A coastal haven that harmonises nature and design

This stunning holiday retreat is a delightful story to end the year on. Crafted by the talented team at Studio2 Architects, this dwelling seamlessly integrates into the local architecture while offering a joyful space for friends and family to create lasting memories.

The design team ingeniously crafted the gabled form, splitting it to craft positive and negative spaces that engage and delight. The grand gabled home and double-height entry ushers inhabitants into a light-filled gallery space and on to a curated sequence of rooms, each offering a unique experience.


The exterior of the home is coated in Resene Wood-X oil, tinted to Resene Pioneer and Resene Foundry.

The exterior timber shiplap cladding became the canvas for expressing the relationship between the 'skin' and the 'flesh' of the building. Resene Foundry, a robust and durable dark hue, represents the protective skin, offering a sense of strength and privacy. In contrast, Resene Pioneer, with its vibrant and lively character, embodies the flesh, resonating with the hues of the surrounding landscape.


The unique inversion of the gable roof into a flat roof is further celebrated by the thoughtful selection of these two exterior colours, Resene Foundry and Resene Pioneer, creating a visually stunning play on form and colour.

Neutral tones were chosen both internally and externally to highlight space and design, and seamlessly connect with the surrounding landscape and other natural materials used in the construction.


A classic white with a grey edge, Resene Double Alabaster, was used on all internal walls, trims and on the ceiling.


The grey-edged, slightly cool white of Resene Alabaster creates a welcoming, relaxing atmosphere, with enough natural sunlight pouring in to warm the space. 

Internally, a neutral shade serves as a backdrop, allowing the owner’s collection of arts and artifacts to take centre stage, evoking a sense of comfort and warmth throughout the living spaces.

One stand out feature which is hard to miss, is the glazed connection at the end of the gallery that opens up to breath-taking views of the beach and Clark's Island, creating a dynamic contrast between the back and front of the house.


The hallway and gallery creates a holiday retreat feel with an abundance of sunlight streaming into every corner. The walls, trims and ceiling are painted in Resene Double Alabaster.

Merging seamlessly into the local context and landscape posed a noteworthy challenge for the design team. The coastal setting demanded careful consideration, requiring the design to shelter from the wind and provide privacy from beach users. The solution came in the form of a 'U' shape, providing shelter from prevailing winds to the central outdoor living area while maximising sun exposure. A brick wall creates further privacy, concealing an outdoor entertainment space with a warming fireplace and comfy seating.


The dark exterior, in Resene Wood-X tinted to Resene Foundry, provides a stunning contrast to the coastal environment and greenery.


From the front entrance it’s hard to tell what beauty lies beyond. The exterior is coated in Resene Wood-X tinted to Resene Foundry and Resene Pioneer highlights the unique entrance.

The careful selection of colour proves that sometimes less is more. With a limited palette used, the angles and form of this home truly take centre stage. This design exudes longevity, both in its architectural form and material selection, aiming to remain relevant and timeless for years to come.

design Studio2 Architects

images Simon Devitt

Top tip: Wondering what to do with your timber exterior? Try Resene Wood-X wood oils. Non film forming, viscous oils designed to penetrate into absorbent, chemical preservative free exterior timber products such as Western Red Cedar weatherboards, fascia, boards, beams and mouldings. With anti-fungal and water repellent qualities, you’ll be limiting the potential for warp, twist, cupping, splitting and surface checking. Wood-X wood oil coatings will improve the dimensional stability of naturally durable exterior hardwood timbers, including decking. View the Wood-X wood oils colour range and for advice visit your local Resene ColorShop.

Published: 13 Dec 2023

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Resene Double Alabaster

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