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
Artist Justine McAllister has been busy and her recent mural for Wild Things grocer in… more
look book 
This kitchen is now a refreshed space with classic white Resene Alabaster painted on the ceiling and trims, Resene Quarter Delta on the walls and cool blue tiles behind the cabinetry. The wooden flooring helps to ground this lightened space and keep a natural element in the room.
The space that saw the biggest transformation, going from dark with missing walls, flooring and celling, to light and bright, is the open-plan kitchen, dining and living. The walls are now painted in Resene Quarter Delta, ceiling and trims in Resene Alabaster and feature wall in the lounge in Resene Half Smalt Blue from the Karen Walker Paints range.
The windows lining one whole side of the house let in an abundance of natural light, showing off the charm of Resene Quarter Delta painted on the walls and the classic white of Resene Alabaster on the ceiling and trims.
A stunning blue-green feature wall was added to the lounge creating a burst of colour that reflects the natural surroundings. This stunning shade, Resene Half Smalt Blue from the Karen Walker Paints range helps to separate this cosy sitting area in the large open-plan space. The adjacent walls are painted in Resene Quarter Delta with ceiling and trims in Resene Alabaster.
This charming scullery is now painted in a classic off-white, Resene Quarter Titania, with ceiling and trims in Resene Alabaster. These white shades complement the wooden bench and floor for a timeless look.
The second lounge has a cosy cocooning feel with the original timber ceiling and dark floor. Nestled seamlessly in between, the walls are painted in Resene Half Titania, a charming bone white with plenty of character. The trims and fireplace are painted in Resene Alabaster allowing these features to gently stand out.
For the master walk-in wardrobe, Melody chose to add some feminine touches with a small chandelier and feature wall using Resene Wallpaper Collection 90220. The surrounding walls are painted in Resene Half Titania, and trims and ceiling in Resene Alabaster.
A perfect feature wall for a baby boy’s room, Resene Wallpaper Collection LL-04-04-8 features a baby blue background and gentle white polka dots. The walls are painted in Resene Half Titania, with ceiling and trims in Resene Alabaster.
This loft bedroom is an absolute masterpiece with the angled walls and ceiling. The walls are painted in Resene Half Titania with trims and ceiling in Resene Alabaster.
Throughout the home, the hallways, and foyer, are painted in Resene Quarter Titania, a slightly lighter shade then the bedrooms to brighten the common areas, but also create a cohesive look throughout. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Alabaster.
The bathroom walls were also painted in a lighter shade than other rooms, in Resene Quarter Titania, with ceiling in Resene Alabaster – shades that blend well with the stone coloured tiles.
The exterior cladding and retaining walls are painted in Resene All Black, a striking shade against the natural backdrop. The windows and scotia are painted in Resene White and the deck is stained in Resene Woodsman tinted to Resene Natural.
In the beautifully landscaped garden, the retaining walls are painted in Resene All Black, complementing the greenery and wooden deck stained in Resene Woodsman tinted to Resene Natural.
A renovation triumph: How love, hard work and Resene colours brought a dream to life
Standing proud on a hill in Paremata, just north of Wellington, is a house that has captured the hearts of its owners, Steve and Melody. Purchased nearly eight years ago as their first home, this 225 square metre residence offers breath-taking views of the Mana Marina, but it wasn’t without need of some fresh Resene colours and hard work.
Initially in need of extensive renovation, the couple saw the immense potential that lay within its walls. Determined to transform this construction site into a place they could call home, they embarked on a journey filled with both challenges and rewards.
"We quickly parked up the car and literally ran through the house and completely fell in love with the home and its massive potential," Melody recalls, reflecting on the day they discovered their dream home.
The interior of the house presented a daunting sight, with many linings removed, exposing the framing and insulation. The flooring had been stripped away, leaving temporary setups, and making certain areas inaccessible. Undeterred by the state of disarray, Steve and Melody envisioned the house's potential and were determined to complete the project themselves.
