast, found herself repainting ceilings and trim after realising certain shades were too dark for her home's style. Injuries didn't deter her either, she powered through shoulder pain, even painting left-handed at times.

The entrance, adorned with a Resene Cornflower door, sets the tone for the entire home. Resene Billabong graces feature walls, Resene Cut Glass defines ceilings and Resene Heartbreaker ties spaces together.

 
The dining area flaunts a half-and-half wall in Resene Billabong, adding a bold contrast to the neutral kitchen painted in Resene Alabaster.

 
The kitchen opening trim is painted in an icy blue, Resene Cut Glass, with walls in Resene Alabaster.

 
This summer Kate also painted her entire lounge Resene Billabong, creating a cohesive feel to the rest of the home and the perfect spot to display more colourful artwork.

Kate's artistic flair extended to the hallway leading to the bedrooms, where Resene FX Magnetic Magic paint topcoated in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to Resene Indian Ink turned a wall into a creative space for her son's kindy artworks and family photos.

 
Adjacent to the magnetic wall, a narrow wall became a canvas for an interactive wall using Resene FX Write-on Wall Paint, granting her son a designated area for artistic expression.

The thoughtful selection of Resene paints and products have brought life to every corner in Kates home, turning her dated bungalow into a vibrant masterpiece that reflects the spirit of its artistic owner.

design and images Kate Hursthouse www.katehursthouse.com

Top tip: Thinking of painting your own wall mural? Try matching Resene paint colours to different accent hues that are already in your room, such as a favourite throw, cushion or vase and then using those same colours as an accent in your mural to tie your space together. If you need help finding the right hue, bring your items to your local Resene ColorShop and the staff there will be happy to assist with finding the right colours, or they can even mix you up a custom colour to match.

Published: 24 Jan 2024

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

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×
Square square colour information icon
Square square colour information icon

Resene Heartbreaker

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×
Square square colour information icon
Square square colour information icon

Resene Duck Egg Blue

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×

register h icon  look book

Create your own mood boards of your favourite colours, photographs and information from habitat by resene.

Login or Register to get started!

×

the look

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