look book
latest
habitat tv
Say goodbye to the morning scramble for keys, coats and sunglasses and hello to this… see this and more videos
blog
Re-living the 1980s through art
Clint C is an artist whose work instantly sparks recognition and joy. Based in Hamilton,… more
Living room walls in Resene Half Rice Cake and Colorwood Rock Salt finished in Resene Aquaclear, doors in Soft Apple.
Dining walls in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt and finished in Resene Aquaclear waterborne varnish, trims in Half Rice Cake, ceiling in Colorwood Natural.
Kitchen trims and bulkhead in Resene Half Rice Cake, back wall in Resene Meteor, side walls in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt and ceiling in Colorwood Natural finished in Resene Aquaclear. For a similar blue use Resene Malibu.
Living room walls in Resene Half Rice Cake and Colorwood Rock Salt finished in Resene Aquaclear, doors in Soft Apple.
Play area walls in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt, ceiling in Colorwood Natural and pops of colour in Zoop De Loop, Unicorn and Soft Apple.
Bedroom walls in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt, ceiling in Colorwood Natural finished in Resene Aquaclear and trims in Half Rice Cake.
A passive house designed for the future
“This is the house we dreamed of. Warm, dry and represents who we are and what we value.”
For architect Nathan Edmondston and his partner, an ecologist, designing their home was always about the future. “We both wanted to live in a highly sustainable house to make sure our tamariki and future generations can continue to thrive,” says Nathan.
That ambition shaped every decision, resulting in the first certified passive house in Nelson and the first home in New Zealand to achieve a 10 Homestar (V5) rating, the maximum score under the newly revamped system.
Nathan designed the house to have the smallest possible carbon footprint, and as a result, it fits the criteria setout by the Paris agreement with the climate goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, which is an unprecedented achievement. “To ensure the interior finishing met our strict environmental standards, Resene paints and finishes were used throughout,” he says. “In fact, the high environmental credentials of Resene paints were a critical aspect in helping to achieve this outstanding Homestar rating.”
Hallway in Resene Half Rice Cake, doors in Soft Apple and Morning Glory.
Dining walls in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt and finished in Resene Aquaclear waterborne varnish, trims in Half Rice Cake, ceiling in Colorwood Natural.
The interior colour scheme was guided by two themes: ngahere (forest) and moana (ocean). The house looks north over a grassy meadow connected to forest reserve, with heritage oak trees below. Internal colours such as doors painted in Resene Soft Apple and Morning Glory were selected to bring balance to the greenery that surrounds.
Sustainably harvested New Zealand plywood lining the walls is finished in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt, and clear finished with Resene Aquaclear waterborne varnish chosen to allow the texture of the timber to show whilst softening its tones to provide a natural framing of the outlook beyond. Whitewashed plywood is paired with neutral plasterboard to create a muted backdrop that enhances the various interior timbers.
Kitchen walls in Resene Meteor.
Kitchen trims and bulkhead in Resene Half Rice Cake, back wall in Resene Meteor, side walls in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt and ceiling in Colorwood Natural finished in Resene Aquaclear. For a similar blue use Resene Malibu.
The moana theme comes to life in the kitchen, inspired by Kaiteretere Beach, the family’s favourite summer retreat. The blue kitchen joinery reflects the water, while the kitchen wall colour in Resene Meteor is inspired by the golden sands. A ceiling finished in Resene Colorwood Natural adds a warm, welcoming glow, complemented by oak flooring and a totara benchtop. Nathan says Resene Meteor was carefully selected to be slightly lighter than the ceiling colour, which draws the eye into the space.
Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen was used for most of the walls for durability and low VOC performance. Inside the open kitchen, dining, and living space, Resene Zylone Sheen was used in the shade Quarter Dutch White to provide contrast to the vibrant kitchen colours.
Living room walls in Resene Half Rice Cake and Colorwood Rock Salt finished in Resene Aquaclear, doors in Soft Apple.
The lounge offers a calmer atmosphere, with Soft Apple doors sitting in harmony with indoor plants and bookshelves. Upstairs, the corridor also combines Soft Apple and Morning Glory doors to create “a sense of mystery,” leading to bedrooms with high raking ceilings and expansive views.
Play area walls in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt, ceiling in Colorwood Natural and pops of colour in Zoop De Loop, Unicorn and Soft Apple.
Bedroom walls in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt, ceiling in Colorwood Natural finished in Resene Aquaclear and trims in Half Rice Cake.
One of the most playful spaces in the house is the three-level play area accessed through the daughter’s bedroom. Each level introduces colour to encourage imagination, with Resene Zoop De Loop, Morning Glory, Soft Apple, Unicorn and skirting boards in Half Rice Cake. The space “provides a WOW factor and delights visiting children,” transforming an often-unused area into something joyful and unique.
Nathan and his partner did most of the painting themselves. “After work, we were often puttying and sanding with only head torches on… It meant it was important to select and use paints that were not going to be harmful to our health.”
Bathroom walls in Resene Half Rice Cake, doors in Morning Glory.
The performance of the house is felt every day. In winter, it stays between 19 and 24°C and in summer, it remains cooler than outside. The family has noticed they are healthier and get sick less, while their monthly power bill sits at around $100. As Nathan puts it, “this house is the product of our passion, hard work and commitment to sustainability.”
Throughout the home, low-VOC, waterborne Resene finishes support the family’s health while contributing to the home’s exceptional sustainability credentials and design. This is a house that performs quietly, lives beautifully and reflects a deeply considered vision for the future.
design Nathan Edmondston
build Basham Buildings
images Nathan Edmondston
Top tip: Different areas of your home work hard in different ways, and it pays to match the paint finish to the job. Resene was first to recognise that the new technology found in waterborne enamels like Resene Lustacryl and Resene Enamacryl (a durable option for trims) could be adapted to create a tough, more easily cleaned interior wallpaint. The result is Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, which has controlled side sheen and is very tough, making it ideal for high use parts of the home like living rooms, hallways and stairwells. For ceilings, use Resene SpaceCote Flat or Resene Ceiling Paint. These are all part of Resene’s Eco Choice range.
Published: 19 Feb 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Morning Glory
Resene Quarter Dutch White
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Morning Glory
Resene Quarter Dutch White
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
