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The kitchen in Jacqueline and Richard’s Christchurch home has a tall cathedral ceiling – 4.5 metres high at the apex. This feature, combined with walls and ceiling in Resene Black White help the space to feel light and airy. The kitchen island is painted in Resene Black and the splashback, which is charred larch has been treated with Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield to protect it from steam and splashes during cooking.
On the other end of the upstairs open plan living area is the lounge with a feature window wall. Resene Black White continues on the ceiling and walls, creating a striking contrast with the matt black joinery and fireplace. A chair in a hue similar to Resene Billy T adds a pop of colour to the space.
Sitting off the open plan kitchen and living area is the snug, which has the walls, ceiling and skirting painted in Resene Half Bokara Grey. The cosiness of the space is heightened with a generous leather sofa in a colour similar to Resene Chelsea Gem and a striking pendant light, which reflects its woven pattern around the room.
Also sitting off the main open plan space is a home office, which can accommodate three family members. The walls, ceiling and skirting is painted in Resene Black White, which allow the fantastic views out the large square window to be the feature.
Smoky charcoal Resene Half Bokara Grey also features in the master bedroom. Glass pendant lights combined with bedding in a colour similar to Resene Revolver add to the moody yet cosy atmosphere.
Resene Indian Ink features in daughter Freya’s bedroom and looks bold and striking against the crisp white bed frame.
To ensure the garage and studio at the bottom of the section matched the main house, Jacqueline and Richard stained it in Resene Woodsman CoolColour Pitch Black.
images Jacqueline Chester
A modern Christchurch new build with a cosy family atmosphere
Jacqueline and Richard had one priority for their new Christchurch home: it needed to be warm. After a spate of living in cold rental homes, the couple were adamant that their next house would be both cosy and energy efficient. Together with a palette of rich Resene colours and a clever design from Grey Young Architects, a sun-filled spot on the Port Hills is now the warm home they dreamed of.
“We wanted to create a home that felt spacious, had multi-purposes spaces and that minimised wasted circulation space,” says Jacqueline. “As such, we went for a three bedroom home with a large open plan living area, which can be split up into smaller spaces by pocket doors when required.”
The key design aspect of the new house was the upstairs orientation, which sits at a 90 degree angle on top of the bottom story. “This meant we could maximise our ability to soak up the sun and benefit from views of both the Alps and the Port Hills,” says Jacqueline.
Their design vision was contemporary but with a priority on making the house feel homely. Jacqueline prefers to mix old furniture with modern architecture to create a space that feels lived-in and welcoming. In their kitchen, for example, crisp white walls in Resene Black White and high gloss cabinetry with a kitchen island painted in Resene Black appeals to the contemporary aspect of the home whilst a timber bench and leather and sheepskin furnishings helps to soften the overall look.
The open plan kitchen, living and dining space is flooded with sun and with fresh white walls in Resene Black White, creates a space that’s light and bright all day long. In contrast, Jacqueline has painted the adjoining snug in the warming charcoal hue of Resene Half Bokara Grey. “We used this on the walls, ceiling, skirting and the pocket doors,” she says. “It makes the room feel cosy, despite the high ceilings. And when combined with the huge leather L-shaped couch, it’s the perfect space to curl up in.”
Also situated off the main open plan living area is a study area that can be separated from the larger space with a pocket door. Again, Jacqueline has used Resene Black White, which works brilliantly with the matt black joinery to inject a contemporary look in the space.
Resene Half Bokara Grey makes another feature in the master bedroom, with Resene Black White on adjacent walls. And, championing the rich, moody colour palette is Resene Indian Ink in daughter Freya’s bedroom.
“What I love about this house is how cosy we feely, yet how the place also feels so light and airy,” says Jacqueline. It's an especially impressive feat considering the large living room window and white walls. “I’ve been really brave with some of the paint choices – some thought I was mad at first – and they’ve helped changed the atmosphere of the space. The white walls work well with the black windows, it almost creates an art gallery feel in the main living space whereas the darker snug creates a more den-like environment.”
“We’re really proud of the home, and whilst it’s been a few years of very hard work and the usual financial and emotional stresses of building, we feel we’ve created a home that very much fits us and the landscape around it.”
Published: 19 Aug 2020
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
The kitchen in Jacqueline and Richard’s Christchurch home has a tall cathedral ceiling – 4.5 metres high at the apex. This feature, combined with walls and ceiling in Resene Black White help the space to feel light and airy. The kitchen island is painted in Resene Black and the splashback, which is charred larch has been treated with Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield to protect it from steam and splashes during cooking.
On the other end of the upstairs open plan living area is the lounge with a feature window wall. Resene Black White continues on the ceiling and walls, creating a striking contrast with the matt black joinery and fireplace. A chair in a hue similar to Resene Billy T adds a pop of colour to the space.
Sitting off the open plan kitchen and living area is the snug, which has the walls, ceiling and skirting painted in Resene Half Bokara Grey. The cosiness of the space is heightened with a generous leather sofa in a colour similar to Resene Chelsea Gem and a striking pendant light, which reflects its woven pattern around the room.
Also sitting off the main open plan space is a home office, which can accommodate three family members. The walls, ceiling and skirting is painted in Resene Black White, which allow the fantastic views out the large square window to be the feature.
Smoky charcoal Resene Half Bokara Grey also features in the master bedroom. Glass pendant lights combined with bedding in a colour similar to Resene Revolver add to the moody yet cosy atmosphere.
Resene Indian Ink features in daughter Freya’s bedroom and looks bold and striking against the crisp white bed frame.
To ensure the garage and studio at the bottom of the section matched the main house, Jacqueline and Richard stained it in Resene Woodsman CoolColour Pitch Black.
images Jacqueline Chester
Resene Half Bokara Grey
Resene Half Bokara Grey
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If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
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Ask a Colour Expert service.
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Resene Half Bokara Grey
Resene Half Bokara Grey
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
