The main living area, Raewyn’s favourite room, is restful but still uplifting, painted in the delicate blue/green tones of Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue. The ceiling and skirtings are in Resene Alabaster.

The walls of the master bedroom, painted in Resene Smalt Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection, create a fantastic backdrop for a sizeable Aboriginal painting, which has blue and green within it.

The home’s smallest bedroom is painted in Resene Beethoven, a colour Clare loves. “That’s probably because you don’t walk into anyone else’s house and see that colour at the moment. I also think it looks great with the black-and-white art and bedding. It’s simple yet exciting. It’s also turned a room that was overlooked into more of a statement piece.” The skirting is in Resene Alabaster.

The kitchen, with cabinetry in Resene Blackjack, proved the project’s biggest challenge. “The floor was uneven, and we had to get builders to re-pile under that section of the house, raise one end of the kitchen floor and then get the kitchen cabinetry to work still,” says Clare. The ceiling and trims are in Resene Alabaster.

By deciding on a colour – Resene Alabaster – known for its reflective, silvery grey sheen, Clare and Raewyn were able to create a timeless, chic look for the bathroom in keeping with the late-1800s villa. The ceiling, skirtings and trims are in Resene Alabaster.

The spare bedroom is in Resene Albescent White. “This room is south-facing, so we wanted to keep it light and bright as it’s the first room that comes off the dark, kauri-panelled hall,” says Clare. “The pale linen colour reflects light around the room beautifully.”