Every room required finishing touches and redecoration. The couple saw the opportunity to not only create their dream home but also add their personal touch to every corner.
"We could see its potential and were excited to complete the project ourselves,” Melody says. "When we purchased the house, our real estate agent gifted us a colour consultation.
“We wanted to reflect the beautiful ocean views and give the home a relaxed 'beachy' feel, but without being too deliberately themed.”
The couple sought the expertise of Colour Consultant Anita Thomas who helped them choose colours that harmoniously blend with the coastal surroundings, breathing life into the interiors and evoking a sense of tranquillity.
In the open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, the walls are now painted in Resene Quarter Delta, a soft as dawn mist grey that adds warmth to the house amidst all of the natural light that pours through the many windows. The feature wall in the living area is painted in Resene Half Smalt Blue from the Karen Walker Paints range. This gorgeous pop of blue-green adds colour to the space while reflecting the beauty from the stunning views of the water and hills surrounding the home.
“This space has been the biggest transformation in the house,” Melody says. “It went from being a dark space with missing walls, flooring and celling, to a light and bright beautiful space with some beautiful pops of colour.”
Originally a small and unassuming cottage, the house had undergone extensive renovations and expansions over the years. The structure itself had historical significance, with materials repurposed from the old parliament building incorporated throughout. Elements like the rimu stairs, internal stained-glass windows, rustic beams, and wooden panelling held sentimental value for the couple, so they strived to retain these unique features while infusing the space with their own personal touches.
"The house has a lot of history and character, which I love,” Melody says. “We wanted to tie in with these original elements and give the house a relaxed and timeless feel.”
The second lounge features the original stained dark ceiling which now complements the walls painted in Resene Half Titania. This modest bone white was used throughout the house in various bedrooms, giving each space character and charm. The trims and ceiling throughout are painted in Resene Alabaster, a classic white that pairs well with this off-white shade.
As life progressed, Steve and Melody welcomed their son, James, into the world. Balancing their roles as parents with their renovation endeavours proved challenging but rewarding. The process taught them invaluable skills, and with the support of their loved ones, they accomplished what initially seemed like an insurmountable task.
"We didn't let the challenges slow us down. We would renovate while our baby boy James slept - luckily, he can sleep through the sound of a nail gun!" Melody says.
Each room seems to have its own feature that makes it unique. The loft bedroom showcases a high angled ceiling which almost mimics the angles and slants of the mountains in the distance. Although the ceiling is a stunning feature, Melody admits that painting it was not an easy feat.
In James’ room and the master walk-in wardrobe, feature walls have been added to make these smaller spaces more interesting. James’ room features a baby blue polka dot wallpaper from the Resene Jack N Rose 2 Wallpaper Collection, and in the walk-in, Melody chose a stunning tropical wallpaper from the Resene Amazonia Wallpaper Collection along with a small chandelier for a feminine touch.
“In this room I wanted to do something feminine and fun so went for this bold wallpaper, a mini chandelier with matching crystal handles,” Melody says.
The exterior of Melody and Steve’s home is a marvel all on its own. Painted in Resene All Black, the house is striking against the sea and landscape beyond. The windows and scotia are painted in Resene White, framing the house in contrast to the deep black on the exterior cladding. The deck surrounding the home is stained in Resene Woodsman tinted to Resene Natural, allowing it to blend perfectly into the greenery and nature in the garden. It’s a truly stunning sight.
As the couple reflects on their journey, they express immense pride and joy in completing their dream home. Now, the house has been put on the market, ready to welcome a new set of owners who will appreciate and cherish it as much as Steve and Melody have.
"It feels like such a massive achievement to have finally completed the house, and we're so happy with how it's all come together.”
Top tip: Not sure which white is right? Alabaster, chalk, ivory, cream… which is which? There are so many wonderful Resene whites to choose from and they are not all created equal… and that’s particularly true with paint colour. When you’re decorating, you’ll discover a wealth of ‘whites’, with varying touches of yellow, green, brown or grey to turn them into a huge cast of interesting shades. From cool to warm, we can help you choose - check out habitat plus – the right white.
