Architectural designer’s moody and minimal 80sqm 1970s townhouse

Edd Coomber’s Christchurch townhouse wasn’t exactly charming when he first stepped foot in it. Having been rented for a number of years by students, it was filthy, stank and broken furniture dotted the backyard. “Basically anything you could do to make a property look bad, they did.” But a master of seeing potential, and enthusiastic about proving there is life in old homes, Edd put in an offer.

An architectural designer from Common, Edd says older homes like his 1977 townhouse are often much better value than a new build, if you’re willing to see past the mess. “They’re usually bigger and actually have some decent outdoor space, off-street parking and are pretty well built. At the time, 2019, it was half the price of a smaller new build around the corner.”

Edd says he wanted his home to be an example of going bold with colour and texture. “I used some of the ideas I believed in that others may have doubted, and I’m thrilled with the result.”

The home’s ground floor has a 600mm tideline, and Edd chose the moody Resene Midnight Moss for this section of the walls. Resene Black White above offers a fantastic backdrop for his art. “Resene Midnight Moss works brilliantly with the timber floor and joinery and strikes a strong contrast with the stark Resene Black White above.”

The stairwell and landing continue the Resene Black White theme. Each bedroom has been treated with dark colouring, to offer a cool, moody space to sleep. “I am not a morning person; I do not want a bright space to wake up in.”

The main bedroom continues the flat Resene Midnight Moss, which pulls the green in from mature trees outside and creates a soothing backdrop for the aged brass pendants from Nightworks on either side of the bed. The second bedroom is finished in Resene Shadowy Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection. “It’s not as dramatic as the other room, as this is on the south side, but still gets good light through west facing windows.”

In the bathroom, Edd used Resene Nocturnal to blend seamlessly with the basalt tiles and the darker stone chips in the terrazzo floor tile. “This has a background of pink which works perfectly with Resene Nocturnal, to relieve what is quite a subdued space.”

Edd loves green and is a fan of deep, intense colour. “I didn’t want a house without personality. I saw Resene Midnight Moss at OGB bar in Christchurch and guessed the colour (later confirmed by the owner to be correct!) but Resene Shadowy Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection took a bit longer to find. I went through a few blues that were either too dark, too light or too juvenile. When I found this one, it was perfect right away. The depth of colour in both the green and the blue is exceptional.”

Edd describes his style as minimal, with a love of mid-century modern and brutalist architecture. “I definitely believe less is more, but probably, just knowing when enough is enough. Functionality is also very beautiful in its own right.”

Supply issues were challenging, having completed most of the renovation through the pandemic, but Edd says he managed to complete the project before the worst of the country’s supply issues. The project came with some great learnings. “Architecture is my career, but I didn’t really understand what clients go through until I did it myself. I thought I did, but absolutely not. I feel it’s made me a better designer.” 

He says it pays to use good designer, plan everything and have a good builder. “Don’t be afraid to spend a little more to get what you want. Design for yourself, not the next owner. I hate the concept of ‘resale’, it just creates bland houses with no personality.”

Edd’s favourite new addition to his home is the window he had transformed into doors to a new deck. “The side yard is a real rare asset for a house this size and it was only accessed by the front or back door before, this really connects the outdoor and indoor space. Such a small change with a huge difference.”

Top tip: We tend to think of neutral as whites or pale colours but very dark colours can also be neutral. They add a modern edge in a home and transform a space. Look to hues that have blue edged undertones blended with charcoals, which are steely and stormy, adding mystery and moodiness. Check out Resene New Denim BlueResene Coast and Resene Raven. For a greener look, try Resene SwampResene Tapa or Resene Masala

The 1970s townhouse is home to Edd and his retired greyhound, Richie. Edd chose Resene Midnight Moss for the lower section of the lounge walls, and Resene Black White for the upper section and ceiling.

 

From an environmental point of view, I feel strongly that we should be retrofitting existing housing stock, rather than pulling them down to replace. Most are well built, they just need better insulation, ventilation and a facelift to be as good as anything you find new. With the current shortages in supply, it’s also possibly a better option than building new and a better use of the resources we do have,” Edd says. Resene Midnight Moss is painted on the lower section of the walls and Resene Black White on the upper section and ceiling.

 

Edd wanted something different to what everyone else was doing. “It needed personality and needed to nod to the past, but not be stuck there. The materials and palette used was to be reminiscent of what was available in 1977, but used in a modern way to avoid being retro. Laminates and timber veneers used for joinery, with the original kitchen’s knobs being replacedwith new hardware, as a subtle throwback. This ties in with the feature pendant by Jo Hammerborg over the dining area, which came from a family home in Melbourne.” Resene Midnight Moss is painted on the lower section of the walls and Resene Black White on the upper section and ceiling.

 

The main bedroom is soothing and is a nod to the green of trees outside painted in Resene Midnight Moss

 

The second bedroom is finished in Resene Shadowy Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection. Resene Black White on the hallway walls and trims.

 

Edd used Resene Nocturnal in the bathroom to blend seamlessly with the basalt tiles he chose and the darker stone chips in his terrazzo floor tile.

 

Resene Black White on the walls and trims in the kitchen offers a fresh and modern look. A fan of cooking, the kitchen is Edd’s favourite space. “For two years, I put up with a tiny little kitchen that was falling apart. The stove didn’t even have a fan, and was down to three rings. There was no extract, so the walls would be wet in winter when you boiled water. Cutting Edge Kitchens did such a good job, and are as obsessed with detail as I am. I love sitting at the dining space, under the pendant, with some good mates. The lighting is perfect and the space intimate.”

 

Richie the greyhound approves of the space. Resene Midnight Moss is painted on the lower section of the walls and trims and Resene Black White on the upper section.

 

Edd’s new kitchen space is unrecognisable from its original state. The walls and ceiling are in Resene Black White.

 

A modern facelift has transformed the lounge. The lower section of the walls (right) is painted in Resene Midnight Moss with Resene Black White on the upper section and ceiling.

Find Edd: @eddcoomber 

images by Tirohanga Photography (@tirohanga.photo)

 

Published: 16 Jun 2022

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Resene Midnight Moss

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