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The bright Resene Double Alabaster and Resene Quarter Tea facelift continued in the living room, the winning pair offering the perfect backdrop for a framed photographic feature wall.
Sonja chose Resene Double Alabaster for the walls and ceiling. She loves the freshness the colour offers. The trims, rails and wainscoting have been freshened up with Resene Quarter Tea.
Resene Double Alabaster on the walls and ceiling, and trims, rails and wainscoting in Resene Quarter Tea create brightness in the hallway, and allow light to play on the original 1920s rimu flooring.
In Jacob’s room, Resene Wishing Well makes for a bold feature wall with walls, trims and the ceiling in Resene Double Alabaster.
In Maddy’s room, Resene Aqua painted on the wall is contrasted with crisp side tables, frames, shelving and wall hangings. The opposite walls are crisp and clean in Resene Black White, and trims and ceiling in Resene Double Alabaster. Shelving in Resene Black White.
The master bedroom was originally a rustic red that didn’t offer any light for a dark room. “It faces west, so decided to lighten it up with Resene Half Surrender on the walls, and the trims, ceilings and wardrobes in Resene Double Alabaster,” says Sonja.
Sonja had a window seat with storage underneath built in the bedroom too. It’s made it her favourite room in the house. The walls are painted in Resene Half Surrender with trims, ceiling and wardrobes in Resene Double Alabaster.
“I really didn’t like the original orange front porch. So during the last long lockdown I repainted it in Resene Half Grey Chateau.”
An interior designer’s modern twist on her 1920s bungalow
Until recently, interior designer Sonja Low’s 1920s bungalow was decked out in aging 80s apricots and faded yellows. Rolling up her sleeves, Sonja got to work modernising the family home with fresh, bright tones like Resene Double Alabaster. She’s breathed new life into each room, aiming to create spaces that grow with the family of four.
The Auckland bungalow has been home to Sonja, her partner Richard (a marine project manager) and kids Maddy (15) and Jacob (12) since 2003. “Our house was built in the 1920s. When we bought it the owners had already added on to the original bungalow with a kitchen, lounge and bathroom/laundry area,” says Sonja. Using a palette of Resene colours the couple has given the house a significant makeover since their move in, working to maintain its original character.
Inviting light in and creating an illusion of more space was key in the hallway. “As the hallway is so dark – originally painted in an apricot colour – we decided to use bright Resene Double Alabaster on the walls and ceiling.” Sonja says she loves the freshness it offers. Light floods in through the front doors and reflects off the crisp white walls. The trims, rails and wainscoting were freshened up with Resene Quarter Tea, offering a subtle contrast against the white. “I also changed the lightbulbs to a cool light, so that the hallway is brighter.”
Sonja describes her style as modern rustic, as they’ve kept their original rimu floorboards, then incorporated contemporary pieces. The wooden floor is accentuated with Resene Double Alabaster on the hallway walls replacing the home’s aged yellow. The living room, kitchen, dining room, bathroom and laundry also featured ageing yellows. The bright Resene Double Alabaster and Resene Quarter Tea facelift continued in all of these spaces – a winning pair. Added light also now flows into the home with bifold doors in the living/dining area the couple had put in. “It gives us a sightline to the outdoors.”
The couple’s children were given free rein on choosing the colours in their bedrooms. Both landed on creating striking feature walls. In Maddy’s room, Resene Aqua is splashed on the wall, particularly effective with bright white side tables, frames, shelving and wall hangings. The opposite walls are crisp and clean in Resene Black White and the room’s trims and ceiling in Resene Double Alabaster.
In Jacob’s room, Resene Wishing Well makes for a bold feature wall. The deep blue immediately draws your eye to it and frames the 12-year-old’s bunk and desk set up. A red beanbag completes the look and offers a fun and striking contrast against the blue tone. “As his room is the smallest I did a mood board and came up with the space saving design. Using a loft bunk bed with a desk underneath, it makes the most of the high ceilings.”
Sonja also got creative and added floating shelves and hexagon boxes for storage in Jacob’s bedroom. “I painted the inside of the boxes with Resene Half Grey Friars, and the front panels in Resene Double Alabaster.”
The master bedroom has been given perhaps the greatest facelift of all. It was originally a rustic red that didn’t offer any brightness in the dark room. “It faces west, so we decided to lighten it up with Resene Half Surrender on the walls and paint the trims, ceilings and wardrobes with Resene Double Alabaster. It’s given it a fresh, restful look and has changed the mood completely.” Sonja had a window seat with storage underneath built in the bedroom too. It’s made the space her favourite room in the house.
“It’s really restful and I feel soothed when I’m in there; I like to curl up with a book on the window seat in the winter and catch the afternoon sun. I’m looking to incorporate some more natural elements, like neutral and soft blue cushions and throws.”
Last on the checklist was an exterior element of the home. “I really didn’t like the orange front porch. So during the last long lockdown I repainted it in Resene Half Grey Chateau.”
Sonja recommends considering how your family will use the home long-term if you’re renovating.
Consider how a room design might grow with a child, and its functionality long-term. “Think about how you will use the house once any children become teenagers, because they really do need their own hangout area.” She adds that proper prep shouldn’t be avoided, and to remember that it will take time. “As the ceilings are so high, prepping and painting the interior was a lot of hard work – up and down a ladder over weekends during the winter.”
Take time to make big decisions, Sonja says. Make sure your head is in the right space to create a cohesive colour scheme.
Designer Sonja Low @sonjaellisadesigns
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some photos by emailing [email protected]
Sonja chose Resene Double Alabaster for the walls and ceiling. She loves the freshness the colour offers. The trims, rails and wainscoting have been freshened up with Resene Quarter Tea.
Resene Double Alabaster on the walls and ceiling, and trims, rails and wainscoting in Resene Quarter Tea create brightness in the hallway, and allow light to play on the original 1920s rimu flooring.
The bright Resene Double Alabaster and Resene Quarter Tea facelift continued in the living room, the winning pair offering the perfect backdrop for a framed photographic feature wall.
In Maddy’s room, Resene Aqua painted on the wall is contrasted with crisp side tables, frames, shelving and wall hangings. The opposite walls are crisp and clean in Resene Black White, and trims and ceiling in Resene Double Alabaster. Shelving in Resene Black White.
In Jacob’s room, Resene Wishing Well makes for a bold feature wall with walls, trims and the ceiling in Resene Double Alabaster.
The master bedroom was originally a rustic red that didn’t offer any light for a dark room. “It faces west, so decided to lighten it up with Resene Half Surrender on the walls, and the trims, ceilings and wardrobes in Resene Double Alabaster,” says Sonja.
Sonja had a window seat with storage underneath built in the bedroom too. It’s made it her favourite room in the house. The walls are painted in Resene Half Surrender with trims, ceiling and wardrobes in Resene Double Alabaster.
“I really didn’t like the original orange front porch. So during the last long lockdown I repainted it in Resene Half Grey Chateau.”
Published: 30 Mar 2022
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Grey Friars
Resene Half Grey Friars
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Half Surrender
Resene Half Surrender
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
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Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Grey Friars
Resene Half Grey Friars
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Half Surrender
Resene Half Surrender
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