This kitchen is now a refreshed space with classic white Resene Alabaster painted on the ceiling and trims, Resene Quarter Delta on the walls and cool blue tiles behind the cabinetry. The wooden flooring helps to ground this lightened space and keep a natural element in the room.
The space that saw the biggest transformation, going from dark with missing walls, flooring and celling, to light and bright, is the open-plan kitchen, dining and living. The walls are now painted in Resene Quarter Delta, ceiling and trims in Resene Alabaster and feature wall in the lounge in Resene Half Smalt Blue from the Karen Walker Paints range.
The windows lining one whole side of the house let in an abundance of natural light, showing off the charm of Resene Quarter Delta painted on the walls and the classic white of Resene Alabaster on the ceiling and trims.
A stunning blue-green feature wall was added to the lounge creating a burst of colour that reflects the natural surroundings. This stunning shade, Resene Half Smalt Blue from the Karen Walker Paints range helps to separate this cosy sitting area in the large open-plan space. The adjacent walls are painted in Resene Quarter Delta with ceiling and trims in Resene Alabaster.
This charming scullery is now painted in a classic off-white, Resene Quarter Titania, with ceiling and trims in Resene Alabaster. These white shades complement the wooden bench and floor for a timeless look.
The second lounge has a cosy cocooning feel with the original timber ceiling and dark floor. Nestled seamlessly in between, the walls are painted in Resene Half Titania, a charming bone white with plenty of character. The trims and fireplace are painted in Resene Alabaster allowing these features to gently stand out.
For the master walk-in wardrobe, Melody chose to add some feminine touches with a small chandelier and feature wall using Resene Wallpaper Collection 90220. The surrounding walls are painted in Resene Half Titania, and trims and ceiling in Resene Alabaster.
A perfect feature wall for a baby boy’s room, Resene Wallpaper Collection LL-04-04-8 features a baby blue background and gentle white polka dots. The walls are painted in Resene Half Titania, with ceiling and trims in Resene Alabaster.
This loft bedroom is an absolute masterpiece with the angled walls and ceiling. The walls are painted in Resene Half Titania with trims and ceiling in Resene Alabaster.
Throughout the home, the hallways, and foyer, are painted in Resene Quarter Titania, a slightly lighter shade then the bedrooms to brighten the common areas, but also create a cohesive look throughout. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Alabaster.
The bathroom walls were also painted in a lighter shade than other rooms, in Resene Half Sea Fog, with ceiling in Resene Alabaster – shades that blend well with the stone coloured tiles.
The exterior cladding and retaining walls are painted in Resene All Black, a striking shade against the natural backdrop. The windows and scotia are painted in Resene White and the deck is stained in Resene Woodsman tinted to Resene Natural.
In the beautifully landscaped garden, the retaining walls are painted in Resene All Black, complementing the greenery and wooden deck stained in Resene Woodsman tinted to Resene Natural.
Published: 27 Jun 2023
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Quarter Titania
Resene Quarter Titania
Resene Half Smalt Blue
Resene Half Smalt Blue
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Quarter Delta
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
more inspiration
Vibrant and Victorian: The story behind Clarks Beach's charming historic home
If there was ever a home with a story to… more
Charlotte Coote’s expertly coloured Mt Macedon home has style to spare
When interior designer Charlotte Coote of Coote & Co and… more
Kate and Nick’s Meadowbank home is a vision of light and movement
As the owner of Williams Road, a furniture company that… more
Michael brings coastal charm to character villa
What was once bordering on a student flat aesthetic has… more
Rhys and Wanda's Dramatic Hand-Stencilled Walls
With its boldly patterned walls and bright accent colours, the elegant interior of Rhys… more
Resene Quarter Titania
Resene Quarter Titania
Resene Half Smalt Blue
Resene Half Smalt Blue
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Quarter Delta
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
